• About Us
    • Fact Checking Policy
    • Ownership & funding information
    • Volunteer
  • Subscribe
  • Letter submission
    • Submissions Policy
  • Contact Us
The Online Citizen Asia
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Commentaries
    • Letters
    • Comments
  • Current Affairs
    • Singapore
    • Malaysia
    • Indonesia
    • China
    • ASEAN
    • Asia
    • International
  • Finance
    • Economics
    • Labour
    • Property
    • Business
  • Community
    • Arts & Culture
    • Consumer Watch
    • NGO
    • Lifestyle
    • Travel
  • Politics
    • Civil Society
    • Parliament
    • Transport
    • Education
    • Environment
    • Health
    • Housing
  • Law & Order
    • Legislation
    • Court Cases
No Result
View All Result
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Commentaries
    • Letters
    • Comments
  • Current Affairs
    • Singapore
    • Malaysia
    • Indonesia
    • China
    • ASEAN
    • Asia
    • International
  • Finance
    • Economics
    • Labour
    • Property
    • Business
  • Community
    • Arts & Culture
    • Consumer Watch
    • NGO
    • Lifestyle
    • Travel
  • Politics
    • Civil Society
    • Parliament
    • Transport
    • Education
    • Environment
    • Health
    • Housing
  • Law & Order
    • Legislation
    • Court Cases
No Result
View All Result
The Online Citizen Asia
No Result
View All Result

Community Action Network and Demosisto says prosecution of activist Jolovan Wham for Skype discussion deeply regrettable

by kathleen
01/10/2018
in Civil Society, Current Affairs
Reading Time: 3 mins read
0

Jolovan Wham at the public forum which featured Joshua Wong as one of the speakers, through skype

The Community Action Network and Demosisto have released a joint statement criticising the prosecution ofJolovan Wham, a social worker and activist, for holding a Skype discussion which the police have deemed an ‘illegal public assembly’.

Five members of the Community Action Network along with the Secretary-General of Demosisto, Joshua Wong endorsed the statement which says the prosecuting a citizen for a Skype conversation that took place within the confines of a private space only enforces the perception that the Singapore government does not respect the fundamental rights of their citizens.

The strong statement echoes the sentiment of the international community over the absurdity of the law that seems to go against common sense where a person can be detained and prosecuted for something he does in his own space just because the government does not like what he has to say.

The International Commission of Justice has called for Singapore to amend the Public Order Act, under which Mr Wham is being charged, to ensure that it is consistent with international human rights law and standard.

Read the Joint Statement by The Community Action Network and Demosisto here:

Prosecuted for holding a Skype discussion: Singapore Should Respect the Right to Freedom of Assembly 

Singaporean social worker and activist Jolovan Wham will be back in court on October 1, 2018. This time, he’s being tried for organising a Skype discussion with Joshua Wong, a prominent leader of Hong Kong’s Umbrella Movement. 

Police are describing the closed-door talk which took place in November 2016, as an “illegal public assembly”. Authorities say they contacted Wham prior to the event to tell him to apply for a permit. Wham did not have enough time to do so, and now faces a fine of up to S$5,000 if he is found guilty. 

Whether or not Wham broke the law is a matter for the judges to decide. But commonsense says police should not have been involved and prosecutors should not have charged him to begin with. Skype conversations that take place within the confines of a private space are private matters that should logically, not require permits before they can be carried out. 

Freedom of assembly is a fundamental human right. But in Singapore, attempts by citizens to come together for a shared cause are often viewed with suspicion by the government. Protests are only allowed to be held in one location. A single person can constitute an “illegal assembly”. Such restrictive rules have given authorities plenty of leeway to prosecute activists like Wham, but virtually anyone can be a target.

Citizens of a first-world nation should not have to worry about whether or not an indoor event constitutes an “illegal assembly”, or whether or not police permission is required before a Skype conversation can even proceed. Such exchanges are normal in any healthy society. Wham’s discussion with Wong ended peacefully and would not have drawn any further attention if authorities hadn’t decided to act. 

Wham is also being prosecuted for refusing to sign his police statement. Wham says he declined because he was not allowed to have copies of the statement. It is puzzling why an accused person should be denied access to such an important document. The policy should be amended. 

Wham faces a further two charges for organising “illegal assemblies”. He’s also been charged with “vandalism”, for using scotch-tape to stick two pieces of paper on a train, and another two charges for not signing police statements. If found guilty of these offences, he faces a fine of up to S$5,000 or a jail term of up to three years. 

By prosecuting Wham for his involvement in peaceful, non-violent protests and related activities, the Singapore government has only reinforced the perception that it does not respect fundamental rights taken for granted by citizens in other first-world democracies. This is deeply regrettable. Public resources and taxpayers’ money can be put to far better use. This kind of gross over-reaction only serves to reflect the state’s paranoia and inability to trust its own people.

Endorsed by: Joshua Wong, Secretary-General, Demosisto, and the following members of Community Action Network, Singapore: Lynn Lee, Roy Ngerng, Shelley Thio, Vincent Wijeysingha, Rachel Zeng.

For just US$7.50 a month, sign up as a subscriber on The Online Citizen Asia (and enjoy ads-free experience on our site) to support our mission to transform TOC into an alternative mainstream press.

