One Woman Takes a Stand (and a Ticket to Bali?)
What Went Down
On a bright Monday afternoon, a Singaporean named Kelly Ong (Twitter handle @kellymilkies) decided to stage a protest right outside the China Embassy at 150 Tanglin Road.
She shot a captioned selfie wearing a mask—like the style setter at a pop‑up protest—and posted a photo of her sign demanding:
- “Release innocent arrested people.”
- “Only scientific isolation.”
- “Stop violent policing.”
- “Let students lives return to normal.”
Less than two hours later, the police got a call at about 12:55 PM. The woman was instructed to drop the demo, and she complied.
Kelly’s Tweet Trail
At 12:27 PM, Kelly tweeted, “I am alone outside the Embassy of China in Singapore @ 150 Tanglin road. If I do not reply within 24 hours here I may have been illegally taken into the embassy.”
Later that evening she blasted, “Did this completely confiscate my passport? Hope they slide it back before my gaming trip to Bali.”
Why It’s a Big Deal
Singapore’s public assembly laws are not like the U.S. – you need a police permit for any organized gathering. The police reminded everyone in their statement that “organizing or participating in a public assembly without a police permit is an offence under the Public Order Act.”
They also warned foreigners living or working in Singapore: “Don’t bring politics from your own country into Singapore; we expect everyone to abide by local rules.”
Takeaway
Kelly’s spirited protest might have landed her in hot water (and a potential passport snatch), but it also sparked an online buzz. If you’re planning your next big parade, remember: a permit might be your ticket to freedom—just not a passport. 🙂
