Kevin Liew, programme coordinator for the Open Singapore Centre (OSC) was interviewed by the police at the Central Police Division HQ for three hours from 4pm to 7pm on 30/1/2001 with regards to the events that took place on 10/12/2000. To commemorate International Human Rights Day, an event was co-organized by the Think Centre (TC) and OSC at Speaker's Corner on 10/12/2000 (Sun).
The police began the investigations when a letter dated 22nd January 2001 was sent to Mr Liew notifying him to appear at the HQ for an interview as part of an ongoing police investigation into the events of the day to determine if there was a breach of the law.
According to Mr Liew, who was questioned by Inspector Victor Keong while another police officer observed the proceedings, the police had said that they had made a mistake in the letter dated 22nd January 2001. In the letter it was stated that Mr Liew was "to appear at a police investigation under section 120 of the Criminal Procedure Code, Cap.68". It goes on to say that it is "in connection with a police investigation into an offence of Assembly Without A Permit…..at Speakers' Corner, located at Hong Lim Park."
Mr Liew considers the investigation "a waste of time for the police" since it took place at Speaker's Corner where people normally do assemble to hear speakers. He was surprised when the investigating officer, Insp Victor Keong, notified him that the offence was stated wrongly in the letter and that it should have been "under Miscellaneous Offenses", somewhere along the lines of an unlawful assembly, and that another letter would be sent with this amendment.
During the three hour long questioning, conducted in a "friendly environment", Mr. Liew was asked about his personal particulars, matters pertaining to OSC and its activities, and preparations made for marking International Human Rights Day. When Mr Liew asked Insp Keong why this unnecessary investigation was being conducted, he was told that it was just an investigation into a follow up of Mr Ramamirthan's letter in TODAY.
Mr Ramamirthan had sent letters on the events that took place on 10/12/2000 which was published by the TODAY newspaper. These letters can be found on our website under the "Letters" section. As to the original letter that was sent to Mr Liew, you can read it also on our website under the "News" section in the article entitled "Police Begins Human Rights Day Investigations."
