Government officials disrupt private
screening of film on Lee Kuan Yew
Saturday, 17 May 2008
Singapore Democrats
Hand it over, MDA assistant director Tan Chiu Kee demands
Officials from the Media Development Authority (MDA) barged in on a
private screening of a film entitled One Nation Under
Lee and demanded that the organisers hand over the
DVD.
The 45-minute movie is critical narration of how Mr Lee
Kuan Yew rode to power championing democracy and then using it to
consolidate his power by crush his opponents and the
media.
Halfway through the screening which took place at the
Peninsula-Excelsior Hotel this afternoon, three officers
from the MDA burst in and said that the screening was an
offence.
A group of activists then asked them on what authority did they
have to insist on stopping the screening as it was a private event,
not unlike, for example, a wedding where videos of the betrothed
are played for guests.
The gatecrashers, comprising of assistant director Mr Tan Chiu Kee,
Mr Ahmad Kaspari and Ms Padmamuthu, cited the Films Act which
states that "it is an offence to have in your possession or
to exhibit or distribute any film without a valid
certificate."
This would make almost all Singaporeans violators of the
Act.
After a lengthy exchange the Master of Ceremonies, Mr Chia Ti Lik,
allowed the three into the hall. The crowd burst into sacrcastic
applause and the officers responded with sheepish smiles. The
police at one stage arrived but left whithout doing much.
"Please hand over the film," Mr Tan demanded.
"Please come up to the front, introduce yourselves and you can have
it," the MC invited.
With the DVD in hand the officers left. The event continued with Mr
Martyn See and Mr Seelan Palay offering their views on the Films
Act.
"If it is an offence to screen such a film, then everyone
with a birthday or wedding video would be criminalised," Mr See
said, adding that artists and writers must not be afraid to
document and write when they see and hear.
MDA officers Ahmad Kaspari (grey shirt) and Padmamuthu (beside
him) approaching the stage to seize the DVD
He said that the film would be a "fantastic learning tool" for
students and anybody who is interested in learning about Singapore
should watch it.
Mr Seelan added that as an artist, he cannot care so much about
laws. "Otherwise, art cannot take place. I need to make films about
what I see and sometimes laws don't allow that."
At this juncture, the MDA officers came back and demanded that the
LCD projector used for the screening be handed over as well.
"No, you can't have it," insisted Mr Chia Ti Lik. "You are
exceeding your powers and you have no right to take
it."
Ms Chee Siok Chin made it clear that the officers were already
given the DVD and had no right to the LCD projector.
Some members of the audienced weighed in and told the officials
that they were rude by intruding in on a private function. "You
already have the video, what more do you want?" one of the
attendees pointed out.
Sensing that the organisers were not going to back down, the
officials retreated and left.
How the authorities received word about the function is anyone's
guess but admission was restricted to those who had purchased a
ticket.
The film contained interviews with Messrs Francis Seow, Said Zahari
and J B Jeyaretnam as well as musical clips critising Ministers'
salaries and the GIC. The film had both educational and
inspirational qualities. Perhaps this is why the MDA was
particularly anxious to get its hands on it.
Witnessing the entire incident were two US embassy officials who
were among the invited guessts.
Another group of media activists had also conducted a similar
screening of videos at an art gallery at Rowell Road. The films
were about the SDP's election rallies in 2006 and the WB-IMF
protests at Hong Lim Park in September 2006. That screening took
place without incident.
http://www.yoursdp.org/component/content/article/
It seems that PAP regime is bent on destroying all propaganda
material criticising regime.