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“Even
for actions that fail to achieve their stated objectives, there
is gain.
Every time we initiate an
action and fail, we don't return to ground zero.”
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Courage at
Centrepoint
09 Sep 07
The
protest at Centrepoint on 8 September was an important event. It
gave an opportunity to those who are tired of the PAP
Government's callous policies to register their disquiet.
There
were a large number of people in black. It was difficult to tell
how many of them were clueless about the 'black' protest and how
many were responding to the call on the Internet. There were some
who did not try to appear innocuous and made it quite plain that
they were there to be seen in black.
The SDP was carrying
out our regular Saturday sales of books and T-shirts. However,
this Saturday was a little different. It is the first Saturday
that Dr. Chee is in prison. It was also one of the rare times
when there was a call for Singaporeans to gather at a public
vicinity to protest against the government's high-handedness.
Thus the SDP team sold our democracy materials in T-shirts with
bold red words screaming "Free Dr. Chee!" in the early
afternoon.
We packed up by approximately 3.45pm and put on
our black tops to show support for and stand in solidarity with
our brave fellow citizens who were showing up and standing up to
the PAP.
The few of us walked in a group. A few others in
black who obviously wanted to show that they were not shopping at
Centrepoint joined the group. At one point, it swelled to more
than 15 people.
The action taken by those who went in
black is a first step towards empowerment. The PAP Government
likes nothing better than to make Singaporeans feel helpless and
dependent on them. However, some of us are beginning to translate
our frustrations into affirmative action. Contrary to the
propaganda that this government espouses, peaceful assembly and
action is an inherent right of every citizen of this
country.
This may be a seemingly small step. A first for
some. But every peaceful mass action that has challenged
autocratic regimes has always started with small numbers.
We
congratulate those of you who were there in black to assert your
right to protest against the government's disregard of the
welfare of Singaporeans. Many of you went there despite your
fears and apprehensions. That is an act courage. We salute
you.
"But
has all this huffing and puffing gotten human rights anywhere in
Singapore?
The honest answer is not very far. The PAP
doesn't seem to have budged very much on the issue. However, to
see the fight in such parochial terms is to miss the point
completely.
A singular act of dissent never yields
immediate results. Every action leaves behind a residue that the
next one builds upon. The experience gained and the courage that
radiates from that action elevates the general struggle another
notch. Even for actions that fail to achieve their stated
objectives, there is gain. Every time we initiate an action and
fail, we don't return to ground zero.
It is the
accumulation of each protest and each act of resistance that will
ultimately take us above the threshold and allow us the success
that we seek. In the meantime, every action, big or small,
successful or not, is like a training session where
citizen-activists hone their skills and build up towards the
stage when our objectives are definitively achieved."
-
excerpt from Dr Chee Soon Juan's "Why
Dissent matters"
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