Friday 5 September 2014
Meetup 1
23 August 2014 - researched on 4 sources (1hour)
Meetup 2
31st August 2014 - researched on another 4 sources (1.5 hrs)
We did the comparison of sources and reflection on our own at home, and took around 1 and a half hours to collate everything together :)
All members are present and have contributed equally to this project. No documents are recorded as we did everything on the computer.
Reflection on how i feel about Hock Lee bus riots and what i learnt from the sources.
Main point: How the rioters and police fought
On 27 April, the workers continued to block the gate of the bus depot by forming a human barrier. They refused to move despite repeated warnings. The police then used batons to disperse the crowds resulting in 15 people injured. The police action generated sympathy for the workers, which I felt was what had also gained them support. Eight hundred SBWU members employed by other companies also stopped work between 10 am and 2 pm on that day to protest against “police bullying”. Based on source 2, it states about the Hock Lee Bus Riots that “It was an era where chaos and disorder were used as political tools to gain control”. This show how violent the whole process was, and how disagreements in terms of political issues can lead to such tensions within the country.
Main point: How did the workers started the riot?
Based on sources 1 and 8, there was also no bus services by the Hock Lee Amalgamated Bus Company. Eight hundred SBWU members employed by other companies stopped work between 10 am and 2 pm on that day to protest against “police bullying”. I feel that their methods of protesting against police was very effective, as it affects the whole country and forced everybody to think about the situation they were in, thus making students from schools such as Chung Cheng High protest along with them.
[Main point: Why did they start the strike[Hock Lee Bus Riots]?]
In February 1955, 250 workers of the Hock Lee Bus company joined the Singapore Bus Worker's Union led by Fong Swee Suan. I feel that they did this because they wanted to obtain increased wages and improved working conditions for everyone, such as the employees.
In response. the bus company dismissed 2 employees who were branch officials of the SBWU. They probably did this to prevent troubles or protests from happening. I feel that what the company did was wrong because i believed the workers have the rights to ask for higher wages and its a bit sudden that the company decides to sack 2 workers.
This tension between the bus workers and their management later erupted into a series of disputes. On 24 March 1955, about 100 Hock Lee drivers and conductors took the day off when their management refused to grant them leave to attend a SBWU meeting. I feel that the whole riot probably started because the workers are unsatisfied about the bus company's treatment to them. They find it unfair when they simply asked for increase wages. The company viewed the incident as a case of mass resignation by the workers and hired workers from its own employees’ union to continue bus services.5
Main point: How the rioters and police fought
On 27 April, the workers continued to block the gate of the bus depot by forming a human barrier. They refused to move despite repeated warnings. The police then used batons to disperse the crowds resulting in 15 people injured. The police action generated sympathy for the workers, which I felt was what had also gained them support. Eight hundred SBWU members employed by other companies also stopped work between 10 am and 2 pm on that day to protest against “police bullying”. Based on source 2, it states about the Hock Lee Bus Riots that “It was an era where chaos and disorder were used as political tools to gain control”. This show how violent the whole process was, and how disagreements in terms of political issues can lead to such tensions within the country.
Main point: How did the workers started the riot?
Based on sources 1 and 8, there was also no bus services by the Hock Lee Amalgamated Bus Company. Eight hundred SBWU members employed by other companies stopped work between 10 am and 2 pm on that day to protest against “police bullying”. I feel that their methods of protesting against police was very effective, as it affects the whole country and forced everybody to think about the situation they were in, thus making students from schools such as Chung Cheng High protest along with them.
[Main point: Why did they start the strike[Hock Lee Bus Riots]?]
In February 1955, 250 workers of the Hock Lee Bus company joined the Singapore Bus Worker's Union led by Fong Swee Suan. I feel that they did this because they wanted to obtain increased wages and improved working conditions for everyone, such as the employees.
In response. the bus company dismissed 2 employees who were branch officials of the SBWU. They probably did this to prevent troubles or protests from happening. I feel that what the company did was wrong because i believed the workers have the rights to ask for higher wages and its a bit sudden that the company decides to sack 2 workers.
