Tuesday, 28 June 2011
Sunday, 26 June 2011
Singapore Chinese Middle School Students' Union Riot
Why did the riot happen? After Marshall had resigned, Lim Yew Hock became the next Chief Minister. He announced that the Singapore Chinese Middle School Students' Union(SCMSSU) would closed down because of communist activities.
When and how did it happen?
The students camped at Chung Cheng High School and The Chinese High School. They sat-in over the next two weeks, organising meetings and holding demonstrations. On 24 October 1956, the government told the parent persuade their children to return home but most of them refused. On the same day, the pro-Communist leader, Lim Chin Siong had organsied a workers' meeting. When the meeting ended, some of the workers joined the students in creating disorder.
On October 24, the government issued an ultimatum that the schools be vacated. As the deadline approached, riots started at the Chinese High School and spread to other parts of the island.
On 26 October 1956, the police entered the schools and cleared the student using tear gas. The student were forced out of the school and headed for city. The student threw stones and bottle, overturned cars and damaged traffic lights and it continued for three days.
The police imposed curfew, during the curfew, the police and the army set up road-blocks to prevent large crowds gathering at one place.
What happened after the riot?
The riots came to an end when the police arrested nine hundred people including Lim Chin Siong, Fong Swee Suan and Devan Nair. They were released in 1959 when the People's Action Party, led by Lee Kuan Yew, won the 1959 general election to form the government as Singapore gained self rule.Over the next five days, 13 people were killed and more than 100 were injured.
Similar to the Hock Lee Bus riot, the riots in October 1956 involved both students and workers. It was evident that the Communists had employed the same strategy of organising student and labour movement to challenge the government.
When and how did it happen?
The students camped at Chung Cheng High School and The Chinese High School. They sat-in over the next two weeks, organising meetings and holding demonstrations. On 24 October 1956, the government told the parent persuade their children to return home but most of them refused. On the same day, the pro-Communist leader, Lim Chin Siong had organsied a workers' meeting. When the meeting ended, some of the workers joined the students in creating disorder.On October 24, the government issued an ultimatum that the schools be vacated. As the deadline approached, riots started at the Chinese High School and spread to other parts of the island.
On 26 October 1956, the police entered the schools and cleared the student using tear gas. The student were forced out of the school and headed for city. The student threw stones and bottle, overturned cars and damaged traffic lights and it continued for three days.
The police imposed curfew, during the curfew, the police and the army set up road-blocks to prevent large crowds gathering at one place.
What happened after the riot?
Similar to the Hock Lee Bus riot, the riots in October 1956 involved both students and workers. It was evident that the Communists had employed the same strategy of organising student and labour movement to challenge the government.
Hock Lee Bus & SCMSSU Riots
Why did the riot happen?
On April 23, 1955, workers from the Singapore Bus Workers Union(SBWU) began to go on strike. They were protesting against poor working conditions, long work hours and low pay. With a retaining fee of $2 per day paid on condition that they joined this rival union..They also felt threatened by a rival union which was supported by the bus company to counter any labor action by SBWU. When and how did it happen?
In April 1995, the workers gathered at the company 's depot in Alexandra and sat in font of the gate to prevent the buses from leaving the garage and crippled the city's entire transport system.
Students from the Chinese middle school came in lorries, and joined the strikers in a show of support. They organised donation drives, brought food and money, and even entertained the workers with songs and dances.
Negotiations between the bus company and the SBWU broke down and the police were ordered to take all necessary action to clear the picket-lines for the passage of buses. Fire hoses were used to disperse the strikers.
Twenty lorry loads of Chinese school students joined the rioting strikers. These lorry loads of students were well-organised and converged at the bus company from schools all over Singapore. A mob of 2,000 rioters attacked police,the viciousness of the violence was attributed to the SBWU being communist-inspired. A Chinese student who was shot by the British police was paraded around for two and a half hours to whip up emotions. He died on the way to hospital.
What happened after the riot?
On 14 May 1955, the Hock Lee Bus strike came to an end. The workers got their job back,pay were restored and they declared victory for their action. The then Chief Minister of Singapore, David Marshall, took advantage of this change of opinion and took action. He expelled student leaders involved in the rioting and closed down two schools where the most students had been involved.The students were defiant. On 16 May 1955, about two thousand students forced their way into the two schools. Anxious parents, friends and supporters came daily to give students food, clothing. The British authorities were critical of Marshall for not taking tougher actions towards the rioters and strikers. They would later reject his proposal for independence in 1956, claiming that the local government was not able to manage internal security, and as a result Marshall would resign.
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