From the blog of Ovidia Yu:
Thio Su Mien is publicly out as part of the new Aware ExCo takeover team now.
I deleted the post I was preparing on how Aware could/might/should try to work it out together for the best of all women in Singapore–it’s not going to happen.
Oh–and I hear they’ve fired the center manager tonight (paid staff who was not involved in the elections)
And changed the locks–apparently you’ll need special hi tech pass cards to get in–very different from being a welcoming place for all women to come to help & be helped right?
The press are there, so watch out for statement in papers tomorrow!
Note: Dr. Thio Su Mien, is a former Dean of the Faculty of Law of the National University of Singapore (NUS) and presently Senior Executive Director of TSMP Law Corporation; her brother, Thio Shen Yi, is Joint Managing Director of the same law firm.
Clarification from Ms Ovidia Yu: Thio Shen Yi is Thio Su Mien’s son not brother. Shen Yi and Thio Li Ann are siblings.
From Channel NewsAsia:
Showdown at AWARE office over lock change by new exco
SINGAPORE: It was a tense atmosphere at the AWARE office on Thursday evening as members of the old guard tried to prevent the new executive committee from changing the locks at the office.
The centre’s manager, Schutz Lee, said she was not informed of the plans to change locks.
Ms Lee, who has been working there since February, was also fired without reason by the new executive committee at 8pm on Thursday.
Members of the old guard turned up hurriedly at the scene, anxious over the 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.”
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i agree that death threats were fabricated. It’s just too convenient. Also, it’s a way of trying to get sympathy for their cause and to imbue in the general public’s mind that homosexuals are dangerous people and a threat not just to the moral fabric of society, but the national security. They are almost likening homosexuals to terrorists!
But the truth of the matter is, this is not a gay issue. The gay issue is merely a red herring. I think the main issue is how a bunch of women have collectively (not by coincidence) and high-handedly usurped an organisation to further their own cause. So far, everything they have done contradicts the very tenets of an organisation like AWARE – firing of people without notice, changing the locks, making utter remarks and false accusations etc. If they say AWARE had lost its focus, I dare say it is now in the pits, for it has become a symbol of hatred, discrimination, exclusiveness and hypocrisy.
And whatever happened to confidentiality? It sickens me to see that “covert operations” have been going on for a while along the sidelines.
I believe my dear Thio Su Mein came out of the closet because her puppets were screwing up big time.
Give them a break man… they don’t even need our help to destroy themselves. I give them only one more week before they start to spectacularly implode.
Today’s paper reveal the other side of the story – the new exco side of the story.
Its good to hear both. Though I do not agree with the new exco high handedness in kicking out the old guards, and have some concern with their over zealous implementing their vision for the future direction of AWARE, I somehow do kind of agree with their concerns.
The old guards do appears to support moral decays like gay and lesbians and pre-maritial sex etc after reading the paper report.
They should come out to counter what had been claimed against them by the new zealots to enable the public to make a more informed decision as to whether there is a real need for a change.
Gay and Lesbians are moral decays. They should be shut out! Good job AWARE!!
Sometimes, human are the best in perversion of thoughts…Look at how different people can interpret the same text differently and some became extremist…
I have been reading the comments regarding this incident and I must say Gemami, good for you….looking at the situation objectively. however Peace, you still haven’t learn to keep calm and control your emotion…insulting people won’t help your cause…in fact, it only makes you look like what you really are…i don’t have to spell it out…
I am pleased to read that Miss California stood by her belief that gay marriage is wrong and is against the scheme of nature and at the cost of losing the Miiss Universe crown.She lost and she knew she would lose the moment the question was posed to her and none other than by an openly self confessed gay. Glad , there are people in US who are normal. I thought US has gone to the dogs long time ago .Creation is not allowed to be taught in schools too. Christians are marginalised. Other religions are more favoured and powderful.
Christainity thrives better in a hostile environment and this augurs well for US.
..
Also glad that there is opposition to gay and lesbain life style in Singapore too. It shows that Singaporeans are not caught up with making money at the expense of their family. I know many people are pro family but for some reasons they support homos to appear open minded without realsing that it will send a wrong message.
I hope the new AWARE can get down to work quickly without being hampered by the old women with uncompleted homo agendas. The issues plaguing Singaporeans are pressing and urgent. Never before Singaporeans are faced with these sexual issues of gayism or lesbainism, teenage pregnancy, promiscuity ,drugs, and gambling. I guess there is trade off which affluence brings.
Kudos to the new committee for openly declaring your stand on gay and lesbian life style and of course these should not pre-occupy your core programs for women and everything women and lesbians too.
