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Articles and links regarding Singapore government's position announcement about possible measures on protest at the World Bank & IMF meeting (19th-20th September 2006) in Singapore
1. Reuters Article – 17th January 2006
2. Associated Press – 17th January 2006
3. Financial Times - 17th January 2006
1. Reuters - Tuesday, January 17, 2006; Posted: 3:23 a.m. EST (08:23 GMT)
Singapore's government said it is prepared to cane or imprison protesters who commit violent crimes during the annual World Bank and International Monetary Fund meetings, to be held in the city-state in September.
The World Bank and IMF expect about 16,000 people to attend their annual meetings, which often attract anti-globalization demonstrations and other protesters.
Tightly controlled Singapore bans public demonstrations or protests, and uses punishments including caning and the death penalty to curb crime.
"The Police would not hesitate to investigate and prosecute any breach of our laws," Wong Kan Seng, Singapore's Minister for Home Affairs, told Parliament on Monday, according to a written answer to questions distributed by the Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts on Tuesday.
"This is especially so for any person or groups committing violent crimes such as vandalism, arson, and causing hurt which would attract severe punishment, including caning and imprisonment," Wong said.
Singapore attracted worldwide attention in 1994 when an American teenager, Michael Fay, was caned for vandalism.
The city-state is keen to attract more conferences and other big events to boost tourism. The World Bank/IMF meeting is an opportunity for it to show off its modern infrastructure.
2. Associated Press - January 17, 2006
Singapore said it will use severe punishments such as caning on protesters who commit violent acts during the annual International Monetary Fund and World Bank meetings in the city-state this year.
Security will be tight for the September meetings, and authorities have been upgrading their ability to deal with public disturbances, Home Affairs Minister Wong Kan Seng said in a written statement issued Tuesday, Jan 17.
"The police would not hesitate to investigate and prosecute any breach of our laws," said Wong, who is also deputy prime minister. "This is especially so for any person or groups committing violent crimes such as vandalism, arson and causing hurt, which would attract severe punishment, including caning and imprisonment."
Wong was responding to a lawmaker's question in Parliament on Monday about how Singapore - whose government craves order and sharply limits public protest - planned to handle potential street chaos that often accompanies international economic summits.
On Sept 19-20, 2006, Singapore will host 16,000 delegates and visitors for the meetings that are held outside Washington every three years.
Activists have often converged on international economic forum venues to protest globalization, saying it benefits rich nations at the expense of poor ones. Public protests are extremely rare in Singapore, where outdoor gatherings of more than four people require a police permit.
Caning is a routine punishment for vandals, sex offenders and some other criminals, who are strapped to a wooden frame and lashed across the bare buttocks with a long rattan stick.
The practice drew Washington's ire and world attention in 1994, when US teen Michael Fay was caned for vandalism.
Wong said Singapore would respect the custom of the IMF and the World Bank to engage accredited civic groups at meetings.
Members of such groups must abide by Singapore's laws on demonstrations, he said.
"Police officers will be deployed at such locations to respond swiftly to deal with violent protesters and restore law and order," Wong said.
Police have "also conducted study trips to various conferences around the world to learn from the organizers and the police forces on dealing with such protests," he said.
3. Financial Times - January 17, 2006
Singapore acceded to the request by the IMF and World Bank allowing demonstrations to gain the right to host what is expected to be the biggest meeting in the city-state's history.
But Wong Kan Seng, the home affairs minister and deputy prime minister, said Singapore reserved the right to vet further the accredited group to determine the potential impact on law and order as well as the suitability of the proposed [rally] location before a police permit would be issued. Violent protesters would face the threat of caning and imprisonment, as prescribed under
Singapore law, he said. |
