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CASE
can, SDP cannot
Singapore
Democrats
13 Mar 08
The Government is doing its
darndest to show how hypocritical and discriminatory it can be.
How else can you explain the fact that CASE
(Consumers Association of Singapore) is allowed to hold its march
while the SDP's
is banned?
Let's take a closer look at the two
events:
1. Both activities mark the World Consumer Rights
Day,
2. Are held on the same weekend,
3. Will take place
outside Parliament House (2007 for CASE),
4. Are open to the
public,
5. Will carry signs and placards,
6. Have theme
T-shirts.
Its hard to see that with all the similarities
how the Government justifies its ban on one and permission for
the other. Until, that is, you take a look at the
differences:
1. SDP's "Tak
boleh tahan!"
event is targeted against Government price hikes while CASE's
"Walk with CASE" wants to "stop the marketing of
junk food to children."
2. One involves opposition
members and human rights activists while the other involves PAP
MPs and the Minister for Health (guest-of-honour).
3. One
fights for economic justice while the other promotes street
wayang
(Why can't Mr Khaw Boon Wan simply pass guidelines on junk food
advertising instead of this elaborate show?)
In modern
societies, people draw up principles and laws specifically to
prevent such kind of discrimination and arbitrary rule by
governments. Its called the Constitution.
In ours,
Article
12
states plainly: "All persons are equal before the law and
entitled to the equal protection of the law" and that "there
shall be no discrimination against citizens of Singapore."
The
contempt for the Constitution shown by the PAP will be made even
starker for all to see this weekend.
The brazen-ness is
more evidence of the Government's desperation to tighten the lid
on an increasingly restive society.
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