Meeting Under The Tree
The tolerance of his subjects was stretched to a limit. They felt the king had not performed his duty of protecting the subjects but had demanded excessive power instead.
By TAY TIAN YAN/Translated by DOMINIC LOH/Sin Chew Daily
Take a look at this tree the next time you are in Ipoh. It's called "Yellow Flame."
It is a leafy species commonly found in the tropics, like a huge umbrella shielding what's beneath from the wrath of the scorching sun. That said, sun rays still pierce through the gaps amidst its thick foliage and get scattered around on the grass underneath. What a sight to behold!
The first state assembly sitting ever held under a tree in this country could have been utterly romantic, if you have forgotten it is part of a fierce political struggle.
The meeting under "Yellow Flame" has passed one important motion: to dissolve the state assembly and call for fresh elections.
This is the spirit of the meeting. As a matter of fact, constitutional democracy was born on a meadow encircled by huge trees.
800 years ago, England was ruled by King John, among the most unpopular monarchs in the history of Britain. Despite his poor capability, King John was an autocrat who loved to wage wars which he couldn't win.
Defeated in wars, the king stepped up his iron-fisted rule. He even imposed exorbitant taxes to finance his wars.
The tolerance of his subjects was stretched to a limit. They felt the king had not performed his duty of protecting the subjects but had demanded excessive power instead.
Under the leadership of the Archbishop of Canterbury Stephen Langton, the nobles, priests and commons rose up in revolt.
The commons army made steady advances, finally capturing London and forcing its way to Windsor Palace where the king resided.
Besieged inside the palace, King John offered a truce. The commons army agreed to the truce, and sent a representative to negotiate with him on the meadow of Runnymede not far from Windsor Palace.
At the end of the four-day negotiation, the king and the commons signed the Magna Carta, in which the king's power was drastically reduced and the rights of the commons protected.
And the people formed the Great Council to represent their rights and interests.
Magna Carta gave rise to the Great Council, and the democratic system, and was one of the most important charters in human history with far-fetching influences.
If you have the opportunity to visit Britain one day, do drop by the meadow of Runnymede near Windsor Palace, and feel the pulse of the birthplace of constitutional democracy.