Don’t let these initial hiccups bother you. They will come to pass. The old women will come to realise that it is time to rest and take a holiday. I trust that AWARE will be inclusive but all things women and not to waste time on men’s problems.
I wish the new committee well and discharge whatever you have declared dutifully.
I think the difference lies herein.
The old Exco TOLERATED lesbians and treat them as women and accept them readily as part of society.
The new Exco CONDEMNS lesbians and will not treat them equally and seems ready to shut them out and figures that there is no place for them in society.
Singapore has always been about tolerance towards one another, which is why we have practically thrived this far. What the new Exco is doing is practically seditious from the way I see it and tampers with the delicate fabric of this society.
And if they should choose to pursue the direction of where religion is involved, they should be registered as a RELIGIOUS Society and I have no idea in what capacity are they even allowed to lead the group with.
It is disturbing that this entire matter was pre-mediated and was done through a religious organisation that has nothing to do with AWARE which is a NGO.
I would suppose that they can go around other NGO and repeat the same.
I hope the Government will sit up and take notice how things can easily go out of hand.
I just felt that Josie and her gang shouldn’t be using AWARE as a platform to champion their belief systems (i.e. anti-gay stance) of which I believe many (including myself) will not necessary share and agree with. AWARE now seems like an extension of the church they belong to.
If they are so firm in the belief, why not start their own organisation where they can execute their agenda without subjecting AWARE to a non-inclusive role ?
To the old guards – fret not. Worst case scenario, form another organisation to continue the good work that AWARE has built up over the decades.
Yes, documents may be lost due to the new exco’s undermining ways. But ppl will always remember the good work you ladies have done and will surely support you fellows should you decide to start a new organisation.
And to be in line with the new world order where all humans are treated equally, irregardless of their sexual orientation, how about a new name; AWARE-NOW !
Could it be that Thio Su Mien had no choice but to float up from the cesspool after someone posted an email allegedly originating from her on Stomp’s Talkback website?
Part of the email reads as follows:
“Please ask your like-minded friends to join Aware so that you can give the vote to those who wish to be an agent of change for the Lord. They could also contribute to the activities of the organization as there is much to be done for women and families in this dowturn of the economy. Unfortunately, I cannot surface but shall be assisting in the background . I attach the Aware membership application form for your use. The Aware application form has a section as to who ( if any) told you about Aware. You can just leave it blank . Please let me know whether you can join and attend the AGM which will be towards the end of March 2009. The fee is $40/ and should be mailed to the Aware Office ( see application form).”
Some may be taken aback about the term “agent of change for the Lord”. Too much should not be read into the phrase. This could be the way these cell groups communicate.
More sinister is this sentence: “Unfortunately, I cannot surface but shall be assisting in the background.”
If the email is authentic, Thio Su Mien must explain and elaborate why she was unable or unwilling to surface but was ready, willing and able to assist in the background. After all, AWARE is a legitimate association recognised by bodies like the Registrar of Societies and the United Nations.
An image that came to mind was of German Nazi U-boat submarines operating in stealth and hunting merchant shipping in groups called wolfpacks in the Atlantic Ocean during World War 2.
Closer to home, 2 dangerous under-the-water chaps also came to mind: Chin Peng and the one codenamed The Plen. Both were leaders of the Malayan Communist Party (MCP), both operated behind the scenes and their nefarious goal was to turn Malaya and Singapore into Communist societies. For a time, the leadership’s identities remained unknown because expendable members fronted the MCP and took the rap on the leadership’s behalf.
The MCP had the strong backing of Mao’s revolutionary People’s Republic of China. The MCP’s modus operandi was to get their people to surreptiously join mainstream cultural groups, student bodies and unions. Their agents would never declare outright or admit that they knew one another, that they were acting in concert, or that their ultimate aim was a Communist state. Instead they portrayed themselves as cultural conservatives, patriots and general do-gooders.
Once within the organisations, the subversives would move themselves into leadership positions and then provoke actions hostile to the government like demonstrations, sit-ins and riots . In order to win wide based support from a general population unaware of their true intentions, they would couch their values as anti-colonial, pro-independence, pro-local language etc.
They would also smear their opponents by accusing them of being beholden and bent towards the British so as to drive a wedge between their opponents and the people.
But for the fortitude, resolve and tough measures taken by Singapore’s brave founding fathers, the below-the-surface Communists would have succeeded and the history of this country would have been different in a horrific way.
Thio Su Mien revealed at the press conference that when she was studying in the University of Singapore, now roving Ambassador Tommy Koh was her classmate and good friend. She should be careful about name-dropping.
