Singapore opposition leader allowed to distribute flyers

SINGAPORE, Sep 18 (Reuters) Singapore opposition leader Chee Soon Juan, whose stand-off with police in a city park near ''Speakers' Corner'' is in its third day, was allowed to leave the area and distribute pamphlets, police said today.

At midday, Chee and a handful of supporters walked to Raffles Place, close to the Suntec City convention centre where the annual meetings of the IMF and World Bank are taking place. He handed out pamphlets that criticised Singapore's curbs on free speech and freedom of assembly.

Chee and his supporters walked to the site separately, as any gathering of more than four people is illegal without a permit.

''(Chee) was advised not to proceed as a group as it might constitute an illegal procession,'' a police spokeswoman said.

After about an hour, the group returned to the park, where since Saturday police have blocked them from carrying out a planned protest march to the IMF-World Bank venue.

''Police followed the group to observe and ensure that they did not carry out illegal activities as they were still in the general vicinity of Suntec City and Parliament House,'' the spokeswoman said.

Chee told Reuters that he had distributed about 500 pamphlets, and that the group plans to hand out more during the evening rush hour.

''We just wanted to register the point that we have been stopped, but we are not defeated,'' said Chee.

Chee said many people were afraid to accept the pamphlets as policemen were recording the scene with several video cameras.

''The reason we are here is because we are protesting against the denial of the rights of Singaporeans to freedom of speech and peaceful assembly,'' read the pamphlet.

Chee reiterated that he and his supporters will remain in the park until Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong gives his speech at the IMF-World Bank meetings' opening ceremony on Tuesday morning.

REUTERS SSC BD1453