In a bold and unprecedented move, Singaporean activist Kokila Annamalai has become the first person in the city-state to openly defy its strict online speech laws, risking imprisonment to stand up for her beliefs. The 36-year-old activist, who has long supported death row inmates and their families, refused to comply with a government order to “correct” her online posts criticizing Singapore’s death penalty and drug laws.
The government had accused Annamalai of suggesting that it “schedules and stays executions arbitrarily and without regard for due legal process” in a Facebook post about the execution of Azwan bin Bohari, who was hanged in October after being found guilty of drug trafficking. They also ordered her to correct another aspect of the post, claiming she had written that in drug trafficking cases, the state does not face the legal burden of proving guilt.
Annamalai denies these allegations, stating that her post focused on how bureaucratic decisions are confusing and traumatizing for the families of death row inmates. She also clarified that she was drawing attention to Singapore’s laws, which allow for a presumption of drug trafficking based on the amount a person is carrying, shifting part of the burden of proof to the accused.
A Stand Against Injustice
For Annamalai, complying with the government’s order would have meant sharing a “correction” that accused death row inmates of “abusing” the justice system by filing last-minute applications to delay their executions. As someone who has spent years supporting these individuals and their families, she felt compelled to take a stand against what she perceives as a deep injustice.
“Death row prisoners are one of the most voiceless and powerless people in our society, and the courts are such a powerful institution,” Annamalai explains. “I feel a very deep sense of injustice and pain about how something that should be their right is [being] described as an abuse.”
By refusing to share the correction, Annamalai hopes to “hold the line” and demonstrate that Singaporeans do not need “to be cowed by the system.” Her defiance comes at a high cost, as she now faces a potential fine of up to $20,000 (£15,400) and 12 months imprisonment under Singapore’s Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (Pofma).
Challenging Singapore’s Strict Speech Laws
Singapore is known for its strict control over public speech and assembly, with laws like Pofma giving the government broad powers to restrict online content. Activists like Annamalai believe these laws are designed to stifle critical discussion and dissent in the online space, where alternative voices have found a platform to share their views.
“They’re very afraid of the amount of critical discussion and dissent in the online space. And that’s not something that their previous laws have been designed to police sufficiently,” Annamalai says of the government’s stance.
Her group, Transformative Justice Collective (TJC), has faced numerous challenges in advocating against the death penalty, including being blocked from holding exhibitions and struggling to book venues for campaign events. In a country where the issue is taboo and rarely discussed in mainstream media, social media has become one of the few platforms where critical opinions can be shared.
A Shifting Social Contract
Annamalai’s defiance comes at a time when public attitudes towards civic rights in Singapore are shifting. While the government has long maintained that Singaporeans are willing to trade civil liberties for public order and economic prosperity, growing inequality and rising costs of living have begun to undermine this social contract.
“People are struggling,” Annamalai notes. “Inequality is on the rise, the cost of living is high, people can’t afford housing.”
As Singaporeans grapple with these challenges, Annamalai believes her defiance of Pofma is crucial in supporting a growing “culture of dissent” in the city-state. By standing up to the government’s attempts to control online speech, she hopes to inspire others to explore and practice their right to question and challenge the status quo.
Humanizing the Death Penalty Debate
Central to Annamalai’s activism is her effort to humanize those on death row and challenge the dominant narrative that portrays them as “terrifying criminals.” Through her online posts and campaigns, she has sought to share the stories of these individuals, many of whom come from minority, migrant, or marginalized backgrounds.
“For a long time people on death row were kept very dehumanised to the public,” Annamalai explains. “The only kind of narrative [the public] would get is that they’re these terrifying criminals who are ruining our society, making everyone unsafe, and putting children at risk.”
By sharing a more nuanced perspective, Annamalai believes she can shift public opinion on the death penalty, even in a country where it has long enjoyed overwhelming support. Her efforts have already contributed to a growing number of Singaporeans voicing support for the abolition of capital punishment, with rare protests in 2022 drawing hundreds of participants.
As Kokila Annamalai awaits the consequences of her bold defiance, her stand against Singapore’s online speech laws has thrust her to the forefront of a burgeoning movement for change. Whether her actions will inspire others to follow suit remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: in a country where dissent has long been stifled, Annamalai’s refusal to be silenced is a powerful testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the unquenchable thirst for justice.
