Govt to introduce new bill to maintain law and order in Little India

[Sammyboy RSS Feed]

An honorable member of the Coffee Shop Has Just Posted the Following:

The government will introduce a new bill that seeks to enact a temporary law, empowering authorities to continue with calibrated measures aimed at maintaining public order in Little India.

• PHOTOS

Aftermath of a riot at Little India on December 8, 2013. (TODAY/Ooi Boon Keong)

SINGAPORE: The government will introduce a new bill that seeks to enact a temporary law, empowering authorities to continue with calibrated measures aimed at maintaining public order in Little India.

Deputy Prime Minister and Home Affairs Minister Teo Chee Hean announced this in a ministerial statement in Parliament on Monday, as he gave a detailed account of what happened on the night of December 8 and subsequent measures to deal with the incident.

Mr Teo said the new law will allow police and other agencies to enforce the alcohol restrictions and regulate movement of persons at Little India.

He said the new provision is scoped more tightly compared to the wide-ranging powers that come into effect when the Public Order (Preservation) Act is invoked.

The bill proposes that the law be valid for one year.

Mr Teo said this will provide sufficient time for his ministry to enact longer term legislation, to take into account the findings and recommendations of the Committee of Inquiry on the Little India riot.

Following the riot, a designated part of Little India was proclaimed as an area in a state of danger to public order, under the Public Order (Preservation) Act.

Proclamations have been effected on weekends, as well as on the eves and on public holidays, and when large-scale events are planned.

This relates to restrictions on alcohol sale and consumption.
The riot broke out after Indian national Sakthivel Kumaravelu was knocked down and pinned under a private bus. He died at the scene.

By then, a mob of about 400 had gathered and turned violent, pelting police officers and emergency responders with sticks, stones and beer bottles.

Twenty-three emergency response vehicles were damaged, and five were burnt. Another seven private vehicles were damaged.

Forty-nine Home Team officers sustained injuries.

Mr Teo described the riot as the "worst public order disturbance in Singapore in more than four decades".

But he also stressed that the incident did not "spread in time or space, and was contained."

Mr Teo said: "The riot, though serious, did not spread to the surrounding neighbourhoods, or other parts of Singapore. It was contained within a particular area in Little India.

"Foreign worker dormitories that night, and workplaces the next day, remained calm and peaceful. Not a single shot was fired that night, and there were no fatalities amongst the rioters, innocent bystanders, or our Home Team officers.

“Police completed their intensive investigations at the incident area overnight, and by 6.45am the next morning, Race Course Road was re-opened to the public. All was calm at the Little India train station, adjacent to the incident area too.”

Recounting the events of the night, Mr Teo said the entire situation was brought under control within two hours of the start of the incident.

The mob dispersed when Special Operations Command officers moved in, slightly after an hour after the incident broke out.

Action has been taken against 295 persons.

Twenty-five have been charged with instigating the riot.

Fifty-seven, assessed to have knowingly joined or continued to participate in the riot, have been repatriated.
Mr Teo said it was his decision to have this group sent back to their home countries.

He said: "The Attorney-General's Chambers reviewed the evidence in each case, and decided to administer a stern warning to each of the 57 persons.

“I, as the Minister for Home Affairs, then decided (based on the statutory powers vested in me under the Immigration Act) that they should be repatriated. Their visit passes were then cancelled by the Controller of Immigration and they were repatriated.”

213 others, whose involvement was assessed to be passive and incidental, were issued formal police advisories. They can continue to remain and work in Singapore.

Mr Teo said authorities had originally arrested and charged 35 persons but charges against 10 of them were dropped, after the Attorney-General's Chambers reviewed further evidence.

This, he said,"shows due process at work".

All 25 persons facing a court trial have been offered pro-bono counsel under the Law Society's Criminal Legal Aid Scheme.

Mr Teo said: "The riot on the night of December 8 was the first in several decades. Because we have enjoyed peace for so many years, almost none of our Home Team officers, especially our national servicemen, had experienced riots before.

“Nonetheless, they performed their duties under difficult circumstances, contained a rapidly developing situation and restored order within two hours. Our officers then acted expeditiously to identify and deal with the persons involved, and worked closely with other agencies to put in place measures to maintain law and order and restore calm in Little India.”

He added: "Singaporeans did not expect a riot to disrupt their lives, but I am heartened that they responded rationally when the unexpected happened.

“Several came forward to help. Business owners gave their support despite being affected by the restrictions imposed following the incident. Grassroots leaders in the Little India area stepped up to reassure residents, and helped the community to recover.

“I am confident that we will draw useful lessons from this experience and emerge more prepared and stronger -- as one Home Team, as one Singapore."

- CNA/nd


Click here to view the whole thread at www.sammyboy.com.