Alcohol ban will cover hundreds of businesses
Move to calm and stabilise the situation in Little India
By Royston Sim, The Straits Times, 13 Dec 2013
THE alcohol ban in Little India this weekend will cover 374 establishments over a large part of the Serangoon Road area.
The affected area is as large as Gardens By The Bay, and includes the popular City Square Mall and Mustafa Centre, as well as hotels, pubs, numerous eateries, coffee shops, liquor shops and 24-hour convenience stores.
This means anyone who is drunk or disorderly in the area can be arrested for being a public nuisance, said Deputy Commissioner of Police T. Raja Kumar.
"If the person is completely drunk and rowdy, police may take action to arrest the person," he said.
"But some may not have realised it because the news of the ban hasn't percolated down to the last person. Our officers will tell them, if you are cooperative and throw away the alcohol or walk out of the area, that is fine."
In a joint statement, the police, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) and Land Transport Authority (LTA) highlighted the need "to calm and stabilise the situation" following last Sunday night's riot.
"This will also allow police to assess the next steps in consultation with the various stakeholders for a more permanent intervention to ensure that a repeat of last Sunday's riot does not occur, and to restore the sense of safety and security for residents, shopkeepers, visitors and other stakeholders in the area," it said.
The riot, sparked by a traffic accident that killed a 33-year-old Indian national, left 39 Home Team officers injured and 25 police and Singapore Civil Defence Force vehicles damaged. Some of the 400 rioters were said to have been drunk at the time.
Yesterday, four more Indian nationals were charged in court, bringing the total facing charges for the incident to 31.
The message ringing out loud and clear yesterday was that foreign workers should keep away from Little India this weekend.
The LTA has suspended 25 private bus services this Sunday that would normally have ferried thousands of men to Little India, where they usually spend their days off.
It will put public buses and trains on standby in case additional capacity is needed.
MOM urged major operators of foreign workers' dormitories to provide more recreational activities to keep the men within their living quarters.
"The combined efforts by the authorities are to enable the community to cool off and reflect on what happened," said the joint statement.
Speaking to reporters in Seoul, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said this weekend's measures will be just the first step in ensuring order and safety in the area. The Government will look at how transport flow can be made safer and speed up moves to curb the drinking problem in the area.The police said that in deciding the next steps, they will have to weigh the interests of various groups.
"Even after we have lifted the alcohol ban, there will in most likelihood continue to be certain restrictions on the sale of alcohol, and certain areas where alcohol consumption will not be allowed," the statement said.
Understandably, affected establishments were unhappy. "We wait all week just to get the weekend crowd. The ban will hit our businesses hard," said Mr Ajay Maddila, director of Zsofi Tapas Bar in Dunlop Street.Businessman Loo Aik Seng, 53, a resident for 32 years, called the suspension of bus services a pity. "There is nowhere else in Singapore for the workers to mingle and buy their groceries. The businesses here will also be unfairly penalised," he said.
Shanmugam rejects foreign media allegations
By Amelia Teng And Priscilla Goy, The Straits Times, 13 Dec 2013
By Amelia Teng And Priscilla Goy, The Straits Times, 13 Dec 2013
LAW Minister K. Shanmugam yesterday fended off allegations in foreign media reports that claimed Sunday's riot in Little India happened because foreign workers here were not satisfied with their work conditions.
"I'm not saying you can't say it, but I think I'd like to see some evidence to back up a fairly substantive statement," he said.
"It's a classic case of first deciding on what a sexy outline is and then writing a story without regard to the facts."
Mr Shanmugam, who is also Foreign Minister, was speaking to reporters before a dialogue with a group of foreign workers at Simpang Lodge 1 dormitory in Yishun. Joining him in the visit were Nominated MP R. Dhinakaran, and unionists M. Ramasamy and G. Muthukumar.
Turning to the Government's decision to ban the consumption and sale of alcohol in Little India this weekend, he said: "We want to go the extra mile to make sure that everything is completely locked down and safe. Primarily, because... of the possibility of copycat acts.
"So you take no chances. So you do much more than is necessary and if you're a resident in the area, you'll welcome it, and if you're outside, you'll understand why, because this is really to protect the area, to protect the residents, so people will understand, I think."
Separately, Senior Minister of State for Law and Education Indranee Rajah continued to urge the Ministry of Home Affairs to implement no-alcohol zones in public spaces such as bridges and walkways at nightspots - in the light of this weekend's ban in Little India. When asked if the temporary alcohol ban this weekend at Little India should be extended to other areas such as Robertson Quay, she said: "It's tempting I think for people to draw parallels but they're not quite exact."
