A little off-topic...
Tuesday August 8, 12:43
PM
Singapore film
director gets warning after police probe
http://sg.news.yahoo.com/060808/1/42mlzi.html
A Singapore filmmaker who was investigated by the police for making
a documentary about an opposition politician has been given a
warning rather than being prosecuted, police have said.
Martyn See's documentary on Singapore Democratic Party
secretary-general Chee Soon Juan, entitled 'Singapore Rebel', had
sparked the investigation after the censors board classified it as
a "party political film."
Singapore's Films Act prohibits the making and distribution of
films containing partisan political references or comments.
The offence carries a penalty of up to two years in jail or a fine
of up to 100,000 Singapore dollars (63,694 US).
Police have also confiscated the tapes of the documentary and the
camera used to film it.
"Following a police report filed by the Board of Film Censors ...
police conducted a thorough investigation and has since presented
its findings to the Attorney-General's Chambers," the police said
in a statement.
"In consultation with the Attorney-Generals Chambers, a warning has
been issued to Mr. See on 7 August 2006 in lieu of prosecution for
producing a party political film," it said.
The 26-minute film showed Chee being arrested by the police for
speaking without a permit and talking about his campaign for
greater political freedoms in Singapore.
It was withdrawn for screening at an international film festival
here last year, but has been shown at human rights festivals in the
United States and New Zealand.
Singapore has often been criticised by human rights and media
groups for maintaining strict political controls despite its rapid
modernisation.
The Bangkok-based Southeast Asian Press Alliance had said the See
case highlighted "the harshness of Singaporean state practices and
laws in stifling free expression."
But the government says the strict laws are necessary to maintain
law and order -- a pillar of the country's economic prosperity.
