POLICE CONTINUE TO HARASS INDEPENDENT FILM MAKER

C O N F I D E N T I A L SINGAPORE 002609

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/29/2015
TAGS: PHUM PGOV SN
SUBJECT: POLICE CONTINUE TO HARASS INDEPENDENT FILM MAKER

REF: SINGAPORE 1178

Classified By: EP Counselor Laurent Charbonnet, Reasons 1.4(b)(d)


1. (SBU) The Singapore Police continue to harass independent
film maker Martyn See, who made a 26 minute documentary on
opposition politician Dr. Chee Soon Juan (Reftel). Under
government pressure, See was forced to withdraw his
"Singapore Rebel" film from the Singapore International Film
Festival in March. The GOS had informed the festival
organizers that "Singapore Rebel" was a "party political
film" and in violation of the 1998 Film Act. Although he has
complied with the GOS demand, the police continue to question
See about his film.


2. (SBU) On May 16 and August 25, Police Assistant
Superintendent Chan Peng Kuang interrogated See at the Police
Cantonment Complex, according to See. The latter round
lasted about three hours and included questions unrelated to
the making of the movie, such as his views on the media. See
was then ordered to surrender by August 29 his tapes of the
film, courier invoices (from shipping copies of the film to
the New Zealand Human Rights Film Festival and the Amnesty
International USA Film Festival in May),as well as the video
camera he used to shoot the film. The items would only be
returned after "completion of the case." See turned them
over to police on August 29.


3. (C) See has not been charged with any offense and the
police did not inform him of any possible charges after he
asked. He believes the on-going police investigation stems
from his decision to send the film overseas to be exhibited
in New Zealand and the United States. He also told poloff
that police questions about his political activities and
contacts with Dr. Chee made it "seem like associating with
Chee was a criminal offense."


4. (C) Comment: If the GOS files criminal charges against
See, we will need to speak out publicly against it. For now,
we will raise the issue privately with senior GOS officials.
On August 29, the Ambassador discussed the See case with
Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts
Permanent Secretary Tan Chin Nam, who professed ignorance of
police motives. The Ambassador will also raise it with
Foreign Minister George Yeo in a previously scheduled meeting
on August 31. End Comment.


5. (U) Martyn See runs his own internet blog, detailing his
activities:

http://singaporerebel.blogspot.com/

A trailer for the film can be viewed on the internet at:

http://www.archive.org/details/SingaporeRebel Trailer

The entire film can be viewed at:

http://www.archive.org/details/godboxone
LAVIN