Massive Attack members given warnings, banned from re-entering S’pore after holding up Palestine flag at concert

Two members of British trip hop band Massive Attack have been issued warnings by the police and banned from re-entering Singapore, after displaying a Palestinian flag at their concert on Jul. 29.

The Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) said in a joint statement with police on Jul. 31 that they will also not grant any future application for performances by the band in Singapore in view of the entry ban.

IMDA is also investigating the possible breach of a number of licence conditions and will take necessary action upon conclusion of investigations, the authorities said.

This includes a condition that stipulates that there shall be no display of flags in support of any causes.

Displayed Palestine flag

It was earlier reported that police reports were lodged after the band was filmed holding up a Palestine flag on stage during their Singapore concert and shouting "Free Palestine" at The Star Performing Arts Centre on Wednesday, Jul. 29.

This was despite the organiser's prior acknowledgement of licence conditions, said IMDA.

A video on the Reddit forum showed members Robert "3D" Del Naja and Grant "Daddy G" Marshall holding up the flag at the end of the concert before leaving the stage.

The person who posted on Reddit also claimed that they tried to report the incident through the SGSecure app, but was unable to do so as the app apparently kept crashing.

The post also claimed that the crowd chanted "Free Palestine".

"The way I understood it was that he didn't care about any restrictions or consequences," the person who posted also wrote about the band.

Warnings issued

The police said that they administered "stern warnings" to both men for the offences of Section (3) of the Foreign National Emblems (Control of Display) Act 1949 and Section 16 of the Public Order Act.

Both men will also be banned from re-entering Singapore.

The police said: "We take a serious view of acts which could potentially harm the racial and religious harmony in Singapore and urge the public, including foreigners, to refrain from importing foreign politics as this can undermine our social cohesion and the rule of law."

"The peace and harmony between different races and religions in Singapore should not be taken for granted, and we must not let external events affect our society."