Alleged sexual harassment and assault mars China's image in Doha

By Yu Nan
December 16, 2006

Zhou Mengmeng
Allegations of sexual harassment and assault are marring China's image at the Doha Asian Games, the Qilu Evening News reported this week.

Last Wednesday morning, Zhou Mengmeng, member of the Chinese cue sports team, suddenly announced she was withdrawing from the cue sports semifinals.

The 19-year-old girl claimed her male teammate Tian Pengfei assaulted her in a hallway Friday night, hitting her in the stomach and causing her to lose her playing spirit, forcing her to withdraw from the semifinals.

Cue sports team leader and vice deputy of the China Cue Sports Centre, Wang Liwei, said "the case wasn't as serious as it had been reported to be, although Tian did to some extent bother Zhou."

Wang said Zhou was spending more time wandering around the sports hall chatting with foreign players than preparing for her matches. Tian tried to persuade her to prepare for the upcoming competition, but Zhou started arguing with him. Tian became emotional and argued back.

According to reports Zhou wanted to date Tian, but his parents thought him too young to be part of a couple.

According to Wang, Tian sincerely apologized to Zhou at the time. The argument escalated, and Zhou and Tian began to scuffle, but "Zhou was by no means beaten black and blue as she claims," Wang said.

"For example, Zhou's nails were not broken by Tian, but were the result of Zhou hitting Tian," he said, noting that several teammates witnessed the incident.

The incident happened on Wednesday, and Chinese cue sports officers treated the matter seriously immediately alerting both Zhou and Tian's parents, who agreed to wait until after the Games to settle the matter, but Zhou went to the media with her version of events the next day.


Tian Pengfei
Zhou's parents, surprised by the sudden media attention, changed their position overnight and claimed they were told their daughter was seriously beaten, Wang said. They indicated they would be contacting a lawyer.

Zhou told reporters "no one can persuade me to change my stance on Tian." There was no immediate comment on the allegations from Tian, a double gold winner in the men's doubles and team snooker events. Presently he is being protected inside the Doha Athletes' Village.

"Some of Zhou's words are not exact," Chinese cue sports team officer Zhang Xiaoning said of Zhou at a news conference on Saturday. "She is a teenager and is irresponsible and self-indulgent." "The centre will certainly punish them both when we return to China," Zhang added.

Numerous netizens have posted comments on sina.com since the gossip came out. Netizen 'Zidane' was sympathetic towards Zhou, saying she is too young to understand how to behave in society and could therefore be forgiven.

But another netizen, 'PK123', disagreed saying Tian is the real victim in this case, and that Zhou is using this as a publicity stunt.

'Niuniu' wrote he was "shocked. "Whether it is true or false, they have already caused the country to lose face, and destroyed our international image. The two teenagers may be excused because of their youth, but how about the sports officers? Aren't they responsible for supervising the teens and their conduct?"

Cambodia: Another kind of war

In Cambodia, hundreds, if not thousands of young girls and women are bought and sold, smuggled out of their villages into the larger cities of Cambodia or taken out of the country to places like Thailand and Malaysia - all for the purposes of turning them into sex slaves.

By Karoline Kemp
December 16, 2006

Cambodia, a country still recovering from years of strife and a resulting genocide, is now in the throes of another kind of war. Capitalizing on poverty, the breakdown of familial and social structures and a system riddled with corruption, Western pedophiles and sex tourists have long found Cambodia to be an easy place to conduct their business. But now they are taking things a step further. Using the internet and media services, pro-pedophile groups have set up shop in the tiny South East Asian country.

Traveling to Cambodia a year and a half ago with a production team, Outer Voices set out to record the stories of women working to battle the country's sex trafficking problem. We met amazing women ? survivors, activists and the staff of the Cambodian Women's Crisis Centre.

Chanthol Oung, the director of CWCC, had been hesitant to allow us into the inner workings of the organization, nervous because an Australian journalist who had interviewed her had gone on to write that although their work was well-intentioned, it was targetting the men accused with sexual exploitation of Cambodian girls and women in order to gain funding.

At that time, we thought little of her fears around this particular subject; we simply went ahead with our work of hearing the voices of these women.

This past year, however, we were contacted again by Chanthol, who told us that the problem was increasing. These pedophiles were becoming more and more organized, and were gaining media coverage that was not only casting doubt on the women's work, but was undermining it as well.

Graham Cleghorn, a New Zealander now convicted and serving time in a Cambodian prison, is one of those pedophiles. Living on the outskirts of touristy Siem Reap and working as a tour guide, Cleghorn had set up shop in Cambodia. He had hired 10 girls to work in his home, paying each of them a relatively decent wage to work as maids. But they were also expected to massage him, and these massages turned into rapes. These rapes finally came to light, and the girls living with Cleghorn were sent to one of the shelters that CWCC runs.

But Cleghorn, faced with the prospect of a large fine and a prison term, was having none of it. He accused the girls of being in cahoots with the Cambodian Women's Crisis Centre in order to target pedophiles to gain media coverage and more funding.

Along with a number of other Western men in similar situations, Cleghorn has made it his business to intimidate, harass and coerce both the general public and the NGO world into the belief that he has been wronged, and that groups like the Cambodian Women's Crisis Centre were trying to cash in on the good intentions of donors by turning Western men visiting or living in Cambodia into pedophiles.

Cleghorn is now appealing his conviction on the grounds that he was framed by the CWCC. In New Zealand and Australia, there is much media coverage of his and other such cases, some of which seems to take seriously his accusations against the CWCC.

All this has gone on in a country where hundreds, if not thousands of young girls and women are bought and sold, smuggled out of their villages into the larger cities of Cambodia or taken out of the country to places like Thailand and Malaysia - all for the purposes of turning them into sex slaves.

Statistics are hard to find, but there are a huge number of girls and women who have been trafficked for the purpose of sex work, and it is suggested that over half of these women are HIV positive. Their families have been torn apart, and more of them will never be able to go back to their homes or communities.

Cases like Cleghorn's not only detract from these realities, but undermine the crucial work that groups in Cambodia are doing to return their country to peace.

China: The sex industry is everywhere but nowhere

By Howard W. French
December 16, 2006
 

Prostitutes rounded up in a series of recent busts
Shanghai - What's the fastest-growing industry in China? Mobile phones? Computer components? Toys? The last wouldn't be too far off, but not in the sense that the word toys is conventionally understood. Call them playthings.

