'New exco' didn't stonewall reporters

June 2, 2009
AWARE SAGA
'New exco' didn't stonewall reporters

STRAITS Times editor Han Fook Kwang, in his article last Saturday ('Why we covered Aware saga the way we did'), alleged that 'reporters were stonewalled' by the new executive committee (exco) of the Association of Women for Action and Research (Aware). That is incorrect.�

Reporter Wong Kim Hoh called me on April 9. I told him the exco would convene next week and issue a press statement thereafter.��

The Aware president had resigned on April 8. Under the Constitution, only the president may represent Aware in its external dealings. The exco immediately called for a meeting to appoint the president. Seven days' notice was required. The earliest date was April 15. As Aware was president-less, no one had standing to speak to the press.

Ms Josie Lau was appointed president on April 15 and a press statement was issued shortly after midnight. The press statement stated that the new team intended to build on the foundations laid by the founders and promote the participation of women, on equal terms with men, in the political, social, economic and cultural life of society. It also stated that the team will focus on empowering more women to be leaders based on the Convention on Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (Cedaw).

Specific plans were laid out, including increasing collaboration with other women's organisations, outreach to women who were affected by the economic downturn, and the launch of programmes such as grooming and debt management. A second media statement was issued two days later.

Mr Wong's April 10 report of a 'leadership grab' and candidates who gave 'the briefest answers' came from the old guard's perspectives. Since the candidates were elected constitutionally, the term 'grab' was inappropriate. The allegation of candidates' reticence is incorrect as each gave long election speeches and the proceedings stretched to 3-1/2 hours. The 'briefest answers' were responses to queries whether the candidates were anti-homosexual or had religious affiliations. The old guard withdrew these questions when told they were acting illegally.

The homosexual point was picked up by Mr Wong. He pinpointed me and two others as having written on Section 377A of the Penal Code (which makes sex between men illegal). We then received death threats sent on April 11. On April 12, The Straits Times branded the exco as burnishing a 'conservative stamp' and�being anti-homosexual.

This was the start of the homosexual/religious card being played out and this continued ad nauseam in subsequent weeks, using propaganda techniques of bald assertions, card stacking and jamming. This 'breathless' reporting caused the situation to deteriorate until the Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts had to call for more balanced reporting by the media, as mentioned by Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng on May 14.

Jenica Chua (Ms)

EDITOR'S NOTE: The fact remains that it was only on April 23, almost a month after the new exco was voted in, that we heard how they had been urged by senior lawyer Thio Su Mien to challenge Aware's leadership because of concerns over its alleged homosexual leanings. It is disingenuous of Ms Chua to say that the 'homosexual point was picked up by Mr Wong'. It completely ignores what Dr Thio had said at the press conference.


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