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Photo
A: Police officers (right) video-taping the protest
Photo
B: Same two officers in another position
Photo
C: Chee Siok Chin attacked who?
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Lies
from the police
Singapore
Democrats
16 Mar 08
The media
statement put
out by the police today demonstrates again that there is no level
to which they will not stoop in order to cover up the fact that
they are used by the PAP for political purposes.
"Police
alerted by members of public"
Does
it expect the public to believe that they only acted on our
protest yesterday because they "received calls members of
the public"?
It is clear that plainclothes police
officers were in the background monitoring and videotaping the
protest activity right from the very beginning. (See photos A and
B)
Besides the SDP had made an application for the protest
two-and-a-half months ago on 28 Dec 07 and announced that we
would proceed with the protest.
But the police expects us
to buy their line that they were tipped off by members of the
public about our protest.
Given such a scenario, the
police are either lying or showing extreme incompetence. We
concede that it is difficult to tell which is more predominant
given the recent fiasco over the Mas Selamat escape.
Chee
Siok Chin tried to bite officer
The
police statement also said that "one of the protesters, Chee
Siok Chin had tried to bite a female police officer when the
latter tried to arrest her" and described her action as an
"attack" on the police.
This is a complete lie.
At no time did Ms Chee do anything of such a nature. There are
photographs showing Ms Chee being led away by officers and it is
clear that she remained calm and carried herself with dignity
(See Photo C).
In addition, the police were videotaping
the arrests. If they have evidence of Ms Chee attempting to bite
or attack anyone, please produce it.
It is clear that the
police are trying to demonise the only female protester who was
arrested. Ms Chee has shown great courage and fortitude, and will
remain an inspiration to many who want to see freedom and justice
in Singapore.
Laws
equal to all
The
police say that "our laws apply equally to all." If our
laws really apply equally to all then just answer one simple
question: CASE can, SDP cannot. Why?
Other
instances of police lies
The
shenanigan, fabrications and lies concocted by the police are not
restricted to yesterday's event.
In the on-going trial
where Dr Chee Soon Juan is charged for speaking without a permit,
police witnesses took the stand and contradicted each other
regarding a set of erroneously labelled set of photographs that
were tended as evidence. (See here)
Sgt Lam Thien Chang from the Jurong Police Division even
admitted that he lied to an SDP member that he was not a police
officer when he was confronted. (See here)
In
a previous trial, ASP Jeremy Koh was found to be present in the
courtroom while his fellow officers were testifying. Mr Koh was
also caught going in and out of the room where police witnesses
are kept. (See here)
In
2006, officials from the Home Affairs Ministry initially denied
that Dr Chee's prison food tray was marked. After being
confronted with the fact, the officials withdrew their lie. (See
here)
Police
credibility at an all-time low
With
the debacle over Mr Mas Selamat where the police would have
Singaporeans believe that the ISA detainee escaped from under
their noses without producing any video evidence, the credibility
of the Singapore Police Force is sinking, and sinking very
rapidly.
In an age where videos and photographs are
disseminated quickly and widely on the Internet it is reckless
for the police, obviously operating under instructions from the
PAP, to propagate such flagrant lies.
The Singapore
Democrats warn that when the police lose public respect and
credibility, it is very difficult to get it back. When that
happens, society will suffer.
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