vinyarb- you just have to read it

I'm not much into politics in Singapore. You can say i'm one fucking apathetic Singaporean, as i think most of us are. I mean, what's the point, right? They're gonna do what they're gonna do, and there's nothing we can do about it.

Its not so bad when you don't hear about it... you go about your life, and they go about erecting ERP gantries.

But when news like this appears and somehow filters through to you.. you really have to think which idiot will take up arms to be in the opposition corner, when any tentative step toward pointing out weaknesses in the current government may very well land you in terribly hot soup?

Now I can't say i have all details of the case, but from what's gleaned from various sites, it appears that Chee Siok Chin, Chee Soon Juan and Ghandi Ambalam (along with 3 others) were charged with, and consequently, convicted for distributing pamphlets criticising the government without a permit.
The formal words of the charge was:

You are charged that you, on the 10th day of September 2006 at about 12:15 pm, in the vicinity of Raffles City Shopping Centre, North Bridge Road, Singapore, which is a public place, together with 5 persons did participate in an assembly intended to demonstrate opposition to the actions of the Government, which assembly you ought reasonably to have known was held without a permit under the Miscellaneous Offences (Public Order & Nuisance) (Assemblies & Processions) Rules, and you have thereby committed an offence punishable under Rule 5 of the said Rules.

As far as I know, they were merely distributing pamphlets publicising an upcoming protest at Hong Lim Park.

I believe that particular law was set up to maintain the public peace, so the question that needs to be answered was - did they disturb the public peace by distributing flyers in a group?

If not, then its really a case of selective punishment, cos if me and a group of 5 were to print flyers declaring PAP the best government in the world, and handing them out, I'm pretty sure I won't be prosecuted!

Maybe the next time one of those groups of flagday students come by me asking for donations, i'll shoot back with a "where's your assemblies and processions permit? Don't have??! HOR HOR! I'm calling police!"

read more here and here.

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Comments (2)

• |220.255.7.xxx |2009-12-23 14:18:25 CSC
  Dear Vinyarb,
  
  Just to be crystal clear- the police witnesses when asked if the group had behaved in a disorderly manner or if they had posed a threat to public order, replied No to both questions.
  
  I hope this helps.
  
  CSC
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• |203.163.106.xxx |2009-12-23 16:37:37 vinyarb
  Hey CSC,
  
  thanks for being crystal clear! Just to be even clearer.. what was the actual "crime" committed here?
  
  Distributing pamphlets criticizing the government or simply being in a group of 6?
  
  If its the latter, next time just stick to 4 or 5 loh?
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