MARUAH Singapore

Dear MARUAH members and supporters,

I just would like to put on record my response to the Temasek Review’s article entitled “Is Braema Mathi of MARUAH a PAP plant?”

I have only one response to the article – I am very keen to sue TR and its writers and use the money for our work to promote and protect human rights locally and in the region. I know I will win hands down for the half-truths and outright lies that are in the article. But as a person who believes in human rights and is trying her best to be true to the principles and aspirations of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (and failing badly at times and often too) I am loathe to start this process.

Instead I will just make one point here – human rights activism makes a demand on us as individuals, in that we stand up and be identified, for the position we make and for the words and language we use to express the position that we take.

So I am not going to dignify the accusations made in the article with any blow-by-blow rebuttal. That will be appreciating cowardly behaviour of the anonymous who claim to be true human rights activists.

Those who know me, know my work, know MARUAH will stand by us.

Thank you
Braema Mathi
Chairperson/Coordinator, MARUAH

Dear all,

Have you ever felt angry at social injustice and inequity? Are you an aspiring activist, an educator or a curious student? Ever felt that you could contribute more?

Following the success of last year’s “whose Right is it anyway?”, MARUAH will be organising TWO workshops entitled “Rights and Responsibilities” on 30 October and 13 November at the Singapore Council of Women’s Organisations.

All of us have something we care about – be it poverty, environment, health issues, financial protection or education. So what happens when you put supporters of these different causes into a same group to learn about rights, and to discuss and debate which rights should be more important to them?

Come experience a day of engagement and, even, controversy on this subject seldom publicly talked about! The workshops aim to raise awareness about human rights and provide a rights-based approach instead of a welfare approach to social issues, which reclaims the dignity of the individual. The workshops are specially designed to engage participants through small-group sessions.

Attendance is FREE!

Registration is required for this event. You can register for the event here (http://bit.ly/maruahyouth) or email maruahyouth@gmail.com.

Warm regards,
MARUAH Youth Team

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DETAILS
Dates: 30 October OR 13 November 2010 (please indicate your preferred date)

Time: 9.30 am to 4.00 pm

Venue: Singapore Council of Women’s Organisations (Directions and Map)
96 Waterloo Street
Singapore 187967

PROGRAMME
0915 : Registration
0930 : Introduction: Human Rights 101
1100 : Session 1: My Rights
1200 : Lunch Break
1300 : Session 2: Your Rights
1400 : Session 3: Our Rights
1500 : Sharing and Reflection
1530 : Closing Address
1600 : End

Date/Time: 30 July 2010, 7pm
Location: AMBROSIA, 19 Baghdad St (5 mins walk from Bugis MRT)

You know him as the petitioner for the Singapore’s first mass petition to the Parliament since independence. He is also the first member of the S.E.Asia Legal Media Defense Network to go on a trial observation mission. He is probably the first Singaporean to be interrogated by the Vietnamese Internal Security for his work as a trial observer.

Come meet MARUAH’s founding member, George Hwang, as he talks about what trial observation is about.

Kindly RSVP via email to “maruahsg@gmail.com” with your name, occupation and contact details. Finger food and drinks will be served.

Dear all,

You may find the following links useful:

UK Human Rights Report 2009

US Trafficking in Persons Report 2009

Thanks!

Please find the text of British Prime Minister David Cameron’s letter to Burmese leader Ang San Suu Kyi on the occasion of her 65th Birthday on June 19:

Dear Daw Aung San Suu Kyi ,

Today you will mark yet another birthday under house arrest – cut off from your children and your family.  My thoughts, and thoughts of so many people in Britain and across the world, will be with you and with the people of Burma.  The injustice of your continuing detention mirrors the injustice that the regime has inflicted on your country and your people for so many years.  Throughout that time, you have stood firm, at enormous personal cost, for the principles of liberty and justice.  You have become a powerful symbol of the strength of the human spirit.  Like my predecessor, I personally have long found your example deeply inspiring.  I want to assure you that as Prime Minister, I will maintain a close interest in Burma.  The British Government I lead will do all it can, both internationally, working through the United Nations, and bilaterally, to bring a brighter future for Burma and your people, in which they enjoy full human rights and true democracy.  I have never forgotten your own request: that we should use our liberty to help the Burmese people to obtain theirs.  I promise we will do everything we can to achieve that.

David Cameron

http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/news/latest-news/?view=News&id=22397347

Dear All,

Attached is MARUAH’s Accounts for events within years 2007-2009.

Link: MARUAH – Accounts 07-09

Thanks!

Dear all,

Due to unforeseen circumstances, we regret to inform you that the talk by Dr Loh Kah Seng has been cancelled. But we are pleased to inform you that we have another stimulating discussion for our inaugural launch of the Pillar Talks. We are grateful to Professor Michael Hor who will present a discussion on Constitutionalism & Subversion. Please see attached flyer. We hope you will support this event and be part of the discussion.

Dear all,