Violence Against Democracy

According to the 3rd Edition of the Economist Intelligence Unit's Democracy Index 2010, Singapore is ranked a pathetic 82th in the world, the same rank it attained two years ago and remains classified as a ‘hybrid regime’ among the likes of Russia, Pakistan and Cambodia.

Definition of Hybrid regime: Elections have substantial irregularities that often prevent them from being both free and fair. Government pressure on opposition parties and candidates my be common. Serious weakness are more prevalent than in flawed democracies -- in political culture, functioning of government and political participation. (Malaysia is ranked 71th in the world, and classified as a ‘Flawed democracy’, one rank higher than 'Hybrid regime', closer to 'Full democracies' ).

The crowd that converged at the void deck that once served as site of Chiam See Tong's Meet-the-People-Sessions were peeved residents of Potong Pasir who wanted to petition against the narrow defeat of 0.36% of the votes. Recent revelations came to light that ballot papers marked with protest messages against the incumbents were treated by the Elections Department as valid votes. Since PAP man Sitoh Yin Pin won the election by a mere 114 votes, every single ballot paper counts. These ballots are currently sealed in the Supreme Court vault for 6 months, after which they will be destroyed. The can only be retrieved by court order, to satisfy doubts that a vote has been fraudulently cast. The Singapore courts have issued no such order to date.

Advising the gathering to disperse immediately, police spokesman Humphrey Sew said, "Police then warned the parties concerned that what they are doing may constitute an illegal public assembly." In 2007 Sylvia Lim spoke against 4 amendments to Laws on Peaceful Assembly, and told parliament to distinguish between gatherings which are violent such as rioting, and those which are peaceful. Article 14(1) of the Constitution supposedly enshrines the right of citizens to assemble peaceably and without arms. Worse, pursuant to the Public Order Bill introduced in March 2009, all outdoor activities that are "cause-related" will need a police permit, no matter how many people are involved. Until then the law required a permit only for gatherings of 5 or more people. Uniquely Singapore, one person standing for his constitutional rights is defined by the law as an assembly.

The disgruntled citizenry had initially called for a by-election in Potong Pasir, then the petition changed to a call for an inquiry into the narrow margin. Chiam had this bit of advice: "If any political party wants to grow, it needs to build credibility and trust in the eyes of the people and not resort to violence and hooliganism." In the last ditch effort to salvage his electoral campaign, PM Lee Hsien Loong apologised for the mistakes under his watch and pledged to make adjustments to the system and do better, "When these problems vex you or disturb you or upset your lives, please bear with us". He didn't stipulate a time frame for the contrite acts of repentance.

In the lexicon of the incumbents, only gerrymandering and dubious electioneering innovations are tolerable acts of violence and hooliganism against the institution of democracy.