The Tanjong Pagar GRC MP has been pushing for no-alcohol zones in her constituency, which includes Robertson Quay, since 2011. She added that alcohol activity there leads to primarily "social disamenities" like "peeing in the river, barfing on the sidewalk, having a lot of noise... and littering, which clogs up the walkways and makes it difficult for residents and hotel guests to walk".
What happened in Little India is "slightly different", she said, as it is a "law and order issue".
This weekend's temporary ban there is to stabilise the situation, and give the police some time to work out a longer-term view of what to do there, she added.
But she noted that preliminary indications showed that alcohol contributed to the violence. "Wherever you have alcohol, there is potential for emotions and reactions to be inflamed."
Govt looking at more measures to ensure order
Interim safety arrangements will be in place in Little India till then, says PM
By Fiona Chan, The Straits Times, 13 Dec 2013
Interim safety arrangements will be in place in Little India till then, says PM
By Fiona Chan, The Straits Times, 13 Dec 2013
THE ban on alcohol sales and consumption in Little India this weekend is just the first step, as the Government seeks to ensure order and safety there following Sunday's riot.
Further measures include looking at how the transport flow can be made safer, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said yesterday.
Moves to curb the drinking problem in the area - which were already being discussed before the riot - will also be sped up, he added.
These could include a prohibition on alcohol consumption in common areas such as void decks and pavements, as reported in The Straits Times on Monday.
"Serangoon Road is crowded every weekend and we want to make sure that everything is orderly and safe this weekend and thereafter," PM Lee told Singapore reporters in Seoul, where he was on an official visit.
"We've decided this weekend, no alcohol, and thereafter we'll work out some interim arrangements... until such time as we can come to firmer conclusions and make some more permanent arrangements."
Given how rare such events are in Singapore, Mr Lee also noted that there has been "a lot of" international interest in the riot, including from investors.
Korean business leaders he met during his trip to Seoul had expressed surprise at the riot and asked how the authorities planned to proceed.
The Government must hence respond properly, and Singaporeans also have to react in a measured and responsible manner, he said.
Though understandably shocked, Singaporeans have generally reacted calmly, he added, and those who witnessed the incident have also been forthcoming in providing evidence.
Mr Lee called for continued restraint.
"Whether online or anywhere else, we have to exercise some restraint," said the PM.
"The anxiety and the alarm is quite understandable, but if we express ourselves in unrestrained, unreserved terms and sometimes xenophobic terms... I don't think that is helpful."
Investigations into the riot - which was sparked by a traffic accident and culminated in a 400-strong mob throwing objects at public officers and attacking vehicles - are carrying on well, he added.
The Government hopes to announce "within a day or two" more details on the Committee of Inquiry set up to look into the incident, including its makeup and the terms of reference.
The authorities have to deal with the matter firmly and make clear that rioting is unacceptable, Mr Lee said.
But they must also be fair in their treatment of those who were and were not involved, and allow the law to follow its due process.
So far, 31 Indian nationals have been charged for their involvement in Sunday's melee.
Mr Lee pointed out that most of the over one million foreign workers in Singapore are law-abiding, and their crime rate is lower than that for Singaporeans on average.
Describing the incident as a "localised riot" with specific circumstances, he said those involved will be treated severely, but it would not be fair to tar the rest of the foreign worker population with the same brush.
"The other foreign workers... who are making a living here, who are making a contribution to our economy, who have nothing to do with this, I think it would be quite unfair for Singaporeans to look at them all and say they are a problem, we cannot accept them.
"We need the foreign workers... If we didn't have them, we would not be able to achieve our housing plans, or our public transport plans, and Singaporeans would be severely affected," he said.
"We have to see how we can manage (the foreign workers) better."
Police mark out 1.1 sq km dry zone
By Yeo Sam Jo And Kash Cheong, The Straits Times, 13 Dec 2013
By Yeo Sam Jo And Kash Cheong, The Straits Times, 13 Dec 2013
LITTLE India was drawn into a 1.1sq km dry zone yesterday, as the police defined the boundaries for this weekend's ban on the sale and consumption of alcohol.
The zone begins from Selegie, where the famous Rochor Original Beancurd shop is located, and ends in the Serangoon Road area, near the Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple. It also spans across the Indian ethnic enclave from Dorset Road to Jalan Besar Road.
At the heart of the dry zone is the junction of Race Course Road and Tekka Lane - the scene of Sunday's riot, which eventually led to the blanket ban on businesses that hold liquor licences. This comes after it was believed that alcohol consumption could have contributed to the violence.
Deputy Commissioner of Police T. Raja Kumar said the demarcation was decided upon after a ground assessment that took into consideration the location of liquor stores, as well as areas popular with foreign workers.
