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Alerts - Singapore

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Singapore

Activist filmmaker under investigation for organising event

Martyn See was questioned by the police for possibly having contravened the Public Order Act by organising a public assembly without a permit.

Singapore

Opposition party under investigation for organising video conference with former detainees

The police allege that the Singapore Democratic Party allowed "fugitives from justice" to interfere with domestic politics because former detainees Francis Seow and Tang Fong Har participated in a political discussion via video conference.

Singapore

British author Alan Shadrake freed and deported, status of his book remains unclear

The AFP news agency reported that Shadrake was taken to the Changi Airport and deported after having served five weeks of an eight-week jail term for contempt of court.

Singapore

Appeals court upholds ruling against government critic

The court's decision to uphold Alan Shadrake's contempt of court sentence for "scandalising the judiciary" is a major setback for free expression and the charges should be dropped, Human Rights Watch said.

Singapore

Opposition leader faces prison for conviction violating free speech rights

Chee Soon Juan, secretary-general of the Singapore Democratic Party, has been convicted of "making an address in a public place without a licence".

Singapore

Government forces popular political website to register as a political group

"Forcing The Online Citizen to register as a political association distorts its role and threatens its ability to cover politics. The prime minister is clearly trying to tighten control of media outlets before calling elections," said CPJ.

Singapore

CPJ condemns jail sentence against writer critical of death penalty

The Singapore High Court sentenced British author Alan Shadrake to six weeks in prison and fined him US$15,400 over his book criticising the nation's judiciary.

Singapore

British author convicted of contempt in Singapore court

Alan Shadrake wrote a critical book on Singapore's courts and the death penalty.

Singapore

British journalist accused of contempt of court, released on bail

The complaint brought against Alan Shadrake consists of a series of biased and malicious allegations, according to RSF.

Singapore

British author arrested, charged with defamation over book on death penalty

Alan Shadrake, who was in the city state to promote his book, "Once a Jolly Hangman: Singapore Justice in the Dock", was arrested and is facing charges of contempt of court.

Singapore

Government bans yet another film by director Martyn See

See's video about the detention of Dr. Lim Hock Siew was deemed "contrary to public interest".

Singapore

Libel actions against media must stop, says RSF

In an open letter to Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, RSF expresses concern over the judicial harassment of foreign news media.

Singapore

Government refuses to renew foreign journalist's visa

While in Singapore, British journalist Benjamin Bland maintained a blog featuring occasional critical commentary on the country, including an entry on official secrecy over death penalty statistics.

Singapore

Magazine to pay prime minister and his father S$405,000 in damages and cost for defamation

The High Court had earlier ruled that the "Far Eastern Economic Review" had defamed both leaders in a 2006 article.

Singapore

Appeals court upholds ruling against magazine, editor

The "Far Eastern Economic Review" magazine and its editor, Hugo Restall, were found guilty of defaming Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and his father, former Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew.

Singapore

"Wall Street Journal" editor Melanie Kirkpatrick faces "contempt of court" charges following publication of articles about judiciary

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders deplores high court judge Tay Yong Kwang's decision to give the attorney-general a green light to start contempt of court proceedings against Melanie Kirkpatrick, the deputy editor of the "Wall Street Journal"'s editorial page, in connection with two editorials and an op-ed piece about the Singaporean judiciary published in the newspaper's Asia edition in June and July 2008.

Singapore

"Wall Street Journal Asia" found in contempt of court and fined

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders condemns a Singapore high court ruling on 25 November 2008 finding the Hong Kong-based "Wall Street Journal Asia" in contempt of court and fining it 25,000 Singapore dollars (approx.12,700 euros) for publishing two editorials and a letter by an opposition leader questioning the country's judicial system. The newspaper is owned by Dow Jones & Co.

Singapore

Court fines opposition party for defaming prime minister and his father; leaders should end the practice of using defamation suits to silence critics, says Human Rights Watch

(HRW/IFEX) - The following is a 17 October 2008 Human Rights Watch press release:

Singapore

Court finds magazine, editor guilty of defaming prime minister and his father

(SEAPA/IFEX) - Singapore's High Court has found the "Far Eastern Economic Review" (FEER) and its editor, Hugo Restall, guilty of defaming Prime Minister Lee Hsein Loong and his father, Lee Kuan Yew, media reports said.