Anecdotal evidence is the best one can do for a field such as this, but a bet could be placed on the sex industry. Yes, prostitution.

It is scarcely possible to walk for 10 minutes in any big Chinese city without coming across the sex trade in one of its many guises. Prostitutes work in most hotels, and are indeed employed by the hotels, including the state- owned ones. They work the streets, the clubs, and massage and sauna parlors, which range from monstrously gaudy to grimy holes in the wall.

They can be found in barber shops and beauty salons; sometimes they are the only people working in such establishments. And they are present - no, ubiquitous - at every class level of society, down to the poorest neighborhoods of Shanghai and the lowliest villages.

Numbers range all over the board, from the official estimates one sees from time to time of 3 million prostitutes nationwide, to U.S. State Department reports that have placed the figure at 10 million, to a Chinese economist, Yang Fan, who has estimated there are 20 million sex workers in the country, accounting for fully 6 percent of the country's gross domestic product.

Coming back to anecdotal impressions, it would not surprise this writer if all of these figures were low. Beyond the numbers, though, it is when one considers that before economic changes were introduced a quarter- century ago, there was essentially no open prostitution in China at all - none - that one is most astounded.

Ordinarily, a phenomenon that had grown so fast and become this vast would be grist for all manner of conversation, from the public health implications of near-universal prostitution, to the social causes of gender inequality, high unemployment and blossoming organized crime, just for a start. From there one might move on to a discussion of profound changes in social values to the need for legal reform.

One of the most basic notions in law is that an unenforceable law is a bad law. The existence of millions of prostitutes makes a mockery of China's legal code, whose formal banning of a deeply entrenched activity forces women into the hands of organized crime and furthers their vulnerability and marginalization.

Perhaps the most striking feature of China's booming prostitution industry, though, is how little ink is expended on it, how seldom its extent is even acknowledged.

In a relaxed moment the other day, a Chinese official made this startling confession: "I read the foreign press to learn about things that are happening in China. The Chinese press doesn't write about bad news."

When I moved to object to categorizing news as "good" or "bad," he waved me off, saying: "Don't worry. When there are problems, I think it is good to focus on them."

Although generally invisible in polite society, two very different kinds of prostitution have managed to work their way into China's national consciousness in the last few weeks, and they speak volumes about a huge and yawning class divide here.

At the end of November, officials in Shenzhen, the southern boomtown, got the bright idea of reviving the Cultural Revolution for the purposes of temporarily cracking down on its prostitutes.

This came to pass as a face-preserving measure after a regional television station broke with decorum by mentioning the existence of this industry in a city famous throughout Asia for its sex trade.

To send the message that Shenzhen was actually a clean and proper place, the police dressed several dozen prostitutes in identical yellow smocks and marched them through the streets of Futian district, to be shamed by a jeering crowd and have their names and hometowns announced to all.

A few weeks earlier, beginning with the still unfolding political corruption scandal in Shanghai, Chinese newspaper readers were treated to stories detailing the sex lives of public officials, including the city's party leader, Chen Liangyu, who is said to have maintained 11 "mistresses."

The quotation marks are warranted because in its apparently most common, high-level Chinese form, such relationships are typically as money- based as an hour with a sauna girl, only more elaborately contractual, sometimes including the frequency of sex, and are, of course, incomparably more lucrative.

Soon, Chinese blogs and Internet forums were competing to reveal the details - albeit rumored details - of public officials and their kept women from one end of the country to the other.

In parts of Africa, another region of the world where such practices are rife, these women are known as "second offices." Journalists who work on that continent learn that one usually reliable gauge of corruption is the flamboyance with which politicians bring new women aboard.

For a long time, the late leader of Zaire, Mobutu Sese Seko, was a dubious champion in such matters, establishing families with both his wife and her identical twin, among many other liaisons.

China's governing class may have something even on Mobutu, though. According to press reports, when he was caught up in a corruption scandal in 2000, the head of the Jiangsu Province Construction Bureau, Xu Qiyao, was found to have had relations with over 100 women, including a mother and her daughter. Lin Longfei, the former Communist Party secretary of Zhouning County, in Fujian Province, reportedly kept 22 mistresses simultaneously and held a banquet for them all in May 2002.

The mistresses of officials don't get dragged through the streets. Indeed, their easy path to wealth is envied by many. Low and high, there is degradation for all women, though, in this commerce, and nowhere so much as in the silence that surrounds it.

International Herald Tribune

Open parade of alleged prostitutes fuels civil rights controversy in China

By Wan Lixin
December 16, 2006

Prostitutes paraded in public in Shenzen this week to humiliate them by authorities
A young woman in a yellow prison uniform tried to cover her face with her handcuffed hands, as her full identity was announced to an excited audience.

She was one of about 100 suspected prostitutes and their suspected male patrons who were recently paraded before the public by police in Shenzhen, Guangzhou Province.

This drama kicked off a two-month police anti-prostitution campaign.

The practice of public parade and humiliation was a fairly standard means of punishment of counterrevolutionaries during the "cultural revolution" (1966-1976).

But it has been virtually obsolete since it was outlawed by the Ministry of Public Security in the early 1980s.

In singling out prostitutes as the object of this public scorn, the local police were probably encouraged by the belief that prostitution is so stigmatized that offenders are not worthy of those civil rights normally accorded to a citizen.

Apparently the police in question gave little or no consideration to the feelings of the parents, children or spouses of those on parade.

In an open letter recently addressed to the National People's Congress, Shanghai lawyer Yao Jianguo points out that before the police hand cases over to the procuratorate these people are suspects at best.

In thus openly humiliating them the police are clearly guilty of procedural mistakes in law enforcement.

Instead of being humiliated out of their shady business, some prostitutes may end up resigned to their fate and decide there is no hope of turning over a new leaf.

There should be more efforts aimed at eradicating those conditions that give rise to prostitution.

That local police resort to sporadic campaigns rather than routine vigilance suggests they were doing less than enough.

Thai Junta: Sex tours no more

By William Sparrow
December 13, 2006

Westerners who plan to visit Thailand for sex have recently received a new, stark warning from the government's new military government, be warned: we are out to stop you.

That was the message when Tourism and Sports Minister Suvit Yodmani addressed a group of western journalists in Bangkok this passed weekend.

Suvit said he welcomed western tourists because they're "quality tourists", and that he was not talking about their wealth. Religious, historic and evenly mildy poloitical tourists were acceptable as he accepted, in his example,' quality tourists was a group of 1,000 not very well off Vietnamese who recently stayed in and volunteered at a Thai monastery.'

