The Making of Riots in Post-War Singapore Anatomy of a Riot The Making of Riots in Post-War Singapore

What is a Riot?

Maria Hertogh Riots 1950s

Maria Hertogh Riots In 1950s: After the war Singapore was a plural society divided along racial lines Happened at a time when the gov was discredited distrust of colonial government

Flow Chart for the Maria Hertogh Case The Hertoghs received information about their daughter’s whereabouts in 1949 From 1942 to 1950, Maria was brought up as a Muslim. Dissatisfaction sparked at the holding of the trials. Political and racial disputes began. Maria’s parents launched a legal custody battle in the early 1950s.

Hock Lee Bus Riots 1955

Brief Overview April 23 - May 12, 1955 Members of Singapore Bus Workers’ Union (SBWU) protested Claimed to have been instigated by Radical Left Violent, bloody riot resulted in 4 deaths and 31 casualties

Anatomy of Hock Lee Bus Riots

Causes Poor working conditions Dissatisfied with long working hours and low pay Workers riled up by radical left Unionists used militant methods to obtain increased wages and improved working conditions for employees

Causes Effects 25-26 Apr 12/13 May The riot subsided by around 3am Workers and students gathered outside the bus depot and rioted This resulted in 4 deaths and 31 casualties Commission of Inquiry was appointed to calm the situation Legislative Assembly voted to extend the Emergency Regulations for another three months 24-hour hunger strike

Causes Effects Effects Resolution Police managed to break up the riot Riot subsided by 3am May 13 was generally quiet

Causes Effects Resolution Consequences Strikers' jobs and pay were restored and they declared victory for their action. Agreement was reached - the Hock Lee Bus Employees’ Union would be dissolved, the Court of Inquiry discontinued and Charles Gamba of the University of Malaya appointed as arbitrator between the unions and bus management. Three Chinese middle schools were closed down. Legislative assembly meeting held for curfews to control internal security of state to be imposed Gamba ruled in favour of SBWU - 85 out of 170 workers lost their jobs Several trade unionists were arrested, with Fong Swee Suan fingered as the chief instigator

Post Second World War (After 1945) Context Maria Hertogh Riots Hock Lee Bus Riots Post Second World War (After 1945) Parties Involved The Government (consisting mostly of Europeans),The Malay community, The European Community, Che Aminah, Maria and The Hertoghs Malayan Communist Party, Singapore Bus Workers Union (led by Fong Swee Suan), Singapore Chinese Middle School Students’ Union (led by Soon Loh Boon) Political Situation People no longer believed in the inherent superiority of the British colonial government Communists trying to gain power and strive for self-governance because they felt that the Labour Front were politically too compliant to the British

Beliefs and Interests Maria Hertogh Riots Hock Lee Bus Riots Malays Malays believed that the Europeans were biased towards their own people and wanted to fight for their rights and that Che Aminah should rightfully regain custody of Maria Europeans Maria to be returned to her legitimate parents Workers Workers believed they deserved better working conditions, instead of the unfair long hours and low pay Trade Unionists Trade unionists felt that Labour Front was too pro-British and wanted to strive for self governance and independence, and also thought of the riots as a chance to do so

Triggers Maria Hertogh Riots Hock Lee Bus Riots Che Aminah’s appeal was thrown out in five minutes which justified the Malay’s belief that their government was biased. The police arrived at Alexandra Bus Depot to break up the meeting between the bus workers who were striking. Agitators among the crowd started heaving bricks and stones, turning the strike into a riot. political and social contexts were similar. Social: people were living in discord with people of different races and religions due to the new idea of multi-racial society Political: people doubted the european government due to the recent abandonment of the british in the world war and the poor defence of Singapore during the recent world war Thus, these triggers were able to work due to the mistrust between the governemnt and the people and the dissaisfaction at the governemnt at how they handled things.

Conclusion

By Teo Chee Yan, Simone Ku, Koe Chua and Christie Soo Thank You! By Teo Chee Yan, Simone Ku, Koe Chua and Christie Soo