Amnesty International Report 2017/18 - The State of the World's Human Rights - Singapore

Amendments to Singapore’s Public Order Act gave authorities greater powers to restrict or ban public assemblies. Freedom of expression and assembly suffered another blow as charges were brought against those who participated in peaceful protests.

Freedom of assembly

In April, amendments to the Public Order Act to impose more regulations on organizers of public events passed into law. The amended law stipulated that organizers must apply for a permit at least 28 days in advance of an event and inform the police of the estimated size of the gathering. Punishments laid down for breaches of the regulations included a fine of up to S$20,000 (USD14,297), imprisonment for up to a year, or both. Permit applications could be rejected if the gathering was for a political purpose or was attended, organized or funded by foreign nationals.¹

Human rights defenders were investigated by police for participating in peaceful public assemblies. In June, nine activists who held a silent protest were investigated for assembly without a permit under the Public Order Act. In September, 10 activists were investigated for holding a peaceful vigil for Prabagaran Srivijayan on the eve of his execution in July.² In November, activist Jolovan Wham faced seven charges for his role in several peaceful assemblies over a one year period, including the silent protest and vigil for Prabagaran Srivijayan.³

Freedom of expression

In August, lawyer Eugene Thuraisingam was fined S$7,000 (USD5,122) for contempt of court after posting a poem about the execution of his client, Muhammed Ridzuan Mohd Ali. Contempt of court proceedings were initiated against US-based academic Li Shengwu for a Facebook post suggesting Singapore’s courts were not independent. In September, artist and activist Seelan Palay was arrested under the Public Order Act for performing a political art piece outside Parliament.

Death penalty

Execution by hanging continued to be carried out for murder and drug trafficking. On 14  July, Malaysian national Prabagaran Srivijayan was executed despite an appeal pending on his case in Malaysia.⁴

Rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people

LGBTI people continued to suffer discrimination. In July, organizers were required by authorities to conduct identity checks at the annual Pink Dot LGBTI event. Foreigners were officially banned from taking part.⁵

Workers’ rights – migrant workers

Housing conditions for foreign workers were criticized by NGOs and at least one construction firm was fined for housing workers in unhygienic conditions.

Counter-terrorism and security

Arrests continued under the Internal Security Act, which allows detention without charge or trial for indefinitely renewable two-year periods.

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