Suvit made it clear the administration, which came to power in a bloodless coup on September 19, aimed to curtail the sex trade.

"Prostitution is illegal in Thailand," he said. The Southeast Asian country's police force is being assisted by "tourist police", and will be further bolstered by specially trained volunteers.

He is due to announce further steps before the end of the month to tighten up on the policing of the sex industry.

Each year about 480,000 British holidaymakers and almost as many from Germany, France, Sweden and other European countries travel to Thailand on tourist visas.

The Tourism Minister believes most of those who come are drawn by Thailand's cultural, environmental and sporting attractions.

Golf is big with a large group of "Black Economic Empowerment" with tourists currently enjoying first-class holidays here.

The Minister also listed water sports and athletics, saying a recent marathon pulled 4,700 foreign entries.

But the government is placing a renewed effort on sex tourists and long stay visa applicants and 'abusers'. Recent visa law under the military government has not shown substantive change, but has renewed enforcement efforts under current laws restricting repeat tourist visas.

In briefings to journalists, government Ministers have been at pains to justify the regime change, which has not been approved of by the European Union or the US.

Despite the coup, and the tsunami two years ago, tourist numbers have in fact increased, and international trade is at record levels.

In the major cities there is no visible sign of martial law. Most Thais have accepted the political change, taking their cue from their monarch, who is held in high esteem throughout the nation.
 

Sleaze down, food centers up
Will it be enough for MP Chan to hold on to Joo Chiat ward?
Dec 11 2006

Valerie Law

JOO Chiat has long been known for its good food, especially of the Peranakan variety.

But when the General Election (GE) is held, the single-seat ward may just grab people's attention by dishing up an intriguing battle at the hustings — with sleaze and the side effects of upgrading as possible ingredients.

Even before Workers' Party secretary-general Low Thia Khiang told the media his party was eyeing the constituency, incumbent MP Chan Soo Sen, who is also Minister of State for Education and Trade and Industry, was already saying it would be a tougher fight this time.

Mr Chan, who ran away with 83.5 per cent of the votes against independent Ooi Boon Ewe in 2001, told one newspaper that an interesting opposition candidate, backed by a well-organized political party, would run a more skilled campaign.

Recent municipal issues could also be a factor.

Early last year, Joo Chiat Road, about 1.3km long, used to be lined with some 60 karaoke pubs, massage parlours and budget hotels.

The situation prompted residents to launch a "Save Joo Chiat" campaign to clean up the sleaze of prostitution there. Since then, Mr Chan has helped to halt the issue of new licenses for pubs, KTV lounges or massage parlors. Now they number fewer than 40, with massage parlors seeing a marked decline, he told Today. Arrests of illegal workers and raids on the pubs were also more frequent, noted some residents.

One of them, Mr A H Wang, said Mr Chan deserves credit for his efforts. He said: "He always cycles around the estate. He has done a good job with the sleaze clean-up."

But for other residents, like Mr Poon Wai Chang, 27, the scene is still an eyesore. He said: "The nightspots don't fit here."

Other precincts in the area have been spruced up since the previous polls.

Mr Chan has delivered on his promise in 2001 to upgrade two hawker centers and is confident this has generated better business. Referring to the East Coast Lagoon Food Centre, he said, "Look at the long queue of cars especially on weekends."

There is a price to pay for some hawkers, though. Vendors at the centre paid 20 to 30 per cent higher rents after the upgrading. However, Mr Chan pointed out that the original rent was low.

Vendors at the lower level of Dunman Food Centre, which was also upgraded, told Today that they were feeling the pinch from the higher rentals. Most of the stalls on the upper level, though, are now doing better, according to Mr Chan.

"Stalls downstairs were not doing well even before upgrading," he added.

The lack of parking space has been a perennial complaint, but Mr Chan said this is a design issue that cannot be amended easily. As a solution, he had requested the police post nearby to convert their parking area into a public car-park, freeing up about 20 lots.

Meanwhile, Mr Chan and his grassroots leaders are exploring various ideas to bring more "life" to Joo Chiat, such as promoting it as a walking tour destination — one way to keep the focus on its Peranakan heritage and good food.
 

Hot News // Monday, December 4, 2006

Two divides, one vision
PM addresses poor-rich, citizen-foreigner divides; announces Workfare scheme as 4th pillar

Tor Ching Li

FOR most Singaporeans, globalisation has been the story of two divides: That between the poor and the better-off, and that between citizen and foreigner.

But even as the widening income gap has drawn concerned calls for a bridge to help the lower income keep up, the other dichotomy has drawn rumbles of an opposite sort — a plea for greater differentiation in benefits for citizens and for foreigners.

Yesterday, People's Action Party (PAP) secretary-general and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong addressed both divides, assuring some 1,000 party cadres of more systematic protection for lower-income Singaporeans and that citizens would always come first.

In view of the first, he announced, Workfare would become a permanent part of Singapore's social safety net — as its fourth pillar, in addition to the existing three of the Central Provident Fund, the 3Ms of healthcare (Medisave, Medifund and Medishield) and the Housing and Development Board home ownership scheme.

"It's a big move. We thought about it for a long time before doing it… We have done it once with the Workfare Bonus in the Progress Package. Now we will do it regularly," he said, speaking at the PAP party conference. The Workfare Bonus aims to get lower income workers to stay employed, with a matching reward from the Government for every dollar earned.

For a start, a three-year Workfare scheme will be announced at next February's Budget Debates. After that it will be reviewed and adjustments made, but what's for sure is that Workfare will be here to stay.

The scheme is one of the reasons for raising the goods and services tax (GST) from 5 per cent to 7 per cent, which is estimated to bring in some $1.2 billion more in revenue annually. This will be used for higher healthcare spending, to prepare for an ageing population, to invest in the future – and saved for future "unknown unknowns", said Mr Lee.

And while the GST offset package to be unveiled next February would be weighted towards lower-end earners, "sandwiched" middle income Singaporeans would not be left out.

"Don't worry, we have not forgotten you, we will have something for the middle income in the package," said Mr Lee, adding that older citizens would also benefit.

The emphasis was on "citizens" — because only they will get to enjoy the GST offset package, just as the Progress Package and other asset sharing measures were exclusively for Singaporeans.

