3 men probed over alleged Myanmar Embassy protest

Three men are being investigated for purportedly participating in a public assembly without a permit outside the Myanmar Embassy in Singapore, the police said on Sunday.

Two of the men are Japanese nationals, aged 48 and 61, and the third is a 49-year-old Indonesian.

The police were alerted at 3.45pm last Wednesday to three men allegedly protesting outside the embassy to demonstrate "their support for the people of Myanmar". Two placards, three mobile phones and a letter were seized.

The police reminded the public that "organising or participating in a public assembly without a police permit in Singapore is illegal and constitutes an offence under the Public Order Act".

Organisers of illegal assemblies face fines of up to $5,000 and participants can be fined up to $3,000.

The police said they "will not grant any permit for assemblies that advocate political causes of other countries". "Foreigners visiting or living in Singapore should abide by our laws," they added.

The police had on Feb 5 warned against holding protests in Singapore related to the ongoing political events in Myanmar.

The police said they were "aware of online posts by Myanmar nationals working or residing in Singapore, planning protests in Singapore in relation to recent developments in Myanmar and encouraging people to participate".

The civil disobedience movement in Myanmar was sparked by a Feb 1 coup that ousted the civilian government, including its leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

Meanwhile, the military government there escalated efforts to control anti-coup protests yesterday by cutting off Internet service and deploying troops around the country.