Threat-Alert-Singapore
22 March 2005
Director withdraws documentary from festival on government "advice"
Country/Topic: Singapore
Date: 23 March 2005
Source: Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA)
Person(s): Martyn See
Target(s):
Type(s) of violation(s):
Urgency: Threat
(SEAPA/IFEX) - Threats of imprisonment and crippling fines have prompted a Singaporean filmmaker to pull his movie from Singapore's annual film festival.
News reports on 22 March 2005 said director Martyn See's documentary about Singaporean opposition leader Chee Soon Juan was deemed too political by the city-state's Board of Film Censors. The board informed the filmmaker that he would face jail time, as well as a fine of up to S$100,000 (approx. US$61,300), should he screen his 26-minute film in public.
The Associated Press, quoting the "Straits Times", said See's short film centered on the "civil disobedience" and travails of Chee, a government critic who in 2001 was himself ordered to pay S$500,000 (approx. US$304,000) to Singapore's founder Lee Kuan Yew, and former leader Goh Chok Tong.
Chee's case stemmed from a defamation action based on speeches he made when he campaigned for a parliamentary post in 2001. Chee, secretary-general of the Singapore Democratic Party, has so far been unable to pay the penalty he is facing and bankruptcy proceedings - which would ban him from political involvement for years - are currently pending.
The Associated Press said that apart from warning See, the censor board also advised the Singapore Film Festival organisers against including the young director's controversial film in their calendar.
The "Straits Times" noted that under Singaporean law, local films that "contain wholly or partly either partisan or biased references to or comments on any political matter" are subject to a ban. The Associated Press said they tried unsuccessfully to get a statement from See and festival organisers.
BACKGROUND:
Despite its economic strength, Singapore has one of the strictest regimes for controlling news, opinion and information in Southeast Asia. All mass media in the city-state are under government influence and the nation's leaders have routinely sued critics, journalists, and even international media giants to discourage any criticism of the government or its leaders.
Singapore also regularly bans movies, the Associated Press noted, citing the need "to maintain ethnic and religious harmony in the Southeast Asian country of 4 million."
MORE INFORMATION:
For further information, contact Kulachada Chaipipat at SEAPA, 538/1 Samsen Road, Dusit, Bangkok, 10300 Thailand, tel/fax: +662 243 5579, e-mail: seapa@seapabkk.org, Internet: http://www.seapabkk.org
Sunday, March 27, 2005
Thursday, March 24, 2005
Censors block Royston Tan's short film "15"
The much-anticipated Royston Tan's short film retrospective at the Alliance Francaise this weekend suffered a blow when its organiser's were told that "15" has been blocked by the Board of Film Censors. And this despite the fact that the short film had premiered at the 2002 Singapore International Film Festival and has since been available on the internet.
"15", an elegy to teenage delinquents in Singapore, is arguably Royston's best-known short film. It was to become the precursor to his controversial feature-length debut of the same title which suffered 27 cuts.
When I spoke to Royston last week about this apparent U-turn in censorship ruling, he said the SIFF screening in 2002 was granted on a "special permit". No reasons were given by the censors for this latest ban.
For inforamtion on the retrospective, go to
http://www.sgfilm.com/blog/
"15", an elegy to teenage delinquents in Singapore, is arguably Royston's best-known short film. It was to become the precursor to his controversial feature-length debut of the same title which suffered 27 cuts.
When I spoke to Royston last week about this apparent U-turn in censorship ruling, he said the SIFF screening in 2002 was granted on a "special permit". No reasons were given by the censors for this latest ban.
For inforamtion on the retrospective, go to
http://www.sgfilm.com/blog/
Wednesday, March 23, 2005
Film about Singapore opposition leader pulled after director warned he could be jailed
Tuesday March 22, 11:31 AM
Report: Film about Singapore opposition leader pulled after director warned he could be jailed
(AP) A documentary filmmaker withdrew his movie about Singapore's leading opposition figure from the city-state's annual film festival after the government warned the director that he could be jailed over its political content, a newspaper reported Tuesday.
Martyn See's short film focuses on Chee Soon Juan, a frequent government critic who was ordered to pay 500,000 Singapore dollars to modern Singapore's founder, Lee Kuan Yew, and former leader Goh Chok Tong for defaming them during the 2001 elections.
However, See decided to pull his movie from the Singapore International Film Festival after the Board of Film Censors said he could be jailed for up to two years or fined S$100,000 (US$61,300; €46,400) if his 26-minute film was screened, the Straits Times reported.