Tommy Koh in his time as an undergraduate was an active member of the University Socialist Club which was one of the united front student groups utilised by the MCP in their attempt to overthrow the government of the day. The contents of the Club’s regular publication, Fajar, were destructive in nature, displayed contempt and hatred for the government, and incited unrest.
During Operation Cold Store, founding members of the University Socialist Club like James Puthucheary, Poh Soo Kai and Michael Fernandez, were detained for their activities against the state. With the wisdom of age, Tommy Koh expressed regret and embarrassment about the militant articles he penned for Fajar.
By the warped twisted logic of some, if Thio and Tommy Koh were close friends and Tommy Koh was a member of a leftist socialist group, Thio must also have been a socialist spider lily. Fortunately, the majority of us know better than that to jump to this absurb conclusion.
While it is clear that Thio is not a professed Communist, it remains to be seen whether she has carefully studied and picked up methods from the past to propagate a larger agenda. What we do know is that she has no qualms about grandiosely calling herself Feminist Mentor. As far as most Singaporeans are concerned, there is only one worthy Mentor in Singapore and any other would be pretender is not fit to chew on his shoes.
nite_LIFE – the reason why they chose to takeover AWARE is because of brand equity…
It is always easier than starting something new and work long and hard to gain awareness (pun unintended)…
And the new body with its extreme fundamental values may not gain any traction outside of their sphere of influence…
But of course most of us know what the new EXCO stands for and even if they survive, they would have lost as well…
The biggest loser is AWARE
The cat is out of the bag.
Josie and Maureen have absolutely no credibility left. Maureen said on national TV that she was inspired by an interview with Constance Singam. She is now saying that she actually wanted to join to fight the hordes of lesbians and homosexuals making out in bright daylight in every nook and cranny in Singapore. Sigh. If that was the case, we wouldn’t have a problem with so many teenage pregnancies. But that’s another story. Can you believe anything else that they say?
Josie is not the leader. She is just one of the followers.
Look at what they have done – just look. Do you think they deserve to lead AWARE (or any other organisation)?
one lie after another, one contradiction after another … then now thio su mien finally shows her face … really spine-chilling … where is the integrity and righteousness?
Death threats? Strange, Thio li ann also claimed she received death threats the last time she made anti-gay remarks … each time people of this extended family publicly proclaim their message of intolerance, divisiveness and hatred, they claim to receive death threats … and how humorous this time, the culprit even signed off as “masculine gay”!
For those of us who have minds less naive than three-year-olds, can we blame ourselves for suspecting some kind of fabrication somewhere … given that the entire coup was INDEED, well, staged …
I wish to believe their good intentions and trust them with AWARE’s future … but looking at all their questionable antics thus far, i have only one question for them: do you think your fellow Singaporeans are idiots?
Dr Kanwaljit Soin was brilliant in the way she snarked about Thio – something along the lines of ” I never knew she was a feminist, but one can always be a closet feminist! “
In the midst of all this debate… I’d like to ask: what IS actually happening to all those abused women that AWARE was helping and advocating for?
While we speak about religion and homosexuality – women are still being abused by their mentally weak and physically stronger partners, women are still being denied their rights, women are still receiving death threats that have nothing to do with hostile takeovers.
So yes, all well and good in having a healthy discussion about civil rights, religion, homosexuality and b-fights in non-governmental groups… but where are the women in all this, the people that (I presume) AWARE was set up to help??
I feel really sorry that it’s the women who were supposed to be receiving all this help that are the biggest and only losers at the end of the day out of this whole fiasco.
I assure you, AE, the women who were supposed to be receiving all this help…….are still being helped. The struggle goes on …… the old team of helpliners are still standing solidly by them……….quietly and strongly……
“114) mirax on April 25th, 2009 12.59 am
Dr Kanwaljit Soin was brilliant in the way she snarked about Thio – something along the lines of ” I never knew she was a feminist, but one can always be a closet feminist! “” I agree!
I also really like the title. Hahahaha.
Sorry Peace, but my conscience is as clear as crystal.
I was practically a one-man crusade to try and vindicate Josie and her exco for their actions. Like I said, my case was based purely and solely on the unfounded and proofless accusations level at her team at that time.
What I had fought for, the unfounded claims of pro-Christian and anti-gay ideologies, are now proven to be true. The scheming, the planning and the eventual takeover were all targeted to serve one end, which is, the propagating of a set of values that is totally and wholly exclusive of women at large.
To one like myself, who has a sense of justice and who has the capacity to discern what lies before you, there is nothing more I could do than to accept the plain, though hurtful, truth.
I am just as disappointed as you, simply because Josie and her team has proven to me all the things that I had hope they were not.