This tension between the bus workers and their management later erupted into a series of disputes. On 24 March 1955, about 100 Hock Lee drivers and conductors took the day off when their management refused to grant them leave to attend a SBWU meeting. I feel that the whole riot probably started because the workers are unsatisfied about the bus company's treatment to them. They find it unfair when they simply asked for increase wages. The company viewed the incident as a case of mass resignation by the workers and hired workers from its own employees’ union to continue bus services.5
Source 7
At midnight the rioters had entrenched themselves behind barricades in Tiong Bahru Road and Alexandra road from where they attacked police and civilian cars. Bricks and stones were being used as weapons. The rioters are believed to have taken a revolver from a detective who was found unconscious after being beaten up. They were stated to have used it against a police lorry. So far 19 people have been arrested on charges of rioting and unlawful assembly. none of them are students.
Rioters battle the police( 1955, May, 13), The Straits Times, page 1. Retrieved 4/9/2014 from Source.
SOURCE 8
There will again be no bus services today along River Valley Road, Tiong Bharu Road Alexandra Road and other bus routes served by the Hock Lee Amalgamated Bus Company. At the suggestion by the police commissioner, Mr NIgel Morris, the company has decided to suspend operations for another day. Mr Morris first asked the company to stay off the road yesterday -" in the interests of public order." His request followed a clash on Wednesday between police and sacked employees of the company picketing the company's depot in Alexandra Road.
It's another walk to work day-buses still off the road (1955 April 29), The Straits Times, page 1. Retrieved 4/9/2014 from Source
At midnight the rioters had entrenched themselves behind barricades in Tiong Bahru Road and Alexandra road from where they attacked police and civilian cars. Bricks and stones were being used as weapons. The rioters are believed to have taken a revolver from a detective who was found unconscious after being beaten up. They were stated to have used it against a police lorry. So far 19 people have been arrested on charges of rioting and unlawful assembly. none of them are students.
Rioters battle the police( 1955, May, 13), The Straits Times, page 1. Retrieved 4/9/2014 from Source.
SOURCE 8
There will again be no bus services today along River Valley Road, Tiong Bharu Road Alexandra Road and other bus routes served by the Hock Lee Amalgamated Bus Company. At the suggestion by the police commissioner, Mr NIgel Morris, the company has decided to suspend operations for another day. Mr Morris first asked the company to stay off the road yesterday -" in the interests of public order." His request followed a clash on Wednesday between police and sacked employees of the company picketing the company's depot in Alexandra Road.
It's another walk to work day-buses still off the road (1955 April 29), The Straits Times, page 1. Retrieved 4/9/2014 from Source
Sunday 24 August 2014
Compare and Contrast
Comparison of sources Both sources A and B are similar in that there is political repression by British Government. Source A says,"I think you know, when I was elected and appointed Chief Minister, I was told I had no office, no clerk, no thambi."
This shows that the British Government didn't treat the local government as how they treated the British government, and treated them more lowly than the British government.
Similarly, source B says,"Out on the streets, Chinese students ignored the government's official closure of their schools, and in a repeat of the previous year locked themselves into their classrooms, where they established their own revolutionary curriculum."
This shows that the British government didn't respect the rights of the Chinese students, and thus the Chinese students had to protest against the government. The difference in both Sources A and B is the goals for both parties.
In source A, David Marshall aims for independence for Singapore and in Source B the chinese students hopes for their own revolutionary cirriculum.
Source A states that"Merdeka!People of Singapore!"
This shows he wants the citizens of Singapore to oppose against the rule of the British and self-govern their own country.He wants to unite the citizens of Singapore to establish their own Independence.
In contrast,Source B states "Chinese students ignored the Government's official closure of their schools , and in repeat of their previos year locked themselves into their classrooms, where they established their own revolutionary cirriculum."
This shows that the chinese students strongly disagree with the present cirriculum and are revolting by forcibly confining themselves in the classrooms and creating their own cirriculum. Thus both Source A and B are different in terms of goals for Singapore.
Comparison of sources Both sources A and B are similar in that there is political repression by British Government. Source A says,"I think you know, when I was elected and appointed Chief Minister, I was told I had no office, no clerk, no thambi."