Mr Lee said: "When we talk about immigration and foreign talent and workers, our purpose is to do what is best for Singapore as a whole. Citizens will always come first, we have to treat them the best."

That means clear distinctions in the treatment of citizens, permanent residents (PRs) and other non-citizens have to be made. PRs now enjoy the same subsidies as Singaporeans for education and healthcare. Even foreign workers and work permit holders can get subsidised healthcare treatment.

Said Mr Lee: "PRs should pay more than Singaporeans, but less than other foreigners so there is a distinction between Singaporeans and PRs. It's a reminder that they are not the same as citizens."

Foreign workers will be made to pay the full cost of healthcare, with employers responsible for buying health insurance for them.

Non-citizens will be charged more for education, but not so much more that foreign students will be deterred from coming.

Mr Lee said that the relevant ministries will work on these measures over the next few months.

Political observers and MPs alike welcomed the announcements. Said Dr Terence Chong, a fellow at the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies: "The PAP is responding to a growing sentiment on the ground that Singaporeans are often treated like second-class citizens. It's refreshing to hear about citizens' rights rather than their responsibilities and obligations."

Mdm Halimah Yacob (MP for Jurong GRC) said that it was "high time" such a clear distinction was made: "There are a large number of foreigners and PRs who never converted to Singaporeans who seem to be getting the best of both worlds. While we cannot force them to make a decision, it is only fair for Singaporeans to enjoy certain benefits along with their obligations."

Adding a fourth dimension to the social safety net was "a polar shift", she felt. "It recognises that even people with jobs may need help because they are no longer earning enough to keep up with the forces of globalisation."

But Dr Chong did not think Workfare by itself was enough to get Singaporeans working, such as those older workers who cannot find employment. "The success of Workfare will also hinge on the success of efforts to retrain workers and redesign jobs," he said.

Mr Lee, who also spoke in Mandarin and Malay yesterday, touched as well on the PAP's fundamentals of racial harmony, meritocracy, enterprise and inclusiveness.

While acknowledging that raising the GST was not a popular move, Mr Lee said it was the "right thing to do" and that the PAP government did not go for "instant popularity".

He was confident the policies would "bear fruit over the next few years", calling on Singaporeans to judge the party by its performance in the economy, whether jobs and life were better and society's state of harmony.

"By the next election we will be ready to present our report card to Singaporeans. This is the way that the PAP does it – better to be upfront with Singaporeans, to take the medicine first, and if we have sweets, to enjoy that later," he said.

Citizens versus residents

Education: Currently enjoying the same subsidies, non-citizens will have to pay more school fees – albeit not so much as to deter them from coming here

Healthcare: Currently enjoying the same subsidies, permanent residents will have to pay more than Singaporeans but less than other foreigners.

Foreign workers will have to pay the full cost, instead of subsidized treatment costs; onus is on employers to buy health insurance for foreign workers.

Big crowds attend Guangzhou Sex Culture Festival

November 18, 2006

The fourth Guangzhou Sex Culture Festival themed "building moral sexual attitudes" attracted over 60,000 visitors to its first day on Saturday, which is 10,000 up on the last session's opening day.

An exhibition forming part of the festival includes ancient relics from museums around Guangdong Province.

Besides the exhibition other areas of interest will include a special report on sexual health from Hu Peicheng, a psychologist and sexologist from Peking University.

"As China is undergoing the so-called 'sexual revolution' we are attaching great importance to promoting traditional moral ideas about sexuality," an expert surnamed Duan told China Daily.

"China has a totally different attitude towards sex from many countries," Duan said. "We should not only promote a bold, open attitude, as in Western countries, but also preserve healthy, traditional views on sex."

Once regarded as "bold and open" sexologist Li Yinhe's views on sex, particularly topics such as "wife-swapping," received a frosty reception from experts at this year's Festival.

Addressing last year's event Li, widely acclaimed as China's foremost female sociologist on sexual matters, said wife swapping was a normal type of entertainment and all couples should have the right to participate if they wished.

However, this year scholars and experts at a forum held in conjunction with the ongoing event rejected her easy-going views.

"Wife swapping should not be promoted to the public as it will lead to the spread of HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases," said Zhang Feng, director of the Guangdong Provincial Population and Family Planning Committee.

Zhang added that neither the sex forum nor the expo of the festival should provide a platform for advertising bold and "unacceptable" views to the public. "These views should be discussed as academic issues rather than widely acceptable social issues," Zhang commented.

Zhu Mingxi, deputy director of the Guangdong Sexology Association said, "There's only a small number of couples who accept Li's views as most people still have more traditional attitudes about sex."

China Daily

111606-news-Ladies

Something for ladies in Singapore to know.

I was talking with a lawyer friend of mine. We were discussing the law and woman’s rights. She told me about this incident? a young girl was raped by a man posing as a plain clothes officer ; he asked her to come to the police station when she and her male friend didn't have a driver’s license to show. He sent the boy off to get his license and asked the girl to accompany him to the police station. Took her instead to an isolated area where the horrendous crime was committed.

In fact, the law clearly states that between 6 pm and 6am, a woman has the right to REFUSE to go to the Police Station, even if an arrest warrant has been issued against her. It is a procedural issue that a woman can be arrested between 6pm and 6am, ONLY if she is arrested by a woman officer and taken to an ALL WOMEN police station. And if she is arrested by a male officer, it has to be proven that a woman officer was on duty at the time of arrest.

It is good for us to know our rights. To what extent it comes of use remains to be seen in any situation. But as they say, knowledge is power.

Just thought I’d share this with you.

I did not know this and am sure a lot of others don’t know this - please be informed. And pass on this info to those all u know.
 

Singapore Plans to Ease Strict Sex Laws
Thursday, November 09, 2006

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SINGAPORE — Singapore plans to decriminalize oral and anal sex for adult heterosexuals under legislation unveiled Thursday, but the government said sex between homosexuals will remain banned.

The government posted proposed amendments to the city-state's Penal Code -- the result of a three-year review -- on a Web site, and Singaporeans have a month to offer feedback. The Ministry of Home Affairs will consider the input before presenting the proposals to Parliament early next year.

The amendments that have generated the most water-cooler buzz in strait-laced Singapore are those that would legalize oral and anal sex between consenting heterosexuals over age 16 -- and the retention of the law against acts between homosexuals.

That drew immediate criticism from People Like Us, a gay rights group.

