WHAT HAPPENED AFTER THE RIOT??

The colonial government agreed to postpone National Service as the first big-scale attempt to recruit male youths for part-time National Service died a natural death due to the big resistance. The demonstrations awakened the Chinese students' consciousness and strengthened the influence proposal to form a Singapore Chinese Middle School Students Union (SCMSSU).

The authorities had used the force of the police to stop the riot of 13 May. In 1955 and 1956, when the process towards Singapore's self-government intensified, police-student clashes were to recur. The government tried to diffuse tension by making concessions to student demands but when the students grew too radical and violent under the influence of SCMSSU, the police organised themselves effectively. With the help of the army, the police was able to prevent civil disorder arising from students.

For the communists, the demonstrations against the National Service Ordinance and the following use of force by the police played into their hands. These developments aroused public sympathy towards the students' cause and gave a tremendous boots to open left-wing activity in the Chinese Middle Schools. Communist subversion in the Chinese Middle Schools was to heighten subsequently under the banner of the SCMSSU.

WHEN AND HOW DID IT HAPPEN?

The Anti-NS Riot happened in 1954, 13th May. In 1954, the government introduced National Service which required all males aged between 18 and 20 to register for part time military service. Offenders who were unable to register would be jailed or fined. However, national service was not popular with the secondary students from chinese schools. The influenced communists in Chinese schools stirred up an anti-British feeling amongst the students. The students were of course, unwilling to defend a foreign government which actually ignored the chinese students' interests.

On 13 May 1954, more than 1000 students gathered infront of the government house to present their petition to the goverment. Soon, the peaceful demonstration became violent when the police were called in to disperse the crowd. The police and the students clashed. About 26 people were left injured and 48 students were arrested.

In 1950, English schools took 79.8% of the budget, and Chineseschools took only 5.8%. There were 287 Chinese schools and 131English schools.The Chinese were also not allowed to go to universities in Singapore,and had to go to China for further education, until Nanyang Universitywas set up. The Chinese were also given odd jobs.

WHY DID THE RIOT HAPPEN??

In May 1954, students from Chung Cheng High School held a demonstration to protest against National Service. The British had decided that all males between the ages of 18 and 20 were required to register for part-time National Service.
 

However, the Chinese students felt that it was unfair to them, as they saw no future in the British-ruled state. Some also believed that it was a ploy to use local people to preserve colonial rule. So they disagreed to the decision that the Bristish came to. On May 13, 500 students created havoc in the streets, while another 1,000 students locked themselves in Chung Cheng High School. Over 20 students were injured and 48 were arrested by the police.


On May 18, 55 students formed a delegation to request for exemption from National Service. Their request was turned down by the British. The school authorities decided to close the school two weeks earlier for the school vacation, fearing that there would be further trouble from the students. 2,500 students locked themselves in Chung Cheng High School. The group only dispersed when the police and parents stepped in to intervene.

WRAP UP AND INTRO OF NEXT TOPIC :)

Thats the end for Maria Hertogh Riots' journey. We hope you have learnt quite alot from the few posts and the importance of Racial Harmony. Next up, Anti-NS Riots. Let us tell you a little bit about it okay? :)
The Anti-NS Riots surprisingly was rioting from Chinese Middle School Students as they do not want to defend a foreign Government... Sounds exciting right? Do anticipate the next few posts as we go into the Anti-NS riots.

WHAT HAPPENED AFTER THE RIOT??

After the riot, the police set up a special investigation unit which detained 778 people. Out of these people, 403 were released unconditionally and 106 were released on various conditions, they generally still need to report to the police station monthly and adhere to a curfew after dark. The police eventually brought rioting charges against 200 people, 25 out of the 200 were acquitted, 100 were convicted, 62 were referred to the Enquiry Advisory Committee, and 7 were brought to trial at the Assize Court for wanton killing and 5 of them were subsequently sentenced to death on the gallows.

On 25 August 1951, Tunku Abdul Rahman, who would later become the first Prime Minister of Malaysia, took over as the president of UMNO, a Malay and therefore Muslim party, that remains the largest and ruling political party in Malaysia today. He immediately set out to save the five on death row. Having garnered support from the Muslim population, Abdul Rahman placed pressure on the authorities, who finally gave in. The British government was expecting their role as the colonial master to end very soon and did not wish to leave behind grim memories. The death sentences for all five were commuted to life imprisonment.

