Only Hindus allowed religious foot processions; lion dances are 'social'
By Lim Yi Han, The Straits Times, 7 Feb 2015
By Lim Yi Han, The Straits Times, 7 Feb 2015
HINDUS should not feel they are being discriminated against just because musical instruments are not allowed during Thaipusam.
Instead, they need to realise they are the only ones here allowed to hold not just one but three religious foot processions, said Law Minister K. Shanmugam yesterday. "No other religion is given this privilege."
In an extensive Facebook post, Mr Shanmugam responded to questions that were raised by netizens after three men were arrested for scuffling with police during Tuesday's Thaipusam procession. The men got involved after another group was told to stop the use of traditional drums at the behest of organisers.
Post by K Shanmugam Sc.
After videos of the disturbance were put up on the Internet, netizens debated why devotees could not play their drums and other instruments in the Thaipusam procession. They asked why there were no similar restrictions for lion dances and the use of kompangs during weddings.
Mr Shanmugam said the questions, while fair, came from a misunderstanding of the rules. He pointed out that all religious foot processions were banned in Singapore in 1964 in the wake of race riots that year.
But Hindus were given an exemption and have been allowed three processions on major roads - Thaipusam, Panguni Uthiram and Thimithi.
"When other non-Hindu religious groups apply to hold foot processions, they are usually rejected. On rare occasions when it is given, stringent conditions will be imposed including much shorter routes, unlike Thaipusam, which lasts the whole day and goes through major roads."
He also pointed out that while Thaipusam is a religious event, the Chinese lion dance and the use of the Malay hand drum are for social and community events.
"The ban on religious foot processions... is because they carry a particular sensitivity - the risk of incidents is considered to be higher," he added, although he pointed out that rules were relaxed to allow instruments in temples during Thaipusam.
Mr Shanmugam, however, did not close the door on instruments being played during the procession to support carriers of the kavadi - a decorated canopy that can be held with piercings.
"This is a matter that can be debated. There were incidents in the past which led to the tightening up. Whether the rules should be relaxed, and under what conditions music should be allowed... is something the HEB (Hindu Endowments Board) has to discuss with the agencies."
On Thursday, Second Minister for Home Affairs S. Iswaran said in Madrid that the ban on instruments applied to all foot processions, regardless of religion, and had been in place since 1973. It was a result of past instances of fights between competing musicians, and disruption to the procession and to devotees.
Mr Shanmugam yesterday also urged Singaporeans to back the country's police after questions were raised over the way they handled Tuesday's incident. He pointed out that one of the men assaulted the police, and all three used vulgarities. One officer needed hospital treatment.
"We cannot allow them (police officers) to be demeaned, assaulted. Right-thinking Singaporeans will find this completely unacceptable," he said.
"If police officers misbehave, they should be disciplined. But gratuitous attacks on the police cannot be allowed and should not be tolerated. We as Singaporeans should come forward and say no to such attacks."
Grassroots leader S. Lakshmanan, 57, hopes people will now move on from the incident and engage in dialogue with the authorities instead of making unfounded allegations online. "It is the people's prerogative to negotiate what they want with the Government, but they should do it in the correct manner," he said.
Mrs Parvathi Annanth, chief executive and legal counsel of Sree Maha Mariamman Temple in Yishun, added: "We can take the points up with the authorities using proper channels. We should not act impulsively."
Holidays cut after consultations
By Lim Yi Han, The Straits Times, 7 Feb 2015
By Lim Yi Han, The Straits Times, 7 Feb 2015
WHEN Singapore's public holidays were cut from 16 to the current 11 nearly half a century ago, it was done only after consulting various religious groups.
This was made clear by then Law Minister E.W. Barker, before Parliament debated the Bill to amend the nation's Holidays Act in 1968.
At that time, the British had already announced they would pull their forces out of Singapore, and there were concerns about the impact this would have on the country's economy, soon after dealing with another upheaval - the exit from Malaysia.
