Singapore Democrats
The words and deeds of this authoritarian Government do not match. While it hypes up “liberalization” of Hong Lim Park by allowing demonstrations, it continues to persecute activists. Below is a compilation of the various charges and police investigations of democracy advocates in Singapore.
The individuals include lawyers, academics, businesspeople, housewives, students, and NSmen. They are featured below followed by the list of charges. Note that some of the charges and investigations include activities such as distributing flyers.
Charges:
A. Participating in the Tak Boleh Tahan! assembly outside Parliament House on 15 Mar 08; under Section 5(4)(b) Chapter 184 of the Miscellaneous Offences (Public and Nuisance Act).
B. Participating in the Tak Boleh Tahan! procession outside Funan Centre on 15 Mar 08; under Section 5(4)(b) Chapter 184 of the Miscellaneous Offences (Public and Nuisance Act).
C. Using criminal force against a public servant to deter her from discharging her duty during the Tak Boleh Tahan! protest on 15 Mar 08; under Section 353 of the Penal Code, Chapter 224.
D. Participating in an assembly at Speakers’ Corner on 17 Sep 07 marking the anniversary of the WB-IMF protest in Sep 06; under Section 5(4)(b) Chapter 184 of the Miscellaneous Offences (Public and Nuisance Act).
E. Participating in a procession from Speakers’ Corner to Queenstown Remand Prison on 17 Sep 07 marking the anniversary of the WB-IMF protest in Sep 06; under Section 5(4)(b) Chapter 184 of the Miscellaneous Offences (Public and Nuisance Act).
F. Participating in a procession at Speakers’ Corner during the WB-IMF meeting on 16 Sep 06; under Rule 5, Section 5(1), Chapter 184 of the Miscellaneous Offences Act (Public Order & Nuisance) (Assembly & Processions).
G. Participating in an assembly in front of Parliament House during the WB-IMF meeting on 16 Sep 06; under Section 5(4)(b), Paragraph 2 of the Miscellaneous Offences (Public and Nuisance) Act (Prohibition of Assembly and Procession – Parliament and Supreme Court).
H. Distributing flyers at the entrance of City Hall MRT, Raffles City Shopping Centre on 10 Sep 06; under Rule 4(1)(a), Section 34, Miscellaneous Offences (Public Order & Nuisance) (Assembly & Processions) of the Penal Code.
I. Speaking in public without a permit during SDP’s newspaper sale on 16 Apr 06 at Blk 105 Yishun Ring Road; under Section 19(1) (a) of the Public Entertainments and Meetings Act.
J. Speaking in public without a permit during SDP’s newspaper sale on 15 Apr 06 at Blk 260 Bangkit Road, under Section 19(1) (a) of the Public Entertainments and Meetings Act.
K. Speaking in public without a permit during SDP’s newspaper sale on 12 Apr 06 at Blk 269 Queens Street; under Section 19(1) (a) of the Public Entertainments and Meetings Act.
L. Speaking in public without a permit during SDP’s newspaper sale on 9 Apr 06 at Blk 19 Marsiling Lane; under Section 19(1) (a) of the Public Entertainments and Meetings Act.
M. Speaking in public without a permit during SDP’s newspaper sale on 16 Nov 05 at Blk 269 Queens Street. Section 19(1) (a) of the Public Entertainments and Meetings Act.
N. Speaking in public without a permit during SDP’s newspaper sale on 13 Nov 05 at Blk 494 Jurong West Street 42; under Section 19(1) (a) of the Public Entertainments and Meetings Act.
Police investigations:
A. Distributing flyers at Toa Payoh Central on National Day, 9 Aug 08. Public assembly without a permit; under Section 5(4)(b), Paragraph 2 of the Miscellaneous Offences (Public and Nuisance) Act.
B. Holding a vigil outside of Cenral Police Station at Cantonment Road on 3 Jun 08. Participating in an assembly without a permit; under Section 5(4)(b), Paragraph 2 of the Miscellaneous Offences (Public and Nuisance) Act.
C. Wearing kangaroo T-shirts at the Supreme Court on 26 & 27 May 08. (i) Contempt of Court under Section 7 of the Supreme Court of Judicature Act. (ii) Participating in an assembly without a permit under Section 5(4)(b), Paragraph 2 of the Miscellaneous Offences (Public and Nuisance) Act (Prohibition of Assembly and Procession – Parliament and Supreme Court). (iii) Intentional Harassment, alarm or distress to any person in a public place under Sec 13 A or Section 13 of the Miscellaneous Offences (Public Order and Nuisance) Act.
