Home Affairs Minister Mr Wong Kan Seng praised Home Team officers for ensuring that the recently concluded APEC meetings in Singapore were “remembered for the real achievements made and not for the public protests, violent demonstrations or unpopular security measures that some past APEC meetings were remembered for.”
Speaking to 500 Home Team officers during an APEC appreciation lunch yesterday, Mr Wong said the officers had executed plans robustly, even as security arrangements were kept flexible.
Singapore introduced a Public Order Act (POA) recently just in time for the APEC Summit held in November this year which makes even a solo protest illegal.
Under the Act, the police are given wide-ranging powers including the power to remove the protesters forcefully by asking them to “move on”.
The law has come under intense criticisms for curtailing the civil liberties of Singapore citizens who can now only protest at Hong Lim Park.
The government is adamant that the new law is necessary to maintain public order and to prevent “violent” demonstrations which had blighted previous APEC meetings.
Law Minister Shanmugan told an audience of American lawyers recently that “harsh” laws are necessary to ensure the continued economic growth and prosperity of Singapore.
The official justification or excuse for these repressive measures is wearing thin in the face of a wave of democratization which have swept across Asia and toppled totalitarian regimes and dominant political parties.
Public assemblies and protests are a common occurrence in the other three Asian Tigers – South Korea, Hong Kong and Taiwan and yet their economies are still going strong.
With no effective opposition in parliament to check on the ruling party, people power remains the only means by which Singaporeans can exert political pressure directly on the government.
The ruling party is well aware of the threat posed to its hegemony by civil activism and has been introducing legislation to keep public dissent out of sight.
The police installed CCTVs at the premises of Hong Lim Park lately to discourage Singaporeans for participating in rallies held there which had seen a drastic drop in the turnout.
Though the Singapore Constitution guarantees the basic right of assembly to its citizens, it is almost never practiced in real life.
Application to the police for permits to hold public gatherings of a political nature is always rejected with no explanation given.
Despite the repressiveness of the Singapore political system, most Singaporeans appear to be contented with the status quo.
A recent survey conducted by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) revealed that over 90 per cent of Singaporeans have confidence in public institutions and the integrity of their leaders.
Speaking to 500 Home Team officers during an APEC appreciation lunch yesterday, Mr Wong said the officers had executed plans robustly, even as security arrangements were kept flexible.
Singapore introduced a Public Order Act (POA) recently just in time for the APEC Summit held in November this year which makes even a solo protest illegal.
Under the Act, the police are given wide-ranging powers including the power to remove the protesters forcefully by asking them to “move on”.
The law has come under intense criticisms for curtailing the civil liberties of Singapore citizens who can now only protest at Hong Lim Park.
The government is adamant that the new law is necessary to maintain public order and to prevent “violent” demonstrations which had blighted previous APEC meetings.
Law Minister Shanmugan told an audience of American lawyers recently that “harsh” laws are necessary to ensure the continued economic growth and prosperity of Singapore.
The official justification or excuse for these repressive measures is wearing thin in the face of a wave of democratization which have swept across Asia and toppled totalitarian regimes and dominant political parties.
Public assemblies and protests are a common occurrence in the other three Asian Tigers – South Korea, Hong Kong and Taiwan and yet their economies are still going strong.
With no effective opposition in parliament to check on the ruling party, people power remains the only means by which Singaporeans can exert political pressure directly on the government.
The ruling party is well aware of the threat posed to its hegemony by civil activism and has been introducing legislation to keep public dissent out of sight.
The police installed CCTVs at the premises of Hong Lim Park lately to discourage Singaporeans for participating in rallies held there which had seen a drastic drop in the turnout.
Though the Singapore Constitution guarantees the basic right of assembly to its citizens, it is almost never practiced in real life.
Application to the police for permits to hold public gatherings of a political nature is always rejected with no explanation given.
Despite the repressiveness of the Singapore political system, most Singaporeans appear to be contented with the status quo.
A recent survey conducted by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) revealed that over 90 per cent of Singaporeans have confidence in public institutions and the integrity of their leaders.
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