Misinformation spread by AWARE’s new Exco is deserving of the sternest rebuke

April 24, 2009 by admin
Filed under: Current Affairs 

Breaking News: SENIOR lawyer Thio Su Mien yesterday revealed the key role she played in bringing about the change of leadership at the Association of Women for Action and Research (AWARE). Introducing herself as a “feminist mentor” to working women, she said she began monitoring AWARE’s affairs about a year ago. Disturbed by what she saw as signs that it was promoting lesbianism and homosexuality, she began urging women she knew to challenge AWARE’s attempts to redefine marriage and families. (ST, “Lawyer’s key role in AWARE coup“, 24 April 2009)

Written by Ng E-Jay
24 April 2009

If there is doubt left in anyone’s mind that the takeover of AWARE was orchestrated by a group of intolerant individuals bent on smearing the good name and reputation of the organization’s Old Guard, the press conference held by the new Executive Committee (Exco) on Thursday should remove it once and for all.

During the one-and-a-half hour event, the group introduced well-known corporate lawyer Dr Thio Su Mien as their so-called “feminist mentor“, in the clearest indication thus far that their moves had been coached by the powers-that-be. Dr Thio Su Mien is the Senior Executive Director of TSMP Law Corporation and mother of Nominated MP Prof Thio Li-Ann, and Senior Counsel Thio Shen Yi.

Another outspoken AWARE member Ms Angela Thiang Pei Yun, who told the mainstream press that “questions about the new office bearers’ religion and their stand on homosexuality were not relevant“, is also currently working in Thio Su Mien’s law firm, and had previously written an undergraduate Directed Research paper, “Pride and Prejudice: Law, Morality, and Homosexual Politics in Singapore”, under the supervision of NMP Thio Li-Ann. (See here.)

Despite Ms Josie Lau’s previous assertion on national television that her priority was to “reconcile the team which clearly has fissured“, the new Exco lambasted the old guard during the press conference for losing its focus and “steering AWARE into becoming a single purpose organisation“. (Channel News Asia, “New exco wants to bring AWARE back to its original cause“, 24 April 2009, 1:50am)

Even worse, the new leadership accused AWARE’s veterans of promoting lesbianism. They repeatedly raised examples, like how the old guard had backed the screening of the lesbian film “Spider Lilies” in 2007 and organised a lesbian-friendly Mother’s Day event in 2006.

According to Channel News Asia, when contacted for comment, former AWARE president Margaret Thomas said those comments were ridiculous and not deserving of any comment. I agree.

A quick glance at AWARE’s achievements, in particular, their work in recent years on the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) — see here, and their ongoing work on human trafficking legislation and marital rape debunks the insinuation that AWARE has become a “single-purpose” organization out to glorify lesbianism.

The new leadership has also made the outrageous allegation that the old guard of AWARE used Comprehensive Sexuality Education (see here) as a front for promoting lesbianism and sexual freedom.

The truth about AWARE’s Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) programme can be found here. Far from it being a front to promote lesbianism and sexual freedom, CSE teaches youths to make informed decisions about sex, including the ability to say “no”. International reports have shown that comprehensive sex education is much more effective than abstinence-only education in encouraging abstinence, lowering the rates of unwanted pregnancies, and reducing STI transmission rates (see here).

A recently leaked series of emails that was originally posted on STOMP even suggests that some of the new members of AWARE were instigated to join the organization based on the vile propaganda that AWARE “encourages girls to express their full sexuality and this includes experimenting with other girls“. (See here).

So not only has the new leadership cast grave and misleading aspersions on AWARE’s existing programmes and the performance of the old guard, there is now new evidence which suggests that religious-minded folk were mobilized by outrageous anti-gay propaganda concocted by the powers-that-be to join AWARE and vote out the old guard.

The underhand tactics used by this bunch of intolerant individuals to promote their own selfish agenda and the misinformation that is being spread by AWARE’s new Exco is deserving of the strongest rebuke. Let us condemn this atrocity.

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So much for “reconciliation”

Earlier on Thursday, it was reported on Channel News Asia that AWARE’s centre’s manager, Schutz Lee, had been fired without reason by the Exco at 8pm that night. (See here.)

The new Exco also tried to change the locks at the office, prompting some members of the old guard to turn up hurriedly at the scene, anxious over the confidential documents kept there.

Dana Lam, former AWARE president, said: “I walked in and there were three burly men sitting at the counter. It’s not something we encounter at AWARE because it’s a women’s centre and we are giving counselling sessions to women who have been abused … … The men have apparently been instructed by the president to change the lock in the centre. There is a vote of no-confidence going on here. By right, they have no right to make any changes. I am worried for my materials: 25 years of research material, including confidential material.”

Before Thursday’s news conference began, current Honorary Treasurer Chew I-Jin said that the new guard intentionally excluded her from the event.

She also said: “I’m utterly disappointed and disgusted because I’m meant to do a presentation alongside you, Lois (Ng, Exco member).”

So much for “reconciliation” indeed. The arbitrary, hostile and draconian measures taken by the new Exco makes a complete mockery of their claim that they want to mend ties with the old guard.

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A wake-up call for all Civil Society Organizations

The new leadership of AWARE has, by its connivance and conspiracy, brought severe damage to the brand name of AWARE and the integrity of its existing programmes.

It may have even obtained confidential information and research material painstaking compiled by AWARE, going by the swiftness with which they took physical command of the centre and expelled existing members of AWARE.

