SG Activist Kokila Annamalai’s Final Stand: Starvation and Self-Immolation to Make a Political Statement.

Over the past three weekends in October, several activists resorted to a wet hunger strike to symbolize solidarity with the people of Palestine. They demanded the Singapore government to end all economic, military, and academic ties with Israel. This is to protest Singapore government’s complicity in the ongoing genocide in Gaza. The adoption of a wet hunger strike refers to a protest where the individual refuses to eat but continues to consume liquids like water and electrolytes over a 48-hour period.

In the final weekend of the protest, emboldened activist Kokila Annamalai took it a step further by saying it is acceptable for individuals to hunger strike onto death or self-immolate to reclaim their body autonomy. Her extreme comments were met with ‘support’ online on Reddit, as netters felt that she should actually do what she says, and save everyone from having to deal with their antics. Others were quick to point out that Singapore has already provided substantial aid to Gaza, and that these activists were being performative attention seekers.

Singapore has done its part in helping and contributing aid to the Palestinians during this conflict. Instead of radicalising young impressionable minds to starve and set themselves on fire to further their cause, they should consider more conducive methods to effect positive change.

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