Large turnout at Speakers' Corner for protest against Population White Paper
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A large crowd gathered at Speakers' Corner for a protest against the Population White Paper that was endorsed by Parliament last week.
Many came with umbrellas and caps, braving the light drizzle at around 4pm on Saturday afternoon. Organisers had lined up a list of 12 speakers, including activists as well as current and former opposition party members.
The White Paper had drawn flak largely because of the 6.9 million headline population figure. The Government has strenuously emphasised that this number is a planning parameter, not a target.
The first speaker was National Solidarity Party member Ravi Philemon.
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A large crowd attends a demonstration, organised by Gilbert Goh (centre), against the Population White Paper at Speakers' Corner in Singapore on Feb 16, 2013. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
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Placards photographed during a protest against the recently endorsed White Paper on Population at Hong Lim Park (Speaker's Corner) on Feb 16, 2013. -- ST PHOTO: DESMOND LUI -
A young boy looks away from the stage during a protest against the recently endorsed White Paper on Population at Hong Lim Park (Speaker's Corner) on Feb 16, 2013. -- ST PHOTO: DESMOND LUI
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People attend a demonstration against a government white paper on population at Speakers' Corner in Singapore February 16, 2013. The event drew a crowd of about 5000 people according to the organisers. The paper released in January said the island's population of 5.3 million could grow by as much as 30 percent by 2030, mostly through foreign workers to offset a chronically low birth rate.
-- ST PHOTO: NEO XIAOBIN -
People attend a demonstration against the government's white paper on population at Speakers' Corner in Singapore February 16, 2013. The event drew a crowd of about 5000 people according to the organisers. -- ST PHOTO: NEO XIAO BIN
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A placard photographed during a protest against the recently endorsed White Paper on Population at Hong Lim Park (Speaker's Corner) on Feb 16, 2013. -- ST PHOTO: DESMOND LUI
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A woman reacts to Mr Tan Jee Say's during a protest against the recently endorsed White Paper on Population at Hong Lim Park (Speaker's Corner) on Feb 16, 2013. -- ST PHOTO: DESMOND LUI
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People attend a demonstration against a government white paper on population at Speakers' Corner in Singapore on February 16, 2013. The event drew a crowd of about 5000 people according to the organisers. Photographed from the 16th floor of PARKROYAL Hotel on Pickering. -- ST PHOTO: NEO XIAOBIN
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A boy holds up a placard as he attends a demonstration against the government's white paper on population at Speakers' Corner in Singapore February 16, 2013. The event drew a crowd of about 5000 people according to the organisers. -- ST PHOTO: NEO XIAOBIN
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People attend a demonstration against a government white paper on population at Speakers' Corner in Singapore February 16, 2013. The event drew a crowd of about 5000 people according to the organisers. -- ST PHOTO: NEO XIAOBIN
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A family holds up placards as they attend a demonstration against the government's white paper on population at Speakers' Corner in Singapore February 16, 2013. The event drew a crowd of about 5000 people according to the organisers. -- ST PHOTO: NEO XIAOBIN
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A group of friends hold up the national flag and Singapore scarves as they sing the national anthem 'Majulah Singapura' at the finale of the demonstration.
People attend a demonstration against a government white paper on population at Speakers' Corner in Singapore February 16, 2013. The event drew a crowd of about 5000 people according to the organisers. The paper released in January said the island's population of 5.3 million could grow by as much as 30 percent by 2030, mostly through foreign workers to offset a chronically low birth rate.
-- ST PHOTO: NEO XIAOBIN -
Mr Christopher Pereira (centre, in white), a political artist, holds up a figurine of former Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew as he takes a photograph with a participant at the demonstration against the government's white paper on population at Hong Lim Park in Singapore, on February 16, 2013.
