Hangings in Singapore are always carried out on Fridays at dawn in Changi Prison, and it was outside the prison that 15 people gathered to hold a vigil for the young man.
The group that congregated consisted of Prabagaran's family and friends, all of whom stood solemnly in solidarity.
The group that congregated consisted of Prabagaran's family and friends, all of whom stood solemnly in solidarity.
One of the attendees was none other than local journalist and anti-death penalty activist Kirsten Han, whose group We Believe In Second Chances has spoken out to oppose the execution of the young man (and many others before him).
According to Han, the police dropped by the vigil to break up the crowd and film the whole thing, taking candles and photos along with them when they left. No explanation was provided, though the group was allowed to stay on as long as they didn't light any more candles or set up photos.
It was only yesterday (Sep 3) that Han found out she might be in trouble for taking part in the vigil. According to her account on Facebook, police officers showed up at her door to hand her a letter stating that she is required to assist in their investigations regarding "an offence of Taking part in a Public Assembly without Permit".
It's part of the Public Order Act that basically outlaws protests without permit in Singapore. It's considered an offence if there are 2 or more people assembled for the purpose of (i) demonstrating support for or opposition to the views or actions of any person, group of persons or any government; (ii) publicizing a cause or campaign; or (iii) marking or commemorating any event.
Vigils may or may not be considered a chargeable offence, but it may take a different form, considering that it's a gathering of people standing in solidarity for an individual impacted by the politically controversial death penalty. By its definition itself, vigils are peaceful demonstrations in support of a particular cause.
Han notwithstanding, imagine the distress felt by the family members of Prabagaran who might've also received the letter - they'll have to deal with a police investigation on top of mourning his death.
"...when a simple, nonviolent, quiet vigil for a man about to be hanged by the state is deemed an illegal assembly worthy of a police investigation, perhaps it is time to think about whether we are striking the right balance between public order, freedom of assembly and compassion," Han wrote.
➤ Related content: Once a Jolly Hangman, Singapore Justice in the Dock.
The government of Singapore does not want anyone to read this book. When it was first published in Singapore, police raided [author] Alan Shadrake's hotel room and arrested him. He was taken into custody and interrogated for two full days and two sleepless nights, then charged with contempt of court by "scandalising the judiciary". As Shadrake awaited trial, he discovered to his discomfort just what happens when a person challenges the Singapore system. His trial in the Singapore Supreme Court started on Monday, 18 October 2010. At the heart of the prosecution was the allegation that Shadrake had committed contempt of court by saying that there was "something sinister: how the Singapore legal system works in secret and how politics, international trade and business often determine who lives and who dies on the gallows".
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"One is absolutely sickened, not by the crimes that the wicked have committed,
but by the punishments that the good have inflicted." -- Oscar Wilde
but by the punishments that the good have inflicted." -- Oscar Wilde
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