Singapore, December 1, 2023 – Dr. Sol Iglesias, an academic from the Philippines, has accused the National University of Singapore (NUS) of disinviting her from a conference allegedly due to her marriage to historian Dr. Thum Ping Tjin, known for his critiques of the Singapore Government. Dr. Iglesias was initially invited to speak at the “Global Research Forum: Towards a Public Asian Studies” event scheduled for January 2024.
The Alleged Disinvitation
Dr. Iglesias claims she was invited in March, with the participation confirmed by an NUS colleague. However, on November 2, she was informed she didn’t make the final panel of speakers. NUS responded that event details were still evolving at the time, but did not clarify why discussions about flight and accommodation had occurred if Dr. Iglesias was not a confirmed speaker.
Academic’s Response
Dr. Iglesias, asserting that her disinvitation was part of a broader pattern at NUS, chose to publicize the incident to uphold academic freedom. She noted that while she understands NUS’s right to organize events, she expected decisions to be made on academic grounds.
Reaction from the Academic Community
The All UP Academic Employees Union expressed dismay at NUS’s conduct and urged them to demonstrate fairness and accountability. They also called on other guests of the forum to reconsider their participation in light of these events.
