Activist's permit was for Speakers' Corner, court told
His permit by the National Parks Board restricted his performance art piece to the Speakers' Corner in Hong Lim Park last October.
Artist and activist Seelan Palay is said to have committed an offence when he staged an alleged "public procession" from the park to the National Gallery and Parliament House, a district court heard yesterday.
Seelan's art piece, 32 Years: The Interrogation Of A Mirror, was meant as a tribute to the 32 years that long-time political detainee Chia Thye Poh had spent living in detention and under restriction.
On the first day of the trial, the court heard that Seelan, 33, was accused of taking part in the alleged procession without a permit between 2.23pm and 3.15pm on Oct 1 last year.
Court documents said the alleged procession had aimed to "demonstrate opposition" in two areas: the actions of the Government in relation to Dr Chia's detention and its requirement of a licence for public entertainment in the form of performances outside the Speakers' Corner.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Dwayne Lum told District Judge Salina Ishak that Seelan arrived at the Speakers' Corner at around 2pm to begin the event attended by about 30 people.
He walked out of Hong Lim Park and went to the National Gallery, where he drew on a mirror he had been holding. He then walked to the Parliament House and stood in the entrance to a driveway with the mirror.
DPP Lum said: "The accused was engaged by auxiliary police officers who were on duty at the Parliament House. The accused did not leave the location despite being told to do so and police assistance was called."
Police later arrested Seelan. Assistant Superintendent Lionel Lee, who helped arrest Seelan, told the court that according to an auxiliary police officer, a crowd had followed Seelan.
Seelan, who was not represented by a lawyer, cross-examined ASP Lee and asked if his performance was a threat to national security.
ASP Lee replied it was not but it had caused a disturbance.
He also said the Parliament House is a restricted area and no permit will be issued for any assemblies or processions at restricted places.
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