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The police have refuted claims by a Twitter user saying that it would be "likely to grant a protest permit" for a planned "one man protest" outside the Australian High Commission on Thursday (Jun. 10).
In a statement on Jun. 9, the police said that it was aware of a tweet by user @watermelonsalt5 about the planned protest.
The tweet also claimed that a check with the Singapore Police Force was done, and that a permit for the protest would likely be granted.
"Contrary to what the post claims, the police did not receive any enquiries on or application for a permit for this protest," said the statement.
The police also reminded the public that organising or participating in a public assembly without a police permit is illegal and constitutes an offence under the Public Order Act.
It added that permits would not be granted for assemblies that advocate political causes of other countries.
Foreigners visiting or living in Singapore should abide by our laws, said the statement.
Why was the protest being planned?
The user's claim had been made in response to a tweet about Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison's upcoming trip to Singapore on Jun. 10.
After another user asked whether Morrison would meet with "any stranded Aussies", @watermelonsalt5 replied saying that they were planning a "one man protest" with "a huge picture of a mouse", as well as the hashtag #LetUsBackToAus — which has been used by students currently unable to return to their schools in Australia due to strict travel restrictions — among others.
The user clarified in a later tweet that this was a reference to the "NSW rat plague" — an ongoing mouse plague in the southeastern Australian state of New South Wales.
Public assembly without police permit illegal
In February this year, the police were alerted to three men who were allegedly protesting outside the Embassy of Myanmar, and commenced an investigation into the matter.
Top image via Google Maps street view.