In response to media queries, Police confirmed that it received calls from
members of the public at about 2.20 pm on Saturday, 15 Mar 2008 informing that a
group of about 20 persons wearing red t-shirts were staging a protest outside the
Parliament House.

Upon arrival, police officers observed that Chee Soon Juan was with a group of
about 20 persons chanting slogans and displaying various placards. They were all clad
in similar red-coloured t-shirts.

Chee and his group ignored repeated Police warnings to stop the unlawful
assembly. Instead, Chee and his group persisted with their actions and also began to
stage a protest march towards Funan Digitalife Mall waving placards.

The group was given a final warning by Police to stop the protest march or face
arrest. Chee and 11 others defied the police warning and were eventually stopped in
front of Funan Digitalife Mall and five placards were seized from them. In effecting the
arrest, Police faced resistance from some of the members who struggled and locked
their arms together. Police equipment including a police radio set was damaged. One
of the protesters, Chee Siok Chin had tried to bite a female police officer when the
latter tried to arrest her.

Not the first attempt by Chee Soon Juan in acts of wilful civil disobedience

Police note that this episode is the not the first attempt by Chee Soon Juan and
other SDP members to stage illegal assemblies as part of their campaign for civil
disobedience against the Singapore authorities.

In October last year, Chee had staged an unlawful demonstration at the Istana
Park facing the Istana main entrance on 8 Oct 2007. Chee had also staged an
unlawful assembly at the Myanmar embassy on 30 Sep 2007 to collect a petition
against the Myanmar Government and the Singapore authorities. This latest incident at
Parliament House today saw an escalation in the level of defiance shown by Chee’s
group; for the first time, the group staged typical militant protest methods of locking
arms to resist arrest practised by some protest groups in Western countries. The
attack by Chee Siok Chin is also unprecedented and police are investigating into the
matter.

Parliament House is a high security installation. Outdoor protest activities are
not allowed given their potential for public disorder and disruption to community life.
Chee had earlier applied for a police permit to hold a protest rally but this was an
empty gesture as a subsequent posting on SDP's website indicated that SDP intended
to proceed with the rally on 15 Mar at 2.00 pm even though a permit was not obtained.
The post also urged "all Singaporeans who cannot stomach PAP's bullying anymore to
join" the event. Chee’s deliberate actions to break the law and defy the authorities are
consistent with his previous unlawful acts, for which he has been charged and
convicted in Court.

Chee has persisted to advocate civil disobedience and street politics as the
means for political action in Singapore. In so doing, he disregards the law and holds
himself above it so long as he thinks the law in question is one he does not approve.
Police reiterates that no one is above the law. Our laws apply equally to all, whether
local or foreigners and it will apply no less to Chee.