Recently one of the senior state politician disclosed that Penang is going to have Speakers' Corner. It will at the Esplanade, the place where Capt Francis Light landed. It will also be a democracy square(民主廣場), where mass demonstration can be held there.
The Esplanade, the place planned for Penang Speakers' Corner
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What is Speakers' Corner(演说者角落)?
A Speakers' Corner is an area where public speaking is allowed. The original and most noted is in the north-east corner of Hyde Park in London, England. Speakers there are allowed to speak as long as the police consider their speeches lawful. Contrary to popular belief, there is no immunity from the law, nor are any subjects proscribed, but in practice the police tend to be tolerant and therefore only intervene when they receive a complaint or if they hear profanity.
(wikipedia)
Hyde Park
Historically there were a number of other areas designated as Speakers' Corners in other parks in London, (eg. Finsbury Park, Clapham Common, Kennington Park and Victoria Park) as well as other countries.
Hyde Park is one of the largest parks in central London, England and one of the Royal Parks of London, famous for its Speakers' Corner.
The park is divided in two by the Serpentine. The park is contiguous with Kensington Gardens; although often still assumed to be part of Hyde Park, Kensington Gardens has been technically separate since 1728, when Queen Caroline made a division between the two. Hyde Park is 142 hectares (350 acres) and Kensington Gardens is 111 hectares (275 acres), giving an overall area of 253 hectares (625 acres), making the combined area larger than the Principality of Monaco (196 hectares or 484 acres), but smaller than New York City's Central Park (341 hectares or 843 acres). To the southeast (but outside of the park) is Hyde Park Corner. Although, during daylight, the two parks merge seamlessly into each other, Kensington Gardens closes at dusk but Hyde Park remains open throughout the year from 5 am until midnight.
The park was the site of The Great Exhibition of 1851, for which the Crystal Palace was designed by Joseph Paxton.
The park has become a traditional location for mass demonstrations. The Chartists, the Reform League, the Suffragettes and the Stop The War Coalition have all held protests in the park. Many protestors on the Liberty and Livelihood March in 2002 started their march from Hyde Park
The Speakers' Corner in Singapore
The Speakers' Corner in Singapore was opened on 1 September 2000 to allow Singapore citizens to speak freely. They are exempted from the need to obtain a police permit so long as they meet the terms and conditions of use.
The Speakers' Corner is located in Hong Lim Park, a popular venue for many election rallies and political speeches in the 50s and 60s. Hong Lim Park is centrally located, well-served by public transport and is sited in a high public density area.
In 2004, public exhibitions and performances were added to the list of exempted activities at the Speakers' Corner.
From 1 September 2008, Singapore citizens can also organise or participate in demonstrations at Speakers' Corner without having to obtain a police permit. With this latest change in policy to allow the venue to be used freely as an outdoor demonstration site, coupled with the liberalisation on the use of sound amplification and the extension of operating hours of the venue, the Speakers' Corner aims to address the genuine desire by some Singaporeans for lawful outdoor demonstrations and processions as a means of political expression.
Singapore citizens who wish to hold a speech, exhibition/performance or demonstration at the Speakers' Corner can register with the National Parks Board, which manages Hong Lim Park. Online registration is available at http://www.nparks.gov.sg. Terms and conditions are also stipulated on the website.
Thailand's Speaker's Corner
An area was set up in Bangkok in the 1930s, and quickly became known as Hyde Park, to enable freedom of speech and the airing of political views in Thailand. The area was shut down after student rioting and the lethal intervention of the army and it is not discussed openly today.
In 1955, Marshal Plaek Pibulsonggram had visited the London as part of an international tour. He became impressed with the 'Speakers' Corner' in Hyde Park. Upon his return to Thailand a 'Hyde Park' space for free speech and assembly was instituted at the Phramane Grounds in Bangkok. The experiment was well received and effectively stimulated political debate. The experiment was not appreciated by the government though, and in February 1956 restrictions were imposed on the Phramane 'Hyde Park'. However, during this period the Hyde Park Movement Party had evolved, upholding the legacy of the Hyde Park experiment
Malaysia?
If Penang's plan to have Speakers' Corner materialized, it will be the first in Malaysia. Penang people will be proud of the proposal. But there are certain problems we need to address:
(i) Is the venue/location suitable?
(ii)Is the police and Ministry of Internal Affairs allow us to speak in total freedom at the Speakers' Corner? Otherwise it is meaningless to have one. There must be promise of democracy of speech , democratic right for association (gathering), and no interference from the authority?.
(iii) Are our Malaysian open for Speakers' Corner? With the recent development in the country, where there are incident of religion and racial intolerance. Are we open minded to accept different views and opinions? even on the sensitive issues?
