Malaysian national Prabagaran Srivijayan was executed by the state in the early morning of Jul 14, years after multiple attempts failed to overturn his death sentence in 2014 for importing heroin into Singapore.
Hangings in Singapore are always carried out on Fridays at dawn in Changi Prison, and it was outside the prison that 15 people gathered to hold a vigil for the young man. The group that congregated consisted of Prabagaran’s family and friends, all of whom stood solemnly in solidarity.
One of the attendees was none other than local journalist and anti-death penalty activist Kirsten Han, whose group We Believe In Second Chances has spoken out to oppose the execution of the young man (and many others before him).
According to Han, the police dropped by the vigil to break up the crowd and film the whole thing, taking candles and photos along with them when they left. No explanation was provided, though the group was allowed to stay on as long as they didn’t light any more candles or set up photos.
It was only yesterday (Sep 3) that Han found out she might be in trouble for taking part in the vigil. According to her account on Facebook, police officers showed up at her door to hand her a letter stating that she is required to assist in their investigations regarding “an offence of Taking part in a Public Assembly without Permit”.
It’s part of the Public Order Act that basically outlaws protests without permit in Singapore. It’s considered an offence if there are two or more people assembled for the purpose of (i) demonstrating support for or opposition to the views or actions of any person, group of persons or any government; (ii) publicizing a cause or campaign; or (iii) marking or commemorating any event.
Vigils may or may not be considered a chargeable offence, but it may take a different form, considering that it’s a gathering of people standing in solidarity for an individual impacted by the politically controversial death penalty. By its definition itself, vigils are peaceful demonstrations in support of a particular cause.
Han notwithstanding, imagine the distress felt by the family members of Prabagaran who might’ve also received the letter — they’ll have to deal with a police investigation on top of mourning his death.
“…when a simple, nonviolent, quiet vigil for a man about to be hanged by the state is deemed an illegal assembly worthy of a police investigation, perhaps it is time to think about whether we are striking the right balance between public order, freedom of assembly and compassion,” Han wrote.
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