News & Advocacy
Singapore Artist Seelan Palay Jailed over Peaceful Performance
UPDATE: On October 3, 2018, Seelan Palay was convicted and fined $2,500 Singapore dollars (1,575 euros) under the Public Order Act at a District Court in Singapore. Because he refused to pay the fine, he was immediately handcuffed and taken into custody to serve the default sentence of two weeks in jail. ARC and Freemuse call for the Singapore government to his immediate release and to respect the freedom of expression of artists.
Freemuse with the support of the Artists at Risk Connection (ARC) are calling for the Singapore government to drop all charges against artist Seelan Palay in relation to his 1 October 2017 peaceful performance, and have sent letters to Judicial Commissioner and Presiding Judge of the State Courts See Kee Oon and Minister for Culture Grace Fu.
The Constitution of Singapore states that “every citizen of Singapore has the right to freedom of speech and expression” and that “all citizens of Singapore have the right to assemble peaceably and without arms”. However, a concerning trend has emerged where Singaporean authorities are criminalizing protests of all magnitudes and punishing dissenting opinions that are expressed through art, such as those expressed by Palay.
To read the full story click here. You can read the full letter below and show your support for Seelan by clicking the button above to share our tweet or by creating your tweet in support of the campaign using the hashtag #ArtIsNotACrime and tagging @AtRiskArtists.
September 22, 2018
Ms. Grace Fu
Minister for Culture, Community and Youth
Old Hill Street Police Station
140 Hill Street, #01-01A
Singapore 179369
Mr. See Kee Oon
Judicial Commissioner and Presiding Judge of the State Courts
No. 1 Havelock Square
Singapore 059724
Re: Trial and detention of artist Seelan Palay
Dear Ms. Fu and Mr. Kee Oon,
Freemuse and the Artists at Risk Connection (ARC) call upon the Singapore government to drop all charges against artist Seelan Palay in relation to his 1 October 2017 peaceful performance in front of the Speakers Corner in Hong Lim Park and the Parliament House in Singapore.
The Constitution of Singapore states that “every citizen of Singapore has the right to freedom of speech and expression” and that “all citizens of Singapore have the right to assemble peaceably and without arms”. However, a concerning trend has emerged where Singaporean authorities are criminalizing protests of all magnitudes and punishing dissenting opinions that are expressed through art, such as those expressed by Mr. Palay.
Freedom of expression in Singapore is guaranteed by Article 23 of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights, which states that: “Every person has the right to freedom of opinion and expression, including freedom to hold opinions without interference”. Furthermore, the January 2018 report by the United Nation’s Special Rapporteur in the field of cultural rights outlines the importance of artistic freedom providing significant contributions towards creating, developing and maintaining societies in which all human rights are increasingly realized.
Singapore’s Parliament states that it may impose restrictions on the right to free expression of peaceful assembly in the interest of the country’s national security, public order, relations with other countries, or morality. However, Seelan Palay’s performance does not fulfill any of these criteria.
As a talented artist, Mr. Palay contributes to Singapore’s vibrant arts scene and champions human rights in his home country. However, on 26 and 27 September 2018, Seelan Palay will stand trial under Section 7 of the Public Order Act on the charge of ‘staging an unlawful performance without a permit’ at the State Court in Singapore. He faces a potential fine of 3,000 Singapore dollars and imprisonment if he does not pay the fine.
The charge was issued in response to Mr. Palay’s 1 October 2017 ‘32 Years: The Interrogation of a Mirror’ performance outside the Singapore Parliament House, which aimed to commemorate the 32-year detention of Singapore political activist, Dr. Chia Thye Poh—the longest serving prisoner of conscience in the world.
In advance of his performance, Mr. Palay successfully applied for and received a permit to perform at the Speakers Corner in Hong Lim Park. He hence began his performance at the Speakers Corner, but after walking to Parliament House to continue the performance he was asked to leave and was arrested by seven police officers. Following his arrest, authorities confiscated items used during the 10-minute performance, including a mirror, a banner, and a book, and detained Mr. Palay overnight for questioning until his release on 2 October 2017. Until he appears before the court, Mr. Palay is prohibited from traveling outside Singapore unless permitted by the Attorney General.
Freemuse and the Artists at Risk Connection (ARC) call on Singaporean authorities to immediately drop all the charges against Seelan Palay. We also ask that the authorities work to uphold the human right to freedom of expression to enable artists like Mr. Palay to create art without fear, as freedom of expression and peaceful protest are essential components in the creation of a functioning and vibrant society.
Thank you for your attention to this matter. We look forward to your response.
Yours Sincerely,
Srirak Plipat
Executive Director
Freemuse
Julie Trebault
Director of the Artists at Risk Connection
PEN America