The board had also advised festival organizers to remove See's documentary because it was a "party political film." Under Singaporean law, local films that "contain wholly or partly either partisan or biased references to or comments on any political matter" are banned, the paper added.
See and festival organizers could not be immediately reached for comment.
Strictly controlled Singapore has been seeking to promote itself as an Asian arts center, with the film festival as one of the city-state's cultural highlights.
Still, Singapore regularly bans movies, saying it needs to maintain ethnic and religious harmony in the Southeast Asian country of 4 million. Last year, censors blocked three films from the festival for scenes it deemed were too sexually explicit or were advocating violence.
Report: Film about Singapore opposition leader pulled after director warned he could be jailed
(AP) A documentary filmmaker withdrew his movie about Singapore's leading opposition figure from the city-state's annual film festival after the government warned the director that he could be jailed over its political content, a newspaper reported Tuesday.
Martyn See's short film focuses on Chee Soon Juan, a frequent government critic who was ordered to pay 500,000 Singapore dollars to modern Singapore's founder, Lee Kuan Yew, and former leader Goh Chok Tong for defaming them during the 2001 elections.
However, See decided to pull his movie from the Singapore International Film Festival after the Board of Film Censors said he could be jailed for up to two years or fined S$100,000 (US$61,300; €46,400) if his 26-minute film was screened, the Straits Times reported.
The board had also advised festival organizers to remove See's documentary because it was a "party political film." Under Singaporean law, local films that "contain wholly or partly either partisan or biased references to or comments on any political matter" are banned, the paper added.
See and festival organizers could not be immediately reached for comment.
Strictly controlled Singapore has been seeking to promote itself as an Asian arts center, with the film festival as one of the city-state's cultural highlights.
Still, Singapore regularly bans movies, saying it needs to maintain ethnic and religious harmony in the Southeast Asian country of 4 million. Last year, censors blocked three films from the festival for scenes it deemed were too sexually explicit or were advocating violence.
Thursday, March 17, 2005
What is a "party political film?" Why is it unlawful?
Pop quiz : Is Jack Neo's criticism of the education system in "I Not Stupid" a violation of the Films Act pertaining to "party political films"?
http://agcvldb4.agc.gov.sg/non_version/cgi-bin/cgi_retrieve.pl?actno=REVED-107&doctitle=FILMS%20ACT%0a&date=latest&method=part
Making, distribution and exhibition of party political films
33. Any person who
(a) imports any party political film;
(b) makes or reproduces any party political film;
(c) distributes, or has in his possession for the purposes of distributing, to any other person any party political film; or
(d) exhibits, or has in his possession for the purposes of exhibiting, to any other person any party political film,
knowing or having reasonable cause to believe the film to be a party political film shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $100,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years.
"party political film" means a film
(a) which is an advertisement made by or on behalf of any political party in Singapore or any body whose objects relate wholly or mainly to politics in Singapore, or any branch of such party or body; or
(b) which is made by any person and directed towards any political end in Singapore;
2) For the purposes of this Act, a film is directed towards a political end in Singapore if the film
(a) contains wholly or partly any matter which is intended or likely to affect voting in any election or national referendum in Singapore; or
(b) contains wholly or partly either partisan or biased references to or comments on any political matter, including but not limited to any of the following:
(i) an election or a national referendum in Singapore;
(ii) a candidate or group of candidates in an election;
(iii) an issue submitted or otherwise before electors in an election or a national referendum in Singapore;
(iv) the Government or a previous Government or the opposition to the Government or previous Government;
(v) a Member of Parliament;
(vi) a current policy of the Government or an issue of public controversy in Singapore; or
(vii) a political party in Singapore or any body whose objects relate wholly or mainly to politics in Singapore, or any branch of such party or body.
[10/98]
(3) For the avoidance of doubt, any film which is made solely for the purpose of
(a) reporting of current events; or
(b) informing or educating persons on the procedures and polling times for any election or national referendum in Singapore,
is not a party political film.
http://agcvldb4.agc.gov.sg/non_version/cgi-bin/cgi_retrieve.pl?actno=REVED-107&doctitle=FILMS%20ACT%0a&date=latest&method=part
Making, distribution and exhibition of party political films
33. Any person who
(a) imports any party political film;
(b) makes or reproduces any party political film;
(c) distributes, or has in his possession for the purposes of distributing, to any other person any party political film; or
(d) exhibits, or has in his possession for the purposes of exhibiting, to any other person any party political film,
knowing or having reasonable cause to believe the film to be a party political film shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $100,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years.
