Paris-based International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) has made a call out to the government of Singapore to drop all charges against three #ReturnOurCPF protestors who appeared in State Court today.
24-year-old activist (and previous Member of Parliament contender) Han Hui Hui is facing charges for causing public nuisance during the dramatic face-off at Hong Lim Park in September 2014. A rally headed by Han and fellow political blogger Roy Ngerng clashed with a YMCA charity carnival in a territorial dispute.
Han, along with 60-year-old Koh Yew Beng and 56-year-old Low Wai Choo continued the trial today for their case, which was last adjourned on Oct 16. They each face a fine of up to $1,000 should they be found guilty, and Han in particular could be fined even more for an additional charge of organising an demonstration without approval.
Eight other fellow protestors charged in court were let off last year with conditional warnings — but the three wanted to continue contesting their charges.
FIDH however wants all charges to be dropped for the “three peaceful protestors”, and they want the government to ensure the “right to freedom of peaceful assembly in accordance with international human rights standards” as well.
“The government should immediately end the judicial harassment against the three protestors and drop all charges against them,” asserted FIDH president Karim Lahidji. “The government must also undertake a reform of laws and regulations that restrict the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and bring them in line with international human rights standards.”
