Drop charges against Kokila Annamalai in Singapore

Singapore parliament - JAMES MASON-HUDSON/WIKIMEDIA

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We, the undersigned organisations, stand in solidarity with Singaporean abolitionist activist Kokila Annamalai Parvathi, criminally charged on 23 April 2026 for defying a correction direction under Singapore’s Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (Pofma).

In October 2024, she spoke out about the arbitrary and opaque treatment of Mohammad Azwan Bohari and his family in the lead-up to his execution.

The state’s response was not to answer her concerns but to order her under threat of law to publicly declare her own views false.

She bravely refused.

For this act of conscience, she now faces up to 12 months in prison and a S$20,000 fine. This is the second criminal prosecution under Pofma since the law was enacted in 2019.

Pofma was never about falsehoods. It is a tool used by the government of Singapore to intimidate activists and silence dissent. This latest charge against Kokila simply proves it.

We call upon the government of Singapore to:

  • Drop all charges against Kokila Annamalai Parvathi
  • End the use of Pofma against activists and dissenters
  • Repeal Pofma
  • Impose an immediate moratorium on executions and abolish the death penalty

Endorsed by:

  1. Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM)
  2. Socialist Alliance, Australia
  3. Europe solidaire sans frontières (ESSF), France
  4. Workers’s Initiative, Kolkata, India
  5. People’s Liberation Party, Indonesia
  6. Sedane Labour Resource Centre (LIPS), Indonesia
  7. Aliran, Malaysia
  8. Mandiri, Malaysia
  9. North South Initiative (NSI), Malaysia
  10. Pemuda Sosialis PSM, Malaysia
  11. Haqooq Khalq Party, Pakistan
  12. Partido Lakas ng Masa (PLM), Philippines
  13. Socialist Workers Thailand

The views expressed in Aliran's media statements and the NGO statements we have endorsed reflect Aliran's official stand. Views and opinions expressed in other pieces published here do not necessarily reflect Aliran's official position.

AGENDA RAKYAT - Lima perkara utama
  1. Tegakkan maruah serta kualiti kehidupan rakyat
  2. Galakkan pembangunan saksama, lestari serta tangani krisis alam sekitar
  3. Raikan kerencaman dan keterangkuman
  4. Selamatkan demokrasi dan angkatkan keluhuran undang-undang
  5. Lawan rasuah dan kronisme
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