#5: Credits and conclusion

SOURCES OF INFORMATION:

Google

Others NS RIOT

Group contributions: Jiaxuan(Blogging), Evelyn(Research), Zann(Research), Clarice(Research)

THANKYOU :)

#4: What happened after the riot?

Because of the vigorous resistance, the first big-scale attempt to recruit male youths for part-time national service died a natural death. The colonial government agreed to postpone National Service. The demonstrations awakened the Chinese students' consciousness and strengthened the influence of student leaders. The riots made the students bold and in October 1954 they made a public proposal to form a Singapore Chinese Middle School Students Union (SCMSSU).

The authorities had used the force of the police to crush the riot of 13 May. In 1955 and 1956, when the process towards Singapore's self-government intensified, police-student clashes were to recur. The government tried to diffuse tension by making concessions to student demands but when the students grew too radical and violent under the influence of the SCMSSU, the police organised themselves effectively. With the help of the army, the police was able to prevent civil disorder arising from student unrests.

For the communists, the demonstrations against the National Service Ordinance and the following use of force by the police played into their hands. These developments aroused public sympathy towards the students' cause and gave a tremendous boost to open left-wing activity in the Chinese Middle Schools. Communist subversion in the Chinese Middle Schools was to heighten subsequently under the banner of the SCMSSU.

#3: When and how did it happen?

The anti-ns riot happened on 13 May, 1954. In 1954, the government introduced National Service which required all males aged between 18 and 20 to register for part time military service. Offenders who failed to register would be jailed of fined. However, national service was not popular with secondary students from chinese schools. The influenced communists in Chinese schools stirred up an anti-British feeling amongst the students. The students were of course, not willing to defend a foreign government which ignored the chinese students' interests. On 13 May, 1954, more than 1000 students gathered infront of the government house to present their petition to the governer. Soon, the peaceful demonstration became violent when the police were called in to disperse the crowd. About 26 people were left injured and 48 students were arrested.

COMING UP NEXT: What happened after the riot?

#2: Why did the riot happen?

As mentioned in the previous blog post, the Chinese students were outraged about the decision that National Service had to be compulsory. On 13 May, 1954, violence erupted when hundreds of students clashed with the police. This resulted in 26 students injured and 45 other students arrested. The anti-ns riot marked the beginning of intense communist subversion in the Chinese Middle Schools, which became a breeding ground of communist sympathisers in Singapore.

The riot happened when Singapore decided to make NS compulsory to all males aged 18 to 20. The students were extremely displeased with the decision that the British made. Hence, it made them lose control and decided to riot against this decision.

COMING UP NEXT: When and how did it happen? Stay tuned!

#1: Quick Overview of the Anti-NS Riot

The Anti-NS Riot started out in May 1954, when a group of Chung Cheng High School students held a protest against National Service. During that time, all males between the age of 18 and 20 had to register for part-time National Service. This made the Chinese students enraged as they felt that it was unfair to make National Service compulsory as they 'saw no future in the British-ruled state'. Some of the students, too, believed that it was a ploy to use local people to preserve the colonial rule.

Hence, on May 13, 1954, 500 students made havoc in the streets while another 1,000 students locked themselves in Chung Cheng High School. This resulted in over 20 students injured and 48 others were arrested by the police. On May 18, 1954, 55 students formed a delegation to request for exemption from National Service. Their request was turned down and it outraged those who had to sign up for the National Service. Thereafter, the school authorities decided to close the school two weeks earlier for the school vacation, in fear that there would be further trouble.

2,500 students locked themselves in Chung Cheng High School. The group only dispersed when the police and parents stepped in to intervene.

UP NEXT: WHY DID THIS RIOT HAPPEN?

CREDITS (PART ONE OF TWO)

After the Maria Hertogh Riot, we have credits of the sources these information came from!

Google http://www.google.com.sg/

Wikipedia http://www.wikipedia.org/

Youtube http://www.youtube.com/

Infopedia www.infopedia.nl.sg/articles/SIP_83_2005-02-02.html

Group member credits: Evelyn (Research), Zann (Research and video), Clarice (Research), Jiaxuan (Blogging and video) THANK YOU!! :)

#5: Maria Hertogh Riot - Videos & Conclusion

After these videos, our group came to a conclusion about the Maria Hertogh riot. We felt that it was really important to know how to respect one another's religion. In singapore, up till today, many of us have prejudiced views to religions like Indians and Muslims. I urge all of you who are reading this, to persuade those people around you who do this to stop it. Before you speak about others' religions, have you ever thought about what would you feel like if somebody else insulted your religion? The feeling is not good and nobody would want to experience that. We hope that through this five blog posts, you would have learnt more about the past (like we do) and show more mutual respect for one another. As we pledge everyday morning at the morning assembly, to pledge ourselves as one united people, regardless of race, language or religion........ remember to keep to your promise of having racial harmony amongst all of us, singaporeans.