This shows that the British Government didn't treat the local government as how they treated the British government, and treated them more lowly than the British government.
Similarly, source B says,"Out on the streets, Chinese students ignored the government's official closure of their schools, and in a repeat of the previous year locked themselves into their classrooms, where they established their own revolutionary curriculum."
This shows that the British government didn't respect the rights of the Chinese students, and thus the Chinese students had to protest against the government. The difference in both Sources A and B is the goals for both parties.
In source A, David Marshall aims for independence for Singapore and in Source B the chinese students hopes for their own revolutionary cirriculum.
Source A states that"Merdeka!People of Singapore!"
This shows he wants the citizens of Singapore to oppose against the rule of the British and self-govern their own country.He wants to unite the citizens of Singapore to establish their own Independence.
In contrast,Source B states "Chinese students ignored the Government's official closure of their schools , and in repeat of their previos year locked themselves into their classrooms, where they established their own revolutionary cirriculum."
This shows that the chinese students strongly disagree with the present cirriculum and are revolting by forcibly confining themselves in the classrooms and creating their own cirriculum. Thus both Source A and B are different in terms of goals for Singapore.
1st source
Source:
On 27 April, the workers continued to block the gate of the bus depot by forming a human barrier. They refused to move despite repeated warnings. The police then used batons to disperse the crowds resulting in 15 people injured. The police action generated sympathy for the workers. Eight hundred SBWU members employed by other companies stopped work between 10 am and 2 pm on that day to protest against “police bullying”.
Author
Stephanie Ho, S.H, 6 August 2014, Hock Lee bus strike and riot, 22nd August 2014
Stephanie Ho, S.H, 6 August 2014, Hock Lee bus strike and riot, 22nd August 2014
2nd source
“The Hock Lee bus riots is a dark reminder of how quickly the radical left could mastermind and unleash chaos. It was an era where chaos and disorder were used as political tools to gain control. But in the midst of hardship and suffering, conflict and sacrifice, Singapore found a way to peace, prosperity, and independence.”
Source:
http://www.theonlinecitizen.com/2014/02/hock-lee-bus-riots-fact-or-fiction-by-cna-part-2/
Thursday 21 August 2014
[Source 3]
1955 - S'pore's 'blackest' year
Benita Aw Yeong shows you why Singaporeans have zero tolerance for illegal strikes. -TNP
Benita Aw Yeong
Tue, Dec 04, 2012
The New Paper
SINGAPORE - Newspaper reports called 1955 "Singapore's blackest year of industrial unrest", with 271 strikes recorded as of November that year.
Using recollections collected by the Oral History Centre of the National Archives, Benita Aw Yeong shows you why Singaporeans have zero tolerance for illegal strikes.
Hock Lee Bus Strikes and RiotsWhen: May 12, 1955
What happened: A strike broke out at the Hock Lee Bus Company after 200 members of the Singapore Bus Workers' Union were dismissed.
This later erupted into a full-scale riot between the police and striking workers, who were joined by about 2,000 Chinese middle-school students who showed up to lend their support. Four people were killed and 31 were injured. The strike lasted 142 days, making it the longest in post-war Singapore.
"There were demonstrations and riots in Alexandra area where the bus depot was... At the circus, the students put up road blocks and they stood around in a mass. Some of them moved forward... throwing stones, daring the police to retaliate.
"And this went on for about half an hour I think. Then suddenly, there was a fire... word came through the loudspeakers that they'd overturned a car... they were burning the car and attacking the passengers.
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| Source 4 |
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| Source 5 |
[Source 6]
12 May 1955 – Hock Lee Bus Riots
A violent riot happened on the 12th of May 1955 when the Chinese middle school students joined the dismissed workers of the bus companies in protests.The bus workers had been demonstrating since late April by preventing the buses from leaving their garages. The two-day clashes with the police resulted in four deaths; two policemen, a journalist and a student, and a further 31 injuries.The riot ended after the Hock Lee Bus Company agreed a settlement with the bus workers’ union.
Website:http://remembersingapore.wordpress.com/2013/12/09/two-decades-of-chaos/
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