People attend a demonstration against a government white paper on population at Speakers' Corner in Singapore February 16, 2013. The event drew a crowd of about 5000 people according to the organisers. The paper released in January said the island's population of 5.3 million could grow by as much as 30 percent by 2030, mostly through foreign workers to offset a chronically low birth rate. -- ST PHOTO: NEO XIAOBIN -
A man holds a sign at a demonstration against the Population White Paper at Speakers' Corner in Singapore on Feb 16, 2013. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
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A large crowd gathers at Speakers' Corner on Saturday, Feb 16, 2013, for a protest against the Population White Paper that was endorsed by Parliament last week. -- ST PHOTO: GOH CHIN LIAN
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People attend a demonstration against the Population White Paper at Speakers' Corner in Singapore on Feb 16, 2013. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
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People shelter under umbrellas at a demonstration against the Population White Paper at Speakers' Corner in Singapore on Feb 16, 2013. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
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People attend a demonstration against the Population White Paper at Speakers' Corner in Singapore on Feb 16, 2013. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
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A man, wearing a Guy Fawkes mask made popular by the movie V for Vendetta, attends a demonstration against the Population White Paper at Speakers' Corner in Singapore on Feb 16, 2013. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
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A large crowd attends a demonstration against the Population White Paper at Speakers' Corner in Singapore on Feb 16, 2013. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
A large crowd attends a demonstration, organised by Gilbert Goh (centre), against the Population White Paper at Speakers' Corner in Singapore on Feb 16, 2013. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
Placards photographed during a protest against the recently endorsed White Paper on Population at Hong Lim Park (Speaker's Corner) on Feb 16, 2013. -- ST PHOTO: DESMOND LUI
A young boy looks away from the stage during a protest against the recently endorsed White Paper on Population at Hong Lim Park (Speaker's Corner) on Feb 16, 2013. -- ST PHOTO: DESMOND LUI
People attend a demonstration against a government white paper on population at Speakers' Corner in Singapore February 16, 2013. The event drew a crowd of about 5000 people according to the organisers. The paper released in January said the island's population of 5.3 million could grow by as much as 30 percent by 2030, mostly through foreign workers to offset a chronically low birth rate.
-- ST PHOTO: NEO XIAOBIN
People attend a demonstration against the government's white paper on population at Speakers' Corner in Singapore February 16, 2013. The event drew a crowd of about 5000 people according to the organisers. -- ST PHOTO: NEO XIAO BIN
A placard photographed during a protest against the recently endorsed White Paper on Population at Hong Lim Park (Speaker's Corner) on Feb 16, 2013. -- ST PHOTO: DESMOND LUI
A woman reacts to Mr Tan Jee Say's during a protest against the recently endorsed White Paper on Population at Hong Lim Park (Speaker's Corner) on Feb 16, 2013. -- ST PHOTO: DESMOND LUI
People attend a demonstration against a government white paper on population at Speakers' Corner in Singapore on February 16, 2013. The event drew a crowd of about 5000 people according to the organisers. Photographed from the 16th floor of PARKROYAL Hotel on Pickering. -- ST PHOTO: NEO XIAOBIN
A boy holds up a placard as he attends a demonstration against the government's white paper on population at Speakers' Corner in Singapore February 16, 2013. The event drew a crowd of about 5000 people according to the organisers. -- ST PHOTO: NEO XIAOBIN
People attend a demonstration against a government white paper on population at Speakers' Corner in Singapore February 16, 2013. The event drew a crowd of about 5000 people according to the organisers. -- ST PHOTO: NEO XIAOBIN
A family holds up placards as they attend a demonstration against the government's white paper on population at Speakers' Corner in Singapore February 16, 2013. The event drew a crowd of about 5000 people according to the organisers. -- ST PHOTO: NEO XIAOBIN
A group of friends hold up the national flag and Singapore scarves as they sing the national anthem 'Majulah Singapura' at the finale of the demonstration.
People attend a demonstration against a government white paper on population at Speakers' Corner in Singapore February 16, 2013. The event drew a crowd of about 5000 people according to the organisers. The paper released in January said the island's population of 5.3 million could grow by as much as 30 percent by 2030, mostly through foreign workers to offset a chronically low birth rate.
-- ST PHOTO: NEO XIAOBIN
Mr Christopher Pereira (centre, in white), a political artist, holds up a figurine of former Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew as he takes a photograph with a participant at the demonstration against the government's white paper on population at Hong Lim Park in Singapore, on February 16, 2013.
People attend a demonstration against a government white paper on population at Speakers' Corner in Singapore February 16, 2013. The event drew a crowd of about 5000 people according to the organisers. The paper released in January said the island's population of 5.3 million could grow by as much as 30 percent by 2030, mostly through foreign workers to offset a chronically low birth rate. -- ST PHOTO: NEO XIAOBIN
A man holds a sign at a demonstration against the Population White Paper at Speakers' Corner in Singapore on Feb 16, 2013. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
A large crowd gathers at Speakers' Corner on Saturday, Feb 16, 2013, for a protest against the Population White Paper that was endorsed by Parliament last week. -- ST PHOTO: GOH CHIN LIAN
People attend a demonstration against the Population White Paper at Speakers' Corner in Singapore on Feb 16, 2013. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
People shelter under umbrellas at a demonstration against the Population White Paper at Speakers' Corner in Singapore on Feb 16, 2013. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
People attend a demonstration against the Population White Paper at Speakers' Corner in Singapore on Feb 16, 2013. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
A man, wearing a Guy Fawkes mask made popular by the movie V for Vendetta, attends a demonstration against the Population White Paper at Speakers' Corner in Singapore on Feb 16, 2013. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
A large crowd attends a demonstration against the Population White Paper at Speakers' Corner in Singapore on Feb 16, 2013. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