This is a very painful and costly lesson for AWARE, and should also serve as a wake-up call to all Civil Society Organizations to structure their membership and voting eligibility criteria carefully, to avoid suffering a hostile takeover by organized forces who are not above exploiting loopholes within the system to further their own bigoted cause.

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Comments

9 Comments on Misinformation spread by AWARE’s new Exco is deserving of the sternest rebuke

  1. Morris on Fri, 24th Apr 2009 10:34 am

    2. I believe that anybody who truly believes in (and not merely proclaim or preach) moral integrity, “righteousness” and fair-play will join all of us in condemning the morally questionable actions of those who are involved in the hostile take-over of AWARE.

    Especially so, if the motive for the hostile take-over is like what many believe, to “further some bigoted cause”, whatever that is.

    Let’s get this clear. This is not an issue of pro- or anti- Christianity or pro- or anti-homosexuality. It’s also not an issue of pro- or anti-family. Whoever tries to sneakily dress up the entire issue in this way is obviously trying to confuse the masses and cover up their real motives.

    The important issue is this: To remain true to her mission, AWARE has been, and always should be for EVERY woman. The atmosphere should remain one of all-inclusiveness, where every woman is made to feel welcome and at home. And AWARE should also remain secular. There is no place for any form of religious fundamentalism here, whether it’s Christian, Muslim or Buddhist or whatever.

    But after reading all the news reports about who the new ex-co are and where they come from and what they have been doing, how do Singaporeans believe that this is still AWARE – still secular and for all women? Sadly, we must accept that AWARE is dead, and the “new” AWARE is more and more appearing to be a platform for something else.

    And I’m really sick of religious fundamentalists who use “pro-family” to mean “ostracise your gay family members”. Gay or straight, we are one family. Two women deeply in love with each other and raising children is, to me, as legitimate as any family the religious zealots have in mind. And don’t start saying I’m trying to “promote” lesbianism. We can no more promote a certain type of sexual orientation (which is innate) than we can promote “chineseness” or “indian-ness” or “malay-ness”.

  2. George on Fri, 24th Apr 2009 10:58 am

    3. George says:
    Absolutely agrees with your views.

    I can see a deliberate attempt to secure change not be strength of your argument or reasoning but be cloak and dagger means. A tremendous disgrace to the religion for Christians to stoop to such tactics to get their way. I agree that it spells danger for all NGOs. The govt too should be on the lookout for this incident proves the insidious workings of such organisations to take control and force their own agenda.

  3. Torquemada on Fri, 24th Apr 2009 11:07 am

    4. This is so scarry. These so called “christians” are as intollerant and dangerous as the talebans. They hijack religion for their own selfish purposes. Frightening how narrow minded they can be.

  4. Matrix on Fri, 24th Apr 2009 11:08 am

    5. First the scandal at the Catholic Church of Father Kang, then Raffles Town Club, then NKF, then Ren Ci and now AWARE. It is the PAP ploy of taking over as many NGOs as possible by this means without having to do the hardwork of building up. Beware of the dictator who called himself MM.

  5. The Singapore Daily » Blog Archive » Daily SG: 24 Apr 2009 on Fri, 24th Apr 2009 11:49 am

    6. [...] Aware – The Hidden Hand – Mathia Lee: They came for me – TOC: Thio Su Mien comes out – Sgpolitics: Misinformation spread by AWARE’s new Exco is deserving of the sternest rebuke – Simply Jean: Reason for AWARE coup: group was becoming pro-lesbianism – Sam’s Thoughts: [...]

  6. Stacy on Fri, 24th Apr 2009 10:29 pm

    7. This is a great article! Thanks for posting and good writing!
    I just can’t believe what’s going on. It is as if we are regressing back in time, instead of moving forward (with respect to women’s rights.) AWARE is not pro-lesbianism, AWARE is pro-women. They (new exco) have to understand that. Now we see them attacking AWARE’s alleged “pro-lesbianism” but what’s next on their agenda? if they stay on, I am sure we’ll see alot more surprises ahead….

  7. Jackie Chan on Fri, 24th Apr 2009 11:33 pm

    8. How can the new Exco say that they wish to bring AWARE back to it’s original vision when none of them were part of the original team? And virtually none of them have served on AWARE sub-committees or participated in AWARE projects?

    I was one of the founding members, never in the Exco but one of the active volunteers who did all manner of things from managing fund-raising sports events…. to organising a petition campaign to protest against the systematic rape of chinese indonesian women during the Jakarta riots (we collected 20,000+ signatures from both men and women within a fortnight)

    How can Josie Lau talk about wanting to “serve”? If so, why not serve on a sub-committee or simply help out on a project which is close to her heart? Why is it necessary to usurp an entire organisation…. ram your own agenda down its throat… sack office staff and throw out volunteer project leaders so unprofessionally…?

    AWARE’s open-door policy allowed old aunties and frightened domestic helpers to walk in and find a comforting environment. The pretenders have no right to call themselves feminists. They do not even know the meaning of the word.

  8. The Singapore Daily » Blog Archive » Weekly Roundup: Week 17 on Sat, 25th Apr 2009 12:45 pm

    9. [...] Aware – The Hidden Hand – Mathia Lee: They came for me – TOC: Thio Su Mien comes out – Sgpolitics: Misinformation spread by AWARE’s new Exco is deserving of the sternest rebuke [Recommended] – Simply Jean: Reason for AWARE coup: group was becoming pro-lesbianism – Sam’s [...]

  9. Past Blog Posts « We-Are-Aware on Sun, 10th May 2009 12:19 pm

    10. [...] April 24 – Misinformation spread by AWARE’s new Exco is deserving of the sternest rebuke [...]

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