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Sunday, August 31, 2008 @ 9:25 PM♥

What are the challenges of multi-ethnicity in singapore?
-Issues such as race and religion can be used to cause conflict among the differrent groups in singapore. The lack of understanding among the racial groups can create suspicion and unhappiness among the people. This may lead tooutbreaks of violence among racial groups.

- How religious issues could divide people.
1) What were the events that led to the Maria Hertogh riots of 1950s ?
1940s, a dutch couple was imprisoned by the japaneses. They placed their daughter, Maria Hertogh, under the care of a malay lady, Aminah. Maria was raised as a muslim and at the age of 13, she married a malay teacher. When Maria parents demanded that Maria be returned to them, a court trial followed. This court trial had wide media coverage and caused unhappiness among the Muslim community.
Maria made it clear that she wanted to stay with Aminah and do not want to be returned to her real parents. However, the High Court ruled on the 17 of May after a short hearing of about 15 minutes that the custody of Maria be entitled to the Hertoghs. Aminah and Maria exited the court through the backdoor, a car from the Consulate was waiting to take Maria away.
At first, Maria refused to enter the car and clung on to Aminah, both shouting in Malay that they would kill themselves than be separated . Large crowd quickly formed around the commotion. It was only after much persuasion that Aminah agreed to enter the car together with Maria and pay a visit to her lawyer, who explained that Maria had to be given up until an appeal was made. Maria and Aminah parted in tears.

2) What were the causes of the Maria Hertogh riots ?
The appeal hearing opened on 11 December. Maria stayed at the convent and did not attend. Since early morning, crowds were carrying banners and flags with star and crescent symbols began to gather around the Court. Around noon, when the hearing eventually began, the restive crowd had grown to about 2,000-3,000 in number. Unbelievably, the court threw out the appeal within five minutes. The brevity of the hearing convinced the gathering that the system was biased against Muslims and the riots erupted.

3) What happened during the riots?
The mob which largely consisted of Malay or Indonesian Muslims, local Chinese gangs moved out to attack any Europeans and even Eurasians in sight. They overturned cars and burnt them. The police force, its lower ranks largely consisted of Malays who sympathized with the rioter's cause, were ineffective in stopping the riots. By nightfall the riots had spread to even the more remote parts of the island. Help from the British military was enlisted. Meanwhile, various Muslim leaders appealed over the radio for the riots to cease.
Reinforcements arrived early on 12 December, but the riots continued on that day. The troops and police only managed to regain control of the situation around noon on 13 December.

4) What were the consequences of the riots?
In total, 18 people were killed, among whom were seven Europeans or Eurasians, two police officers, and nine rioters shot by the police or military, 173 were injured, many of them were seriously injured, 119 vehicles were damaged, and at least two buildings were set on fire. Two weeks of 24-hour curfew were imposed, and it was a long time before complete law and order was re-established. Both the british and malayan troops as well as the singapore police were called in to maintain peace.

5)What were the lessons learnt from the riots?
The importances of social cohesion in the community

I learn that there is a need to manage racial and religious sensitivities and promote tolerance and harmony. It is also the responsibilities of the people to prevent division among people in the society, staying active in identifying threats and strengthening social bonds. Irresponsible media reporting or newspapaer can be a trigger to issues of race which can cause distrust, suspicion and even hostility among the race groups. Difference in religious beliefs and practices are also issues that can be used to create tension.

Done by : Ying Xi (: