Singapore activist found guilty of hosting ‘illegal assembly’ via Skype • Hacker News Board

Re: Singapore activist found guilty of hosting ‘illegal assembly’ via Skype

#21

Post by jopsen » Fri, Jan 04, 2019, 9:29 AM UTC

oth001 wrote: post #19

nindalf wrote: post #15

I see people in this thread surprised that this is happening in Singapore, a “modern” country. Singapore is certainly wealthy, the population is highly educated, institutions aren’t corrupt, all of which is great. However, the political system resembles a democracy only superficially. Every election since 1965 has been won by the same party. It is inconceivable that the People’s Action Party wouldn’t win an election…

Similar to America where Republicans and Democrats are really no different from each other in the grand scheme of things.

Wow,

Not true, it looks so from where you're sitting. But politics change a lot over time.

It's slow moving and in a two party system, you are unlikely to see big differences between either side.

That said, the world would have looked differently had Hilary won in 2016.

Re: Singapore activist found guilty of hosting ‘illegal assembly’ via Skype

#22

Post by hkt » Fri, Jan 04, 2019, 9:30 AM UTC

thunderbong wrote: post #18

Key points from the article - TL;DR - Speaker was on Skype. 121 people gathered together to listen to him. Police had told the organizer to get a permit, which he didn't. Location was inside a public mall. >>> On November 26, 2016, Wham organized an indoor forum called “Civil Disobedience and Social Movements” at a small event space inside a shopping mall in Singapore. The event featured prominent Hong Kong student a…

I assume that in summary you're not taking a view..

Re: Singapore activist found guilty of hosting ‘illegal assembly’ via Skype

#23

Post by flag_bcz_mad » Fri, Jan 04, 2019, 9:33 AM UTC

Why does everyone assume democracy is good? It clearly wasn’t necessary for Singapore. A well run “dictatorship” is much better than your average democracy. I would concede that a democracy filled with the right people is the best but in reality it is very rare to come upon a population that is actually ready to govern itself. People generally have extremely reductionist and incorrect opinions about such things in my experience.

Re: Singapore activist found guilty of hosting ‘illegal assembly’ via Skype

#24

Post by zAy0LfpBZLC8mAC » Fri, Jan 04, 2019, 9:36 AM UTC

gioele wrote: post #13

saagarjha wrote: post #3

> In Singapore, it is a criminal offence under the Public Order Act to organize or participate in a public assembly without a police permit. :(

I suppose that organizing or participating in a public assembly without a police permit is illegal more or less everywhere in the world. The question is whether "the Internet" is a public place or not. Case in point: Italy. A) According to article 18 of the consolidated act on public security (TULPS) it is mandatory to inform the police whenever a gathering is organized in a "public place" [1]. B) the Corte di cassaz…

> A) According to article 18 of the consolidated act on public security (TULPS) it is mandatory to inform the police whenever a gathering is organized in a "public place" [1].

That says nothing about a permit being required.

Re: Singapore activist found guilty of hosting ‘illegal assembly’ via Skype

#25

Post by spuz » Fri, Jan 04, 2019, 9:41 AM UTC

jopsen wrote: post #21

oth001 wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Similar to America where Republicans and Democrats are really no different from each other in the grand scheme of things.

Wow, Not true, it looks so from where you're sitting. But politics change a lot over time. It's slow moving and in a two party system, you are unlikely to see big differences between either side. That said, the world would have looked differently had Hilary won in 2016.

Or Gore in 2001

Re: Singapore activist found guilty of hosting ‘illegal assembly’ via Skype

#26

Post by mikeash » Fri, Jan 04, 2019, 9:44 AM UTC

oth001 wrote: post #19

nindalf wrote: post #15

I see people in this thread surprised that this is happening in Singapore, a “modern” country. Singapore is certainly wealthy, the population is highly educated, institutions aren’t corrupt, all of which is great. However, the political system resembles a democracy only superficially. Every election since 1965 has been won by the same party. It is inconceivable that the People’s Action Party wouldn’t win an election…

Similar to America where Republicans and Democrats are really no different from each other in the grand scheme of things.

For example, they both want to dismantle social security, move away from anything resembling universal health care, shut down immigration from non-white countries, cut taxes, and jack up military spending.

Wait a minute....

Re: Singapore activist found guilty of hosting ‘illegal assembly’ via Skype

#27

Post by spuz » Fri, Jan 04, 2019, 9:44 AM UTC

flag_bcz_mad wrote: post #23

Why does everyone assume democracy is good? It clearly wasn’t necessary for Singapore. A well run “dictatorship” is much better than your average democracy. I would concede that a democracy filled with the right people is the best but in reality it is very rare to come upon a population that is actually ready to govern itself. People generally have extremely reductionist and incorrect opinions about such things in my…

> Why does everyone assume democracy is good?

They don't. As long as it has existed, people have pointed out its flaws.

https://www.economist.com/news/essays/21596796-democracy-was...

Re: Singapore activist found guilty of hosting ‘illegal assembly’ via Skype

#28

Post by mikeash » Fri, Jan 04, 2019, 9:45 AM UTC

sloanedavids wrote: post #7

metildaa wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

He had a gathering on private property in a mall, where 100 people showed up and listened to a Hong King Activist talk for 2 hours. Sounds quite like a conference IMO. The right to free assembly isn't a thing in Singapore apparently.

That’s weird. I thought they were trying to be a modern country?

What defines “modern” as implying a right to free assembly?

Re: Singapore activist found guilty of hosting ‘illegal assembly’ via Skype

#29

Post by mikeash » Fri, Jan 04, 2019, 9:47 AM UTC

flag_bcz_mad wrote: post #23

Why does everyone assume democracy is good? It clearly wasn’t necessary for Singapore. A well run “dictatorship” is much better than your average democracy. I would concede that a democracy filled with the right people is the best but in reality it is very rare to come upon a population that is actually ready to govern itself. People generally have extremely reductionist and incorrect opinions about such things in my…

Democracy is awful in all sorts of ways. Its one major advantage is non-violent succession, something other systems really struggle with.

Dictatorships can be great for a whole, but eventually you get a mad dictator or two people who both think they should be the dictator and it all falls apart.

Re: Singapore activist found guilty of hosting ‘illegal assembly’ via Skype

#30

Post by codetrotter » Fri, Jan 04, 2019, 9:48 AM UTC

spuz wrote: post #25

jopsen wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Wow, Not true, it looks so from where you're sitting. But politics change a lot over time. It's slow moving and in a two party system, you are unlikely to see big differences between either side. That said, the world would have looked differently had Hilary won in 2016.

Or Gore in 2001

2000