"If the government aims for an open, inclusive society, it should be doing all it can to overturn prejudice and discrimination, rather than give people reason to remain close-minded through retaining (the ban) for symbolic purposes," the group said in a statement.

The Home Affairs Ministry said it wants to modernize the laws "to be in line with social mores and emerging societal trends" -- but that doesn't include homosexuality.

"Singapore remains, by and large, a conservative society. Many do not tolerate homosexuality," said a note published with the amendments.

However, it said it would continue its policy of not proactively prosecuting private homosexual acts.

"Gross indecency" between two men can lead to two years in jail, but it's rarely punished. Singapore has a thriving gay community.

Other proposed amendments would ban necrophilia, toughen penalties for sex with minors under 14, and introduce penalties for men who rape their wives.

The amendments would also expand the Sedition Act to cover "the wounding of racial feelings," and would toughen credit card fraud laws.

A change in the "unlawful assembly" law would broaden its focus to groups "whose common object is to commit any offense, and not just those relating to public tranquility."

Outdoor gatherings of more than four people now require a police permit -- a law seen by critics as an attempt to curb political dialogue.

Such laws were highlighted in September, when protesters were confined to an indoor lobby during annual International Monetary Fund and World Bank meetings held in Singapore.
 

28 Oct 2006

Akha Woman Imprisoned in Singapore's
Changi Prison - Why Does Singapore Imprison the Victims

 of Trafficking?

We request her release.

We know there are MORE Akha women in the Changi prison.
How many Akha women are in Changi Prison?
We request to know the answer.

We are concerned that the government of Singapore does not recognize the issue of trafficking and that Akha women are trafficked into their country for brothels. The Singapore Immigration people (ICA) have repeatedly told us that they are "checking into the case" but then never reply to our email.

We are informed that there numerous Akha women in Changi prison, possibly also victims of trafficking into Singapore. Does Singapore arrest victims of trafficking? We find it disgusting that Singapore allows women to be trafficked into the country for what ever reasons. We find it more disgusting that they put the victims in prison.

Ms. Ah Meeh (Not her real name) was sentenced to one year in Changi Prison this last week.
She entered Singapore on documents supplied by her Employment Agent from Thailand but was refused a work permit and sent out of the country in 2004. Now on her own documents, Thai ID card and Passport, she has entered Singapore with her fiance. When she applied for an extension of visa as she and her fiance were to marry, the Singapore authorities told her that she had previously traveled under a different name and passport supplied by her employer, so was now to be arrested.

Upon her previous trip and return to Thailand, her employer told her that the Singapore police demanded 100,000 baht and she was made to repay this money working in Hatyai.

When Akha children are born, Thai authorities often give them a Thai name on their travel documents and any made up birth date. Employers often supply the Akha with documents for travel, as they may not even have an ID card of their own. These are the agreements they have to live with as contract labor. In some cases, contract labor may be more like trafficking or debt bondage. While it appears that Ms. Ah Meeh's employer was familiar to the Singapore police, Ms. Ah Meeh is being made to pay the price for what is often standard practice for people being shipped from Thailand to foreign countries.

There is little to no protection for ethnic women who find themselves in this situation in Thailand.

We have contacted the Singapore Embassy and Ambassador in the US, the ICA in Singapore, an MP in Singapore, Amnesty International and a number of individuals and agencies regarding this case. We are asking that her case be reviewed and that Akha women are not made to pay the price for either trafficking or unethical Agents who put them in these situations. We are asking that she be released and NOT deported from Singapore.

You may write us if you would like to contact the Singapore Embassy regarding this case.

Watch out, home pirates
By Alfred Siew & Chua Hian Hou

File-swappers be warned! Copyright owners may get tough in the latest battle against online piracy.

Be warned if you have been downloading or sharing the latest Lord of the Rings movie or Radiohead album with others online.

People who use file-swapping software may have their Internet accounts suspended by their Internet service providers (ISPs) or even face legal action, thanks to a widening effort by copyright owners to identify and nab 'home pirates'.

ISPs here have, in recent months, sent warning letters to several subscribers to stop downloading and sharing copyrighted material with file-swapping software such as Kazaa and Bit Torrent.

When contacted by Computer Times, a Pacific Internet (PacNet) spokesman said that there were 'a few cases' over the last six months. He said the company will suspend the accounts of users who persist in copyright infringement despite warnings.

SingNet and StarHub also confirmed that they have warned users who have downloaded and distributed pirated music. All three ISPs said they do not monitor users' data. They only sent out the warnings after receiving information from copyright owners on possible infringement by their subscribers.

In recent months, copyright owners have increased pressure on ISPs and started targeting individual users of peer-to-peer file sharing software. In the United States, the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) has gone to court to press ISPs there to provide the names of suspected offenders. It has also sued individual users of file-swapping software.

Now, it seems that the battle has come to Singapore as well.

Mr Edward Neubronner, chief executive officer of the Record Industry Association of Singapore (RIAS), confirmed that copyright owners have been using sophisticated search tools to hunt down users - including Singaporeans - who swap music files and movie clips. The tools are able to uncover key details like a user's IP (Internet Protocol) address and his e-mail address. These details may be used to bolster the RIAS' case in court.

'We've never hesitated to take legal action against recalcitrant users,' said Mr Neubronner. The tough stand, he said, has worked so far to curb online piracy.

Still, there are questions as to whether the RIAS can nab someone based on information culled from the Net. Lawyer Siew Kum Hong told Computer Times that ISPs here are not compelled by law to offer subscriber information to copyright owners, unless there is a court order to do so.

In fact, he pointed out, ISPs licensed here have a responsibility to keep customer information private because the Telecom Competition Code stipulates so. This makes it hard for copyright owners to identify and sue individual users here.

Some file-swappers also question the recording industry's tactics.

National serviceman Daniel Tham, 22, said he suspects that his e-mail messages and online chats may be monitored as well. The latest threats 'will not make people buy more CDs,' he said.

Mr Ernest Chng, 33, who works in the IT industry, said that users may react negatively to what the copyright owners are doing.

'People tend to be rebellious...if you track them, they may download more songs.'

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The online spider cop

So is Big Brother spying on you at Kazaa?

Yes, according to copyright owners. But they said that they gather only the information that is made publicly available by the user, for example, the list of songs that he is sharing with others.

With this information, the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) will try to obtain more details from the user's Internet service provider to take action against him. More information is available at www.riaa.com

Possession or distribution?

Under the laws here, it is not a criminal offence to possess pirated MP3s.

