Little India riot: Two years on, smaller businesses struggle to stay afloat

[nakatago]

Goes to show just how much these "small business owners" have grown to be so dependent in selling some banned products in LI all these years...

That's you view. i am just calling a spade a spade, no point being PC about.

So am I.

[TMD]

That's you view. i am just calling a spade a spade, no point being PC about.

So am I.

..and I am glad our exchange is about different POV rather than disagreeing on the facts around pre and post LI riot.

[TMD]

We aren't under any illusions that business has changed. What I am taking issue with is you saying that prior to the riots they were selling banned products. That is just patently untrue, no matter how hard you try to justify your earlier statement. You are the one who seems to be having trouble accepting you made a bad statement. And I am calling a spade a spade and not being PC either.

That is the whole point of this Thread - that there is no disagreement over the legacy of the riot. And specifically in the commercial terms, banned products were and ARE being sold in some LI businesses beyond restricted hours. That has been clearly stated in the media - this isn't a question about "bad" statement or how it is being interpreted.

[TMD]

I believe my statement involving the word "banned" by and large is within the context of Little India riot, alcohol sales, its consumption and related business activities in the time frame long before the 2013 accident.

have you seen how much the indian workers drink ? Not sure if you even think that is considered 'large volume' .. if you still insist that the shops were dependent on the weekend drinkers !

I am always surprised how much they drink, especially for what it costs here. It just looks they have to have it a few times a day regardless any common sense (inclusive of their earnings). I had to chase once some of these guys away as they made a drinking session right in the middle of children playground in the Sembawang park. Right at the noon time.

Sembawang park does not fall within area of alcohol curbs zone. Not sure about any ban of consuming liquor in or within the vicinity of playgrounds...

I hope common sense prevail before any alcohol related trouble become frontline national news..

[sundaymorningstaple]

We aren't under any illusions that business has changed. What I am taking issue with is you saying that prior to the riots they were selling banned products. That is just patently untrue, no matter how hard you try to justify your earlier statement. You are the one who seems to be having trouble accepting you made a bad statement. And I am calling a spade a spade and not being PC either.

That is the whole point of this Thread - that there is no disagreement over the legacy of the riot. And specifically in the commercial terms, banned products were and ARE being sold in some LI businesses beyond restricted hours. That has been clearly stated in the media - this isn't a question about "bad" statement or how it is being interpreted.

Gotta admit, you do keep trying like a drowning man clutching a straw.

[ecureilx]

I hope common sense prevail before any alcohol related trouble become frontline national news..

So again, thanks for reinforcing my fears that Indians + alcohol = riots.

Talk about stereotyping in an extreme negative way again and again

[Mad Scientist]

I came back from wilderness and I see someone being roasted
Can we not hold hands , kiss and make up
OK sorry to intrude, I will go back to my hole

TMD for all intent and purpose you need to get your facts spot on

[sundaymorningstaple]

Hey, stranger! I thought you might have lost your login password!
Hope your health issues are looking better. Good to see you up and around. Cheers, Mate!

[rajagainstthemachine]

as a witness to this riot! I think i can say this this looked more like an act of frustration or anger against inaction by the authorities to act swiftly than a "riot"
a few streets away where i lived a temple was conducting prayers oblivious to the going-on's. There was nothing alcohol related that fueled this fire in my opinion.

[Mad Scientist]

Hey, stranger! I thought you might have lost your login password!
Hope your health issues are looking better. Good to see you up and around. Cheers, Mate!

Thanks matey;

I did alot of trekking down in South Island that took four months then I went bush walking for a year around Queensland and Up north.
Did alot of good to my health and the wife. Coz no kids means no hand bags !!
Went to fight the Japs this year on Green Peace Sea Shepherd early this year. That was good fun
Been traveling alot on foot back packing and stuff

Just to say hello and remembered my password after several attempts on several weeks period

Happy New Year and take it slow and enjoy life coz by the time you realise you will be on wheel chairs or six foot down under

I will stick around until Jan and off to Marang to see my home town

[sundaymorningstaple]

Keep peeking in here ever so often. I'm getting near that age myself. Hope my knees hold out to enjoy it when it does get here.

[TMD]

I hope common sense prevail before any alcohol related trouble become frontline national news..

So again, thanks for reinforcing my fears that Indians + alcohol = riots.
Talk about stereotyping in an extreme negative way again and again

Don't thank me. Rather is it how one interprets the COI finding.

[TMD]

TMD for all intent and purpose you need to get your facts spot on

I already have.

[TMD]

as a witness to this riot! I think i can say this this looked more like an act of frustration or anger against inaction by the authorities to act swiftly than a "riot"
a few streets away where i lived a temple was conducting prayers oblivious to the going-on's. There was nothing alcohol related that fueled this fire in my opinion.

Again, thanks for sharing Raj.

I myself wasn't around in the immediate the area that Dec night. All I heard was ceaseless siren and explosion like bangs... thinking must be some shop house on fire. Only learn of that from late evening TV.

Back to the sales of alcohol in the area, would you support or perhaps reconsider lifting the ban of sales and consumption control in LI ?

[ecureilx]

I hope common sense prevail before any alcohol related trouble become frontline national news..

So again, thanks for reinforcing my fears that Indians + alcohol = riots.
Talk about stereotyping in an extreme negative way again and again

Don't thank me. Rather is it how one interprets the COI finding.

The COI was given a mandate to find a scapegoat, so they did repeat the story that Indians are drunkards and troublemakers, and then you repeat it.

To be honest, nearly every weekend there is a fight, and occasional stabbing, ambulance, arrests, in the clubs and bars frequented by Non-Indians (including a near quarterly violent attack on bouncers in SJ, so much so the bouncers at one time not allowed to go unescorted when they finish work .. because more than one was seriously beat up by drunk customers - guess what ? they weren't Indian guests) but that's all moot.

There's a standing joke that SCDF should position an ambulance permanently in CQ considering how often they get activated on a weekly basis, and don't forget the permanent police presence outside OT every weekend, of course, to catch drunk Indians fighting ....

Good man you are !!!

Back to the sales of alcohol in the area, would you support or perhaps reconsider lifting the ban of sales and consumption control in LI ?

Since the govt has decided to pin the blame on somebody, I doubt they gonna reverse the decision.

In fact, the SPF Head man was on record saying more violence happens in Geylang and other places .. before he was silenced I guess.

In fact, on weekends, even now, see how the Cisco fellows talk to the Indian workers, even though when the indian workers are very humble- there is enough reasons (though none can be justified) for the workers deciding to vent some steam ...

As recent as last month, a visitor from Indian was stopped, and threatened with arrest, by a Cisco fellow, when the visitor didn't have his identification, and had told he can get the passport from the hotel.

And a couple of Filipino friends were given verbal warning for not having their Passport, though they had their EPs, all in Little India.