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Police
acted without proper authority in questioning activists
14
Sept 06
Three
Singaporean activists were preparing to distribute a fact sheet
on the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund over the
weekend of the 16 and 17 September. (See fact sheet here
http://400frowns.lioncitydiy.com/factsheet.html)
However,
they were hauled to the Clementi Police Division on Wednesday, 13
September for questioning.
One of the activists Mr Seelan
was approached by plainclothes policemen at the City Hall MRT
station at about six o'clock that evening. They said they were
officers from Phoenix Park, home of the Ministry for Home
Affairs.
He was told only later that they were taking
action to "warn" him that he may be arrested if he went
ahead and give out the flyers.
After checking Mr Seelan's
bag and taking down his particulars, police from the Clement
Division took over the investigations.
Six police officers
went to Mr Seelan's home and confiscated his computer and a stack
of the flyers. They also went around the house taking pictures.
Neither Mr Seelan nor his family was shown any kind of document
or warrant that allowed the police to intrude into their
home.
When asked by Ms Chee Siok Chin if the police had a
warrant to confiscate Mr Seelan's computer, Station Inspector
Soon Chee Boon said that they had a "sanction letter".
However, the family confirms that they were never shown any such
document.
The police had initially prohibited the father
from talking to his son when they met at car park of Mr Seelan
house. It was only after the father insisted on seeing his son
that the police agreed.
For the two hours that Ms Chee
was there, she demanded repeatedly to speak to Mr Seelan as he
was not under arrest and therefore was at liberty to speak to
anyone.
It was only after midnight that Mr Seelan was
released. He looked tired and was obviously distressed.
Why
does the ruling party continue to govern the country using such
oppressive measures? When is the PAP going to honour the
Singapore Constitution which guarantees us free expression? What
does the Singapore Government have to hide? How long are
Singaporeans going to continue to live under such despotic
rule?
Come and join us this Saturday, 16 September, 11 am
at Speakers' Corner to register our strongest objection to
tyranny and dictatorship.
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