When the 'saints' go marching in...
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A group of marchers plan to test Singapore's tight restrictions on public protests by marking International Human Rights Day Sunday, an organiser of the protest said.
Chee Siok Chin, the sister of jailed pro-democracy activist Chee Soon Juan, told AFP that up to 12 people planned to march in groups of four.
Any public protest of five or more people without a police permit in Singapore is deemed illegal.
"We are keeping it to four at a time so we avoid flouting any of these rules here," Chee said.
But she added she still expects scrutiny from the police.
"We are expecting some queries and some questions. They might not even allow us to go on."
The rally is to begin at 0800 GMT at Hong Lim Park and end at Queenstown Remand Prison where Chee Soon Juan is detained.
Chee was jailed for five weeks on November 23 after declaring he would not pay a fine of 5,000 Singapore dollars (3,200 US).
The fine was imposed after he was convicted for speaking in public without a police permit ahead of May 6 general elections won overwhelmingly by the conservative People's Action Party (PAP).
US-based rights group Human Rights Watch said Thursday that Chee "is being arbitrarily detained for exercising his right to free expression and should be immediately and unconditionally released."
Chee Soon Juan is one of the few people in Singapore to have spoken out against the PAP, which has ruled since 1959.
Since independence in 1965, Singapore has grown from a third-world country to an Asian economic powerhouse.
But critics say this has come at a price, in the form of restrictions on freedom of speech and political activity.
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They should keep up the good work.
What we have currently, isn't peace - it's SILENCE because we are all threatened into silence.
Deep underneath, I am VERY certain, a lot of us are seething with anger and unhappiness. -
yea!!! ( clap hands)! go for it!!!
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Whoever is going to do that will get into a lot of trouble, from the Government, the Prison Authorities and the people at large.Originally posted by TYING:yea!!! ( clap hands)! go for it!!!
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I will give him all my support!
i wish pray everynight and day b4 i eat breakfast lunch dinner, THE ONE RIP SOON.
so he gets his RETIREMENT.
all the best CSJ! GOGOGOGO! -
Ok... what are the odds that the riot police will be called in on this one?
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THe police will be cursing whoever, they will need to re-fit the retractable fence onto their PETRA Vans .... or maybe, SOC will just come donw to settle them. Looking at this time, i think arrest will be made, no foreigners HERE watching us, right ???
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If they ever go near Queenstown Remand Prison, that's a sure bet.Originally posted by fudgester:Ok... what are the odds that the riot police will be called in on this one? -
its expected that the police will come up with stupid excuses to arrest them.
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Quite silly of her to proclaim her intentions. Groups of four but all under the same banner and organization...can still arrest them...
Maybe she wants to try the prison food as well... -
Five men or not doesn't matter, they can still charge you for causing public nuisance.
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double
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they will probably be another phantom 'john' who will make a complain to the police of pubic disruption during the walk... oh wait.. police forgot to take down the note of the phantom 'john' who made the report in the first place..
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I somehow think that this latest stunt would not garner much sympathy and support for CSJ & co. from the majority of the populace, as freedom of expression is not exactly something which is high on the list of priorities for most Singaporeans. It would be much more effective, I think, if they were to make some sort of statement on other more pertinent issues such as the cost of living.
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The more the PAP charges and prosecutes them, the dirtier their hands will become.Originally posted by oxford mushroom:Quite silly of her to proclaim her intentions. Groups of four but all under the same banner and organization...can still arrest them...
Maybe she wants to try the prison food as well...
It's just like a big matured bully with all the weapons, beating up and unarmed and frail man.
The more the PAP arrests them, the more they are showing the world, what sort of government they truly are. -
exactly.Originally posted by ShutterBug:The more the PAP charges and prosecutes them, the dirtier their hands will become.
It's just like a big matured bully with all the weapons, beating up and unarmed and frail man.
The more the PAP arrests them, the more they are showing the world, what sort of government they truly are.
Way to go saints!!!! -
A government that provides safety and security for its citizens, a government that is free from corruption, a government that has brought the nation from the third world to the first in 40 years, a goverment that ensures things get done and not just empty talk...Originally posted by ShutterBug:The more the PAP charges and prosecutes them, the dirtier their hands will become.
It's just like a big matured bully with all the weapons, beating up and unarmed and frail man.
The more the PAP arrests them, the more they are showing the world, what sort of government they truly are. -
This is a country, wherein you are DISCARDED when you become too old to be of much source of revenue to them!Originally posted by oxford mushroom:A government that provides safety and security for its citizens, a government that is free from corruption, a government that has brought the nation from the third world to the first in 40 years, a goverment that ensures things get done and not just empty talk...
This place is a milking-factory; like cows all of us, being well-kept and fed to constantly produce milk for them! -
If you want, go support them, dun show support here and be a yes-man to the PAPs.
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"We are keeping it to four at a time so we avoid flouting any of these rules here,"
i like this... -
So then if all you say is true my friend, why are people who offer an alternative treated in such an arbitary, draconian fashion? I mean all you say is true..this govt is this and that, I can't disagree with you upon the virtues this govt and its predeccessors hold. But intellectuals as they are, surely they understand a simple sociological fact - societys evolve and along with development, the expectations and wants of people change too. Why walk on a tight rope calling for change while retaining the old antiquated mechanics of fear?Originally posted by oxford mushroom:A government that provides safety and security for its citizens, a government that is free from corruption, a government that has brought the nation from the third world to the first in 40 years, a goverment that ensures things get done and not just empty talk...