“It’s brutality, not just an injustice,” says human rights
lawyer M. Ravi on the Thaipusam guidelines that were made public
for the first time this month.
Among others, the guidelines prohibit the playing of recorded
music or the sounding of gongs or drums during the procession.
The annual festival sees tens of thousands of Hindus give thanks
to Lord Murugan, an important Hindu deity.
The lawyer said on Friday he has filed an originating summon
against the Attorney General’s Chambers (AGC) and Hindu Endowment
Board (HEB) over the guidelines.
According to the document, Mr Ravi claims the guidelines are in
breach of minority rights, guaranteed under Article 12 of the
Constitution of the Republic of Singapore.
He further claims, the guidelines violate the fundamental rights
to freedom of speech, assembly and expression of Hindu devotees
participating in Thaipusam.
Mr Ravi told reporters he plans to raise the issue to the
ASEAN Inter-Governmental Commission on Human
Rights as a form of protest.
On Jan 6, guidelines regulating the Thaipusam procession — a 4km
parade that starts from Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple in Serangoon
Road and ends at Sri Thendayuthapani Temple in Tank Road – were
made public for the first time by the HEB.
Participants in the Jan 20 procession are prohibited from
playing recorded music or sounding gongs or drums, from painting
their faces, bodies or wearing any form of disguise, and from
shouting or unruly behaviour. Singing religious hymns relevant to
the festival is permitted.
Participants who fail to comply may be refused permission to
participate in the current and future Thaipusam processions. They
may also be liable to prosecution including a fine of up to S$5,000
under the Public Order Act.
“There is a need to be a democratic voice in HEB to speak the people’s concerns,” said Mr Ravi, who
has participated in the festival. The published guidelines resulted
in devotees turning to HEB for clarification,
and The Straits Times received 10 letters from readers expressing
disappointment.
“There are so many regulations. We have no noise, no expression,
everything has been denied in this country,” said Mr Ravi.
When contacted by Yahoo! Singapore, the AGC and HED declined to
comment.
Meanwhile, the AGC has applied to the
Supreme Court to strike out the lawsuit filed by Mr Ravi’s client
ex-Internal Security Act detainee Michael Fernandez, who is suing
for damages arising from alleged torture during his detention.
It argued that the lawsuit discloses no reasonable cause for
such action to be taken against the Attorney-General. The
AGC also claimed the suit is frivolous or
vexatious, and that the suit is an abuse of the process of the
court.
—Yahoo! News