Follow-up on the Riot

Almost two weeks later now 57 foreign workers have been deported following the December 8 incident, four more last night. All bar one Indian nationals (Bangladeshi the other).

         The minister for Law and Foreign Affairs Mr. K. Shanmugam explained a few days ago the repatriation decision could not be permitted to come under judicial oversight as that could mean that “every foreigner is entitled to stay here at taxpayers’ expense, housed here at taxpayers’ expense”, with cases taking possibly a year to conclude. Existing laws allow summary action at the discretion of the Minister.

         This particular Minister, of Indian descent, was caught on television a short time before the riot defending the death penalty in the usual TV studio round-table. Well-fed, heavily and prematurely jowled, collar and tie, the man made the familiar arguments for judicial killing with the usual sangfroid.

         A further 200 men await questioning on the riot, additional deportations not expected. This large group has been described as passive and incidental to the riot.

         Last Sunday a lock-down of sorts was imposed in an area of 1.1 square kilometers centred on the site of the disturbance. Sale and consumption of alcohol prohibited, recreational activities—cricket matches and movie screenings two mentioned.

         An academic from one of the universities suggested the public ought prepare for underlying anger and resentment within the foreign workforce as factors in the incident, but there is little prospect of this being given much play. Construction companies on the island will be struggling with tight schedules.