Singaporeans need to speak up (with our permission first…)

The Rhetoric

“(Singaporeans) need to speak up, or better still, do something.”
–DPM Lee Hsien Loong endorsing the Remaking Singapore campaign, Straits Times, Jan 7, 2004

The Reality

“Three applications to stage an outdoor event to mark International Day Against Violence Against Women were turned down by police, (including) a ‘song and dance’ performance.”
– Straits Times, Nov 22, 2003

“Young drama group The Fun Stage’s upcoming series of talks and forums on gay represenatation, titled The Lover’s Lecture Series, has been denied a licence by Public Entertainment Licensing Unit (Pelu)…Pelu said the talks involving academics, critics and theatre practitioners “were contrary to the public interest.”
– Straits Times Life!, Mar 8 2004

“Think Centre has also had applications for permits rejected in the past. In September the police did not allow it to put up a doll display marking International Children’s Day at Raffles Place and Stamford Road.”
– Straits Times, Nov 22, 2003