Police arrest SDP chief Chee, four supporters for unlawful protest
By Asha Popatlal/S Ramesh, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 08 October 2007 2208 hrs

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SINGAPORE: Police on Monday arrested SDP chief Chee Soon Juan and four Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) supporters for staging an unlawful demonstration at the Istana Park facing the main entrance of the Istana.

The four are his sister Chee Siok Chin, John Tan, Ghandi Ambalam and Jeffery George.

Chee and his supporters were holding placards at the demonstration.

As the place is a gazetted area and the gathering contravened the Miscellaneous Offences (Public Order and Nuisance) (Prohibition of Assemblies and Processions - Istana) Order, police issued repeated warnings, asking the group to leave.

But they persisted with the demonstration. So the police seized the placards and arrested Chee and the others.

The police noted that this latest incident is linked to another incident involving Chee.

He had staged an unlawful assembly at the Myanmar embassy on 30 September.

Police said that unlike Chee, Singaporeans and Myanmar nationals here have organised themselves to express their sentiments and concern for Myanmar unrest in a lawful manner.

Chee and the four are out on bail and investigations are ongoing.

Authorities have reiterated the call to the public not to participate in any illegal gathering. - CNA/ir