Daily Lessons from Life 10 December 2013 - Mr Mandela's Memorial and Riots in Little India Singapore

Just as I  am writing this blog, Mr Mandela's Memorial Service is underway in far away South Africa. Many world leaders and, I don't really like to write this, celebrities, converged there to pay respect and sing praises to the Freedom Fighter, the ex-President of a Rainbow Nation.

This is also the 2nd day after the shocking riots in Little India in Singapore where unprecedented violence and lawlessness by a group of foreign workers (FWs) that went amok and totally out of control. Many probably did not really understand the gravity of their actions, alcohol induced or not. They will have to pay a heavy price for their actions. A moment of madness that resulted in injuries to law enforcement and medical emergency personnel and damages, some completely charred, patrol cars and ambulances!

As I looked at the many photos of the crime scenes earlier, the extensive destruction suddenly hit me that it did look like a war zone, as one of the only, supposedly, 'fortunate', or 'unfortunate', press photo-journalist at the scene said. How could this ever happen in obedient, law abiding and peaceful global vibrant city state of Singapore?

The major miracle if you like, is that NO ONE was seriously injured except for the accident victim whose death supposedly triggered something in the crowds that spiralled into chaos and anarchy!

As more facts emerged freom the police investigation, the dead FW in the fatal accident apparently was drunk and was creating troubles on the bus before being asked to get out. How he ended up been knocked down and ran over by the mini bus is still unclear.

A Commission of Inquiry (COI) has been ordered by the PM to investigate, understand what happened, why it happened, what can we learn to prevent it from recurring and how to handle it even better should it happen again. I hope that the COI will include persons of repute with the public and also persons from the non-establishment as well as people who work with the FWs in order to look beyond just this crime but the deeper reasons for this spontaneous combustion of 400 FWs!

28 were arrested and 4 were subsequently released without charges while the rest of the 24, all Indian National, will be charged tomorrow for rioting with dangerous weapons and other charges.

It is ironically that this riot happened just as the world morned the passing of a globally respected Freedom Fighter, Mr Nelson Mandela.

Hopefully the underlying reasons for this spontaneous combustion is NOT because the enraged FWs feel that they had not been treated with respect and decency while making their living in 1st world Singapore.

There were bad employers for sure. But just a very small minority. However, there is NO excuse for the FWs to act in this destructive manner. They will have to pay for their violent behaviors.

When order is restored and confidence returned. It will be business as usual WITH some improvement on how to prevent similar volatile situation from existing again.

Let's wait for more clarity and facts over the next 15 days! And the report from the COI!!