Singapore

Blogger sentenced to three months in jail; newspaper faces possible contempt charge for criticising judiciary

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 19 September 2008 CPJ press release:

Singapore

Government pledges to ease restrictions on films, public demonstrations

(SEAPA/IFEX) - Singaporeans are abuzz yet cautious about government pledges to ease restrictions on free speech and public assembly in the city state. Writers, filmmakers, activists, and politicians are either expressing optimism or warning against too much of it, after the country's prime minister promised to allow more issues to be ventilated in the notoriously restrictive political environment of Singapore - subject to certain "ideals" of factuality and nonpartisanship.

Singapore

CAPSULE REPORT: International Bar Association gives Singapore dismal grade in free expression, human rights, independence of courts

(SEAPA/IFEX) - The following is an 11 July 2008 SEAPA statement:

Singapore

Blogger now charged with "sedition"; judge hearing the case is in conflict of interest

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has repeated a call for charges to be dropped against US lawyer, Gopalan Nair, who appeared before a court in Singapore on 12 June 2008 and again on 16 June, after he was accused by judges Belinda Ang Saw Ean and Lai Siew Chiu of "insulting a public servant", for which he faces one year in prison.

Singapore

Lawyer in detention, charged, facing possible jail term for online comments about judge

(SEAPA/IFEX) - A Singaporean-US lawyer has been charged in a Singapore court for allegedly insulting a judge in emails and his blog, wire reports say.

Singapore

Censors interfere with screening of critical film, seize disc

(SEAPA/IFEX) - Singapore authorities attempted to stop a private screening of a critical film on Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew on 17 May 2008, alleging that the screening violated the Films Act, according to news reports.

Singapore

Court rejects magazine's application for international lawyer in libel case

(SEAPA/IFEX) - The Singapore High Court has rejected a regional periodical's application for a Queen's Counsel from the United Kingdom to represent the magazine in a defamation lawsuit brought against it by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and his father, Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew.

Singapore

Government bans film on journalist detained without trial for 17 years

(SEAPA/IFEX) - The Singapore government has banned an independent film about a former top journalist and political activist who was held without trial for 17 years in the island republic, deeming the documentary to be "against public interests".

Singapore

Media regulator's move to cover new media may limit free expression on Internet

(SEAPA/IFEX) - Singapore is reviewing the code that governs competition in the print and broadcast media markets to include new media.

Singapore

Key opposition leader, imprisoned for speaking in public without permit, released early for good behaviour

(SEAPA/IFEX) - The Singapore government released vocal opposition leader Dr Chee Soon Juan from prison on 16 December 2006, two weeks short of the five-week term meted out to him for speaking in public without a permit.

Singapore

Jailed opposition leader's health deteriorating, Human Rights Watch calls for his release and appropriate medical care

(HRW/IFEX) - The following is a Human Rights Watch press release:

Singapore

Three opposition politicians imprisoned for speaking publicly without permit

(SEAPA/IFEX) - Singapore opposition leader Dr. Chee Soon Juan has been imprisoned for five weeks following a 24 November 2006 court verdict which found him and two other party members guilty of breaching the city-state's restrictions on free speech.

Singapore

Blogger questioned, ordered to remove online video of himself speaking in public

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has voiced concern about proposed criminal code amendments designed to encourage online self-censorship and to enable the authorities to prosecute bloggers living abroad. The organisation also condemned the imminent prosecution of opposition member Yap Keng Ho for posting a video of one of his public addresses online.

Singapore

Government reviews Penal Code, placing more curbs on free expression

(SEAPA/IFEX) - A review of the Singapore Penal Code will see further curtailment of the already limited freedoms in the city-state notorious for its intolerance for basic free expression and assembly rights.

Singapore

Government revokes sales permit of "Far Eastern Economic Review"

(SEAPA/IFEX) - The Singapore Government has revoked the sale and distribution permit for the "Far Eastern Economic Review" after the monthly magazine failed to comply with two requirements under the Newspaper and Printing Presses Act, reports the local Channel News Asia television channel on its website.

