NORTH KOREA NUCLEAR TEST: North to test more missiles

May 26, 2009

NORTH KOREA NUCLEAR TEST

North to test more missiles

		North Korea is preparing to test-fire short-range missiles in the Yellow Sea, one day after it staged a nuclear test. -- PHOTO: AFP

SEOUL - NORTH Korea is preparing to test-fire short-range missiles in the Yellow Sea, one day after it staged a nuclear test, South Korea's Yonhap news agency said on Tuesday.

'North Korea has declared an off-limits area for vessels in the Yellow Sea off Jungsan county in South Pyongan province,' it quoted a Seoul government source as saying.

'The North is likely to fire short-range missiles today or tomorrow.' Jungsan is about 40km west of Pyongyang.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff said it could not comment on intelligence matters.

The North on Monday staged its second underground nuclear test, with an explosive force much larger than the first in October 2006.

It also fired three short-range ground-to-air missiles from locations near its east coast, Seoul's military said.

Several times in recent years, the North has test-fired ground-to-ship or ship-to-ship missiles in either the Yellow Sea or the Sea of Japan (East Sea).

The launches are often staged to coincide with periods of regional tension.

Yonhap said the North is preparing to launch ground-to-ship missiles with a range of 160 km (100 miles), which use technology based on China's Silkworm missiles.

The South summoned an emergency meeting of top military commanders to review its defence posture, a Joint Chiefs of Staff spokesman said.

The meeting would stress the need to heighten vigilance against the North's 'militarily provocative acts,' the spokesman told AFP. -- AFP

http://forums.delphiforums.com/sunkopitiam/messages?msg=29656.2

Temasek: Call for more transparency

May 26, 2009

Call for more transparency

By Goh Chin Lian
		Mr Singh (left) wants a review of how the country's reserves are managed, while Mr Zaqy believes Singaporeans deserve more accountability on how they are invested.

View more photos

THE conduct and investment practices of Temasek Holdings and the Government of Singapore Investment Corporation (GIC) came under scrutiny on Monday - and they were found wanting.

The need to be more transparent in their investments for greater public scrutiny and for a review of the way they manage Singapore's reserves were issues raised by three MPs.

First to rise was Mr Michael Palmer (Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC), who criticised Temasek for keeping mum initially on the details of the sale of its entire stake in Bank of America.

News of the sale broke on May 15. Its statement explaining the sale was issued last Thursday - six days later.

Despite the statement, Mr Palmer felt there were questions still left unanswered, such as those relating to the timing of the sale and the actual sale price.

Mr Zaqy Mohamad (Hong Kah GRC) believes Singaporeans deserve more accountability on how their money is being invested. He also suggested giving people more information on the bonuses and performance of staff at Temasek and GIC.

'We ask the same of our professional investment fund managers and commercial banks. Why not those who manage our reserves?' he said during the House debate on the President's Address.

Mr Inderjit Singh (Ang Mo Kio GRC) felt the two investment companies had departed from their original investment goals and asked for a top-level review of the management of Singapore's reserves.

The MPs' comments came in the wake of reported losses by both. GIC's portfolio shrank, in US dollar terms, by about 25 per cent from the time global markets peaked in October 2007 to the end of last year. Temasek's portfolio contracted 31 per cent, from S$185 billion to S$127 billion, between March 31 and Nov 30 last year.

The sale of its 3 per cent BoA stake could have resulted in a loss of at least US$2.3 billion (S$3.3 billion), according to analyst estimates.

http://forums.delphiforums.com/sunkopitiam/messages?msg=29004.52

UN: It's a 'clear violation'

May 26, 2009

NORTH KOREA NUCLEAR TEST

UN: It's a 'clear violation'

The United Nations Security Council meeting on North Korea's missile launch at the UN headquarters Monday, April 13, 2009. -- PHOTO: AP

LATEST: US President Barack Obama spoke by phone on Monday with his South Korean counterpart Lee Myung-bak and Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso to 'coordinate' reaction to North Korea’s nuclear test, the White House said.

VIDEO N. Korea holds nuclear test (2:10) World reactions SOUTH Korea put its military on alert and world powers frustrated by failed diplomatic efforts to rein in Pyongyang demanded a firm response. Even China, the secretive North's closest international ally, expressed 'resolute opposition.' Compounding the frustration among world leaders, the nuclear detonation came amid reports that Pyongyang also tested a short-range missile. ... more What does a resolution mean? CLOSED-DOOR negotiations on a resolution will begin on Tuesday and can be expected to take at least several days before the 15-nation council has a draft ready to vote on. WHAT IS A RESOLUTION? A Security Council resolution is a decision by the council that is generally considered to be legally binding. In order to be approved, it must have nine or more votes in favour and no vetoes by the five permanent members - the United States, Britain, China, France and Russia. ... more

UNITED NATIONS - THE UN Security Council on Monday unanimously condemned North Korea for violating the world body's resolutions by testing a nuclear bomb, council president Vitaly Churkin of Russia said.

