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Man investigated for holding sign at Speakers' Corner had different sign in Toa Payoh last month
Posted on 22 October 2023 | 3,129 views | 22 comments
The police are investigating a social media post showing a man holding a sign relating to the Israel-Hamas conflict at the Speakers’ Corner, said a police statement released on Saturday (Oct 21).
The man is Gilbert Goh Keow Wah who was photographed posing next to the Speakers' Corner with a placard that read: "Peace not war. Israel stop the killing at Gaza! Hamas release all the hostages!"
He shared the photo on Instagram on Thursday with the caption: "In solidarity with Palestinians at Gaza. In solidarity with those who lost loved ones during the Hamas attack. In solidarity with the hostages still in captivity."
A similar photo of him was also posted on Reddit the same day with the title: "Activist Gilbert Goh holding up a sign protesting the ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict despite SPF's (Singapore Police Force's) announcement that no permits will be approved."
A Redditor commented: "Because both Israel and Hamas will listen to this random guy with a small signboard in Singapore?!"
Activist Gilbert Goh holding upa sign protesting the ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict despite SPF's announcement that no permits will be approved
byu/roadto75 insingapore
The police statement said: "In response to the media queries, the Police are aware of a social media post showing a man holding onto a sign relating to the Israel-Hamas conflict outside at the Speakers’ Corner, and investigations are ongoing.
"The police would like to remind members of the public that public assemblies in Singapore are regulated under the Public Order Act 2009, and that organising or participating in a public assembly without a Police permit in Singapore constitutes an offence under the Public Order Act 2009.
"The police will not issue permits for public assemblies relating to the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, as there are public safety and security concerns associated with such events, given the heightened tensions."
Earlier, on Wednesday, the police had said: "The police are aware of events and public assemblies being organised in relation to the Israel-Hamas conflict. The National Parks Board (NParks) has also received applications to use the Speakers’ Corner for events related to the Israel-Hamas conflict.
"The police have assessed that there are public safety and security concerns associated with such events, given the heightened tensions. NParks shares the same concerns.
"There have been numerous incidents of violence reported in many countries amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict. For instance, an Israeli staff from the Israeli Embassy in Beijing was stabbed in front of a supermarket, and a teacher was fatally stabbed by a Chechen individual in France.
"The peace and harmony between different races and religions in Singapore should not be taken for granted, and we must not let events happening externally affect the internal situation within Singapore. Given the sensitivity of the topic and the volatility of the situation overseas, there is a real risk that such events could give rise to public disorder. As such, applications to hold such events will be turned down."
Goh was previously fined $2,000 in August last year for taking part in a public assembly to publicise a cause without a permit outside the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) Building on May 1, 2021.
He carried a placard that read: "Please ban all flights from India we are not racist! Just being cautious."
He was also fined $1,200 for refusing to sign a statement which he later gave to the police.
But his lawyer told the court that his client would only pay the $2,000 fine. Goh opted to serve the default jail term of three days for his other offence.
Last month, someone posted on Reddit a photo of Goh outside the Toa Payoh MRT station holding a placard that read: "Transport (up). GST (up). What's next?"
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