Singapore civil activist Jolovan Wham to plead not guilty over ‘smiley face’ protest
- Migrant rights activist Jolovan Wham had held up signs in public on two occasions, including one which featured a hand-drawn smiley face on the placard
- Public protests of any form are illegal unless they are held at Singapore’s sole free speech park with a police permit
At least two supporters were seen in the court’s public gallery wearing masks with similar smiley-face prints. Wham told This Week in Asia after posting bail that he “won’t be pleading guilty”.
“It is bizarre that I am being charged for actions that have not disturbed public order or safety,” he said. “It makes a joke of our constitution, which guarantees us freedom of speech and assembly.”
Wham also took issue with the court’s decision to increase his bail amount from S$8,000 to S$15,000. The amount was “excessive given that the charges against me have not been proven and I have been dutifully attending court and police interviews”, he said.
The migrant rights advocate, known for his strident criticism of the long-ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) over its ironhanded approach to civil liberties, earlier posted on Facebook: “My guilt is plain for all to see. On my way to the State Courts #smileinsolidarity.”
Singapore’s Public Order Act bars all forms of protests – including single-person demonstrations – that are held without government permits outside Speakers’ Corner, the republic’s sole free-speech park. If convicted, Wham faces fines of up to S$5,000 on each of the charges.
Singapore charges activist for holding up a smiley-face sign in public
Their actions were aimed at showing solidarity with the global school strike movement founded by Swedish climate change activist Greta Thunberg.
Wham’s second charge was linked to a social media picture he posted in December 2018 which featured him standing on the steps of the State Courts with a piece of paper that read: “Drop the charges against Terry Xu and Daniel de Costa.”
The message referenced an ongoing case of criminal defamation brought by state prosecutors against Terry Xu, editor of local website The Online Citizen Asia, and Daniel De Costa, one of the portal’s contributors.
Wham’s predicament had generated a buzz ahead of Monday’s hearing, after the activist last week revealed prosecutors’ decision to proceed with charges against him for the incidents.
When he was first called up for investigations over the smiley face protest in May, dozens of Singaporeans posted pictures of themselves holding similar placards or wearing clothes with smiley faces. The activist said some 200 people had since posted such pictures online with the hashtag #smileinsolidarity.
Singapore activist loses appeal against fine for event with Joshua Wong
In both instances, Wham chose to serve jail terms instead of paying fines.
Singapore’s police in 2017 branded Wham as “recalcitrant”, saying he had “repeatedly shown blatant disregard for the law, especially with regard to organising or participating in illegal public assemblies”.
They issued the strongly-worded statement after Wham was charged for organising three separate events that year which were deemed illegal assemblies – including the event featuring the Hong Kong activist Wong.
“The actions of a disaffected few should not be allowed to threaten the rights of the majority to live in a stable, peaceful society,” he said.
