The Straits Times - 2 held over protest

Jan 13, 2009
The Straits Times - 2 held over protest
By Sue-Ann Chia

TWO Singaporeans were arrested yesterday after they staged a protest at the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) in Havelock Road.

Mr Seelan Palay, 24, and Mr Chong Kai Xiong, 27, were protesting against the alleged non-renewal of the work permits of two Myanmar nationals who were involved in political activities here.

Wearing red T-shirts, they stood outside the MOM building at noon, with placards around their necks that read 'Stop ill-treatment of Burmese activists'. They were arrested about an hour later for 'criminal trespass' and released yesterday evening on bail.

The Government said both men 'repeatedly defied orders from MOM's security personnel to leave the premises'. Police were called in for help against their trespass, said a statement from MOM and the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) yesterday.

In an online posting, Mr Palay identified the two Myanmar nationals whose cause he had taken up as Mr Moe Kyaw Thu and Mr Win Kyaw. Both men, he added, were part of a group of Myanmar nationals who took part in a protest march against their country's ruling junta during the Asean summit here in 2007.

It is not the first time Mr Palay, a visual artist, and Mr Chong, a software programmer, have had brushes with the law.

Last March, they were among a group of people arrested for taking part in an illegal assembly outside Parliament House. The trial is still ongoing.

Yesterday's protest, however, was their first for Myanmar nationals working in Singapore, some of whom had been in the news in recent months for failing to get their work passes renewed.

Most are part of the Overseas Burmese Patriots group that has organised protests here against its home government.

The MHA and MOM, in their statement, said foreigners are welcome to work and live here, as well as organise political activities as long as they abide by Singapore laws. But some Myanmar nationals here do not observe the 'basic obligation of respecting the laws of the land and the local sensitivities of its people'.

'They have shown in their actions and attitude a wilful disregard and contempt for the law and the Singapore authorities.'

Some acted in this manner even though they have benefited from education subsidies and Singaporeans' hospitality, and 'even demand the right to stay here as if it is a personal entitlement'.

These foreigners have also applied political pressure through the media and agitated foreign public opinion against the Singapore authorities to compel the country to give in to their demands. 'These persons are not welcomed in Singapore. They should leave Singapore once their existing passes expire.'

Noting that Singapore laws apply equally to everyone, they said: 'No one is allowed to break the law with impunity regardless of how morally superior he thinks his cause is.'