'The members of the Security Council voiced their strong opposition and condemnation of the nuclear test conducted on 25 May 2009 by North Korea, which constitutes a clear violation of (UN) Resolution 1718,' Mr Churkin told reporters following an emergency meeting of the 15-member council.

Member states also decided to immediately begin working on a Security Council resolution to address North Korea's latest test, Mr Churkin said.

The US ambassador to the United Nations, Susan Rice, said 'the US thinks this is a grave violation of international law, and a threat to regional and international peace and security.

'And therefore, the United States will seek a strong resolution with strong measures,' she added. 'We believe it ought to be a strong resolution with appropriately strong contents, but obviously unless and until we complete the negotiation process, it is premature to say what its contents will be.'

The emergency meeting began around 4.30pm (4.30am Singapore time), half an hour behind schedule.

It was preceded by a 'P5 + 2' session between the five permanent veto-wielding members of the Security Council - Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States - plus Japan and South Korea, two of the countries involved in six-party talks aimed at shuttering Pyongyang's nuclear program.

Hours earlier, North Korea conducted its test - an underground blast far bigger than its first nuclear test in 2006 - drawing stern rebukes from global leaders, with US President Barack Obama warning of 'grave' danger and Israel stressing 'negative implications' in the Middle East.

The main powers on the Security Council all strongly condemned North Korea with France urging sanctions against Kim Jong-Il's Stalinist administration, as foreign ministers from Asia and Europe began two days of talks. -- AFP

http://forums.delphiforums.com/sunkopitiam/messages?msg=29656.1

Response to Education Ministry’s decision to drop AWARE as a vendor for sexuality education programmes

MEDIA STATEMENT – 21 May 2009
Response to Education Ministry’s decision to drop AWARE as a vendor for sexuality education programmes

It is regrettable that the Ministry has seen a need to make this move. However, we recognise that
the ministry has been under considerable pressure from some parents on the matter and we can
understand why it has taken this action.

AWARE still believes our Comprehensive Sexuality Education programme is a much needed resource
for youths. It was drawn up by professionals and, during the two years it was run in schools, there
was no negative feedback. During the furore of recent weeks, many parents made a point of saying
they would be keen for their children to benefit from the objective and frank approach AWARE’s
programme takes to sexuality. We will continue with our review of the programme, and this will be
done in consultation with parents, teachers, counsellors and other relevant parties. At the
appropriate time we may offer it again to the Education Ministry.

The CSE programme, however, is just one of AWARE’s activities. It has been given disproportionate
publicity in recent weeks. It is unfortunate if there are now people in Singapore who associate
AWARE only with sex education.

AWARE has three areas of activity – research and advocacy, direct services, and public education.
The first, research and advocacy, has been AWARE’s hallmark from the start. The work goes on with
the CEDAW shadow report, and research into issues such as sexual harassment at work, work life
balance, the challenges faced by singles in Singapore, and the trafficking of women and children.

The AWARE helpline, along with our counselling service and the Legal Clinic, continues to be
invaluable to women in distress. With our newly expanded membership, we have many new
members who are offering to help in these areas and we hope to improve and expand these services
in the course of this year.

We also plan to step up our efforts in public education, including reviving the talks and forums that
we used to hold in the early years at public libraries and other community locations. The EGM on 2
May showed very clearly that the women of Singapore have strong views on many matters and that
they want to stand up and speak out. AWARE will organise forums and other opportunities for them
to do so. We will make greater use of new media to reach out to members and to create channels
for them to express their views and to network with each other.

Dana Lam, President.

http://forums.delphiforums.com/sunkopitiam/messages?msg=28486.226

MEDIA STATEMENT – 21 May 2009
Response to Education Ministry’s decision to drop AWARE as a vendor for sexuality education programmes

It is regrettable that the Ministry has seen a need to make this move. However, we recognise that
the ministry has been under considerable pressure from some parents on the matter and we can
understand why it has taken this action.

AWARE still believes our Comprehensive Sexuality Education programme is a much needed resource
for youths. It was drawn up by professionals and, during the two years it was run in schools, there
was no negative feedback. During the furore of recent weeks, many parents made a point of saying
they would be keen for their children to benefit from the objective and frank approach AWARE’s
programme takes to sexuality. We will continue with our review of the programme, and this will be
done in consultation with parents, teachers, counsellors and other relevant parties. At the
appropriate time we may offer it again to the Education Ministry.

The CSE programme, however, is just one of AWARE’s activities. It has been given disproportionate
publicity in recent weeks. It is unfortunate if there are now people in Singapore who associate
AWARE only with sex education.