My conscience is as clear as crystal and it does not matter what others may think.
In the days of old…..in old england…doesnt “closet” stand for “toilet”???
the issue is not about religion or sexuality.
the issue here is how a NGO should operate.
does it make any financial sense to install a security access system in AWARE for 8 people?
how much are the cost and do it make economic sense to install it? from what i know, it is not very cheap to install such system.
the speed that it was installed was also frightening, were there any procuring process in place when AWARE decide to spend such sum or were the financial process being bypass?
is this seemingly-lack-of-financial-prudence-act of installing the security system by the new management a signal at how charity funds will be used in the future?
the act of dismissing staff without valid reason also seems to point to the lack of professionalism in the new team.
with the nkf n renci saga, do we want a new team that will just spend money and hire/dismiss people at their wish and command? maybe it is really time for the authorities to scrutinize NGO with more guidelines and firm up processes in them.
:)
Now it gets me thinking,
?? have the fundametalist Christians already begun planting moles and infiltrating government organisations so as to influence public policies ??
Guys, look around you, check out the religious background of pple running for office. Know their backgrounds before giving them your vote.
Preserve our secular harmonious society..
(they have already left their fingerprints on the 377A issue, there will be more to come so people needs to be alert)
Over-zealous religious organisations plots by quietly infiltrating smaller but influential organisations, ultimately they would love to have a whole nation as their shining trophy.
Sadly even with highly educated people like in Singapore, if any organisations are not vigilant enough, the moles planted in it will exploit the vulnerable ‘holes’ in the organisation and form a backdoor for infiltration.
I am not sure what role Ms Claire Nazar plays in this infiltration, but it seems like the aggressor always plays victims (notice she is not in the Old Guards’ press conference). I might be wrong.. (but there is usually somebody pulling strings behind the scene)..
Hmm, reminds me of the Empress Dowager sitting behind the Empreror’s throne while shielded by a curtain & actually holding on to the true reins of power!
If I am not mistaken, the MAIN reason why the new exco changed the locks is:-
.. so that they can go thru all the documents of the old guards to find any wrongdoings of the old guard which they can use to incriminate the old guards. With the old guard’s reputation tarnished with a criminal case, the new exco would then automatically consolidate their power.
Why do I keep thinking about the SCIENTOLOGISTS’ tactics in the US (pl see the youtube docu about Scientology vs the Cult Awareness Network)? Its so similar the way these aggressive groups behave (discret your enemy, cast doubts about the enemy’s integrity, take over the enemy’s quarters)..
NEWS
I have signed up for the online SAVE AWARE! PETITION. If pple are for the old guards, go sign up and spread the word.
We are in a race against the fundamentalist church who are also agressively recruiting new AWARE members to boost their numbers.
AND..
I saw that the EOGM is going to be held at HSR building Toa Payoh ave 6. HSR is a big property agency with hundreds of housing agents and I have visited its premise before, many of the top executives and hundreds of agents there are church members too.
Get it ? The new exco will be at a big advantage when they mobilise these hundreds of female housing agents during the voting of the EOGM !!!
! ! ! !
Enough has been said, we know what the new exco is up to..
Its time to act, we are in a race against the fundamentalist takeover..
be at the EOGM, venue HSR building, Toa Payoh Lor 6.
WIthout a HUGE turnout all will be lost..
Our policies are already being influenced by religion. The next will be our kids. I shudder to think that one day my kids come to me and say, “dad, cher says your religion is wrong”.
Thio Su Mien is such a sly bitch.
I am enjoying this cat-fights between the women. Show that women power can bring more disaster than manpower.
And the paper once asked: “What will the world be without women?”
The answer is simple: Paradise.
To : #125
You are absolutely correct. Ask (name deleted) the top manager/director of HSR what they were doing in India some time ago. Feeding the poor ? She and her gang goes on missions to convert the poor to Christianity. No wonder there is so much violence and back lash against the Christians in parts of India.
They merely create unstability wherever they bring their agenda to. The HSR venue is a poor choice.
BEWARE of the larger agenda.
#37 Doublespeak on April 24th, 2009 6.14 am:
To Hahaha on April 24th, 2009 3.50 am
There isn’t a closing date for joining as a member and having voting rights on the EOGM, if I am not wrong..
The date you have given 22nd April is for members to place an item on the agenda on the EOGM.
Oh, my misunderstanding, sorry. Thanks for the clarification.
Can one faith be too powerful to dictate the interest of other faiths in the future after the gays & lesbians are gone?
Christian Right – an strong Christian advocate is already in Singapore since 2002.
Maybe we need to worry more about the enemy from within than outside of our shores!!!