WHY DID THE RIOT HAPPEN??

After the custody of Maria was awarded to the Hertoghs, Maria moved into the convent and the press was not barred from entering the convent grounds. Nor were they restricted in any way in their approach to the incident. On 5 December, the newspaper published on its front page a photograph of Maria standing holding hands with the Reverend Mother. There were more pictures on page 2 as well. The Malay press retorted. On 7 December, they also published three photographs of Maria weeping and being comforted by a nun, as well as articles about Maria's "lonely and miserable" life in the convent.
 The Muslims, who looked upon Maria as one of their own, were deeply offended by such pictures, not to mention the sensational reports, some of which explicitly labelled the case as a religious issue between Islam and Christianity.

The appeal hearing opened on 11 December. Maria stayed at the convent and did not attend. Since early morning, crowds carrying banners and flags gather outside the court. Unbelievably, the court threw out the appeal within five minutes. The brevity of the hearing convinced the gathering that the colonial legal system was biased against Muslims. The riots erupted. Rioting in Singapore lasted till noon on 13 December 1950. In total 18 people were killed and 173 injured. Many properties were also damaged

WHEN AND HOW DID IT HAPPEN??

The Maria Hertogh riots or Natrah riots, which staeted on 11 December 1950 in Singapore, consisted of outraged Muslims who resented the court decision to give the custody of Maria Hertogh (or Bertha Hertogh), then 13, to her biological Dutch Catholic parents after she had been raised as a Muslim under the care of Aminah binte Mohamed, whom she regarded as her mother.

WHAT HAPPENED THEN??

-After World War II in 1945, Sergeant Adrianus Hertogh, Maria's biological father, was released and reunited with his wife and came back to find Maria to take her back but Che Aminah refused to return Maria Hertogh to them as she claimed that Adeline Hertogh, Maria's biological mother, had given Maria to her for adoption in late 1942.

-In September 1949, Aminah and Maria were traced to the kampong they were living in after Maria’s biological parents requested the Dutch authorities to try to trace the child when they could not find their daughter or Aminah. 

-In early 1950, negotiations were opened to retrieve Maria. The Dutch Consulate offered S$500 to make up for Aminah's expenses in bringing up the girl for eight years. Aminah rejected the offer and refused to give up Maria.

-Later in April, Aminah was then persuaded to travel with Maria to Singapore to discuss the issue with the Dutch Consul-General. However, Aminah's firm position could not be wavered.

-On 22 April, Maria's biological parents applied to the High Court for Maria to be delivered into the custody of the Social Welfare Department pending further order. The case was approved by the Chief Justice and Maria was brought to the Girls Homecraft Centre at York Hill by an officer the next day.

-On 17 May, the High Court ruled after a short hearing of about 15 minutes that the custody of Maria be entitled to the Hertoghs although Maria made it clear that she wanted to stay with Aminah and did not wish to be returned to her natural parents.

-On 1 August 1950, merely four days after winning the appeal, the events took a dramatic and unexpected turn. Maria was married to 22-year-old Mansoor Adabi. The marriage could have been a manoeuvre by Aminah to prevent further attempts by the Hertoghs to get back their daughter.

-The custody of Maria was then given to her biological parents.

ABOUT MARIA HERTOGH :)

Maria Bertha Hertogh A.K.A Nadra Bte Maarof was born on the 24th of Mach, 1937 in Tjimachi, Java, Indonesia. Maria was the third child of six children that Adeline Hertogh bore. Adeline Hertogh gave Maria to the care of Aminah Bte Mohammad, a family friend, after Maria's father became a prisoner-of-war in 1943. Maria was later named Nadra Bte Maarof and Aminah took care of Maria for 8 years.

INTRODUCTION :)

In this blog, we will be taking a journey back to the past when there are still riots in Singapore.
But we wont be covering all the riots that happened in Singapore back then. We will only be focusing on the Maria Hertogh Riots and the Anti-NS Riots. :)
There will be about 3 or 4 posts on each topic.
We will be starting on the Maria Hertogh Riots first followed by the Anti-NS Riots.
So, do look out for the next few posts and go on a journy with us. :)