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Source:
www.spf.gov.sg |
Police response to Chee Siok Chin and John Tan’s exit
from ASEAN Summit Protected Area and Persons Gathered outside Orchard
Parade Hotel |
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At about 6.00 pm today, Chee Siok Chin and
John Tan had walked into Orange Grove Road, which is an area gazetted as
a Protected Area. |
Police officers deployed along the stretch
of road first engaged the pair at the junction of Orange Grove Road and
Orchard Rd and advised them that they were about to enter the protected
area and that they should not do so. |
However, they ignored the advice of the
officers and continued to proceed along Orange Grove Road towards the
Shangri-La Hotel. Police engaged them again along Orange Grove Road near
Anderson Road . |
They were warned repeatedly that they had
entered the protected area, and should they refuse to leave, they would
be removed. When they ignored the repeated warnings, and still refused
to leave and continued to move forward, police officers led them into a
police vehicle to bring them out of the protected area. |
The police officers offered to drive Chee
and Tan to the SDP office but Chee requested to be alighted at Orchard
Hotel as she claimed that her car was parked there. Both Chee and Tan
were alighted at the hotel. |
The area around Shangri-La Hotel and three
other venues have been gazetted as Protected Areas. Any person engaging
in activities, which may compromise the security of the ASEAN Summit,
including protesting within the Protected Areas, may be removed to
ensure the safety and security of the Summit . |
Police had earlier today facilitated the
request of four Singaporeans who had wanted to pass a greeting card to
the ASEAN Summit leaders. They handed the card to an ASEAN Summit
official outside the Protected Area and left. These four persons were
not subjected to any police action. |
Separately, Police were also informed at
about 7pm today that some people wearing red t-shirts had assembled
outside Orchard Parade Hotel near the Starbucks outlet. When Police
officers approached the location, there was a group of about 35 persons
standing in line holding hands. A banner was also displayed. Police
advised them to disperse as they had committed an offence of unlawful
assembly. The group heeded the advice and dispersed peacefully from the
area. |
Police will be investigating into the
possible offences committed by Chee and Tan, as well as the outdoor
protest outside Orchard Parade Hotel. |
Police reiterate our advice to the public
not to participate in an unlawful assembly or procession. The public are
also advised to stay away from the vicinity of such illegal protest
activities. |
Members of the public who choose to give
expression to their political views or who wish to organise political
activities are urged to do so through available avenues and lawful
means. Indoor political forums by Singaporeans are exempt from the need
to apply for any licence. |
Foreigners who wish to do so can apply for a
licence from any Police station or on-line at
www.spf.gov.sg/licence/index.html. Such licences have been granted
in the past. |
PUBLIC AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
21 November 2007 at 12.30am |
Source:
www.spf.gov.sg News Release 21 Nov
2007 |
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