“Kill the Chicken to Scare the Monkeys”
Suppression of Free Expression and Assembly in Singapore
Singapore’s political environment remains overwhelmingly repressive, with serious restrictions on free expression, association, and peaceful assembly through overly broad criminal laws and regulations. In 2023, the authorities carried out the highest number of executions for drug-related offenses in over a decade, including the first woman put to death in 20 years. The government aggressively enforces a sweeping “online falsehoods” law that permits government ministers to order the “correction” or removal of online content, and uses the Foreign Interference (Counter-Measures) Act (FICA) to restrict interactions with foreigners. There are no legal protections against discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity.
May 22, 2024
February 28, 2024
Suppression of Free Expression and Assembly in Singapore
Re: Human Rights and the ASEAN-Australia Leaders' Summit
Media Freedom in Decline; Human Rights Defenders Targeted
Authorities Harass and Punish Activists
But Government Pledge Suggests Entrenching Other Inequalities
President Biden Should Raise Key Issues with Regional Leaders
Key Countries Should Overhaul Approach to Junta’s Atrocities
The upcoming U.S.-ASEAN special summit stands in jarring juxtaposition to last year’s “Summit for Democracy” — to which most ASEAN states didn’t merit an invitation.