Police stopped a Singapore opposition politician marching in the city yesterday to protest against restrictions on freedom of speech ahead of International Monetary Fund-World Bank meetings.
Chee Soon Juan, Democratic Party secretary-general, gave a speech at Speakers' Corner, a government-designated area for free speech, but plain-clothes police blocked him as soon as he tried to march through the city.
'Dr Chee, I have to advise you again that carrying out a procession without a permit is an offence,' a police officer who gave his name as Hassan told the politician.
A standoff between Dr Chee and the police then continued as Dr Chee insisted on an explanation for why he had not been given a permit to march. Officer Hassan did not know.
'Surely a government as sophisticated as this one, which claims to be a 'first-world' government, can give a reason why something cannot be done,' Dr Chee said before hanging his head, folding his arms and standing in silence in front of the policeman.
Dr Chee had hoped to march peacefully to the site of the IMF and World Bank meetings to protest at poverty in the city state.