SINGAPORE WARNS AGAINST STAGING PROTESTS DURING APEC SUMMIT

BY ZAKARIA ABDUL WAHAB

SINGAPORE, April 16 (Bernama) - Singapore on Wednesday gave an early warning that it would take firm action against anyone who planned to stage demonstrations during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit here later this year.

Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kang Seng said the government would apply the
Public Order Act that was passed by parliament recently to deal with those
intent on disrupting public order.

"Unlawful activities will not be tolerated. We will implement the law
firmly," Wong said at the Internal Security Department Intelligence Service
Promotion Ceremony here Wednesday night.

He said some local and foreign groups might use the APEC Summit to promote
their agendas through unlawful means.

They might try to instigate Singaporeans to break the law through acts of
civil disobedience, like staging street protests and demonstrations, Wong who is
also the Home Affairs Minister said.

He also said some foreigners might themselves decide to come to Singapore to
participate in such activities.

He said Singapore would welcome foreigners to the city-state but not those
who come here to subvert the local laws.

The minister also said the government could not afford to be distracted from
its greater mission of ensuring the security of the event, the foreign leaders
and delegates and Singaporeans against terrorists.

He mentioned the recent G20 protest in London and the year-long street
demonstrations in Thailand by thousands of protestors that had caused grave
damage to public property, business premises and loss of lives.

Wong believed Singaporeans would not want such violence to happen here, but
it would be naive of them to believe that nothing untoward would happen during
street demonstrations.

He said it was only a tiny group of irresponsible and selfish individuals
who had been pushing this line of civil disobedience in Singapore.
-- BERNAMA