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A6 WORLD NEWS
Monday 22 august 2022
Singapore to decriminalize gay sex, but will limit change

By EILEEN NG "Pink Dot" in support of the
KUALA LUMPUR, Malay- LGBTQ community.
sia (AP) — Singapore an- Lee said he hopes the gov-
nounced Sunday it will de- ernment's move will help
criminalize sex between reconcile and accommo-
men by repealing a colo- date both the concerns
nial-era law while protect- of conservative religious
ing the city-state's tradition- groups and the desires of
al norms and its definition gay Singaporeans to be re-
of marriage. spected and accepted.
During his speech at the "All groups should exercise
annual National Day Rally, restraint, because that is
Prime Minister Lee Hsien the only way we can move
Loong said he believed it is forward as a nation togeth-
the "right thing to do now" er," he said. "I hope the new
as most Singaporeans will balance will enable Singa-
now accept it. pore to remain a tolerant
"Private sexual behavior and inclusive society for
between consenting adults many years to come."
does not raise any law and One of Lee's nephews, Li
order issue. There is no jus- Huanwu, is gay. The son of
tification to prosecute Lee's estranged younger
people for it nor to make it brother Lee Hsien Yang
a crime," Lee said. "This will Singapore Prime Minster Lee Hsien Loong delivers a speech at a session of the International Con- married his partner in South
bring the law into line with ference on "The Future of Asia" in Tokyo Thursday, May 26, 2022. Africa in 2019. Li Huanwu
current social mores and I Associated Press has attended Pink Dot
hope provide some relief to events with his partner and
gay Singaporeans." to ensure that there can be trolled and careful way." able by up to two years in parents.
Lee vowed the repeal will no constitutional challenge Section 377A of the Penal jail. Since 2007 when Parlia- Other former British colonies
be limited and not shake to allow same-sex mar- Code was introduced un- ment last debated whether still retain similar laws that
Singapore's traditional riage. der British colonial rule in to repeal Section 377A, its criminalize sex between
family and societal norms "Even as we repeal Section the 1930s. British rule over position was to keep the men, including neighbor-
including how marriage is 377A, we will uphold and the island ended in 1963 law but not enforce it. ing Malaysia where a for-
defined, what children are safeguard the institution of when Singapore became But gay men say the law mer deputy premier was
taught in schools, what is marriage," Lee said. "We a state of Malaysia. It be- hangs over their heads jailed twice for sodomy. He
shown on television and have to amend the Consti- came independent two and discriminates against was sentenced in 2000 and
general public conduct. tution to protect it. And we years later but retained the them. Thousands of activ- again in 2014, in cases that
He said the government will do so. This will help us re- Penal Code, which made ists annually stage a rally in critics say were politically
will amend the constitution peal Section 377A in a con- sex between men punish- the city-state known as the motivated.q

Somali forces end hotel attack that left 21 dead, 117 hurt

The siege ended around stability in the volatile Horn Andalus radio station that
midnight, police commis- of Africa nation. the attack on the hotel was
sioner Abdi Hassan Hijar Police have not yet given in response to Mohamud's
told reporters. a detailed explanation of assertion that he would
"During the attack, the se- how the attack unfolded eliminate the group from
curity forces rescued many and it remains unclear how Somalia.
civilians trapped in the ho- many gunmen entered the U.N. Secretary-General An-
tel, including women and hotel. tonio Guterres condemned
children," he said. Ismail Abdi, the hotel's man- the attack, saying the U.N.
Health Minister Dr. Ali Haji ager, told The Associated supports the people of So-
Adam reported 21 deaths Press early Sunday that se- malia "in their fight against
and 117 people wounded, curity forces were still work- terrorism and their march
with at least 15 in critical ing to clear the area. The towards peace."
condition. He noted that sound of gunfire ended at Al-Shabab has seized even
some victims may not have 9 a.m. Onlookers gathered more territory in recent
Security forces and others walk in front of the damaged Hayat been brought to hospitals. outside the gates of the years, taking advantage
Hotel in the capital Mogadishu, Somalia Sunday, Aug. 21, 2022. The Islamic extremist group badly damaged hotel on of rifts among Somali secu-
Associated Press al-Shabab, which has ties Sunday morning, surveying rity personnel as well as dis-
with al-Qaida, claimed re- the scene. agreements between the
By OMAR FARUK than 30 hours to contain the sponsibility for the attack, Somalia's previous presi- government seat in Moga-
Associated Press fighters who had stormed the latest of its frequent at- dent, Mohamed Abdullahi dishu and regional states.
MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) Mogadishu's Hayat Hotel tempts to strike places visit- Mohamed, avoided any Forced to retreat from
— Somali authorities on on Friday evening in an as- ed by government officials. major confrontation with Mogadishu in 2011, al-
Sunday ended an attack sault that started with loud Al-Shabab opposes the al-Shabab. But Mohamud Shabab is slowly making a
by Islamic extremists that explosions. The attack is the federal government and has said his government will comeback from the rural
left 21 people dead and first major terror attack in outside groups that support take the offensive against areas to which it retreated,
over 110 wounded when Mogadishu since Somalia's it. Al-Shabab remains the the group's thousands of defying the presence of Af-
gunmen stormed a hotel in new leader, Hassan Sheikh most lethal Islamic extrem- fighters, with the backing rican Union peacekeepers
the capital. Mohamud, took over in ist group in Africa and the of returning U.S. forces. as well as U.S. drone strikes
It took Somali forces more May. biggest threat to political Al-Shabab charged via its targeting its fighters.