Singapore Min: May Allow Outdoor Protests In Set Area
2008/02/29
SINGAPORE (AFP)--Singapore, which has tight restrictions on public assembly, may allow outdoor demonstrations in a designated area, the home affairs minister has told parliament.
Wong Kan Seng said the authorities are considering allowing demonstrations at the city’s Speakers’ Corner, an area allocated for limited free speech.
“We are presently reviewing how we can further liberalize the use of Speaker’s Corner as an outdoor venue for more political activities including demonstrations,” he said in a transcript of his remarks obtained Friday.
It is illegal to hold a public gathering of five or more people in Singapore without a permit, meaning demonstrations seldom occur.
The government created the Speakers’ Corner as an outdoor venue for political speeches in 2000 but it is rarely used. Speakers must register with police and abide by a list of posted rules, which forbid discussion of religion or topics that might provoke racial tension.
Singapore’s leaders say tough laws against dissent and other political activity are necessary to ensure the stability which has helped the city-state achieve economic success.
But Wong, speaking Thursday, said “real changes” have occurred over the years, including more divergent views expressed through the Internet and other avenues. Indoor demonstrations are allowed, he said.
“Our experiences in the past have taught us to be very circumspect about outdoor and street protests,” he said, referring to deadly riots in the multiracial society more than 40 years ago.
I follow the Moskva Down to Gorky Park Listening to the wind of change An August summer night Soldiers passing by Listening to the wind of change
The world is closing in Did you ever think That we could be so close, like brothers The future's in the air I can feel it everywhere Blowing with the wind of change
Take me to the magic of the moment On a glory night Where the children of tomorrow dream away In the wind of change
Walking down the street Distant memories Are buried in the past forever I follow the Moskva Down to Gorky Park Listening to the wind of change
Take me to the magic of the moment On a glory night Where the children of tomorrow dream away In the wind of change
The wind of change Blows straight into the face of time Like a storm wind that will ring the freedom bell For peace of mind Let your balalaika sing What my guitar wants to say
Take me to the magic of the moment On a glory night Where the children of tomorrow dream away In the wind of change
"What has been, that will be; what has been done, that will be done. Nothing is new under the sun. Even the thing of which we say, "See, this is new!" has already existed in the ages that preceded us. There is no remembrance of the men of old; nor of those to come will there be any remembrance among those who come after them."
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Singapore Min: May Allow Outdoor Protests In Set Area
2008/02/29
SINGAPORE (AFP)--Singapore, which has tight restrictions on public assembly, may allow outdoor demonstrations in a designated area, the home affairs minister has told parliament.
Wong Kan Seng said the authorities are considering allowing demonstrations at the city’s Speakers’ Corner, an area allocated for limited free speech.
“We are presently reviewing how we can further liberalize the use of Speaker’s Corner as an outdoor venue for more political activities including demonstrations,” he said in a transcript of his remarks obtained Friday.
It is illegal to hold a public gathering of five or more people in Singapore without a permit, meaning demonstrations seldom occur.
The government created the Speakers’ Corner as an outdoor venue for political speeches in 2000 but it is rarely used. Speakers must register with police and abide by a list of posted rules, which forbid discussion of religion or topics that might provoke racial tension.
Singapore’s leaders say tough laws against dissent and other political activity are necessary to ensure the stability which has helped the city-state achieve economic success.
But Wong, speaking Thursday, said “real changes” have occurred over the years, including more divergent views expressed through the Internet and other avenues. Indoor demonstrations are allowed, he said.
“Our experiences in the past have taught us to be very circumspect about outdoor and street protests,” he said, referring to deadly riots in the multiracial society more than 40 years ago.
Wind Of Change - Scorpions
I follow the Moskva
Down to Gorky Park
Listening to the wind of change
An August summer night
Soldiers passing by
Listening to the wind of change
The world is closing in
Did you ever think
That we could be so close, like brothers
The future's in the air
I can feel it everywhere
Blowing with the wind of change
Take me to the magic of the moment
On a glory night
Where the children of tomorrow dream away
In the wind of change
Walking down the street
Distant memories
Are buried in the past forever
I follow the Moskva
Down to Gorky Park
Listening to the wind of change
Take me to the magic of the moment
On a glory night
Where the children of tomorrow dream away
In the wind of change
The wind of change
Blows straight into the face of time
Like a storm wind that will ring the freedom bell
For peace of mind
Let your balalaika sing
What my guitar wants to say
Take me to the magic of the moment
On a glory night
Where the children of tomorrow dream away
In the wind of change
大约二千年前, 有个人说过一些话,它的真理响彻了几个世纪:
“一代过去，一代又来。地却永远长存。日头出来，日头落下，急归所出之地。风往南刮，又向北转，不往的旋转，而且返回转行原道。江河都往海里流，流却不满。江河从何处流，乃归何处……。已有的事，后必再有。已行的事，后必再行。日光之下并无新事。”
"What has been, that will be; what has been done, that will be done. Nothing is new under the sun. Even the thing of which we say, "See, this is new!" has already existed in the ages that preceded us. There is no remembrance of the men of old; nor of those to come will there be any remembrance among those who come after them."
Ecclesiastes 1:9-11
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