Copyright owners can sue you. But the police may leave you alone. However, if you distribute MP3s in a CD or even through file-swapping software, you may be charged.

You may also be charged if you own five pirated songs or CDs of the same kind, which may make you a distributor.

If you think you are getting away by downloading songs 'for your own use', think again. Kazaa, for example, stores downloaded files in a shared folder which is accessible to other users.

In other words, as soon as you download a Radiohead song, it is made available for download to others.

This may be considered as unauthorized distribution of copyrighted content - a criminal offence.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Movers and Shakers:

Views and insightsIn the early 80s, a team of young professionals were tasked to drive Singapore's information technology efforts. It was a new frontier but one necessary for Singapore's competitiveness.

The team succeeded beyond expectation. Singapore today is known for its use of IT in the civil service, port, airport, finance and trade. The initial team was led by Mr Philip Yeo, the first chairman of the former National Computer Board and now the executive chairman of the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*Star).

Without doubt, they were a team who were not only committed to the cause but passionate. Ten of them were featured as the Movers & Shakers in Computer Times' 10th anniversary special issue on Aug 13. Certainly there are more, but these were the key people who set the policies and ensured that they got off the ground.

Over the next few weeks, Computer Times will bring you their insights and observations on how they transformed Singapore into an intelligent island.

ST News On The Go

Prime News
Music-swopping chatrooms close
Arrest of three youths prompts the sites, which had been watched, to shut down
By Natalie Soh and Leung Wai-leng (http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/sub/sendmail/0,5576,EmailReporter-335466-,00.html?)


SOME music-sharing Internet chatrooms have shut down following the arrest of three youths accused of illegally distributing songs online.

One popular site - musiczone. per.sg - posted a notice on its website yesterday saying it was closing because three Singaporeans had been caught 'serving' - online jargon for distributing files over the Internet.

The Recording Industry Association of Singapore (Rias), which tipped off police to the trio arrested on Wednesday, said half the IRC channels it had under observation had halted their sharing activities by yesterday morning.

Rias declined to disclose exact numbers but attributed the decline to a new fear that those who share music illegally will be caught.

The arrested trio, aged 16 to 22, allegedly used a program designed to share files over the Internet to distribute their collection of 20,000 pirated digital music files.

They allegedly used an IRC channel - an online chat room - to invite others to download files from their computers for free.

These were the first arrests under an amended copyright law introduced in January. It says people can be charged with illegally distributing files for profit, or distributing 'to a great extent'.

Secondary 4 student Tay Zhi Yun, 16, captured the feelings of most local Net users when she told The Straits Times yesterday: 'I know that downloading music from the Internet is illegal, but I didn't know the consequences would be so serious.'

She was shocked when informed that offenders could be jailed for up to five years and fined up to $100,000.

Similarly taken aback was Cassandra Wang, 14, a Secondary 3 student. 'I thought the fine would only be about $100 and I didn't expect there would be a jail term.'

Still, she believes a crackdown will not deter youths from downloading music. 'I don't think they will listen... They think everybody does it, so they won't be noticed. Besides, I don't think they would charge anyone under 16 as they're still minors.'

Not so, says lawyer Bryan Tan. He says offenders older than seven may be dealt with under the juvenile court system if it can be proved that they were aware of the consequences of their actions.

'In the case of illegal downloading, it would be difficult to prove that they were not aware of the severity of the act, given that you have to go through steps such as downloading the software and selecting specific songs before downloading them,' said Mr Tan, director of technology law firm Keystone Law Corporation.

The music industry says illegal downloads cost billions in lost revenue. In the United States, college students and teenagers have been prosecuted for sharing music, primarily over 'peer to peer networks' like KaZaa and Morpheus.

Said Rias chief Edward Neubronner: 'I am disappointed that it had to come to such a situation, where arrests had to be made, despite all the education messages...'

Internet service providers (ISP) The Straits Times spoke to said they do not usually monitor their customers' online activity.

Mr Chan Jyh Chyang, of Pacific Internet said it sometimes received letters from Rias alleging a client illegally downloaded material. It sends a warning letter to the client, but at no point are customer details divulged.

Other ISPs also said they will only open up their databases to scrutiny if the police are involved.

natalie@sph.com.sg

waileng@sph.com.sg


When downloading songs is illegal

Q. What actions are illegal on the Internet? What penalties will I face? A. Downloading, distribution and sharing of any copyrighted song without permission is illegal.

From Jan 1 this year, if anyone downloads, shares or distributes extensively, even if they don't profit from any sale, he or she has committed an offence.

Distributing pirated songs is punishable by jail terms of up to five years and fines of up to $100,000.


Extensive downloading of pirated songs is punishable by jail terms of up to six months and fines of up to $20,000.

Q. My friend e-mails me a file labelled 'homework' and I open it to find a pirated song. I delete it. Am I guilty of any offence?

A. It is not illegal to receive infringing subject matter.

Q. What happens when I download a song like You Are My Sunshine, where the copyright has expired? Is it legal?

A. Yes it is. Generally, a song is protected for the span of the author's life and 70 years after he or she dies. When it expires, it goes into what people call the 'public domain', which means people can enjoy it freely.

Q. If I am 12 years old and I download and share pirated songs, will legal action also apply to me?

A. Yes. Youths under 16 can be prosecuted in the Juvenile Court. Court orders that may be made by the Juvenile Courts in general include fines and detention at the Singapore Boys Home, Toa Payoh Girls' Home and so on, but there are no jail terms.

Q. Will I get a warning first before I get charged?

A. The decision to charge and prosecute lies with the enforcement authorities. Whether one will get a warning first will vary from case to case.

Q. How do I know whether the songs in my computer or MP3 player are legal? A. If you didn't buy it from a legal site like Soundbuzz, it is probably illegal. Plus, when you buy a CD, the rights only apply to the CD; this means you cannot rip songs out and make them into MP3s for your player. Generally

Oct 8, 2006
SITNews: Divorced... but still living under one roof
by Nur Dianah Suhaimi

NEARLY two years after her divorce from her unfaithful husband, Madam Lim (not her real name), 36, still cooks for him and washes his clothes.
They even live in the same four-room Housing Board flat in Woodlands that they shared as husband and wife before their divorce, together with their three children.

The family of five all live under one roof, but dad and mum sleep in separate bedrooms and do not talk to each other. They communicate by writing notes.

