AWARE AGM 2009 : Clarifications

 

From 21 Apr onwards:  Please refer to           http://we-are-aware.sg                   for future updates.

This is the closest to an official Old AWARE members website that is available. I can vouch for the website authors — they are the most reliable direct sources of information currently.

 

Edited 19th Apr :   Please see

http://mathialee.wordpress.com/2009/04/17/aware-agm-2009-eogm-may-2nd-do-something/

instead.

 

Once again, this is my personal, independent statement, that does NOT represent the views of ANYONE at all – not AWARE, or anyone from there, past or present.

 

I do apologize if any party has been hurt or offended by what I’ve said, or not said, in anyway, by my previous or current post.

 

1. My original post was meant to make a few points, which I stand by still, and nothing more.

 

A)I realize that my previous post came across as being defensive of the new exco. However, I wasn’t trying to defend anyone, or implicate anyone, and I’m sorry if it came across either way.

My point was:  I believe that in any trial, we should presume people are innocent until proven guilty, no matter how damning circumstantial evidence is, when it’s reported in the press. So unless we are privy to full insider info, we should not condemn anyone, or overreact in anyway, based on nothing but fear and speculation.

 

B )I also realize that my previous post came across as being specifically critical of the Straits Times.

However, my point was:   I believe that we should be skeptical about what we read in the press, especially when it is clearly stated that much of it is speculation. In other words, I am not in favor or support of anyone, nor am I condemning anyone, simply based on a press report. I think a press report based on speculation without evidence is simply bad journalism, and to believe and act on it would be irresponsible of me. I’m not against the Straits Times at all, I’m against the behavior of speculative journalism.

 

 

2. I wrote the previous post ONE day after the ST report, and strictly based on the ST report with no prior knowledge or information.

 

3. Ever since, there has been more news on the matter in the mass media, and there has been very loud silence too. Like everyone following the matter from the public media, my opinions have been further shaped since.

 

4. At this point, 1 week later, I will say that there is already enough rumor and speculation out there, and so I will not say anything more about what I think. Instead, I look forward and applaud any fair process to investigate further into the matter, and any fair action that would arise from a fair and complete investigation.

 

5. At this point, I am not in favor of any party or entity. 

 

What I AM in favor of are these, and these are what I believed when I joined AWARE 4 years ago:

 

I am in favor and committed to the girls and women that AWARE has been working for, over the past decades. I believe that AWARE’s philosophy over all the past decades made it an excellent platform for me to serve these females.

 

I am in favor of providing complete, unbiased information, in a responsible, non-discriminatory and secular manner, so that people can be empowered to make informed choices based on their own personal values and desires.

 

I am in favor of justice and equality, regardless of GENDER, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, NATIONALITY, EDUCATIONAL LEVEL, POVERTY LEVEL, OCCUPATION, in addition to race, language and RELIGION