I disagree with the writer of the letter “What really matters in Hong Lim Park clash” (Oct 1).
Ironically, his sweeping statements that apparently absolve one party from any and all blame, and his throwing of labels at the protesters are not in the interest of fairness.
Firstly, who started it matters. Provocation has always been a factor in judging a situation.
Secondly, the protesters moved off before the children’s performance began.
Chanting slogans is different from heckling and is precisely what one expects to happen during a demonstration, notably permitted in Singapore only at Hong Lim Park.
For the record, I have never met or communicated with Mr Roy Ngerng or Ms Han Hui Hui.
TERENCE LIM EU SENG
*Article first appeared on TodayOnline Voices Column (2 Oct 2014)
I strongly disagree with Mr Yong Kai Chang and doubt that he really considered the incident from all angles as he claimed (“What really matters in Hong Lim Park clash”; Oct 1).
Ironically, his erroneous sweeping statements that apparently absolve one party from any and all blame, and his throwing of labels at the protestors, are not in the interests of fairness and instead suggest a possible preexisting bias where he may have never held any goodwill or credibility with them to begin with.
Firstly, who started it definitely matters – provocation has always been an important factor when judging a situation.
Secondly, moving off before the performance proves that the group did not heckle the children – or anybody for that matter.
On the contrary, (with or without the taunt initiated by the emcee before the children were rushed out) chanting slogans, which people need to understand is different from heckling, is precisely what is expected to happen during a demonstration – notably permitted in Singapore only at Hong Lim Park unlike YMCA’s event which could and should have been held anywhere else.
For the record, I have never met or communicated with Mr Roy Ngerng or Ms Han Hui Hui.