High Court dismisses SDP’s peaceful assembly motion

SINGAPORE: The High Court has dismissed Dr Chee Soon Juan and three others’ applications to determine if there should be a balance between people’s right to assemble peacefully and the need to restrict such rights in the interest of national security or public order.

Four Singapore Democratic Party members were convicted on August 9, 2008, for being part of an illegal assembly.

Dr Chee, his sister Chee Siok Chin, John Tan Liang Joo and Seelan Palay were ordered to pay fines of between S$900 and S$1,000 for the offence.

They had gathered at Toa Payoh Central to distribute flyers and sell T—shirts —— to publicise the party’s "Tak Boleh Tahan" campaign.

The four, represented by lawyer Louis Joseph, had wanted the Court of Appeal to determine whether an outright order not to allow outdoor political activity defeats the public’s rights to assembly.

However, Justice Quentin Loh said the questions set out by Mr Joseph were not framed as questions of law and not based on facts.

The judge added it will be a "backdoor appeal" if their applications were allowed.

Thus, Justice Loh dismissed the applications and ordered the four applicants to pay their fines by next Wednesday.

— CNA/cc/ac