Singapore rules out anti-IMF/World Bank rallies

Singapore is a fine city, goes the joke, and it is, in more ways than one. It's a pleasant place to live in and there are signs reminding people of the penalties for littering, smoking, putting up posters at bus stops or breaking any other law.

Now the law-abiding, peaceful nature of the place has put the police in an unfamiliar spot. They are practising what they never have to do: riot control and how to disperse demonstrators.

Demonstrations are banned in Singapore. But in September, Singapore will for the first time host the annual meetings of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).  And has there ever been a World Bank/IMF meeting without protest rallies and angry demonstrations? Never. Protesters fly in even from overseas to demonstrate as they did during the World Trade Organisation (WTO) meeting in Hong Kong last December.

Well, they won't be allowed to demonstrate in Singapore. The riot police, whom I have never seen in public, are getting new vehicles and equipment.

The authorities are even setting aside a special area where the protesters will be allowed to gather and express their views. But it will be indoors. They won't be allowed to demonstrate on the streets.

The authorities made that clear in newspaper reports yesterday. The media also got to see -- and report -- how the police will crack down on unruly demonstrators (shown above). A group of 50 demonstrators -- played by police officers -- were routed by the riot police in a mock confrontation. The pictures were published in newspapers and shown on television.

The numbers may seem laughably small but it will be different on the big day. The entire police force will be deployed to secure the Suntec City convention area where the meetings will be held from September 12 to 20. And 23,000 police national servicemen -- youths doing national service with the police force -- will be on standby. The protesters will be allowed to gather only in a designated area inside Suntec City, no doubt to keep them under control.

If the Singapore authorities have their way, these will be IMF/World Bank meetings like none before. That will be in keeping with the theme of the Singapore Tourism Board's advertising campaign: Uniquely Singapore.