Lawyer in detention, charged, facing possible jail term for online comments about judge
(SEAPA/IFEX) – A Singaporean-US lawyer has been charged in a Singapore court for allegedly insulting a judge in emails and his blog, wire reports say. A Reuters dispatch on 2 June 2008 ( http://www.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idUSSIN32641420080602 ), said that “Gopalan Nair, who runs a law firm in California and was previously a Singapore citizen, was arrested last […]
Censors interfere with screening of critical film, seize disc
(SEAPA/IFEX) – Singapore authorities attempted to stop a private screening of a critical film on Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew on 17 May 2008, alleging that the screening violated the Films Act, according to news reports. Section 21(1)(b) of the Films Act forbids the screening of a film that has not been vetted by the […]
Annual Report 2008: Singapore
Annual Report 2008: Singapore
Annual Report 2008: Singapore
Annual Report 2008: Singapore
World Report 2008: Singapore
World Report 2008: Singapore
Freedom of the Press 2007: Singapore
Freedom of the Press 2007: Singapore
Court rejects magazine’s application for international lawyer in libel case
(SEAPA/IFEX) – The Singapore High Court has rejected a regional periodical’s application for a Queen’s Counsel from the United Kingdom to represent the magazine in a defamation lawsuit brought against it by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and his father, Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew. The Hong Kong-based “Far Eastern Economic Review” had sought to […]
Government bans film on journalist detained without trial for 17 years
(SEAPA/IFEX) – The Singapore government has banned an independent film about a former top journalist and political activist who was held without trial for 17 years in the island republic, deeming the documentary to be “against public interests”. “Zahari’s 17 years” by local filmmaker Martyn See is a 49-minute interview with Said Zahari about his […]
Media regulator’s move to cover new media may limit free expression on Internet
(SEAPA/IFEX) – Singapore is reviewing the code that governs competition in the print and broadcast media markets to include new media. First implemented in April 2003, the Code of Practice for Market Conduct in the Provision of Mass Media Services spells out the rights and obligations of “regulated persons” and entities that provide mass media […]
Key opposition leader, imprisoned for speaking in public without permit, released early for good behaviour
(SEAPA/IFEX) – The Singapore government released vocal opposition leader Dr Chee Soon Juan from prison on 16 December 2006, two weeks short of the five-week term meted out to him for speaking in public without a permit. The secretary general of the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) had opted for jail rather than a fine of […]
Jailed opposition leader’s health deteriorating, Human Rights Watch calls for his release and appropriate medical care
(HRW/IFEX) – The following is a Human Rights Watch press release: Singapore: Release Opposition Party Leader Grant Family Access and Information (New York, December 8, 2006) – Singapore opposition leader Dr. Chee Soon Juan is being arbitrarily detained for exercising his right to free expression and should be immediately and unconditionally released, Human Rights Watch […]
Three opposition politicians imprisoned for speaking publicly without permit
(SEAPA/IFEX) – Singapore opposition leader Dr. Chee Soon Juan has been imprisoned for five weeks following a 24 November 2006 court verdict which found him and two other party members guilty of breaching the city-state’s restrictions on free speech. Chee, the secretary general of the Singapore Democratic Party, refused to pay the alternative sentence meted […]
Blogger questioned, ordered to remove online video of himself speaking in public
(RSF/IFEX) – Reporters Without Borders has voiced concern about proposed criminal code amendments designed to encourage online self-censorship and to enable the authorities to prosecute bloggers living abroad. The organisation also condemned the imminent prosecution of opposition member Yap Keng Ho for posting a video of one of his public addresses online. “These new measures […]
Government reviews Penal Code, placing more curbs on free expression
(SEAPA/IFEX) – A review of the Singapore Penal Code will see further curtailment of the already limited freedoms in the city-state notorious for its intolerance for basic free expression and assembly rights. The government is introducing 19 new offences and expanding the scope of 19 existing offences, to “bring the Penal Code up to date, […]
Government revokes sales permit of “Far Eastern Economic Review”
(SEAPA/IFEX) – The Singapore Government has revoked the sale and distribution permit for the “Far Eastern Economic Review” after the monthly magazine failed to comply with two requirements under the Newspaper and Printing Presses Act, reports the local Channel News Asia television channel on its website. Categorised as a “declared foreign newspaper” under the Act, […]
Journalist detained, faces deportation, prevented from covering trial
(SEAPA/IFEX) – A foreign reporter who has been following a trial in Singapore was detained while attempting to re-enter the country on 24 September 2006, reports “The Epoch Times”. The newspaper, which has regional offices around the globe, said its reporter, Jaya Gibson, was to be deported on 25 September. Gibson had returned from a […]