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Singapore Protesters File Suit Against Minister, Police
SINGAPORE (AP)--Three demonstrators who were confronted by dozens
of police in Singapore last month filed a lawsuit on Friday against
authorities who they claimed violated their rights to assemble and
peacefully protest.
The three allege that Home Affairs Minister Wong Kan Seng, who is
also deputy prime minister, and Commissioner of Police Khoo Boon
Hui acted unconstitutionally when police forces confronted them
Aug. 11.
The three and another person had stood silently outside a public
building carrying signs that called for greater transparency in
Singapore''s national institutions. Dozens of police - some in riot
gear - surrounded them, ordering them to leave or face
arrest.
Police said they were acting on a complaint from a member of the
public that the protesters were causing a nuisance. All four
complied with the police request.
"We have the right to hold peaceful protests," said Yap Keng Ho,
one of the three protesters who filed the suit. "Both the police
and protesters have to be guided by the court, so we want the court
to tell us how to do peaceful protests without being dispersed by
the police."
Yap said they were also filing the lawsuit because they planned to
hold more protests in the future, but declined to elaborate. The
case will be heard Oct. 21.
Though Singaporeans are guaranteed rights to freedom of expression
and peaceful assembly under the constitution, public dissent is
extremely rare in the city-state, where outdoor gatherings of five
or more people require police permits.
Police have repeatedly refused to issue such permits, citing
potential "law and order problems."
The group claim police had not properly investigated the situation
to determine if the four protesters had caused any inconvenience
before moving to disperse them. They also demanded that police
return T-shirts and placards which were seized from them.
Officials from the Home Affairs Ministry, which oversees the
city-state''s police force, could not immediately be reached for
comment Friday.