It was decided that holidays would be cut back so that residents here could be given "every opportunity to make their contribution towards the national effort to remain viable economically, and progress even during the difficult years ahead",
Mr Barker said.
He went on to tell Parliament that views of the various religious communities here had been taken into account. "The Hindus, for example, given the choice of having Deepavali or Thaipusam as a public holiday, have chosen the former," he said.
The Muslims, after discussions with the Muslim Advisory Board, retained Hari Raya Puasa and Hari Raya Haji, while the Christians kept Christmas and Good Friday, Mr Barker added. Among the holidays dropped were Easter Monday and Prophet Muhammad's birthday.
"Thus it will be seen that the choice of holidays that will be retained in Singapore have had the blessings of the Inter-Religious Organisation, an organisation represented by all the religious persuasions in Singapore," said Mr Barker then.
In 2009, the Manpower Ministry reiterated that the public holidays here were "chosen and agreed upon after close consultation with different community and religious leaders".
There have recently been calls among some Hindus to reinstate Thaipusam as a public holiday. A petition on campaigning website change.org has garnered more than 14,900 signatures.
Compared to other countries, Singapore's 11 national public holidays puts it somewhere in the middle of the pack.
It has more than Britain, which has eight, and Australia which has seven, although individual territories may declare their own holidays.
Malaysia has 15 national holidays while China has 22, including five days for the Chinese New Year period.
Street procession rules, including music ban, help keep events safe and peaceful: S. Iswaran
Rules for street events 'for public good'
Iswaran: Need to balance allowing religious events with keeping order
By Zakir Hussain Deputy Political Editor In Madrid And Danson Cheong, The Straits Times, 6 Feb 2015
Rules for street events 'for public good'
Iswaran: Need to balance allowing religious events with keeping order
By Zakir Hussain Deputy Political Editor In Madrid And Danson Cheong, The Straits Times, 6 Feb 2015
RULES for street processions, including the use of musical instruments, have been put in place to manage events for the greater public good, Second Home Affairs Minister S. Iswaran said in Madrid in comments on reports of a scuffle during the Thaipusam procession.
He said there had to be a balance between allowing important religious events to take place and preserving order.
A longstanding ban on playing musical instruments during such processions has been in place as a result of past instances of fights between competing groups of musicians, and disruption to the procession and to devotees.
Regulations are made known to participants clearly, he said, adding that the vast majority over the years have had no problems complying with the requirements. Mr Iswaran was speaking to Singapore journalists after online videos showing the scuffle sparked debate about the incident and the rules on playing of musical instruments.
On Tuesday, organisers asked a group to stop playing drums at the junction of Serangoon and Desker roads. Police were called. A scuffle ensued and three Singaporean men were arrested.
Mr Iswaran is accompanying Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on an official visit to Germany and Spain. In addressing the ban on playing instruments during such processions, which came into force in 1973, he noted that the Hindu Endowments Board (HEB) allowed musical instruments to be used within the temple premises. He also said that there is a provision that religious hymns could be sung, "which is in keeping with the sanctity and the spiritual nature of the event". Setting the context for these rules, he said Thaipusam is a very important religious occasion for Hindus.
Between 9,000 and 10,000 devotees carry kavadis and milk pots during the annual procession.
The Government recognises the event's significance and sanctity for the Hindu community. This is why, even though religious foot processions had been banned since the 1964 racial riots, special concessions and provisions were made for Thaipusam and two other Hindu festivals, Mr Iswaran said.
But the scale of participation at Thaipusam and the fact that the 4.5km procession goes through major roads meant that the HEB had to work with the authorities to ensure the event's peace and safety.
As a result, rules on musical instruments were needed, he said.
Tuesday's incident, which police are investigating, involved "a small group who behaved in an unruly manner and without heeding police advice and warnings. We should let the investigations take their course and then we see what the outcomes are". The larger point of note, he said, was that in Singapore's multi-religious society, everyone had to make accommodations and concessions.
