Activist charged for unlawful ‘public procession’ from Hong Lim Park to Parliament House

SINGAPORE — Activist and artist Seelan Palay was charged in court on Friday (May 18) for taking part in a public procession without a permit last October, starting from Hong Lim Park to the Parliament House.

Seelan, 33, was arrested on Oct 1 last year after presenting part of a performance art piece paying tribute to longtime political detainee Chia Thye Poh.

Court documents showed that Seelan allegedly did this for three purposes: to commemorate Dr Chia’s detention, and to oppose the Government’s actions in relation to the detention.

His last reason was “to demonstrate opposition to the Singapore Government’s actions of designating the Speakers’ Corner at Hong Lim Park as an area for public entertainment in the form of performances”, according to court documents.

Carrying a mirror, Seelan performed his piece, entitled “32 Years: The Interrogation Of A Mirror”, between 2.23pm and 3.07pm on Oct 1 last year.

He went from Hong Lim Park to the National Gallery, which was previously the Supreme Court, before ending up at the Parliament House, where he was arrested after standing for about 30 minutes outside.

Seelan, who is now out on S$5,000 bail, has previously spoken out about a range of issues, including the death penalty.

If convicted, he could be fined up to S$3,000 under the Public Order Act.
 

Dr Chia – the longest-serving political detainee in the world – was a Barisan Socialis member who was elected to Parliament in 1963, when Singapore was still part of Malaysia.

He spent 32 years in detention and under restriction.

His travel restrictions were lifted in November 1996, before the Government removed all restrictions on him, including on public speeches and political activity, in November 1998.