Singapore Chinese Middle School Students' Union Riots

Part III: When and how did it happen?

In 1956, after Lim Yew Hock replaced David Marshall as the Chief Minister of Singapore, he began to take tough measures to suppress the communist activities with the support of the British Governor and Commissioner of Police. In September, Lim Yew Hock banned two pro-communist organization: the Singapore Women's Association (SWA) and the Chinese Musical Gong Society. The Singapore Chinese Middle School Students' Union was also disbanded. In protest, students gathered and camped at Chung Cheng High School and The Chinese High School. They sat-in over the next two weeks, organizing meetings and holding demonstrations.

On October 24, the government told their parents to persuade them to return home but they refused. So, the government issued an ultimatum that other schools be vacated. The pro-Communist leader, Lim Chin Siong, organised a workers' meeting a short distance away from the Chinese High School. After the meeting, some of the workers joined the students in causing disruption. Riots broke out at the Chinese High School and spread to other parts of the island. Over the next 5 days, 13 people were killed, more than 100 were injured and around 900 were arrested.

On 26 October 1956, the government decided to take action. The police entered the schools and used tear gas to clear the students. But they did not give up. Instead of fighting to reenter the school, the students headed towards the city and threw stones and bottles, overturned cars and damaged public property. A curfew was set by the police but instead of improving, the situation became worse. This caused the government to call in the army.

During the curfew, the police and the army set up road-blocks to prevent large crowds from gathering at one place.