Support Suu Kyi in quest to be freed

Support Suu Kyi in quest to be freed

I REFER to last Saturday's report, 'Arrest is a setback, says Singapore', and would like to say we are heartened that the Singapore Government has made its position known to the Myanmar government concerning the new charges it has levelled against Ms Aung San Suu Kyi and its concern over her poor health.

Ms Suu Kyi has been under house arrest for almost two decades since winning democratically held elections in 1990. The 63-year-old Nobel Peace Prize laureate has paid a huge price for her beliefs and has been held in near isolation from her family and friends.

She is scheduled to go on trial today for breaching the terms of her house arrest after an American man swam across the lake and entered her house. This offence carries a maximum jail term of five years, as has been reported in the media. Ms Suu Kyi and her two assistants are currently detained in the infamous Insein Prison.

We call for the immediate withdrawal of this charge against Ms Suu Kyi and her two assistants and that the schedule for her freedom from house arrest at the end of this month is adhered to.

We also ask Singapore and all Asean member countries to support Ms Suu Kyi in this quest to be freed. It will be a grave injustice if we let this courageous citizen live all her days under house arrest or in prison, based on these new charges.

It is also important for the Asean community that the Myanmar government stands by its ratification of the Asean Charter, an instrument that seeks to strengthen democracy, enhance good governance and rule of law in all Asean member countries.

Braema Mathi (Ms)

Chairman, Maruah

Singapore Working Group for Asean Human Rights Mechanism

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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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AWARE old guard says debate is healthy

AWARE old guard says debate is healthy
By Pearl Forss, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 20 April 2009 2201 hrs

SINGAPORE: The old guard from the women's group AWARE said the saga over the association's leadership change has resulted in a healthy debate in civil society. But it is not a fight as many would like to see it.

Singaporeans have often been criticised for being apathetic, but in a way, the AWARE saga has demonstrated otherwise.

Braema Mathi, former AWARE president and former Nominated Member of Parliament, said: "AWARE is simply an organisation that will always, I hope, stand up for any form of anti-discrimination - whether you are heterosexual, homosexual, transgender, transvestite, divorced or a single mum.

"This is the way a women's movement functions - you embrace all forms of diversity. But if communities outside are threatened by what has happened, they want to take it further, then we have to live with it. That is also part of the diversity of voices around.

"In a way, I see a lot of good things happening for Singapore happening through this episode too. I think women who care about this organisation now have to say, ‘Yes, what do I want to do?’

"Come, put your stake down - if your claim goes in whichever way, we accept it, but let's get to it. And other civil societies watching the space and wondering what is happening, and getting involved, I think all that is good."

Newly elected president Josie Lau had said AWARE had lost its focus under the old leadership, a view which the old guard said needs to be substantiated.

The old guard said that in recent years, AWARE has done a lot of work on sexuality education, body image and domestic violence. There are existing leadership programmes for members - for example, two years ago, the group's Youth Group ran a leadership camp. Women are also encouraged to serve on various committees.

Members of the old guard will be asking, at the upcoming Extraordinary General Meeting on May 2, questions about the new members' values - which they feel still have not been answered.

Braema added: "This is not a fight as I think everyone likes to see it. This is a simple case of 'we do not understand why you need to do it in the way so far'.

"Right now, it looks like the value system is the same. Then one doesn't need to do all this, one could just come and have volunteered some time ago and be part of the processes."

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.

On her dismissal by the new executive committee (exco) as chairman of one of AWARE's sub-committees, Braema said she will need to discuss the matter with her 20 committee members who are upset with her dismissal before deciding what to do.

The new executive committee had sacked her because it claimed a report that was due in March last year had not been submitted.

Braema, and AWARE's previous president Constance Singam, said the report was actually due in March this year.

AWARE's immediate past president Claire Nazar had also claimed that the new exco wanted to replace chairpersons of important subcommittees with exco members. AWARE President Josie Lau could not be reached for comments.

It now remains to be seen if answers will be forthcoming at the EGM next Saturday. - CNA/vm

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