Related Posts

【财政预算案2021】2020年预算赤字达649亿元 占国内生产总值13.9%
AFP

China’s mega-rich move their wealth, and partying, to Singapore

04/02/2023
2024 Olympic torch relay to start in Marseille
AFP

2024 Olympic torch relay to start in Marseille

03/02/2023
India’s Adani shares plunge again after stock sale cancelled
AFP

India’s Adani denies rise due to Modi as shares fall again

03/02/2023
TotalEnergies says Adani exposure ‘limited’ at US$3.1 bn
AFP

TotalEnergies says Adani exposure ‘limited’ at US$3.1 bn

03/02/2023
India’s finance minister says markets ‘well regulated’ after Adani storm
AFP

India’s finance minister says markets ‘well regulated’ after Adani storm

03/02/2023
A man can be sentenced to death by a testimony of another, but CPIB finds it hard to prosecute with mountain of evidence and self-confession?
Opinion

A man can be sentenced to death by a testimony of another, but CPIB finds it hard to prosecute with mountain of evidence and self-confession?

03/02/2023
Subscribe
Connect withD
Login
I allow to create an account
When you login first time using a Social Login button, we collect your account public profile information shared by Social Login provider, based on your privacy settings. We also get your email address to automatically create an account for you in our website. Once your account is created, you'll be logged-in to this account.
DisagreeAgree
Notify of
Connect withD
I allow to create an account
When you login first time using a Social Login button, we collect your account public profile information shared by Social Login provider, based on your privacy settings. We also get your email address to automatically create an account for you in our website. Once your account is created, you'll be logged-in to this account.
DisagreeAgree
0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

Latest posts

【财政预算案2021】2020年预算赤字达649亿元 占国内生产总值13.9%

China’s mega-rich move their wealth, and partying, to Singapore

04/02/2023
2024 Olympic torch relay to start in Marseille

2024 Olympic torch relay to start in Marseille

03/02/2023
India’s Adani shares plunge again after stock sale cancelled

India’s Adani denies rise due to Modi as shares fall again

03/02/2023
TotalEnergies says Adani exposure ‘limited’ at US$3.1 bn

TotalEnergies says Adani exposure ‘limited’ at US$3.1 bn

03/02/2023
India’s finance minister says markets ‘well regulated’ after Adani storm

India’s finance minister says markets ‘well regulated’ after Adani storm

03/02/2023
A man can be sentenced to death by a testimony of another, but CPIB finds it hard to prosecute with mountain of evidence and self-confession?

A man can be sentenced to death by a testimony of another, but CPIB finds it hard to prosecute with mountain of evidence and self-confession?

03/02/2023

Myanmar junta imposes tough new measures on resistance strongholds

03/02/2023
Malaysia High Court dismissed DPM Zahid’s application to get passport returned permanently

Malaysia High Court dismissed DPM Zahid’s application to get passport returned permanently

03/02/2023

Trending posts

Former Singaporean shares change of life in Australia with annual pay of S$80,000 as a plumber

Former Singaporean shares change of life in Australia with annual pay of S$80,000 as a plumber

by Yee Loon
30/01/2023
25

...

They have done a fine job of confusing us about the jobs situation

They have done a fine job of confusing us about the jobs situation

by Augustine Low
01/02/2023
47

...

Adani’s brother runs SG company and registers as director with local ID

Adani’s brother runs SG company and registers as director with local ID

by Correspondent
03/02/2023
15

...

Singapore warns slower economic growth in 2023

Less than 1 in 10 jobs created in first three quarters of 2022 went to Singaporeans?

by Leong Szehian
28/01/2023
69

...

Earning only S$400 a month, delivery-rider turned hawker threw in the towel after two years of running a rojak stall

Earning only S$400 a month, delivery-rider turned hawker threw in the towel after two years of running a rojak stall

by Yee Loon
26/01/2023
24

...

Excessively charging for an essential need, and calling it affordable because people still can pay for it?

by Terry Xu
31/01/2023
40

...

October 2018
M T W T F S S
1234567
891011121314
15161718192021
22232425262728
293031  
« Sep   Nov »

The Online Citizen is a regional online publication based in Taiwan and formerly Singapore’s longest-running independent online media platform.

Navigation

  • Editorial
  • Commentaries
  • Opinion
  • Politics
  • Community

Support

  • Contact Us
  • Letter submission
  • Membership subscription

Follow Us

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Instagram
  • Fact Checking Policy
  • Privacy Policy

© 2022 - 2023 The Online Citizen Asia

No Result
View All Result
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Commentaries
    • Comments
  • Current Affairs
    • Malaysia
    • Indonesia
    • China
    • ASEAN
    • Asia
    • International
  • Finance
    • Economics
    • Labour
    • Property
    • Business
  • Community
    • Civil Society
    • Arts & Culture
    • Consumer Watch
    • NGO
  • Politics
    • Parliament
    • Transport
    • Education
    • Environment
    • Health
    • Housing
  • Law & Order
    • Legislation
    • Court Cases
  • Lifestyle
    • Travel
  • Subscribers login

© 2022 - 2023 The Online Citizen Asia

wpDiscuz