Inquiry panel tasked with identifying factors behind riot
Beyond establishing how last Sunday’s riot in Little India unfolded and how the authorities managed the incident, the Committee of Inquiry (COI) appointed yesterday by Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean will also identify the factors and circumstances that led to the Republic’s worst outbreak of violence in more than 40 years.
The four-member committee, headed by former Supreme Court judge G Pannir Selvam, will review whether current measures to manage such incidents in areas where foreign workers congregate are adequate. It could also recommend further measures to improve the management of these incidents and prevent such incidents from recurring.
The committee has been tasked to submit a report of its findings and recommendations within six months, and the findings will be made public.
Little India riot raises fears among foreign workers
Many foreign workers feel at home in Singapore despite basic concerns about their lives and jobs but the riot at Little India has raised new fears that all Indian workers will be stereotyped, thereby negating all the good they have done in Singapore.
They hope to move on from the incident soon.
When Indian national Muthukumar first came to Singapore five years ago, he was understandably afraid. It was his first time leaving his homeland, and he did not know anyone in Singapore.
But he soon grew to like the country. Now, the 27-year-old is afraid again.
Mr Muthukumar said that he feels worried, and he wants to ask Singaporeans not to view people from his country as those who “drink and fight”.
For him, friendships with Singaporeans come as a bonus.
Mr Muthukumar said he is upset by the recent riot that allegedly involved some of his countrymen.
"If I (was) there, I (would try) to stop them, because Singapore gave me a life,” he said.
He claimed to be the man that Singaporeans dubbed the Little India hero.
Mr Thangavel Govindarsu, 38, a construction worker, said in an interview with media that he tried to prevent the rioters from attacking a private bus and the bus coordinator.
When shown his picture, bus coordinator Grace Wong Geck Woon said she didn't recognise him.
However, within an hour (while under scrutiny from sceptical journalists), he changed his tune and admitted that he may not be the man in the video.
He insists that he was at the scene, helping off-camera.
SPF Facebook's latest update: Another subject to be charged in court
Police have arrested another subject in relation to the rioting incident at Little India. The subject will be charged in Court on 14 December 2013 at 9am for the offence of Rioting under Section 147 of the Penal Code, Chapter 224.
The total number of subjects charged to be increased to 32.
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