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Source:
www.spf.gov.sg |
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Police Statement on unlawful assembly on 15 March
2008 |
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In response to media queries, Police
confirmed that it received calls from members of the public at about
2.20 pm on Saturday, 15 Mar 2008 informing that a group of about 20
persons wearing red t-shirts were staging a protest outside the
Parliament House. |
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Upon arrival, police officers
observed that Chee Soon Juan was with a group of about 20
persons chanting slogans and displaying various placards. They
were all clad in similar red-coloured t-shirts. |
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Chee and his group ignored repeated Police
warnings to stop the unlawful assembly. Instead, Chee and his group
persisted with their actions and also began to stage a protest march
towards Funan Digitalife Mall waving placards. |
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The group was given a final warning by
Police to stop the protest march or face arrest. Chee and 11 others
defied the police warning and were eventually stopped in front of Funan
Digitalife Mall and five placards were seized from them. In effecting
the arrest, Police faced resistance from some of the members who
struggled and locked their arms together. Police equipment including a
police radio set was damaged. One of the protesters, Chee Siok Chin had
tried to bite a female police officer when the latter tried to arrest
her. |
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Not the first attempt by Chee Soon Juan
in acts of wilful civil disobedience |
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Police note that this episode is the
not the first attempt by Chee Soon Juan and other SDP members to
stage illegal assemblies as part of their campaign for civil
disobedience against the Singapore authorities. |
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In October last year, Chee had staged an
unlawful demonstration at the Istana Park facing the Istana main
entrance on 8 Oct 2007. Chee had also staged an unlawful assembly at
the Myanmar embassy on 30 Sep 2007 to collect a petition against the
Myanmar Government and the Singapore authorities. |
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This latest incident at Parliament House
today saw an escalation in the level of defiance shown by Chee’s group;
for the first time, the group staged typical militant protest methods of
locking arms to resist arrest practised by some protest groups in
Western countries. The attack by Chee Siok Chin is also unprecedented
and police are investigating into the matter. |
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Parliament House is a high security
installation. Outdoor protest activities are not allowed given their
potential for public disorder and disruption to community life. Chee had
earlier applied for a police permit to hold a protest rally but this was
an empty gesture as a subsequent posting on SDP's website indicated that
SDP intended to proceed with the rally on 15 Mar at 2.00 pm even though
a permit was not obtained. The post also urged "all Singaporeans who
cannot stomach PAP's bullying anymore to join" the event. Chee’s
deliberate actions to break the law and defy the authorities are
consistent with his previous unlawful acts, for which he has been
charged and convicted in Court. |
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Chee has persisted to advocate civil
disobedience and street politics as the means for political action in
Singapore. In so doing, he disregards the law and holds himself above it
so long as he thinks the law in question is one he does not approve.
Police reiterates that no one is above the law. Our laws apply equally
to all, whether local or foreigners and it will apply no less to Chee. |
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Source:
www.spf.gov.sgMedia Release 15
Mar 2008 |
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Related Article: |
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Chee Soon Juan's demonstration outside Istana |
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FrontPage Edition: Sat 15 March 2008
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