(iv) Is our legal and statutory laws allow it? our ISA, our Sedition Act, Police Act;
(v) Is the people have the discipline to listen only, and not react to violence when the speakers touch on the sensitive issues? are we ready? Are they disciplined to just walk away and laugh if the speakers touch on the sensitivity of him or her?.....Speakers Corner is not for narrow minded and immature people and cultural environment with much restrictions.
(vi)Who are going to monitor, and manage the place?
(vii) What are the rules and regulation? Any legal authority to take action to stop a speech
At the point of its inception, Singapore Speakers' Corner was regulated by the Singapore Police Force. The original regulations which were in force included:
* Only Singapore citizens can speak.
* Religious and racial issues are not allowed.
* Microphones and loud speakers are prohibited.
* Speakers must register at the Kreta Ayer Neighbourhood Police Post before speaking.
*In 2004, public exhibitions and performances were added to the list of exempted activities at the Speakers' Corner.
*From 1 September 2008, Singapore citizens can also organise or participate in demonstrations at Speakers' Corner without having to obtain a police permit.
And the Singapore Speakers' Corner today, the initial enthusiasm has waned, and there are very few spectators or audience at the corner. Well the Penang Speakers' Corner follow the same fate(as Singapore and Bangkok)?...... or better than Singapore and Bangkok, and will reflect better democracy than them?.....
If the plan is successful, Penang will be the first again; to show that Penang allow freedom of opinion, freedom of speech, freedom of association; and Penang people are open minded and can accept different views; Penang people are mature; Penang are democracy state; Penang ....always the first and able......
Penang lang hua hi lah(Penang people happy), ka meng chu lah(and also more democratic)....
供市民自由集會發表言論‧檳擬設“民主廣場”
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(檳城）檳州政府將設置國內首創的“民主廣場”（Dataran Demokrasi），讓非政府組織及市民社會自由舉行集會及發表言論，逐步建構一個民主自由的檳州。
掌管檳地方政府事務委員會的曹觀友週二（1月26日）召開新聞發佈會宣佈，州政府目前正計劃將檳島舊關仔角大草場轉型成為州內的首個“民主廣場”，一旦落實，今後非政府組織可以在一個寬闊、舒適的場地舉行集會請願，而且，場地上還備有舞台，基設十分齊全。
需向市政局申請
他說，構想中的“民主廣場”除了可以自由集會外，亦是一個“言論角落”（Speaker Corner），民眾在此地能夠暢所欲言，甚至展開辯論。
“基於這是一個公共草場，考慮到其他團體會使用的權利，因此所有欲在此地請願的非政府組織，都需向市政局申請，只要一有空檔，我們就會借出場地。當然，所有租借的單位也需遵守一定的守則。”
他表示，檳州首長林冠英亦支持這個想法，現階段，他們會成立一個委員會，以便與非政府組織等單位一同討論相關的細節、警方問題及聽取對方的意見，讓計劃更臻完善。
詢及以後民眾租借此“民主廣場”舉辦大集會時是否需要付費，曹觀友說，租借舊關仔角的大草場向來都需要付錢，惟要付多少則有待討論。
將開放舊關仔角辦集會
另一方面，曹觀友也針對人民之聲非議州政府月前把檳州大會堂前的小廣場築籬阻止民眾走入一事，做出回應。
“州秘書署之前在此進行美化工作，為了保護這些花草樹木，有關單位決定把這裡圍起來。”
“我知道非政府組織常在這裡舉行燭光集會，我們非有意杜絕人民請願，未來，我們會開放隔鄰的舊關仔角草場給這些組織，讓他們舉行集會。”
檳人民之聲
歡迎“言論角落”
人民之聲檳城支部歡迎檳州行政議員曹觀友開放草場及舞台的說法，包括設立“言論角落”，讓民眾齊集向中央政府及州政府表達看法，同時，也不限制人民在任何時候，任何地點進行和平集會。
人民之聲檳城支部協調員王澤欽發表文告說，一旦檳州政府設立言論角落，呼吁社會各階層人士特別是被社會邊緣化的人士如婦女、青年、學生、居民、殘障人士等等，踴躍把自己的問題、建議等聲音，傳達給執政者，為建立一個民主，平等及尊重人權的社會共同努力。
他補充，國陣政府制定的《警察法令》條文，才是真正箝制了公民在任何地點和平集會的權利。
“人民之聲的立場是反對和撤銷《1967年警察法令》（Police Act1967）的27條文，以允許和平集會的舉行等。因為警察被賦予過大的權力，很容易變成執政者打壓異議的工具。因此，執政中央的國陣應該做出檢討。”
星洲日報‧2010.01.27
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