The text below is that of the petition http://www.petitiononline.com/martynse/petition.html
that has been started in order to show support with Martyn See the
Singapore Rebel documentary maker and fellow Singaporean blogger.
The reason for the creation of the petition was the recent call for
action by Amnesty International.
So please follow the links and sign the petition or pass word of
its existence from mouth to mouth, emails, blogs, websites or by
any means possible.
http://www.archive.org/download/godboxone/singaporerebel.avi
http://asiapacific.amnesty.org/apro/aproweb.nsf
http://www.petitiononline.com/martynse/petition.html
To: Dr LEE Boon Yang. Minister for Information,
Communications and the Arts
The following is an appeal on behalf of Singaporean film maker
Martyn See, who is now under police investigation following the
making of his short documentary on opposition leader Dr Chee Soon
Juan.
We believe that the investigations being taken into the making of
this documentary are unnecessary and that the laws undermining
freedom of expression should be ended including the Films Act,
which can serve to punish perceived government opponents and to
deter Singaporeans from expressing dissenting political opinions
and participating in public life.
Freedom of expression is a fundamental right protected by
international human rights instruments, including the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights as well as the Constitution of
Singapore.
Martyn See has been threatened with prosecution under the Films
Act, after a making of a 26-minute documentary on Dr Chee Soon
Juan, the leader of the opposition Singapore Democratic Party
(SDP), and could face up to two years in jail or a fine of up to
S$100,000.
In March 2005 government movie censors ordered the withdrawal of
his documentary, entitled Singapore Rebel, from the countrys
annual international film festival on the grounds that that it
breached the Films Act. Subsequently, as police conducted a
criminal investigation, Martyn See was called for questioning and
compelled to surrender his video camera, existing tapes of the
documentary and other related material.
We also believe that the harassment of film maker Martyn See and
his associates, including the threat of prosecution should be
halted immediately.
The Films Act, just one of a wide range of restrictive laws that
curtail freedom of expression in Singapore, prohibits "party
political films". The Act broadly defines such films as those
containing "
either partisan or biased references to or comments on
any political matter".
Martyn See denies making the film in support of any particular
political belief or party, commenting that he sought to "find out
Chee Soon Juan's motivation, as to why he does what he does."
Although banned in Singapore, the film has been screened at human
rights festivals in the United States and New Zealand and may soon
be shown in Canada.
We believe that we the udersigned are acting in accordance with the
hopes of a possible relaxation of political and social controls,
ushered in by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in his 2004 inaugural
speech which called for greater participation by Singaporeans in a
more "open" and "inclusive" society.
However, continuing tight restrictions, including the use of the
Films Act, continue to inhibit political life.
We believe that the threatened prosecution of Martyn see has a
wider 'chilling' effect on the right to freedom of expression in
Singapore. And should therefore be halted immediately.
We the undersigned are concerned about the harassment of Martyn
See, the threat of his prosecution under the Films Act, and
restrictions on freedom of expression, including artistic freedom.
We wish to draw your attention to this matter in order that it be
stopped immediately.
We the undersigned call for an end to the misuse of restrictive
laws, including the Films Act, which can serve to punish perceived
government opponents and to deter Singaporeans from expressing
dissenting political opinions and participating in public
life.
We the undersigned believe that freedom of expression is a
fundamental right protected by international human rights
instruments, including the Universal Declaration of Human
Rights.
Sincerely,
Please Sign the
Petition by going to the following link and following
instructions.
http://www.petitiononline.com/martynse/petition.html