Most people would find such a living arrangement more than a little unusual, but in fact it is quite common. Of 11 lawyers and three real estate agents The Sunday Times spoke to, all but one said that they have seen cases like Madam Lim's in the past few years. One lawyer has handled as many as five such divorce cases this year alone.

So why would a divorced couple continue living together? Blame it on property prices. The couples are usually in their late 30s or early 40s and find it more economical to share one home. Many had also bought their matrimonial homes when property prices were high and are saddled with negative equity. If they sold their properties now, they would suffer heavy financial losses, so they prefer to hang on until property prices pick up.

Veteran lawyer Amolat Singh of Amolat & Partners, who has seen four such cases over the past three years, said: 'They can learn to live with emotional pain. The financial pain, on the other hand, is much harder to bear. Saving up for old age becomes a priority. Clearly, these older Singaporeans are a pragmatic lot.

In the case of Madam Lim, both she and her former husband, a civil servant, cannot afford to start new lives in separate flats. Like others who are in their late 30s, buying a new place would mean shorter home loan periods and higher monthly installments.

Madam Lim said that she could not buy out her ex-husband's share of the flat even if she wanted to. She did not work during their 14 years of marriage and has practically no CPF savings. The housewife said: 'I cannot move out. I have no income and I'll have nowhere to go. At least now he still pays for the children's expenses and my maintenance. Madam Lim said the children's expenses and her maintenance add up to almost $500 every month.

Her former husband, who declined to be interviewed, still pays for the mortgage on the flat and all the household expenses. She 'pays' him back by cooking and cleaning for him. She is aware that, technically, she is breaking Housing Board rules. HDB requires divorced couples to settle the distribution of their matrimonial flat within six months of their divorce being finalized.

Even if ownership of the flat has been transferred to an ex-spouse, the other cannot be listed as an occupant. But couples are willing to take the risk, given that there is so much money at stake.

Veteran lawyer Rajan Chettiar from Rajan Chettiar & Company, who has seen five such cases this year, said: 'Housing is a major problem after a divorce, especially when you don't have the money. When so much money is involved, sometimes sharing a house seems to be the best solution. This seems to be a fairly recent phenomenon. Lawyers said such living arrangements were practically unheard of a decade ago, but today, people have become more relaxed about unconventional households. But even the most modern and tolerant couples would not put up with this situation if either one of them has another partner waiting in the wings.

There is usually no third party involved. If there is, one party would want to move out quickly,' said senior matrimonial lawyer at Lee & Lee, Ms Tan Siew Kim.
Added Mr Singh: 'As they say, there can only be one female goat on the mountain.
Younger couples, being more mobile, would also not tolerate such arrangements.
As for the impact on the children, lawyers and counselors interviewed said the unconventional living arrangement may not confuse the kids and may even be good for them.

Mr Anthony Yeo, consultant therapist at Counselling and Care Centre, said that when divorced parents stay together, the children will not be torn between mummy and daddy. There is some semblance of a stable family life. He said that the children can also use the time to adjust to their parents' divorce and prepare for the day when mum and dad go their separate ways.

According to Madam Lim, her three children are spared the trauma of their parents' divorce because they still see both parents every day. She said: 'We also don't quarrel badly like we used to when we were married. In fact, the children's grades in school have improved. When her former husband returns home from work in the evenings, she heads for her bedroom. There are days when their paths do not cross. During the interview, she could not even remember the last time they spoke. If I need to tell him something, I will write a note and leave it on the coffee table. He will see it when he gets home.

Madam Lim said her mother thinks that she is 'living in sin' and has stopped talking to her. She has turned down her siblings' offer to take her and the children in. I don't wish to be a burden to others and my children need to be near their school. For now, staying with my former husband is my only choice'

Propnex Realty chief executive officer Mohamed Ismail thinks that people like Madam Lim should cut their losses and move on. His advice: Sell the house immediately, split the proceeds and get a new place. If they can't afford to buy a new flat, then rent a flat. If they still can't afford that, then rent a room. Room rentals are as cheap as $300 now,' he said. What about divorced couples who are banking on property prices going up so that they do not have to sell at a loss?

He said: 'Even if they wait five to 10 years, there is no guarantee that property prices can ever go that high again. And they must remember that while waiting, they are still incurring interest on the flat.'

ndianah@sph.com.sg

Saturday September 16, 10:53 AM
Singapore's climb down on activists too late: NGOs

Singapore acted too late in finally agreeing to admit 22 activists whose accreditation for World Bank and International Monetary Fund meetings it had opposed, non-governmental organizations say.

The city-state's partial climb down late Friday followed stinging criticism from the World Bank in a controversy which activists say reinforces the city-state's image as a restrictive society, despite its economic success.

Singapore had said there were security concerns about 27 of the hundreds of activists accredited by the Bank and Fund as part of a long-standing dialogue between the financial institutions and their critics.

But it partially reversed its stand after Bank President Paul Wolfowitz said the issue had damaged the reputation of the city-state, which prides itself on its image as an efficiently-run regional commercial hub.

Singapore said 22 of the 27 activists would now be allowed entry.

The Bank welcomed Singapore's move but said it wants all 27 admitted "without delay" in line with a memorandum of understanding with the Singapore government.

"This gesture is, quite simply, too little too late. Expensive travel plans have already been undone, and many civil society organizations are unable to fly to Singapore on a moment's notice," said Romilly Greenhill, of the relief agency Action Aid International.

Lidy Nacpil, of the non-governmental organization (NGO) Jubilee South, agreed.

"Also, why only 22 of the 27?" she said on the Indonesian island of Batam, near Singapore, where more than 160 NGOs on Friday declared a boycott of the meetings in Singapore to protest the clampdown on free speech and banning of activists.

Wolfowitz said at a meeting with NGOs in Singapore on Friday that "enormous damage has been done ... A lot of that damage has been to Singapore and it's self-inflicted."

A few hours later, Singapore announced its climb down.

"Singapore apparently has realized that their image has been tarnished, to say the least," Nacpil said.

It was a rare reversal by the city-state which generally stands firm in the face of criticisms. Last year Singapore hanged an Australian drug trafficker despite a high-level diplomatic campaign to save the man's life.

The city-state's hard line against the NGOs "has underlined how cut off Singapore is from a world where free speech, free association and democratic choice are established norms of political association," said Walden Bello, executive director of Focus on the Global South, another NGO.

Singapore is "out of step with the times," Bello said.

