NGOs seek clarity on organisers’ role at Speakers’ Corner events

SINGAPORE — To comply with the no-foreigner rule for events at Speakers’ Corner, civil society groups said they would append a note on this in their publicity materials, or even check attendees’ identity cards on the spot.

Besides these measures, however, there is little else they can do to enforce the rule on the ground, they said, asking the authorities for more clarity on when the organisers would be held responsible.

Their comments came after the organisers of Pink Dot said last Sunday that only Singaporeans and Permanent Residents (PRs) will be allowed at the annual rally held in support of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community on July 1.

Rules on who can attend events at Speakers’ Corner were tightened under changes to the Public Order (Unrestricted Area) Act last November, which barred foreigners from participating in assemblies and processions. Previously, foreigners were not permitted to join demonstrations only.

Responding to TODAY, a spokesperson from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said the Government has made clear that it does not seek to proscribe events, but “Speakers’ Corner is a designated outdoor area for Singaporeans and Permanent Residents to participate in assemblies and processions, and for Singaporeans to express their views on issues that matter to them”.

She added: “This approach is consistent with the Government’s long-held position that foreigners and foreign entities should not engage in our domestic issues, especially political issues or controversial social issues.”

The MHA spokesperson also said that the rules on event funding and participation at Speakers’ Corner are “applied equally to all public assemblies and processions”.

In response to TODAY’s queries, a Pink Dot spokesperson said they might check attendees’ identity cards to ensure only Singaporeans and PRs take part in the event.

But Mr Leong Sze Hian, president of human rights group Maruah, said such a measure will be difficult to enforce. “You can’t just ask people to show you their identity cards,” he said.

Mr Gilbert Goh, who frequently organises events at Speakers’ Corner, said that he would include a footnote on event websites to deter foreigners from attending in future.

Mr Leong said Maruah would study the tweaked rules in detail before deciding what steps to take.

He noted that if an organiser announces prior to and during an event that foreigners cannot attend, he “cannot imagine” that they would be held accountable if there were still the odd foreigner present. Maruah organises one event — usually a protest — at Speakers’ Corner each year.

Last Sunday, for instance, there were at least 10 people who turned up for a prayer service organised for members of the Indonesian community in Singapore, even though organisers had circulated a WhatsApp message the day before cancelling the event. The event was organised partially in support of outgoing Jakarta Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama (Ahok), who was recently sentenced to two years’ jail for blasphemy against Islam. But after a police advisory, one of the organisers, who wanted to be known as “Pak Chau”, called off the event which was to be held at Queenstown Stadium.

On the day itself, he sent two people to Queenstown MRT Station just in case some did not get the message, and at least 10 people showed up.

The Association of Women for Action and Research (Aware), which has organised funfairs at Speakers’ Corner, wanted to know the types of events that fall under the definition of an assembly or procession.

“It’s a park. Practically, this would be very difficult (to exclude every single foreigner),” said Ms Jolene Tan, the group’s advocacy and research head.

For events on domestic helpers’ or foreign spouses’ rights, for instance, their voices would be essential, she added. “I wonder if the changes are necessary to be so complete in the exclusion of foreigners,” Ms Tan said, adding that Aware would have less manpower at events if its foreign staff members are barred.

Concerns of undue influence, which the Government had cited in the past to bar foreign entities from organising and sponsoring events, were already addressed by prohibitions on foreigners speaking and holding placards, she added.

There have been several rounds of changes to the rules on the use of Speakers’ Corner. When it was set up in 2000, demonstrations and marches were allowed with a permit.

The rules were relaxed four years later, with the police scrapping licensing requirements for indoor public talks and allowing more activities for Singaporeans.

In 2008, Singaporeans were allowed to organise and participate in demonstrations — except for those involving race and religion — without having to apply for a police permit.

Last October, the Government reiterated that foreign firms would have to apply for a permit to get involved with events at Speakers’ Corner, unlike local companies and NGOs.