CIVICUS Monitor classifies Singapore’s civic space as ‘repressed’

In Singapore, the state of civic freedoms has garnered significant attention, with the CIVICUS Monitor, a globally recognized research tool tracking the health of civil society across 196 countries, recently classifying the city-state’s civic space as ‘repressed’.

This designation by the CIVICUS Monitor underscores a series of concerns regarding the state’s oversight and control over civil liberties.

According to the latest report published by the CIVICUS Monitor on 5 April, “There are ongoing concerns about the use of restrictive laws as well as the harassment of human rights defenders.”

The report specifically criticizes the 2019 Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (POFMA) for granting “excessive powers to the government,” which, as noted by the CIVICUS Monitor, have been used “to target critics and block websites.”

A noteworthy instance of the government’s use of POFMA involves Kenneth Jeyaretnam, the leader of the Reform Party.

On 11 December 2023, the Minister for Communications and Information announced that Jeyaretnam’s website and associated social media pages were “Declared Online Locations” (DOLs), effectively restricting his ability to receive any benefits, including financial ones, from his online platforms until 11th December 2025.

This action, as highlighted by the CIVICUS Monitor, demonstrates the government’s continued efforts to control the narrative and limit dissent.

Furthermore, Gutzy Asia’s involvement in sharing a hyperlink to Jeyaretnam’s post led to the issuance of correction directions under POFMA, a move that the CIVICUS Monitor indicates as part of a broader pattern of silencing criticism and enforcing government narratives.

https://x.com/GutzyAsia/status/1734193305192108538

Furthermore, the CIVICUS Monitor highlights the restrictions on peaceful assembly enforced by the 2009 Public Order Act (POA) as indicative of the broader pattern of curtailing civic freedoms.

Human Rights Watch, in a separate report from January 2024, aligns with the CIVICUS Monitor’s findings, observing that Singapore “frequently uses overly broad and restrictive laws to silence criticism of the government and restrict the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.”

The strict control over public discourse and assembly is further evidenced by recent incidents.

For instance, a 20-year-old woman came under police investigation under the Public Order Act 2009 for her peaceful protest outside the Israel embassy in Singapore, an event that the CIVICUS Monitor suggests exemplifies the severe restrictions on public expressions related to international conflicts.

https://x.com/GutzyAsia/status/1735107835178992025

Moreover, the initial application of the draconian foreign interference law in February 2024 marks a significant development.

The designation of Chan Man Ping as a politically significant person under the Foreign Interference (Countermeasures) Act (FICA) by Singaporean authorities, according to CIVICUS Monitor, showcases the law’s extensive potential to impact personal freedoms and political expression.

This action is highlighted by the CIVICUS Monitor as a clear illustration of the government’s proactive stance against perceived foreign interference, yet it also underscores the concerns over the law’s wide-ranging authority to affect individuals based on their international engagements and activities.

The CIVICUS Monitor’s report and subsequent observations by other human rights organizations present a concerning view of Singapore’s civic space, emphasizing the government’s reliance on restrictive laws to manage public discourse, assembly, and criticism.

To read the full report, visit CIVICUS Monitor on their website.