Groups urge Singapore govt to drop probe on human rights defenders

 

Singaporean authorities have been urged to drop their criminal investigations of human rights defenders Kirsten Han and Rocky Howe and cease harassing them through legal processes.

Han and Howe were interrogated by Singaporean authorities on June 24 over potential offences under the Public Order Act 2009 due to their work in advocating against the death penalty in Singapore.

“We have repeatedly expressed concern that the Public Order Act imposes impermissible interferences with the exercise of human rights and fundamental freedoms and is incompatible with international human rights law and standards.

“The act contains an overly expansive definition of what constitutes a ‘public assembly’ or ‘public procession’,” stated seven human rights organisations in a statement today.

The organisations are Access Now, Amnesty International, Article 19, Civicus: World Alliance for Citizen Participation, Forum-Asia, Human Rights Watch and the International Commission of Jurists.

Han and Howe were questioned about a four-person gathering they organised outside of Changi Prison on March 30. They were holding tea lights in a vigil to stand in solidarity with Abdul Kahar Othman, who was executed that night.

Additionally, they were also questioned about a photograph that they took on April 25 outside Changi Prison, a few days before Nagaenthran Dharmalingam’s execution on April 27.

“We also call on the Singaporean authorities to repeal or substantially amend all laws that are not compliant with international human rights law and standards, including the Protection Against Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act and the Administration of Justice (Protection) Act,” they said.

Previously, 20 civil society organisations criticised Singapore’s Court of Appeal for ordering Nagaenthran’s lawyers to personally pay the cost of S$20,000 (RM64,000) to the country’s Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC).

The organisations described the order as an insult to the right to a fair trial and justice.

“This will seriously impact the ability of lawyers and their clients from doing the needful, including the filing of needed applications in defence of their clients,” the organisations had stated in their statement. - Mkini