Hong Kong protesters call for release of convicted Singapore blogger Amos Yee
Protestors outside Singaporean consulate in Admiralty demanded the release of teen blogger Amos Yee, convicted for posting a video attacking the late founding father, Lee Kuan Yew.
Around 50 people from various civic and political groups protest outside the Singapore consulate in Admiralty, demanding the release of teen blogger Amos Yee, who was convicted of posting a video attacking the late founding father, Lee Kuan Yew. Their campaign came a day before 16-year-old Yee, who has been remanded in a mental health institution, is set to make another court appearance.
Holding banners and placards with slogans including "Dissident is not demented" and "Freedom of speech should not be infringed", they also burned effigies of Lee. Representatives from different groups took turns to express their anger over Yee's "highly disturbing" treatment.
"Amos Yee is probably the youngest prisoner of conscience. That is much more outstanding than Singapore's performance in economic development," said Mabel Au Mei-po from Amnesty International.
"I don't like Amos because he's rude in the Singapore context, but I have to defend his rights," said Goh Meng Seng, 45, a Singaporean who lives in Hong Kong. Goh, who called the treatment of Amos "horrible", is forming a new opposition group in the city state called the People Power party.
"If the government can do such a thing to a 16-year-old kid, they can do it to an adult too," Goh said. "Anyone in the opposition camp should be prepared for that."
Yee was convicted of two criminal charges. He was found guilty of hurting religious feelings in a video posted after Lee's death on March 23, likening Singapore's first prime minister to Jesus in an expletive-laden monologue. He was also convicted of circulating obscene content - a graphic cartoon involving Lee and late British prime minister Margaret Thatcher.
