Smile in Solidarity

Weekly column written for the Singapore Unbound newsletter. Sign up here.

Holding a one-person protest for just enough time to take a photograph gets you into trouble in Singapore. This, labor and rights activist Jolovan Wham learned, when he did just that. His action was undertaken in support of two young climate activists who are being investigated by the police, and it landed him in a police station too. The Public Order and Safety (Special Powers) Act, which took effect in 2018, is the draconian legislation that authorizes such anti-democratic measures against peaceful protests.

To show support for Jolovan Wham, a few friends posted on social media photographs of themselves holding up the same smiley face as he had done. The posts have since started a movement of sorts, with posters not only hashtagging themselves #smileinsolidarity but also expressing their thoughts on why freedom of speech and assembly are so vital to a true democracy.

Jolovan is compiling these photographs and statements in a Facebook album. He explains the importance of such solidarity in action:

"2 months ago, I took a picture with a smiley face at Toa Payoh Central and posted it on my social media to support 2 climate justice activists who were investigated by the police for going on a climate strike. This week, the police launched an investigation and said I had violated the Public Order Act. My phone was also confiscated.

Our freedoms of expression and assembly are precious. Our political leaders have violated our rights by making even a one person assembly an offence. We need to send a message to our leaders and the government that we do not accept their terms, that we want a more democratic culture in Singapore, and that we want to be fully alive to what it means to claim our citizenship to this society.

Send me a photo for this album, hashtag #smileinsolidarity when you share it on your social media."

Would you consider responding to Jolovan's call?

Jee Leong Koh
May 28, 2020

Note: The e-newsletter went out yesterday with the old hashtag. The correction has been made above. The new hashtag is #smileinsolidarity.

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