Police denies SFD permit for anti-racism rally

Posted on 01. Dec, 2011 in discrimination, Press Release, Press Release, race, Speakers' Corner

SFD Media Release
1 December 2011
Singapore

An application to conduct an anti-racism rally at Speakers' Corner on International Human Rights Day (December 10th) was rejected by the police yesterday.

The initial permit application for a 'Singaporeans United Against Racism' rally was made by Mr Martyn See, Executive Secretary, Singaporeans For Democracy (SFD) on 20 November 2011.

After a series of email exchanges with the Singapore Police Force (SPF) pertaining to topics, speakers, crowd size and displays, the permit application was rejected without any reason.

This is not the first time that the SPF has rejected an application by SFD to hold a cause related activity.

On 6 December 2010, the SPF rejected a SFD permit application for 30 people to march on 10th December 2010 from Hong Lim Park to Parliament House.

When a formal appeal was lodged, the SPF replied that the permit application was turned down because of 'law and order considerations'. The police then advised SFD to hold the event at Speakers' Corner.

The SFD is disappointed over this latest rejection of its permit application to hold an activity at Speakers’ Corner, which was submitted to allow Singaporeans to take an open stand against racism.

The SFD has filed an appeal over the denial of the permit.

Dr James Gomez
Executive Director
Singaporeans For Democracy

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