"party political film" means a film
(a) which is an advertisement made by or on behalf of any political party in Singapore or any body whose objects relate wholly or mainly to politics in Singapore, or any branch of such party or body; or
(b) which is made by any person and directed towards any political end in Singapore;
2) For the purposes of this Act, a film is directed towards a political end in Singapore if the film
(a) contains wholly or partly any matter which is intended or likely to affect voting in any election or national referendum in Singapore; or
(b) contains wholly or partly either partisan or biased references to or comments on any political matter, including but not limited to any of the following:
(i) an election or a national referendum in Singapore;
(ii) a candidate or group of candidates in an election;
(iii) an issue submitted or otherwise before electors in an election or a national referendum in Singapore;
(iv) the Government or a previous Government or the opposition to the Government or previous Government;
(v) a Member of Parliament;
(vi) a current policy of the Government or an issue of public controversy in Singapore; or
(vii) a political party in Singapore or any body whose objects relate wholly or mainly to politics in Singapore, or any branch of such party or body.
[10/98]
(3) For the avoidance of doubt, any film which is made solely for the purpose of
(a) reporting of current events; or
(b) informing or educating persons on the procedures and polling times for any election or national referendum in Singapore,
is not a party political film.
CSJ film "objectionable under Films Act"
From: "Singapore International Film Festival"
To: singapore_rebel@yahoo.com
Subject: Singapore Rebel
Date: Wed, 16 Mar 2005 18:41:12 +0800
Dear Martyn,
As requested, this is what happened.
On Friday March 11, Philip (Cheah) was asked to meet the censors at 4.30pm. At the MICA office, he was told that SINGAPORE REBEL was objectionable under the Films Act pertaining to political party videos. He was "advised" to inform you to withdraw your film whereby the matter would be dropped, failing which, the full extent of the law would apply.
Yours sincerely,
Lesley Ho
Director
Singapore International Film Festival
45A Keong Saik Road
Singapore 089149
Tel: +65 6738 7567
Fax: +65 6738 7578
Email: filmfest@pacific.net.sg
Website: www.filmfest.org.sg
To: singapore_rebel@yahoo.com
Subject: Singapore Rebel
Date: Wed, 16 Mar 2005 18:41:12 +0800
Dear Martyn,
As requested, this is what happened.
On Friday March 11, Philip (Cheah) was asked to meet the censors at 4.30pm. At the MICA office, he was told that SINGAPORE REBEL was objectionable under the Films Act pertaining to political party videos. He was "advised" to inform you to withdraw your film whereby the matter would be dropped, failing which, the full extent of the law would apply.
Yours sincerely,
Lesley Ho
Director
Singapore International Film Festival
45A Keong Saik Road
Singapore 089149
Tel: +65 6738 7567
Fax: +65 6738 7578
Email: filmfest@pacific.net.sg
Website: www.filmfest.org.sg
Sunday, March 13, 2005
Film on CSJ withdrawn after warnings of possible criminal charge
Dear friends,
Film on Chee Soon Juan withdrawn after warnings of possible criminal charge
I received a call at 1800 hours yesterday 11 March 2005 from Ms Lesley Ho, programme director of the Singapore International Film Festival, to advise me to withdraw my short film "Singapore Rebel" which chronicles the civil disobedience acts of opposition activist Dr Chee Soon Juan.
She told me the following :
1. That the Board of Censors may deem the film to be a violation of the Films Act, and that the crime carries a $100,000 fine or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years.
2. That I should agree to a withdrawal immediately because the Board of Censors had wanted an answer by yesterday.
3. That the Singapore International Film Festival has had a good track record for supporting local filmmakers.
4. That I should not make an issue out of this.
5. That if I disagree, "they will come after you, Martin."
Based on the above, I dutifully agree to withdraw Singapore Rebel from the Singapore International Film Festival.
Does this mean I will not be charged for a crime? Does it mean the film is now banned? Does it mean the police will not raid my home to confiscate master tapes? Does it mean that by posting this message here, I am "making an issue" out of this?
I really don't know.
I had asked Ms Lesley to send me an official email regarding the matter. No email has been received as of today.
