Anatomy of a Riot The Making of Riots

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

What is a Riot?

Maria Hertogh Riots 1950 s

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

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

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

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

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 Workers 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 Workers believed they deserved better working conditions, instead of the unfair long hours and low pay Europeans Maria to be returned to her legitimate parents 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.

Conclusion

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