SINGAPORE: Filmmaker under investigation for banned documentary
May 10, 2005 The Committee to Protect Journalists is deeply concerned about the police investigation of independent documentary filmmaker Martyn See who is being questioned under Singapore's stringent Films Act.
On May 6, Assistant Superintendent of Police Chan Peng Khuang called See to inform him that police had received a copy of his film "Singapore Rebel" and had initiated an investigation, according to an account that See posted on his Web log yesterday. Chan did not elaborate on the reasons for the investigation, or any charges that might apply.
Police told international reporters that See is being investigated under the country's Films Act, which bans "party political" films. Making or distributing such a film—which can be defined as anything containing partisan references or commentary—is punishable by a fine of up to $100,000 or two years in jail."Singapore Rebel" chronicles the civil disobedience of opposition activist Dr. Chee Soon Juan.
See will report to the police on Monday, May 16, he told reporters.
In an effort to avoid an investigation, See withdrew his film from the Singapore International Film Festival after the Board of Film Censors told festival director Philip Cheah on March 11 that the film was objectionable under the Films Act. Cheah was "advised" to inform See to withdraw his film "whereby the matter would be dropped, failing which, the full extent of the law would apply," wrote festival director Lesley Ho in an email to See. The film has not yet had a public screening anywhere in the world.
"Singapore authorities' harassment of Martyn See and censorship of a film that merely documents political opposition is unacceptable," said CPJ Executive Director Ann Cooper. "We urge the government to call off this investigation and allow See to continue his work."
Singapore continues to hound film-maker
11 May 2005
Source: Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA)
Singaporean filmmaker Martyn See has been invited for questioning by the police, news agencies have reported, two months after his documentary on a Singaporean oppositionist was forced out of a film-festival in the city-state.
See, 36, told Reuters that he is expected to present himself before the country’s police on 16 May. The filmmaker said he expects to be questioned about “Singapore Rebel”, his film on Chee Soon Juan, leader of the Singapore Democratic Party.
The Agence France Presse said See was being probed under the Films Act pertaining to "party political" films. If convicted of violating the Films Act, See could be jailed for two years or fined up to 100,000 Singapore dollars (61,340 US dollars).
See had pulled his documentary from the Singapore's International Film Festival in March after government censors advised him that the film was flaunting laws against political films.
Despite its economic strength and high standard of living, Singapore remains a highly restricted country in terms of political and speech rights. The city-state’s rulers are notorious for intimidating both local and foreign media with financially crippling libel and defamation suits.
Most recently, even Singaporean bloggers have been spooked by threats of defamation stemming from comments made about A*STAR, a government-related research agency. A Singapore student shut down his blog and apologised “unreservedly” after officials of A*STAR threatened to file a defamation suit.
The subject of See’s documentary, Chee himself is facing bankruptcy proceedings in Singapore after being sued for defamation by Singapore's two former premiers, Lee Kuan Yew and Goh Chok Tong, in line with speeches he made while campaigning for a parliamentary post in 2001. A Singaporean court ordered him to pay the former prime ministers 500,000 Singapore dollars (approximately 304,000 US dollars).
Filmmaker called in for questioning, under investigation
Country/Topic: Singapore
Date: 11 May 2005
Source: Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA)
Person(s): Martyn See
Target(s): other
Type(s) of violation(s): harassed , legal action
Urgency: Threat
(SEAPA/IFEX) - Singaporean filmmaker Martyn See has been invited for questioning by the police, news agencies have reported, two months after his documentary on a Singaporean opposition figure was forced out of a film festival in the city-state.
See, 36, told Reuters that he is expected to present himself before the country's police on 16 May 2005. The filmmaker said he expects to be questioned about "Singapore Rebel", his film on Chee Soon Juan, leader of the Singapore Democratic Party.
The Agence France-Presse news agency said See was being probed under the Films Act pertaining to "party political" films. If convicted of violating the Films Act, See could be jailed for two years or fined up to 100,000 Singapore dollars (approx. US$60,800).
See had pulled his documentary from Singapore's International Film Festival in March after government censors advised him that the film was flaunting laws against political films.
BACKGROUND:
Despite its economic strength and high standard of living, Singapore remains a highly restricted country in terms of political and speech rights. The city-state's rulers are notorious for intimidating both local and foreign media with financially crippling libel and defamation suits.
Most recently, even Singaporean bloggers have been scared by threats of defamation stemming from comments made about A*STAR, a government-related research agency. A Singapore student shut down his blog and apologised "unreservedly" after officials of A*STAR threatened to file a defamation suit (see IFEX alerts of 6 and 2 May 2005).
The subject of See's documentary, Chee himself is facing bankruptcy proceedings in Singapore after being sued for defamation by Singapore's two former premiers, Lee Kuan Yew and Goh Chok Tong, in line with speeches he made while campaigning for a parliamentary post in 2001. A Singaporean court ordered him to pay the former prime ministers 500,000 Singapore dollars (approx. US$304,000).
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