SINGAPORE, Sept. 16 (UPI) -- Singapore police barred an opposition politician from marching outside the annual International Monetary Fund-World Bank meetings Saturday.
Chee Soon Juan, secretary-general of the Singapore Democratic Party, and four to six supporters were prevented by about 30 police officers from protesting restrictions on freedom of speech, Britain's Independent reported.
Singapore forbids the public outdoor assembly of more than four people without permits and deported at least one accredited activist.
Some 16,000 delegates are in Singapore for the meetings, including central bankers and finance ministers from around the world.
"It is just mind-boggling that we should be treated this way," said Sandra Krawitz, a media officer at ActionAid USA told the Independent. "People are being treated as common thugs. That's not acceptable."
Following criticism from World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz, Singapore said Friday night it would let 22 of 27 activists on an immigration blacklist into the country.
