MILITARY MANOEUVRES (AMENDMENT) BILL

Order for Second Reading read. 4.44 p.m.

The Minister of State of Defence (Dr Yeo Ning Hong): Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time."

Sir, the Singapore Armed Forces regularly conducts military and live firing exercises as part of its training. Certain areas, largely in Lincuogang, have been accordingly set aside for this purpose. They have been proclaimed by the President in exercise of his powers under section 8 of the Military Manoeuvres Act as manoeuvring or firing grounds.

Military exercises by the Army are conducted in the manoeuvring grounds. In firing grounds, artillery and rifle practices, air firing and bomb dropping are carried out from weapons on the ground or from aircraft in flight.

To prevent members of the public from entering into these grounds at grave risk to themselves, my Ministry has demarcated and gazetted the boundaries of these grounds. Warning signboards in the four languages are also posted along these boundaries. Public announcements are made to remind members of the public of the dangers of entering into these areas. Sentries are also posted at various strategic points along the boundaries. Boats also patrol the coastal boundaries before live firing commences.

Some members of the public, however, surreptitiously evade the sentries and deliberately trespass into these areas. Most of them are scrap metal and fruit dealers. They are prepared to risk their lives to pick a few fruits and to collect the scrap metal even when military and live firing exercises are in progress. Others enter into these areas to fish. In November 1978, a junkyard operator, his wife and an employee, died in their junkyard when they tried to dismantle a blind ammunition. The State Coroner inquiring into their deaths, besides being satisfied that the SAF had taken all reasonable steps to warn the public and trespassers of the dangers of entering live firing areas, found that the junkyard operators must have obtained the blind from the nearby live firing area. On 3rd August, 1980, another junkyard operator died under similar circumstances. Recently, on 23rd June, 1982, a civilian trespassed into the live firing area to pick durians and was injured, fortunately not fatally.

The Government is very concerned about the unnecessary loss of lives and the injuries to trespassers into these areas. Police action against these trespassers have not been effective, largely because of the inadequate penalties that can be imposed on them. For unlawfully interfering with the execution of manoeuvres, under section 6 of the Military Manoeuvres Act, the fine is only $20. Where such trespassers without due authority remove any distinguishing flag or other mark or maliciously cut or damage any telecommunication facilities used for the manoeuvres, the fine is only $50. Furthermore, for unauthorized entry and remaining within firing grounds when it is closed, an offence under Rule 7 of the Pasir Laba Firing Ground Rules, 1966, read with section 11 of the Military Manoeuvres Act, the fine is only a maximum of $100. These fines are obviously ineffective.

Hence this Bill. The main features of this Bill are:

(i) The penalties are enhanced to a fine not exceeding $2,000 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months, or to both such fine and imprisonment. This will make it unprofitable for trespassers to risk conviction and hence reduce the temptation to trespass.

(ii) The offences under the Act are made seizable offences by empowering the police or any commissioned officer engaged in the manoeuvres, or warrant officer, non-commissioned officer or military policeman of the Singapore Armed Forces to arrest the trespasser without warrant.

(iii) All persons not engaged in military or air force activities during exercises are excluded at all times from the whole or any part of any firing ground.

In consequence of the amendment to section 11 of the Military Manoeuvres Act, the Pasir Laba Firing Ground Rules, 1966, will be revoked, and new Rules made thereunder. My Ministry has prepared these Rules and upon this Bill passing into law, the new Rules, to be called "The Firing Ground Rules, 1983", will be gazetted accordingly.

Sir, I beg to move.

Question put, and agreed to.

Bill accordingly read a Second time and commifted to a Comminee of the whole House.

The House immediately resolved itself into a Committee on the Bill. - [Dr Yeo Ning Hong].

Bill considered in Committee.

[Mr Speaker in the Chair]

Clause 1 -

The Chairman: The citation year will be altered from "1982" to "1983".

Clause 1 ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Clauses 2 to 4 inclusive ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Bill reported without amendment; read a Third time and passed.