In the next blog post, we will start on the Anti-NS Riots. Do stay tuned and we hope you've learnt something meaningful from this five blog posts! Cheers :)

#4: What happened after the riot?

After the Maria Hertogh riot, it highlighted the insensitive way the media handled religious and racial issues in Singapore. The british, also failed to defuse an explosive situation when emotional reports were reported in the news of Singapore about this muslim girl in a catholic convent.

As a result of this historic event, the Government of Singapore, upon independence in 1965, instituted legislation against racial discrimination. It became an offence to incite racial and religious hatred in Singapore. The local media exercised greater discipline in the coverage of sensitive issues. National integration and nation-building took top priority in the formulation of government policies.

Coming up in the next blog post, videos! Do anticipate! :)

#3: When and how did it happen?

The Maria Hertogh riot happened on 11 December 1950 and lasted for three days. This happened after the court decided that Maria, who had been raised by the Muslims should be returned to her Catholic parents, who are her biological parents. The muslims, outraged by the prejudice against them, made a scene out of it and started the riot to show their displeasure over the unfair outcome. The riot in Singapore lasted till noon, on 13 December, 1950. In this three days, 18 people were killed and 173 people were injured. Many of the residents' houses were badly damaged.

So here's the timeline for the Maria Hertogh riot!
1950 : The Hertoghs filed a lawsuit in the courts of Singapore, seeking to assert their parental rights over Maria.
22 Apr 1950 : The court ruled that Maria should be returned to her biological parent after a period of care under the Social Welfare Department.
28 Jul 1950 : Maria was returned to Aminah after the latter appealed against the decision. Shortly after, Maria married a 22-year-old Malay teacher.
13 Nov 1950 : The Hertoghs appealed the decision and the courts ruled in their favour on the basis that Maria was removed from them without their consent. Upon her return to her biological parents, the court further ruled that Maria should be subject to Dutch laws where it was illegal for minors below the age of 16 to be married. Hence, Maria's marriage was declared null and void and she was placed in protective custody at a Catholic convent, the Girls' Home of the Convent of the Good Shepherd, prior to her return to the Netherlands.
11 Dec 1950 : An appeal hearing for Aminah's case was dismissed leading the waiting crowds outside the courts to riot.
12 Dec 1950 : Maria is flown to Holland with her parents to be reunited with her family.
13 Dec 1950 : Order is restored in Singapore.



Look out for the next post! We're going to talk about what happened after the riot. So keep coming back for more~ ^^v.

#2: Why did the riot happen?

After the war, the Hertoghs launched a legal battle for the custody of Maria, their daughter after they received news in 1949 about her whereabouts in Malaya. This custody battle won intense media attention worldwide. There were photographs and news published on the papers about a Muslim girl in a Catholic convent and even claimed that she had bowed down to the Virgin Mary, affected religious sensitivities and stirred up emotions.

The muslims were led by an Indian Muslim, Karim Ghani. Ghani introduced emotions within the muslim community by publishing reports of this case. Aminah, Maria's foster mother, appealed to the court to keep Maria by her side. On 11 December, 1950, the judge rejected Aminah's appeal and the custody of Maria was given to Adeline, Maria's biological mother. Upon hearing the judgement, huge crowds were rioted outside the court and they were convinced that the laws, courts and legal systems were prejudiced against the muslims. This made the muslims lose control and decided to riot against the other party. (40% of the source are typed in own words)

Coming up soon! When and how did this riot happen? Stay tuned for more! :)

#1: Quick view of The Maria Hertogh Riot

CONTENTS OF THIS BLOG POST: Who is 'Maria Hertogh'? and the quick over view of the riot and the aftermath of this racial riot. (WITH PICTURES AT THE END)
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The 'Maria Hertogh Riot' is a racial riot that happened between the two ethnic groups, the Malays and the Eurasians. This riot occured in Singapore on 11 December, 1950. The riot lasted for three days and it killed at least 18 people and left 173 people injured. This riot was sparked off by the custody battle between Maria Hertogh's adoptive Malay family and her Eurasian parents.
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What will happen after the riot has occured? Has it dangered the lives of many? Look out for the next blog post to know more! :)