"It would not make sense to confine it along that stretch of Race Course Road given that there are so many (liquor) outlets within a stone's throw of that area," he said.
He was speaking during a joint briefing for the media by the police, Land Transport Authority and Ministry of Manpower (MOM) yesterday.
In a statement issued shortly after the briefing, the authorities said the suspension of alcohol sales and consumption is necessary to "calm and stabilise the situation at Little India" after Sunday's riot and to prevent further public-order incidents.
"This will also allow police to assess the next steps in consultation with the various stakeholders for a more permanent intervention to ensure that a repeat of Sunday's riot does not occur," they said. "And to restore the sense of safety and security... in the area."
The police will be deploying officers to conduct enforcement checks on liquor outlets within the dry zone to ensure the ban is complied with.
Business establishments found to be selling alcohol during the suspension period this weekend would have contravened the Customs (Liquors Licensing) Regulations, and would be liable to a fine not exceeding $5,000 on conviction.
"There would also be liquor licensing consequences for errant establishments that sell liquor." the authorities added.
The MOM has been in close touch with dormitory operators and employers' associations, encouraging them to provide more recreational activities for their residents this weekend. "We understand that some of the major dorms are already holding such events for their own residents."
The MOM has been in close touch with dormitory operators and employers' associations, encouraging them to provide more recreational activities for their residents this weekend. "We understand that some of the major dorms are already holding such events for their own residents."
Ban must be respected: Indian envoy
By Audrey Tan, The Straits Times, 13 Dec 2013
By Audrey Tan, The Straits Times, 13 Dec 2013
THE decision by the Singapore Government to ban the sale and consumption of alcohol in Little India this weekend after Sunday's riot must be respected, said India's High Commissioner to Singapore Vijay Thakur Singh.
She said the violence in the Indian enclave was isolated and will not affect close ties between India and Singapore. She said: "The relationship between our peoples and two countries is very strong, and that relationship will continue."
Mrs Singh was speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a visit to a foreign workers' dormitory in Mandai yesterday evening.
The Indian High Commission, she added, also appreciated Singaporeans' desire to reach out to the family of Indian national Sakthivel Kumaravelu, who was killed after being run over by a bus in Little India. His death allegedly sparked the violence that has resulted in 31 Indian nationals being charged in court for rioting so far.
"Once the collections and donations (for Mr Sakthivel's family) have come through, we will help transmit them back to India and the family," she said.
India’s Sun TV apologises for erroneous report on Little India riot
TODAY, 12 Dec 2013
TODAY, 12 Dec 2013
Indian news channel Sun TV has apologised for an erroneous report on the Little India riot on Sunday and broadcast the “correct” version, following complaints.
The Tamil-language report was carried in the channel’s 7pm prime time bulletin on Tuesday, which is broadcast in Singapore at 9.30pm, said Mr R Umashankar, Editor In Charge of Sun TV’s News Section, in a letter sent to Mr Roy Kho, Singapore’s Consul-General in Chennai. A copy of the letter was released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) yesterday.
The first report on the riot, aired on Monday, had created a stir among Singaporeans who saw the broadcast. Sun TV’s report had said Indian national Sakthivel Kumaravelu — the victim of the fatal accident that preceded the riot — had been pushed out of the private bus by the driver and that Singaporeans and Chinese had attacked Indian national Tamils, leading them to hide in their homes for fear of further attacks and harassment by the police.
This prompted a sharp response from the MFA the next day, with Singapore’s High Commissioner to India sending a letter to Sun TV network, saying it has reported three “entirely false” points, which was “irresponsible and brings to question its journalistic integrity”. He refuted the points made and asked for an immediate correction online and on air.
In his letter yesterday, Mr Umashankar said: “As Editor In Charge of the News Section of Sun TV, I take up the responsibility for the incorrect news and I sincerely apologise for what has happened.
“I would like to put it on record that there was absolutely no intention on our part to do anything that will spoil the centuries-old cordial and friendly relationship among various communities living in Singapore.”
He also added that the second report was given the “same prominence and duration” as the first report.
2-day ban on alcohol sale in Little India
3 more men charged with rioting as police step up security in area
By Lim Yan Liang, The Straits Times, 12 Dec 2013
3 more men charged with rioting as police step up security in area
By Lim Yan Liang, The Straits Times, 12 Dec 2013
THERE will be no sale of alcohol in Little India this Saturday and Sunday, the authorities confirmed yesterday, as three more men were charged over Sunday night's riot there.
The blanket ban will apply not only to liquor stores but all establishments, from upscale restaurants and bars to more humble convenience stores and hostels.
Any business that flouts the order risks having its licence revoked, said the Liquors Licensing Board.
