Daily Lessons from Life 18 July 2010 - Photographer Handcuffed?

Interesting to read that a Chinese newspapers photographer was handcuffed for 'obstructing the police from doing their work' when he claimed that he was merely trying to capture the flood situation!

Flooding in Singapore has become a big issue lately as we got pretty bad floods in the last few months that upset quite a few affected Singaporeans or residents of Singapore in those areas.

Lessons for me are:

1. the Singapore Police Force (SPF) needs to ensure that the rumour that someone is trying to stop the flooding being reported as it damaged the reputation of a 1st world class nation MUST be SMASHED as Singapore has very few things going for it, and one of them is: we are efficient and effective and hold no fear nor favor when we investigate situations!;

2. the action by the policeman concerned appeared excessive by a layman like myself though it might jolly well be technically and legally correct for the police officer to handcuff this photographer for 'obstructing' public servants' performing their duties! Remembered. To most of the reading public, and in Singapore, this action seems excessive. Some even went as far as commenting that it is an 'abuse of authority'! The SPF must clarify this. If the police officer were overacting, then he has to be dealt with accordingly. The public must then be informed and apology issued to the photographer concerned;

3. since it is the newspapers' staff that was involved, it will be interesting to learn if the press will pursue this case further with the authority. It is not the best thing to do as it will harm the harmony between the law enforcing authority and the press. So, it is better that the SPF explained itself.

May Singapore stop raining for the rest of the year so that such badly handled situations can be avoided. Though it is unavoidable to have floods in tropical Singapore.

More water means more prosperity for Singapore. Yes?