Two local activists, Seelan Palay & Chong Kai Xiong, arrested outside MOM for speaking out on Burmese work permit issue

This blogpost (or my twitter) will be updated if i get any news.

Plainclothes police officers keep watch and block a demonstration placard by standing in front of activists (wearing red t-shirts) during a two-man protest in Singapore January 12, 2009. The activists were protesting against what they say is unfair treatment of Singapore-based Myanmar nationals who took part in a mass demonstration in front of the Myanmar embassy here last year during the country's vote on a constitutional referendum.
REUTERS/Vivek Prakash (SINGAPORE)


Police officers escort an arrested activist during a two-man-protest in Singapore January 12, 2009. Two activists were protesting against what they say is unfair treatment of Singapore-based Myanmar nationals who took part in a mass demonstration in front of the Myanmar embassy here last year during the country's vote on a constitutional referendum.
REUTERS/Vivek Prakash (SINGAPORE)

2 activists arrested for speaking out on Burmese issue
Ng E-Jay
12 Jan 2009, 1.30pm

Two activists, Seelan Palay and Chong Kai Xiong, were arrested at around 1pm for staging a protest outside the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) Building over the non-renewals of Burmese work permits.

The activists, who were decked in red T-shirts, were holding placards.

The activists were arrested on grounds of trespassing.

More updates will be posted when available.

More Burmese facing expulsion from Singapore

Seelan Palay

Yet another two Burmese nationals working in Singapore have fallen victim to the Government for their support of the pro-democracy movement in their home country.

In the latest development, Singapore’s Manpower Ministry is refusing to renew the work permits of Mr Moe Kyaw Thu, 35 and Mr Win Kyaw, 38, who had both worked here for 11 years each. Moe is a construction supervisor and Win, a technical supervisor.

This drastic turn of events resulted from the two men’s involvement in highlighting human rights abuses by the Burmese military junta following its crackdown of the pro-democracy movement in Rangoon led by monks in September last year.

Moe in particular appealed to MOM reiterating that he has no police record of any kind and he has fully respected the laws of Singapore while working here.

Both men have participated in the activities of the Overseas Burmese Patriots (OBP), an advocacy group formed in Singapore after the military crackdown. The group was involved in organizing and conducting a series of public campaigns in Singapore against the Burmese regime.

One of the activities was when over 40 Burmese, assembled in groups of four, held a peaceful protest along Orchard Road on 20 Nov 07 during the ASEAN Summit in nearby Shangri-la Hotel.

Following the event, the group was accused by the Singapore Government of deliberately breaking local laws. Its members were given a police warning for their participation in the protest. But none of the Burmese activists were ever charged with any unlawful act while pursuing their political objectives.

The hands of the PAP Government first became apparent in September this year when three members of the OBP were expelled when their work permits or residence in Singapore came up for renewal.

Deputy Prime Minister and Home Affairs Minister Wong Kan Seng defended the Government’s action then, stating that the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority “considers this small group to be undesirable persons and rightly decided they should leave.”

In the ongoing saga, despite their employers wanting to retain them, Moe and Win have been ordered to leave Singapore by the end of January 2009.

“If they send me back, my family will suffer greatly. I’d have to spend the rest of my life in prison.” said Moe.

The latest expulsions go against the sympathy and support that Burmese pro-democracy activists receive throughout the world. The inhumane act of the Singapore Government is an indirect endorsement of the murderous Burmese junta.

seelanpalay@gmail.com

Post update at 0110hrs, 13 Jan 09:

I went to see Seelan & Kai Xiong at the police cantonment complex yesterday evening. By the time i got there about 6.30pm they were already released on bail. Both have to report back on 26 Jan. I met up with them and a couple of other friends later at Serangoon for dinner. Sgpolitics has photos of them after their release.

Not surprisingly, the Ministries of Manpower & Home Affairs issued a joint statement putting their usual spin on things.

Read Jaslyn Go's 2 activists pose more danger than a gathering of 200 foreign workers?? and Singapore Democrats' report local activists arrested for supporting Burmese cause. Also see Rachel's Double standards? and Martyn See's One country, two systems Part 3.


Singaporeans arrested for protest in support of Burmese Activists from choonhiong on Vimeo.