The announcement comes as the police move to beef up security in the area ahead of the weekend by installing more closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras.
Employers have also started warning their workers to stay away from the area temporarily.
The alcohol ban extends from 6am on Saturday to 5.59am on Monday - a change from an earlier circular sent out that said the ban would be effective for three days, starting tomorrow.
While jittery Little India residents voiced support for the alcohol ban, businesses were quick to express unhappiness.
"A blanket ban is ridiculous. The authorities should consider what kind of business we are and the customers we attract," said Ms Petrina Loh, chef-owner of Morsels, a restaurant in Mayo Street with a mainly expatriate and local clientele.
The action comes in the wake of Sunday's riot that saw police cars overturned and set ablaze by a mob of 400 angered by a traffic accident, which left a 33-year- old Indian national dead.
Yesterday, three more men were charged with rioting, with more details emerging about their involvement on Sunday.
Rajendran Ranjan, 22, Moorthy Kabildev, 24, and Sathiyamoorthy Sivaraman, 26, were alleged to have used a metal drain cover, a dustbin and a wooden stick, among other things, to smash the windscreen and window of the private bus that had run over the man who died.
This brings the total number charged to 27 Indian nationals. Eight others were arrested but released after police established that they were not involved. One man has been released on bail.
Meanwhile, employers began advising workers to avoid trouble this weekend by returning to dormitories earlier or giving Little India a miss altogether.
Many workers told The Straits Times they planned to avoid the place at least for the time being.
Police had said on Tuesday that investigations into the riot were ongoing, with some 3,700 foreign workers interviewed at more than 10 dormitories across the island.
Of these, at least 176 have had their statements taken at the Criminal Investigation Department.
Law Minister K. Shanmugam told about 40 Indian national workers at a dialogue yesterday night that the incident has affected Singapore deeply.
But he assured them that foreign workers who abide by Singapore's laws have no reason to be worried about their jobs, and that Singapore remains steadfast in its commitment to treating them well.
Foreign worker dormitories entice residents to stay in
By Sara Grosse, Channel NewsAsia, 11 Dec 2013
By Sara Grosse, Channel NewsAsia, 11 Dec 2013
Following the announcement of the alcohol ban in Little India this weekend, some dormitories for foreign workers are planning extra activities to encourage their residents to stay in on their day off.
Outdoor movie screenings are usually shown at the Westlite dormitory in Mandai Estate twice a week. The dormitory plans to have such an activity for its residents as an alternative to them going to Little India.
"Based on the incidents of last weekend, we believe that as a dormitory operator we should actually encourage them to avoid going there. So we should create more activities on the weekend to attract them to stay back on the weekend," said Westlite Dormitory chief operating officer Kelvin Teo.
The dormitory plans to host basketball or volleyball competitions this weekend -- something they usually do quarterly but not on Sundays.
Operators say that on average about 70 per cent of their residents leave the premises on their day off, either to run errands or for leisure, though they expect that more will stay in this weekend.
Mr Teo, who is also the President of the Dormitory Association of Singapore, manages three dormitories. He said the police have told him that so far, none of his residents were involved in the riot.
The dormitory is also working with the Migrant Workers Centre to hold an event at its premises this weekend which could involve performances and games.
The Dormitory Association of Singapore has also sent an advisory to its members to be extra vigilant following Sunday's riot in Little India. Members of the association make up about 80 per cent of local dormitories in Singapore.
"We have stepped up security. We have asked our senior staff and our emergency response team -- those who are involved -- to be on the alert. We have also asked the workers to go about their business as per normal," said Dormitory Association of Singapore Secretary General Simon Lee.
After a meeting with the Ministry of Manpower, the Singapore Contractors Association has also sent out a circular to its members to urge them to talk to their workers about the riot.
Straits Construction, a construction company, says it briefed its workers on the legal consequences of the riot.
"We show them the newspaper report and things like that, and advise them that this is not accepted in Singapore and if they are caught doing that, then they'll be subjected to our local law," said executive director Kenneth Loo.
Straits Construction also educates new workers on Singapore laws as well as the health effects of alcoholism.
The Manpower Ministry says it undertakes outreach efforts to educate foreign workers on their responsibilities and social norms. It has not received any news that work sites were disrupted due to the riot.
As for the labour movement, it says it has reached out to workers immediately after the incident to reinforce the view that the actions of a small group do not reflect the views of the majority of foreign workers.
“In fact, the local workers and foreign workers all these years have always been working in harmony, living peacefully together, (and) I think that must continue."
To celebrate International Migrants Day on Sunday, Transient Workers Count 2 will be holding a carnival while the Migrant Workers Centre is holding an event at SCAL Recreation Centre to mark the occasion.
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