"There must be mutual understanding and respect for each other's practices while we celebrate our respective festivals or events. We also need to take into account the need to maintain an overall balance in society in order to preserve safety and law and order. That's the context in which we should look at this.
"We shouldn't allow the actions of a few individuals to disrupt the kind of harmony we have worked very hard to preserve over the years."
Mr Iswaran was also concerned about misrepresentations and rumours about the incident and called for people to exercise calm and restraint: "If there are any concerns or issues, let's take them up. We have the due process and we have channels to deliberate on those, and we can see what outcomes can be achieved."
Meanwhile, the trio arrested - Mr Segar Rajendran, 33; Mr Jayakumar Krishnasamy, 32; and 28-year-old Ramachandra Chandramohan - spoke to The Straits Times yesterday about the incident.
The relatives were at the procession with Mr Segar's brother - one of the 280 kavadi bearers. They had hired a group to play traditional Indian drums during the procession. They said they were taken by surprise when the drummers were asked to step out of the procession by plainclothes officers. "I went there to confront them, I didn't know they were police because they were not wearing uniforms," said Mr Segar, adding that he had paid $800 for the drummers' services. "I told them, 'If you ask me to leave, pay me the $800 and I'll go.' If I had known, I wouldn't have reacted that way."
According to a police statement on Wednesday, the men arrested had smelt of alcohol. The Straits Times understands that samples of blood had been taken and results are expected next week.
Mr Segar, who was released from remand yesterday along with the other two, said none of them had a drink on Tuesday. When approached, a police spokesman said: "It is inappropriate to comment as investigations are ongoing."
* Three Singaporean men charged with disorderly behavior, attacking police at Thaipusam event
By Toh Yong Chuan, The Straits Times, 7 Feb 2015
By Toh Yong Chuan, The Straits Times, 7 Feb 2015
Three Singaporean men were charged in court on Saturday morning for disorderly behavior and attacking police officers at a Thaipusam event held earlier in the week.
Ramachandra Chandramohan, 32, was alleged to have punched, kicked and verbally abused four police officers. He was also charged with disorderly behavior and faces seven charges in total, the highest number among the trio.
Jaya Kumar Krishnasamy, 28, faces three charges. He was charged with disorderly behavior, allegedly hurling vulgarities at a police officer and obstructing another police officer from carrying out his duties.
Gunasegaran Rajendran, 33, faces a disorderly behavior charge and is alleged to have abused a police officer.
The trio were calm and emotionless when their charges were read to them in court through an interpreter.
They were accompanied to court by four family members and friends. It is unclear how they are related, but one family member who declined to be named said that the three men are cousins.
The three men were part of a group which hired drummers in the Thaipusam procession. The drummers were asked to stop playing by the police and a scuffle broke out.
A video of the scuffle was posted online and it sparked online outcry, with some members of the public asking why is music banned at Thaipusam while lion dances and Malay wedding music are allowed in public.
Responding, Second Minister for Home Affairs S. Iswaran said on Thursday that the ban on music instruments applied to all foot processions, including religious events, since 1973.
Law and Foreign Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam also said on Friday that lion dances and Malay wedding music are social events, not religious processions. He added that only Hindus are allowed to hold religious foot processions and urged the public to back police's actions at the Thaipusam event.
The trio are on police bail and their cases will be heard in court again on March 6. If convicted, they face maximum jail sentences of between three months and seven years, maximum fines of between $2,000 and $5,000, or both.
Ramachandra Chandramohan is also liable to be caned if convicted of attacking police officers.
Cops arrest three for scuffle during Thaipusam festival
By Danson Cheong And Lim Yi Han, The Straits Times, 5 Feb 2015
By Danson Cheong And Lim Yi Han, The Straits Times, 5 Feb 2015
THREE Singaporean men have been arrested over a scuffle that broke out on Tuesday evening during the annual Thaipusam procession.
