A candlelight vigil held on 19 February 2025 at Speakers’ Corner in Hong Lim Park in memory of Pannir Selvam Pranthaman turned into an emotional gathering as news broke that his execution had been stayed.
The event, attended by over 200 people, was also a collective memorial for 12 individuals executed in the past year under Singapore’s capital punishment laws.
Pannir, 37, had been sentenced to death in 2017 for importing 51.84g of diamorphine into Singapore. He was due to be executed at dawn on 20 February 2025, but the Court of Appeal granted him permission to make a post-appeal application, effectively staying the execution.
The decision followed concerns over his legal representation and a pending constitutional challenge related to Singapore’s drug laws.
Pannir argued that there is a strong public interest in the proper prosecution of Law Society complaints, emphasising that it is crucial to upholding the integrity of the legal profession. His case raised questions about legal ethics, as he alleged professional misconduct by his former lawyer
An evening of remembrance and resistance
Organised by the Transformative Justice Collective (TJC), the vigil saw activists, students, artists, and family members speak out against capital punishment. Attendees held candles and placards, chanting slogans such as “Justice for Pannir” and “Execution is not the solution.”
Fake tombstones were set up in remembrance of those who had been executed, with flowers carefully laid before them. As open flames were not permitted, candles were prohibited, and electric lamps were used instead by the participants.
The National Parks Board, which oversees approvals for events at Speakers’ Corner, explicitly banned prayers at the vigil, citing concerns over religious activity.
Officials stated in their email to TJC that “prayer sessions at Speakers’ Corner are considered to be related, directly or indirectly, to religious beliefs or to religion in general and are not allowed under the Public Order (Unrestricted Area – Speakers’ Corner) Order 2023.”
Despite this restriction, TJC had previously conducted prayers at a 2022 event without issue or complaint.
Sobi, an activist from TJC, condemned Singapore’s use of the death penalty, calling it a “shameful legacy” and urging immediate reforms.
“In the last 12 months alone, we have lost 12 precious people who have been murdered by the state,” they stated. “We also learned today that two more execution notices have been scheduled for next week.”
Several speakers shared the personal stories of those executed in the past year, highlighting their struggles. “We lost Masoud, who dreamed of being a human rights lawyer,” one activist said. “Even after receiving his execution notice, he spent his last days helping other prisoners with their legal applications.”
The voices of the vigil
A poignant moment of the evening came when a song written by Pannir was played. His lyrics, touching on isolation and hope, resonated deeply with those gathered. His poem Death Row Literature, written in 2019, was also recited, drawing attention to the dehumanising nature of capital punishment.
Dayana, a former youth worker, spoke passionately about the root causes of crime. “Addiction is not caused by the consumption of drugs,” she asserted.
“It comes from pain, alienation, and a lack of purpose. If the state really cared about people suffering from addiction, they would focus on creating conditions where people don’t need to escape their pain.”
A polytechnic student, speaking on behalf of Singaporean youth, reflected on the privilege of everyday worries compared to the reality faced by those on death row.
“I was sitting on a Sunday night thinking about homework,” he said. “I can’t imagine what it must be like for Pannir, sitting alone in Changi Prison, knowing he is a dead man walking.”
Artist Valencia, who has worked on anti-death penalty campaigns, spoke about the transformative power of art and expression. “Pannir is an artist,” she said.
“He wrote poetry, he composed music. But the state reduced him to nothing more than a statistic, a person to be erased.”
The vigil also featured performances by musicians who have been vocal against the death penalty. Veteran artists Neo Swee Lin and Lim Kay Siu, both long-time abolitionists, performed a song with altered lyrics, calling for a more compassionate society.
“We don’t want executions carried out in our name,” Neo said, adding, “The violence of the state does not bring peace to our society.”
Neo Swee Lin and Lim Kay Siu
News of the stay of execution
As the vigil neared its conclusion, news of the stay of execution reached the crowd. The announcement was met with cheers, relief, and emotional embraces. While attendees celebrated the development, organisers stressed that the fight was not over.
“The work is far from over,” TJC stated in response to The Online Citizen.
“Pannir needs to file a follow-up application, and he has a very short window to do so. Meanwhile, two others face execution next Wednesday.”
Speaking on behalf of TJC, journalist and activist Kirsten Han noted that the turnout, despite short notice, reflected growing public concern over the death penalty. “People are moved by the stories of those on death row and feel strongly that the state should not be allowed to kill in our names,” she said.
Despite the stay, Pannir remains on death row, awaiting the next phase of legal proceedings.
A call for change
Throughout the evening, speakers and attendees reiterated their call for the abolition of the death penalty, arguing that it disproportionately affects vulnerable individuals and fails as a deterrent. Several referenced international research challenging the effectiveness of capital punishment in reducing drug-related crimes.
Terese, A law student, referencing legal studies, highlighted the problematic nature of sentencing laws. “The quantities of drugs carried are determined by kingpins, not couriers,” she explained. “This means the very people who are executed have the least power in the drug trade.”
Dayana emphasised the systemic issues leading to drug offences. “Poverty, trauma, and systemic neglect are the real causes,” she said. “Killing people like Pannir does not address any of these issues.”
As the vigil concluded, the crowd raised their candles in unison, chanting, “Justice for Pannir.” The event ended with a moment of silence, followed by a final song in memory of those who had lost their lives to capital punishment.
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For Pannir’s family, the stay of execution offers temporary relief, but their fight continues. His two sisters, Sangkari and Angelia, have been active in campaigning for his life, transforming his writings into songs and running the NGO Sebaran Kasih to support marginalised communities.
“He is our brother, our son, our family,” one of his sisters said. “We will not stop fighting for him, just as he has never stopped fighting for others.” Pannir also has three brothers.
As legal proceedings move forward, activists and supporters have vowed to continue advocating for Pannir and others facing the death penalty, hoping that Singapore’s approach to justice will evolve towards rehabilitation rather than execution.
