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Police investigating protest banner on Gardens by the Bay skyway, petition started online
Posted on 17 April 2024 | 4,056 views | 37 comments
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A protest banner was unfurled at Gardens by the Bay on the OCBC Skyway on April 15 at 7.05pm.
It read: "End SG-Israel arms trade."
Videos of the incident circulated online.
In response to a Stomp query, the police confirmed that reports were lodged, adding that investigations are ongoing.
An online petition was also started by "Singapore For Palestine", who claimed to have carried out the "peaceful demonstration".
The petition is to "demand the Singapore Government end arms trade between Singapore and Israel".
"Over the past six months, we have witnessed the Israeli war machine indiscriminately killing over 33,000 Palestinians and injuring over 75,000 people," said the petition.
"It is unacceptable that Singaporeans’ hard-earned money is used to fund genocide, and that we continue to provide a platform for the perpetrators of such violence. One of the most important steps the Singapore government can take is to stop the arms trade with Israel."
Referring to Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong's announcement of the date of his handover to his successor, the petition said: "Now that the transition of power has been officially set for 15 May, Lawrence Wong, the incoming prime minister, has a crucial opportunity to set the tone for his premiership by taking a firm stand against genocide."
The petition added: "We have sent emails to parliamentarians, written letters to government ministers, held private events, set up online petitions and organised social media campaigns. Singaporeans have also tried to organise peaceful and lawful demonstrations at Hong Lim Park, only to be told that the authorities would be denying even this severely restricted right to freedom of assembly.
"We have no choice but to escalate our efforts to draw attention to our urgent demands."
The petition has since garnered more then 2,500 signatures.
Activists around the world launched coordinated protests in more than 40 cities on April 15 after the group A15 Action called for a day-long multi-city economic blockade in solidarity with Palestine.
The A15 Action website – which carried information about the protests, and also included legal resources and regional contacts – said the aim was to “disrupt and blockade economic logistical hubs and the flow of capital”.
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