Sangeetha Thanapal

Sangeetha Thanapal (born c. 1983)[1] is a Singaporean social critic and political activist.

Political views

Thanapal has written prolifically on race relations in Singapore.[2][3] She coined the term "Chinese privilege" to describe Chinese hegemony in Singapore, defining it "similarly to white privilege". According to Thanapal, "By virtue of being Chinese in Singapore, you start life at a higher place compared to minorities."[4]

In August 2015, she wrote on Facebook that Minister for Law and Foreign Affairs K. Shanmugam was an "Islamophobic bigot who thinks Malay-Muslims are a threat"; she later apologised to Shanmugam for her "unruly" remarks and took down her post.[5][6]

In April 2018, she wrote on Facebook that Singapore was a "terribly racist country" and a "Chinese supremacist state".[1][7]

In January 2019, the Singapore police issued her a stern warning for "promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion or race" under Section 298A of the country's penal code. Thanapal described her encounter with the police as "very traumatising" and temporarily deactivated her Facebook page.[1]

Personal life

Thanapal was raised in Singapore by a single mother of Tamil ethnicity and attended the University of Sussex.[8] She moved to Melbourne, Australia in 2016.[3][9]

References
  1. Yang, Calvin (29 January 2019). "Activist Sangeetha Thanapal issued stern warning for Facebook post that promotes ill will between races". The Straits Times.
  2. Ives, Mike (16 August 2018). "For Some Viewers, 'Crazy Rich Asians' Is Not Asian Enough". The New York Times.
  3. Tan, Cher (8 October 2018). "Interview #75 — Sangeetha Thanapal". Liminal. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
  4. Tan, Cher (8 January 2017). "What Privilege Looks Like in Singapore". Vice Media. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
  5. "Law and Foreign Minister K. Shanmugam to make police report over 'inaccurate and seditious' Facebook post". The Straits Times. 28 August 2015.
  6. Philomin, Laura Elizabeth (29 August 2015). "Shanmugam meets with individual who made seditious remarks". Today.
  7. Choy, Donovan (6 February 2019). "The Myth of Chinese Privilege Racism in Singapore". Adam Smith Center. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
  8. Wang, Beverley. "Who's on the team? Unpacking POC". ABC. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
  9. Hajela, Deepti (13 August 2018). "'Crazy Rich Asians' spurs conversation over representation". Associated Press.
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