With the passing of the nation’s first Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew this morning, a Public Order Act may have silently came into operation as well at 5.30am earlier today.
According to the Singapore Statues Online and the National Parks Board, the government has revoked all rights to speak and organize events at Hong Lim Park — including the Speakers’ Corner, where previously Singaporeans can hold demonstrations and protests.
Though it could very well just mean that the Speakers’ Corner cannot be utilized during the period of National Mourning (from Mar 23 to Mar 29), it is unclear if the government will be re-instating the rights to speaking freely at the Speaker’s Corner anytime soon.
In their obituaries for the late statesman, international media have noted how his inclinations towards suppressing dissent played a part in a successful and effective political career that saw Singapore evolve from a third-world nation to first-world one.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
