|
 |
|
Source:
www.mha.gov.sg |
|
Press Statement on Public Forum on ¡°Sexual
Orientation in International Law: The Case of Asia¡±, 03 August
2007 |
|
|
Police has cancelled a licence under the
Public Entertainments and Meetings Act to organise a public forum on 7
Aug 2007 at 72-13 Mohamed Sultan Road on gay issues by a foreign
participant. |
|
A Singaporean, Mr Au Wai Pang, had applied
for the licence. He had separately applied to ICA for a professional
visit pass for the foreign national to speak at the forum. |
|
In reviewing the application, Police has
assessed that the event is contrary to public interest. |
|
Our laws are an expression and reflection of
the values of our society; the discourse over a domestic issue such as
the laws that govern homosexuality in Singapore must be reserved for
Singaporeans. |
|
Indeed there have been public forums where
Singaporeans have debated and discussed the issue of homosexuality at
length. |
|
Singapore¡¯s domestic politics is the domain
for Singaporeans and foreigners should refrain from interfering in the
internal affairs of Singapore. |
|
Police has therefore cancelled the
licence to conduct this public forum. ICA has also rejected the
professional visit pass application for the foreign national on
similar grounds. |
|
It is an offence to organise an indoor
public forum with foreign speakers without a licence [1].
It is also an offence for foreigners without professional visit
passes to be speakers at the forum. |
|
MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS |
|
03 August 2007 |
|
[1]
Under the Public Entertainments and Meetings Act, Singaporean
organisers of indoor public talks are exempted from applying for a
permit if it is confined to Singaporean speakers. However, if the
forum or talk involves foreign speakers, the organiser is required
to obtain a permit. |
|
Source:
www.mha.gov.sg Press Release 3
Aug 2007 |
Licence for public forum with
foreign speaker cancelled