AWARE has three areas of activity – research and advocacy, direct services, and public education.
The first, research and advocacy, has been AWARE’s hallmark from the start. The work goes on with
the CEDAW shadow report, and research into issues such as sexual harassment at work, work life
balance, the challenges faced by singles in Singapore, and the trafficking of women and children.

The AWARE helpline, along with our counselling service and the Legal Clinic, continues to be
invaluable to women in distress. With our newly expanded membership, we have many new
members who are offering to help in these areas and we hope to improve and expand these services
in the course of this year.

We also plan to step up our efforts in public education, including reviving the talks and forums that
we used to hold in the early years at public libraries and other community locations. The EGM on 2
May showed very clearly that the women of Singapore have strong views on many matters and that
they want to stand up and speak out. AWARE will organise forums and other opportunities for them
to do so. We will make greater use of new media to reach out to members and to create channels
for them to express their views and to network with each other.

Dana Lam, President.

'Sexually challenged' isn't an offensive term referring to gays

'Sexually challenged' isn't an offensive term referring to gays

I WISH to comment on Dr Thio Su Mien's reference to homosexuals as sexually challenged people ('Gay activists a key constituency of Aware', May 18).

Unlike one letter writer to Forum, I do not think that is offensive. It is a fact that homosexuality is an abnormality for the simple reason that it is against the laws of nature. Nature intended each species to reproduce itself and homosexuality does not do the job.

It is possible that some people are born with homosexual inclinations but that does not make them normal. They are in the same category as people born mentally retarded or blind or deaf or mute. While we may sympathise with them, we do not think of them as normal.

This is an important point we need to convey to children in school. Human behaviour is malleable. According to many historians, homosexuality was rampant in ancient Greece because it was socially acceptable.

So if teachers and parents do not teach our young that homosexuality is unnatural, our young may decide to experiment and opt for the homosexual lifestyle.

Tan Keng Soon

http://forums.delphiforums.com/sunkopitiam/messages?msg=28024.450

Aware's response to MOE regrettable

Aware's response to MOE regrettable

I AM disappointed by the response from the Association of Women for Action and Research (Aware) to the Ministry of Education's decision not to use Aware's sexuality education programme until the public had regained its trust in it.

Aware's response to the issue - as highlighted in last Friday's report, 'Minister slams rival sides in Aware tussle', and as published on Aware's website - is in stark contrast to that of the Ministry of Education (MOE).

After receiving feedback from concerned parents and the public, MOE took quick, decisive and well-considered actions to stop all such programmes, review them carefully and re-examine the internal processes and controls of such programmes at the school and ministry levels. The outcome is a tightening of MOE's processes to vet and approve external agencies providing sexuality education in schools.

Regrettably, Aware has not changed its attitude. It still has not acknowledged that it was in the wrong.

The group has affirmed that 'during the two years it (Aware's Comprehensive Sexuality Education programme) was run in schools, there was no negative feedback' and stated that 'we recognise that the ministry has been under considerable pressure from some parents on the matter and we can understand why it has taken this action'.

This shows that Aware still believes the fault lies with the parents (who gave negative feedback) and that MOE acted only because of pressure from these parents.

Aware seems to have put the blame on the parents and MOE, while saying Aware itself has done no wrong.

Aware's attitude and reaction will not help re-establish the trust of MOE and parents in the group. Nor will it help the public to see Aware as a responsible part of Singapore's civil society.

Lee Kai Yin

http://forums.delphiforums.com/sunkopitiam/messages?msg=28486.222

SEXUALITY EDUCATION: Parents, please clue in

May 26, 2009
SEXUALITY EDUCATION
Parents, please clue in

LAST Saturday's reports ('Most parents clueless about sexuality programme', 'Sex education: Experts identify 2 'weak links' ' and 'Parents unaware of kids' Net risks') prompt a question: Are parents too busy with work and do they have no time to find out what is happening in their children's lives?

Parenting is a tough, tiring, frustrating, demanding and complex job which has no fixed hours.

But like a job, parenting must be learnt and the process is usually on the basis of trial and error on the job, which is also why it is the most stressful job an average individual can have.

How then can we support parents in parenting?

Government agencies like social service departments from the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports, the family service centres and non-profit organisations like the Singapore Planned Parenthood Association should be able to provide the information required.

If the reports are a measure, most parents avoid the subject, which is a cause for concern as children may pick up the wrong information and values via the Internet and other sources.

Parents today are better educated than their own parents and grandparents. A better education should equip them better in clueing into the need to discuss sexuality with their children, thereby improving the parenting process.

Cecilia Ko (Ms)

http://forums.delphiforums.com/sunkopitiam/messages?msg=28486.221