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Singapore: A Singapore court charged 19 people on Friday, including several opposition party members, for taking part in a protest over rising prices in the city-state.
Among those accused was Chee Soon Juan, leader of Singapore's most vocal opposition party, the Singapore Democratic Party, and several of its executive members.
The court documents showed they were charged for participating in a procession and an assembly, offences that carry a maximum fine of S$1,000 (Dh2,700).
"The Tak Boleh Tahan Protest was meant to speak out against the multitude of ill-timed price hikes initiated by the government," said a joint press statement by the group.
"Tak Boleh Tahan" means "cannot take it" in Bahasa Malay.
Singapore's inflation is at a 26-year high, leaving increasing numbers of the city's poor turning to temples for free food.
Some economists believe the government's two per cent tax hike on goods and services last July helped stoke inflationary pressures.
Protests in Singapore are rare and an assembly of five or more people requires a permit from the police. Singapore says it needs tough laws on assembly for the maintenance of peace and stability.
The accused said they will go to trial but are currently without legal representation.
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