Tak Boleh Tahan!

The trial for the 18 activists charged for protesting outside Parliament House in March this year will begin this Thursday in the Subordinate Courts. It is scheduled to last till 7 Nov 08. Show your support by attending the trial at Subordinate Court No. 5 at 9:30am tomorrow.

According to the Singapore Democrats website, the hearing is the first in the history of Singapore where a group of activists defied the law prohibiting the gathering of 5 or more persons in public. The protest was part of the Tak Boleh Tahan! (can't take it anymore) campaign to highlight poverty in Singapore and the Government's greed in continuing to raise fees and prices even as wages of the people shrink.

The protesters had gathered outside Parliament House on 15 Mar 08 which is also World Consumer Rights Day (WCRD). They were confronted by the police whereupon 12 of them were arrested. They and six others were subsequently charged on two counts:

1. under Section 5(4)(b) Chapter 184 of the Miscellaneous Offences (Public and Nuisance Act) for participating in an assembly,

2. under Section 5(4)(b) Chapter 184 of the Miscellaneous Offences (Public and Nuisance Act) for participating in a procession..

The activists are not only challenging the law as unconstitutional but also the selective enforcement of the law by the police. The Consumer Association of Singapore (CASE) also conducted protests on the same occasion in 2007 and 2008 outside Parliament House but the police did not act against them. CASE is headed by PAP MPs Mr Yeo Guat Kwang (Aljunied GRC) and Dr Teo Ho Pin (Bukit Panjang).

To follow the trial proceedings, please log on to http://yoursdp.org.

The 18 activists charged:
Gandhi Ambalam
Chia Ti Lik
Chong Kai Xiong
Jeffrey George
Jaslyn Go
Chee Siok Chin
Govindan Rajan
Chee Soon Juan
Jufrie Mahmood
Jufri Salim
Surayah Akbar
Ng E-Jay
Seelan Palay
Shafi'ie
Carl Lang
John Tan
Francis Yong
Sylvester Lim