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Singapore to raise awareness of Internal Security Act
Singapore is to release a booklet to raise public awareness of its tough Internal Security Act, which allows the indefinite detention of suspects deemed as threats to national security.
Several aspects of the Act, which has been criticised by civil rights groups as draconian, are not well known despite being on Singapore's statute books since 1955.
Singapore's Home Affairs Minister, Wong Kan Seng, said there have been questions why some people detained under the act for espionage had been released only after a year in detention, while others convicted in court could be jailed for much longer.
He said detention under the Act is to prevent damage to national security, while imprisonment after a court trial is at the discretion of a judge as he sees fit under the law.
In December last year, thirteen suspected Islamic militants were detained under the Internal Security Act for allegedly plotting to blow up the US embassy and other diplomatic missions in Singapore.
13/04/2002 22:20:51 | ABC Radio Australia News
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