Jan – March 2009: A sudden and unprecedented spike in AWARE membership.
Sat March 28: An unusually large turnout during the AWARE AGM (about 3 times bigger than normal, almost 80% are new members.
Newcomers defeat seasoned AWARE members to win 9 of 12 positions on the executive committee. Newcomers have no subcommittee experience. Claire Nazar, a member since January last year, was elected unopposed as president.
Wed April 8: Claire Nazar resigns as president, stating differences in decison to remove key sub-committee members and her disapproval of their “stormtrooper” tactics
Tues April 14: AWARE’s old guard leads 160 members in calling for an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM).
Wed April 15: New Exco appoints DBS executive, Josie Lau, as new AWARE President. DBS issues a statement saying it does not support her taking up the post.
Thurs April 16: Two-time Aware President and former NMP Braema Mathi is told by e-mail she is no longer in charge of producing a key report on discrimination against women in Singapore for the UN.
Fri April 17: Josie Lau issues a statement questioning the motives of the old guard in calling for an EGM and asks if they harbour another agenda. Old guard issues a statement to say its motives and objectives have been fully visible the past 25 years.
Sat April 18: Veteran member and former president Constance Singam resigns as Aware’s adviser.
Sun April 19: Josie Lau refuses to be interviewed on TV together with Dana Lam, ex-President. She and Maureen Ong are subsequently interviewed on Talking Point (without Ms. Lam presence at the same interview).
Tues April 21: Campaign site http://www.we-are-aware.sg/ launched.
Thurs April 23: Introducing Dr Thio Su Mien, as their “feminist mentor”, new Exco claims AWARE has become single purpose organisation overly concerned with promoting lesbianism.
- New Exco intentionally excludes current Honorary Treasurer Chew I-Jin (elected by old guards) from their news conference.
- Current president Josie Lau claims she received death threats.
- At the same time, New Exco changes locks at the office despite vote of no-confidence and upcoming EGM.
- The centre’s manager, Schutz Lee, was fired without reason.
Fri April 24: The Old Guards holds a news conference addressing New Exco’s claims: the issue is not about whether the organisation has strayed from its original aims, but more about ensuring that there is space for diversity of views in society.
Sat May 2: Extraordinary General Meeting is scheduled.
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