The group refused, and a fracas ensued at the junction of Desker Road and Serangoon Road. Police were called in, and during the commotion, three bystanders aged 28, 32 and 33 allegedly hurled vulgarities at officers and injured one of them.
Videos of the incident that were posted on Facebook showed a tense situation, with officers and devotees pushing and shouting at one another.
One video showed a woman falling to the ground after being pushed. Shortly after, a group of what looked like plainclothes officers was seen pinning a man to the ground.
Some netizens have questioned the behaviour of the officers, saying excessive force was used, while others wondered if they were too conservative.
When asked, a police spokesman said "necessary force was used to subdue the three suspects as they were violent".
One of the drummers, Mr Vik Silvaraj, 31, said police called his group of 11 out of the procession, and told them the temple management had asked that they stop playing. He added that his group was paid $500 to accompany a kavadi bearer and play music to encourage him.
Under guidelines for the Thaipusam festival by the Hindu Endowments Board, "music, gongs, drums or music producing equipment" are banned.
While Mr Vik and a second group of musicians were being questioned, the 33-year-old suspect started asking the police why the drums were not allowed.
He was warned to calm down, but persisted with his "disorderly behaviour", said a police spokesman, who added that while the man was being arrested, the other two suspects came forward to intervene. The 32-year-old assaulted three officers in the process.
The spokesman said the men "smelt strongly of alcohol", and one police officer had to be taken to hospital.
To defuse the situation, police officers were seen forming a human cordon around the area and asking the crowd to disperse.
MP Vikram Nair, who is on the Government Parliamentary Committee for Home Affairs and Law, said: "Law and order need to be maintained even as we take part in our traditional celebrations."
Meanwhile, Mr Vik, who left the area after being told to disperse and rejoined the procession down the road, said: "We are not gangsters, we were just playing devotional songs - this is part of our tradition and heritage."
Netizens question ban on playing of music at festival
By Lim Yi Han And Danson Cheong, The Straits Times, 5 Feb 2015
By Lim Yi Han And Danson Cheong, The Straits Times, 5 Feb 2015
SINCE 1973, the playing of music has been banned at the annual Hindu festival of Thaipusam.
But as videos of Tuesday's scuffle between police officers and participants made the rounds online yesterday, some netizens questioned the 42-year-old legislation.
In 2011, the Hindu Endowments Board (HEB) published guidelines in an effort to prevent Thaipusam participants from contravening the ban.
It republished them online two months before this year's event, and they specified that no singing, music, gongs, drums or equipment producing music would be allowed during the procession - other than the singing of hymns.
The 1973 ban was a result of serious traffic congestion. Eight years later, a Parliament report explained the decision further.
It said: "In the years prior to 1973, music en route was permitted for the kavadi procession. However, the police observed that with the accompaniment of music, the pace of the procession was slowed down.
"Further, the supporters, relatives and friends accompanying the devotees tended to dance to the beat of the music and occupied too large a portion of the road.
"The music also attracted large crowds of spectators. The result of this was that traffic flow was completely disrupted, creating huge traffic congestions in the city. Hence, the ban was imposed in 1973."
In 2011, Law Minister K. Shanmugam pointed out that the guidelines did allow hymn singing, which represented "a relaxation of the rules".
But netizens yesterday asked why music is allowed on other occasions, such as during lion dance performances for Chinese New Year and at Malay weddings.
Mrs Parvathi Annanth, chief executive and legal counsel of Sree Maha Mariamman Temple in Yishun, said this was "a very different scenario and context" and "not an apple-to-apple comparison".
But she acknowledged that Hindu devotees may immerse themselves in meditation as they walk during Thaipusam and, if allowed, light music from traditional Indian instruments could help them focus and alleviate the discomfort they experience while carrying kavadis.
Lawyer Sunil Sudheesan, 35, a Hindu, said: "Music is integral to the occasion. It energises and motivates the devotees and helps with the spiritual focus. The HEB can consider asking the authorities to expand the scope of permissible music, if it is currently deemed too restrictive."