Singapore

Journalist detained, faces deportation, prevented from covering trial

(SEAPA/IFEX) - A foreign reporter who has been following a trial in Singapore was detained while attempting to re-enter the country on 24 September 2006, reports "The Epoch Times".

Singapore

Prime minister and his father sue "Far Eastern Economic Review" for libel

(SEAPA/IFEX) - Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and his father, former premier turned Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew, are suing the "Far Eastern Economic Review" (FEER) for libel, reports Reuters.

Singapore

Government tightens control over foreign publications

(SEAPA/IFEX) - Singapore appears to be tightening control mechanisms over foreign publications operating in the city-state, ahead of an upcoming International Monetary Fund (IMF)-World Bank (WB) meeting in September 2006.

Singapore

Government drops charges against blogger who posted Jesus cartoons

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has hailed a decision by the Singaporean authorities to drop all charges against a 21-year-old blogger who had been accused of violating the Sedition Act by posting cartoons of Jesus on his blog. The authorities said they let him off with a warning.

Singapore

Government shut-down of news blog prompts demonstrations; SEAPA warns of looming showdown between state and bloggers

(SEAPA/IFEX) - A showdown may be looming in Singaporean cyberspace, with the censure of a popular blogger sparking a rare protest in the city state and the government insisting that the suspension of his column is merely consistent with the city-state's notorious policies for managing public discussions in any form of medium.

Singapore

State-owned newspaper suspends blogger's column

(SEAPA/IFEX) - A state-owned newspaper has suspended the column of blogger Lee Kin Mun, following an information ministry official's warning that "it is not the role of journalists or newspapers in Singapore to champion issues."

Singapore

Government condemns blogger's "unconstructive" article

(RSF/IFEX) - It is not the job of government officials to take a position on newspaper articles or blog posts unless they are clearly illegal, Reporters Without Borders pointed out on 5 July 2006 after the Singaporean newspaper "Today" published an opinion piece by a government official on 3 July condemning a recent post by blogger Lee Kin Mun as "over-politicised" and "unconstructive".

Singapore

Blogger faces sedition charges for cartoons mocking Jesus Christ, according to reports

(SEAPA/IFEX) - A Singaporean blogger faces sedition charges for posting cartoons mocking Jesus Christ, reports coming out of the city-state are saying.

Singapore

Politicians file defamation charges over critical commentary

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a CPJ press release:

Singapore

Opposition party ordered to withdraw podcast from website

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has accused the Singaporean government of placing increasing curbs on online free expression after the electoral authorities ordered the opposition Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) to withdraw a podcast from its website on 26 April 2006, 10 days before parliamentary elections.

Singapore

Government steps up online censorship in run-up to elections

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has condemned rules gagging free expression online, in the same way as for traditional media, in the run-up to parliamentary elections in Singapore.

Singapore

Courts punish politician for decrying "unfair" judicial system

(SEAPA/IFEX) - On top of his financial bankruptcy and conviction for defamation, Singapore opposition leader Chee Soon Juan is now being charged with contempt of court for criticizing the country's judicial system as unfair and biased.

Singapore

High court judge dismisses lawsuit charging government with suppressing free speech

(SEAPA/IFEX) - The Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA) has expressed alarm over the recent ruling by a Singaporean High Court judge to dismiss a lawsuit which charged the country's public institutions with trampling the rights of their citizens to free assembly and free speech.

Singapore

Play censored, artist's work altered for references to death penalty

(SEAPA/IFEX) - Singapore's Media Development Authority (MDA) withheld a license from a local theatre group to stage a play about the execution of a drug courier until it revised some scenes and took out all references to the death penalty, the English daily "Today" reported.

Singapore

RSF publishes open letter to Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong

(RSF/IFEX) - The following is an RSF open letter to Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong:

Singapore

Outgoing US envoy slams Singapore over suppression of free expression

(SEAPA/IFEX) - On October 11 2005, the outgoing U.S. ambassador to Singapore criticized the city-state's suppression of political expression and suggested that its repression of dissent and criticism is incongruent with its aspirations in a century driven by access to information.

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