Braema Mathi tries to sound conciliatory to salvage AWARE’s battered image

Braema Mathi tries to sound conciliatory to salvage AWARE’s battered image

AWARE Old Guard says debate is healthy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qhto8Udaeeg

Following a series of damaging media reports which appear to pit the old guards of AWARE against its newly elected exco and less than flattering comments from some of the long-serving members, ex-AWARE President Braema Mathi sounded more conciliatory in her interview with CNA.

Despite the widespread public perception that the saga over AWARE’s leadership change is a fight and some would even call it a “cat-fight”, Braema Mathi was adamant that it was a “healthy debate”.

The old guard members also said they never wanted the matter to go to the media and they wanted to resolve it internally. But given the public interest in developments, coupled with the lack of communication from the newcomers, the old guards said they felt they had to respond.

Unfortunately, Braema Mathi had realized too late that the media has done nothing other than to add fuel to the raging fire so as to boost their dwindling readership.

Calling for an EGOM to cast a vote of no confidence against the new exco doesn’t strike many as being conciliatory or friendly.

Neither is it “healthy” for different blocs within AWARE to outdo each other by launching “constitutional coups” in a game of brinkmanship to seize control of the organization.

Perhaps the Old Guards really have little choice given the reticence and alleged high-handedness of the new exco. Both sides have made juvenile mistakes which allowed what should be an internal matter to snowball into one with intense public interest.

While it is heartening to hear both Braema Mathi and Josie Lau making calls for both sides to mend the rift between them, it may be inevitable that both sides are going in a head-on collision in the EGOM on 2 May to resolve the current impasse.

We expect more dirt to be dredged out then and the image of AWARE to be damaged further. In fact, AWARE will never be the same after going through this crisis.

In the interest of AWARE, we urge all parties concerned to stop their bickering and get back to the basics: communication.

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