D. Entering a restricted area outside Shangri-La Hotel during Asean Summit on 20 Nov 07; under (i) Public assembly in a Protected Area under Section 4(3), Chapter 256 of the Protected Areas and Protected Places Act.
E. Holding a one-man protest against Burma at the Istana Park on 15 Oct 07; under (i) Providing Public Entertainment without a license under Section 19(1)(a), Chapter 257 of the Public Entertainments & Meetings Act.
F. Participating in a protest against Burma outside the Istana on 8 Oct 07; under (i) Public assembly without a permit under Section 5(4)(b) Chapter 184 of the Miscellaneous Offences (Public and Nuisance) Act, (ii) Public procession without a permit under Section 5(4)(b) Chapter 184 of the Miscellaneous Offences (Public and Nuisance) Act.
G. Participating in the Burma petition-signing campaign outside the Burmese Embassy on 30 Sep 07. Holding an assembly without a permit; under Rule 5 of the Miscellaneous Offences Act (Public Order and Nuisance) (Assembly & Processions).
H. Distributing flyers at Orchard Road outside Takashimaya Shopping Centre on 31 Mar 07. Participating in an assembly without permit; under Rule 5 of the Miscellaneous Offences Act (Public Order and Nuisance) (Assembly & Processions).
The activists:
1. Gandhi Ambalam
Charges: A, B, D, E, F, & G
Police investigations: A, F, G, & H
Convictions: Attempting to speak without permit, trespassing Istana grounds & disorderly behaviour, fined $3,000; speaking without permit; jailed 3 weeks
2. Chia Ti Lik
Charges: A, B
Police investigations: A, B
3. Chong Kai Xiong
Charges: A, B, D, & E
Police investigations: A, B, & H
4. Jeffrey George
Charges: A, B, & G
Police investigations: A, F, & H
5. Jaslyn Go
Charges: A, B
Police investigation: A
6. Chee Siok Chin
Charges: A, B, C, D, E, F, & H
Police investigations: A, B, D, F, G, & H
Conviction: Contempt of court, jailed 10 days
7. Govindan Rajan
Charges: A, B
Police investigation: A
8. Johnny Hoe
Police investigation: A, H
9. Chee Soon Juan
Charges: A, B, F, H, I, J, K, L , M, & N
Police investigations: A, B, E, F, G, & H
Convictions: Contempt of court (twice), jailed 8 & 12 days; speaking without permit (4 times); jailed 7 days, 14 days, 5 weeks & pending appeal; attempting to speak without permit & trespassing Istana grounds, jailed 5 weeks; leaving country without permit, jailed 3 weeks; fined for selling books under Public Health Act; fined for speaking about tudung issue at Speakers’ Corner; censured & fined $45,000 by Parliament for statistical mistake during Health Care Cost Hearing. 
10. Huang Chih Mei
Police investigations: A, G, & H
11. Jufrie Mahmood
Charges: A, B
12. Jufri Salim
Charges: A, B
13. Harkirat Kaur
Charge: H
Conviction: Pleaded guilty and fined $650.
14. Carl Lang
Charges: A, B
Police investigation: A
15. Ng E-Jay
Charges: A, B
16. Seelan Palay
Charges: A, B
Police investigation: A, B
17. Shaffie
Charges: A, B
Police investigation: B, C
18. Surayah Akbar
Charges: A, B
19. Charles Tan
Charges: D, E, F, G & H
Police investigation: H
20. John Tan
Charges: A, B, D & E
Police investigations: A, B, C, D, F & H
21. Teoh Tian Jing
Charges: F, G
22. Francis Yong
Charges: A, B, D, & E
Police investigations: A, B, G, & H
23. Gerald Sng
Police investigation: A
24. Isrizal
Police investigations: B, C
25. Sylvester Lim
Charges: A, B
Police investigation: A
26. Aileen Nah
Police investigation: A
“In every era, there are always those who will struggle for freedom. These people play a difficult role, their paths are paved with pain and loneliness. Their own generation will not accept them. In fact, they will be rejected, bullied, humiliated, imprisoned and even killed. These freedom fighters plod along a narrow path. But in the end, those who follow will widen the path into a broad avenue. Freedom fighters may suffer physically, financially and even psychologically, but their courage and commitment will enhance human civilization and last forever. Freedom fighters don’t belong to today, but they will live on tomorrow.”
— Shih Ming-teh, former Taiwanese political prisoner who was imprisoned without trial for 25 years and eventually led Taiwan to democracy