(SEAPA/IFEX) – At the 9 July 2005 launch of the latest book by Singaporean opposition leader Chee Soon Juan, police harassed guests and organisers, reports coming from the city state say. Plainclothes officers were seen videotaping the proceedings while the Singapore Democratic Party website noted that after the launch, policemen questioned guests and confiscated videos […]
(SEAPA/IFEX) – At the 9 July 2005 launch of the latest book by Singaporean opposition leader Chee Soon Juan, police harassed guests and organisers, reports coming from the city state say. Plainclothes officers were seen videotaping the proceedings while the Singapore Democratic Party website noted that after the launch, policemen questioned guests and confiscated videos on non-violent protests screened during the event.
On 11 July, a report on http://www.todayonline.com said Chee’s book, “The Power of Courage: Effecting Political Change in Singapore through Non-violence”, was launched with a public talk at Singapore’s Grand Plaza Park Royal Hotel. About 50 people were in attendance, the online news site said, and “police arrived after receiving word that video images had been screened.”
Todayonline said the video was of “Hong Kong residents protesting peaceably against a proposed anti-subversion law.” The footage was projected onto a screen as Chee autographed copies of his book.
Police spokesperson Victor Keong was quoted by the news site as saying, “During the event, a video disc was screened to the public. As the disc did not possess a certificate for public exhibition, it was seized under the Films Act for investigation.”
Singapore maintains restrictions on public assemblies, even as licensing rules for indoor public talks were apparently eased last year. Todayonline noted that Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, in his National Day rally, said he wanted to encourage greater freedom of expression.
Singapore, however, keeps all mass media on a short leash. Government officials earlier this year pulled a documentary on the life of Chee from a film festival. Chee himself faces bankruptcy proceedings in Singapore after being charged with defamation over criticisms he aired against the government when he ran for a parliamentary seat last year. The government, meanwhile, controls virtually all major print and broadcast media, and closely monitors content on websites based in or pertaining to Singapore.