For information on film censorship in Singapore, go to
http://www.mda.gov.sg/wms.www/1001qns.aspx?sid=165&fid=77&v1=True#HtmlAnchor_Anchor
For information on laws governing media and films, go to
http://www.mda.gov.sg/wms.www/devnpolicies.aspx?sid=153
In 2003, local broadcaster ChannelNewsAsia aired a two part series on the life of Lee Kuan Yew. The documentary included PAP rally speeches, interviews with Singapore dissidents, shots of opposition figures and Lee's musings on politics and governance.
http://corporate.mediacorp.com.sg/press_release/pr_1014270755.htm
In the meantime, I should recommend all of you to support the Singapore International Film Festival. Known for their cutting-edge selection of socially and politically conscious films, as well as and films exploring sexuality, this year's programme include films on
a) Iraqi perspective on Iraq War http://www.filmfest.org.sg/display.php?catid=502
b) Vietnam http://www.filmfest.org.sg/display.php?catid=504
c) Evolution of a Filipino Family from Marcos-era martial law to 1987 People's Power
d) HIV carriers in Papua
e) Gigolos in Beijing
f) The selling of pirated DVDs in China
g) Punk rock culture in China
http://www.filmfest.org.sg/display.php?catid=301&page=2
h) Palestinian-Israeli conflict
http://www.filmfest.org.sg/display.php?catid=301&page=3
i) The Kurds after Saddam
j) The life 1960s Indonesian activist Soe Hok Gie
http://www.filmfest.org.sg/display.php?catid=301&page=4
Peace,
See Tong Ming, Martyn
12th March, 2005
singaporerebel.blogspot.com
singapore_rebel@yahoo.com
Film on Chee Soon Juan withdrawn after warnings of possible criminal charge
I received a call at 1800 hours yesterday 11 March 2005 from Ms Lesley Ho, programme director of the Singapore International Film Festival, to advise me to withdraw my short film "Singapore Rebel" which chronicles the civil disobedience acts of opposition activist Dr Chee Soon Juan.
She told me the following :
1. That the Board of Censors may deem the film to be a violation of the Films Act, and that the crime carries a $100,000 fine or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years.
2. That I should agree to a withdrawal immediately because the Board of Censors had wanted an answer by yesterday.
3. That the Singapore International Film Festival has had a good track record for supporting local filmmakers.
4. That I should not make an issue out of this.
5. That if I disagree, "they will come after you, Martin."
Based on the above, I dutifully agree to withdraw Singapore Rebel from the Singapore International Film Festival.
Does this mean I will not be charged for a crime? Does it mean the film is now banned? Does it mean the police will not raid my home to confiscate master tapes? Does it mean that by posting this message here, I am "making an issue" out of this?
I really don't know.
I had asked Ms Lesley to send me an official email regarding the matter. No email has been received as of today.
For information on film censorship in Singapore, go to
http://www.mda.gov.sg/wms.www/1001qns.aspx?sid=165&fid=77&v1=True#HtmlAnchor_Anchor
For information on laws governing media and films, go to
http://www.mda.gov.sg/wms.www/devnpolicies.aspx?sid=153
In 2003, local broadcaster ChannelNewsAsia aired a two part series on the life of Lee Kuan Yew. The documentary included PAP rally speeches, interviews with Singapore dissidents, shots of opposition figures and Lee's musings on politics and governance.
http://corporate.mediacorp.com.sg/press_release/pr_1014270755.htm
In the meantime, I should recommend all of you to support the Singapore International Film Festival. Known for their cutting-edge selection of socially and politically conscious films, as well as and films exploring sexuality, this year's programme include films on
a) Iraqi perspective on Iraq War http://www.filmfest.org.sg/display.php?catid=502
b) Vietnam http://www.filmfest.org.sg/display.php?catid=504
c) Evolution of a Filipino Family from Marcos-era martial law to 1987 People's Power
d) HIV carriers in Papua
e) Gigolos in Beijing
f) The selling of pirated DVDs in China
g) Punk rock culture in China
http://www.filmfest.org.sg/display.php?catid=301&page=2
h) Palestinian-Israeli conflict
http://www.filmfest.org.sg/display.php?catid=301&page=3
i) The Kurds after Saddam
j) The life 1960s Indonesian activist Soe Hok Gie
http://www.filmfest.org.sg/display.php?catid=301&page=4
Peace,
See Tong Ming, Martyn
12th March, 2005
singaporerebel.blogspot.com
singapore_rebel@yahoo.com
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