Reporters Without Borders today called for the immediate release of British freelance journalist Alan Shadrake, author of a book about the death penalty in Singapore, who has been held by the police Criminal Investigation Department since early yesterday morning.“To hold the 75-year-old author of an investigative book who is in fragile health for nearly two days and at a secret location, is shocking and totally disproportionate”, the worldwide press freedom organisation said.
“We urge the interior minister and deputy prime minister Kan Seng Wong to order the immediate release of Alan Shadrake and the dropping of charges against him. The death penalty should be freely debated and by whomsoever in Singapore as anywhere else. Alan Shadrake has no business being in a police cell”, the organisation added.
Police spokesman, Sew Wei Ler, refused to reveal his place of detention to Reporters Without Borders. “The law allows us to hold him for 48 hours, but I cannot tell you if he will be released before then”, he said. The journalist, who was arrested at his hotel, had attended a private event to promote the book the previous day. Full Story
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