Political stability has been the bedrock of the economic success of the city-state, which grew from a Third World country to become one of Asia's wealthiest nations.

Critics say this came at a price, in the form of restrictions on freedom of speech and political activity.

Sinapan Samydorai, president of local human rights group Think Centre, said the controversy over the activists "just strengthened that view that it's a very closed society when it comes to political rights."

He said Singapore should have been "more mature" and allowed the foreign protesters to make their point against the financial institutions.

Despite appeals from the Bank that accredited protesters be allowed to hold outdoor demonstrations, Singapore has refused to waive a long-standing ban on public protests.

Police have said tough security measures were necessary because the country is a high-profile "terrorist" target.

But NGOs said the measures -- enforced by 10,000 security personnel -- were directed toward local activists, not outsiders.

Bello said Singapore "fears the effect that civil society organizations criticizing and debating the IMF and World Bank might have on the citizens of Singapore."

A local opposition politician, Chee Soon Juan, was set to break the ban on outdoor protests Saturday.

He said the international community has begun to see the nature of Singapore's system.

"How do you expect to become a financial centre, a global hub... and yet be so repressive?" he said.

Thursday September 14, 6:40 PM
Singapore police probe three for IMF protest plan

SINGAPORE, Sept 14 (Reuters) - Three Singaporeans who were planning to distribute flyers criticising the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank were detained and their computers were seized, police said on Thursday.
Police said they received a tip-off that three Singaporeans may cause "disturbances" at the convention centre where the IMF and World Bank meetings are being held, and then traced the identity of the men "as a security precaution".

The trio were called for questioning on Wednesday.

"Some pamphlets concerning IMF-related issues and some computer hardware have been seized for investigation," police spokesman Mohamed Razif said.

The move comes after the World Bank's sharp criticism of Singapore's tough restrictions on civil society groups. The city state has refused to relax a longstanding ban on public demonstrations during the Sept 11-20 meetings.

Razif said they were investigating the case of the three men under the Printing and Processing Materials Act.

The act states that those who possess materials which contain "any incitement to violence or counselling disobedience to the law", would be jailed for up to three years or fined, or both.

Singapore - Face of the future citizen

Star, Malaysia
September 10, 2006

Insight Down South By Seah Chiang Nee

IN the 70s, it was Japan’s work ethics, then Germany’s technical efficiency, and a decade later it was Switzerland’s model that inspired Singaporean leaders to want to emulate.
Towards the late 90s, the aim was to become a global city like New York or London. This week, its founding father Lee Kuan Yew felt his country should have more fun and buzz, a “Paris of South East Asia”.

A lively city means more tourists and more jobs. “The Singapore that we had – very orderly, very wholesome, very clean – is not good enough.”

In the 41 years since independence, his ministers have been scouring the world looking for examples to follow or to avoid, but Lee’s concept of Paris-type nightlife marks his biggest personal transformation.

A week from his 83rd birthday, Lee has forced himself to change, at first a little, then quite drastically (except in politics).

He recognises that the world is far different from the days when he banned long hair and casinos and feels Singapore – for its survival – has to go along.

It isn’t that in old age, the traditionalist leader has turned liberal, far from it. It has everything to do with creating jobs and ensuring his country has a future.

Lee and his generation have done a tremendous job shaping Singapore to its current state, but it probably had a price. To critics, this single-minded economic push was at the expense of its cultural development.

Despite all the debates, there has never been a clear national cultural map. And now with the Internet and modern technology, it may be too late to do so – or at least that’s what Lee believes.

On Tuesday, the white-haired but still healthy leader said the new digital age was making it impossible to evolve a Singaporean culture, not now, and not in a few hundred years.

The implication of his message in a speech to 400 businessmen seems to be that the tremendous press-button influences of the Internet, TV, etc, are pulling and pushing cultures towards an unknown direction.

Lee has been a strong advocate of “Asian values” for Singapore, so what he said is surprising. He said the more likely outcome would be an “amalgam” of different influences.

“Before you had the time and the isolation to develop on your own and create something distinctive. Now you have to synthesise all the time. And out of the synthesis, make something, which is relevant to yourself and your future.”

He said the influences and interactions were constant on all fronts, whether it was watching television or books or online. “The basis of our culture is what we inherited from our original countries, our original cultures.”

Hence, the Singaporean is not a homogeneous product, he said, and admitted that the state did not have the confidence to create its own culture.

The republic now aspires to be a global city that attracts the best talents from the world. This is a long way from the squalid past in 1965 when Lee’s party began to debate what shape the country’s culture should take.

The late Sinnathamby Rajaratnam, the People’s Action Party theoretician and one-time culture minister, advocated a “melting pot” approach in which all the three main races would contribute.

Take a little from each ethnic ingredient, toss them into the pot, stir and – over time – a distinctly Singaporean culture would emerge from it.

Some Singaporeans believe this could work, and in fact bits and pieces of the concept go into food and fashion. After all, new breeds of fishes and flowers are cultured in this manner.

But a large-scale effort was rejected. The government feared that it would stir resentment from traditionalists objecting to the loss or assimilation of their respective cultures.

“No one wants to see his own race being changed, absorbed or replaced by something totally different” was the explanation. This objection still prevails.

Having a Chinese girl dressed in a Malay sarong kebaya dancing an Indian dance and calling it “Singapore culture” did not seem appetising.

Instead, Singapore opted for the separate growth of the main racial cultures as making up a national entity. Explanation: “Chinese, Malay and Indian cultures, old and established, are also part of Singaporean culture.”

To advocates of a Singaporean culture, this is disappointing. “It means no national culture,” one remarked.

What came out of the melting pot in the 80s was a worrisome creature to conservatives, something branded as the “McDonald’s kid”.

This refers to hordes of Western-educated teens who hang around fast-food outlets with cigarettes on their lips, straws in their pockets, and picking up the worst from American films and movies.

It was a sort of a sub-culture of sorts, dyed hair, permissive, fun-loving youths who shunned most things serious.

Several years ago, a survey of ethnic Chinese students here found that nearly a quarter wished they were not Chinese, but Caucasians or Japanese.

This contrasted sharply to their parents, among whom 95% said they wished to remain Chinese.

So, what does the future hold? Some Singaporeans disagree with Lee, insisting that a Singaporean identity and culture will develop over the long term.

But it has to evolve on its own rather than moulded by any government – and it will take decades.

They are certain that given a creative, free-spirited environment, a Singaporean form of songs, dances, literature, fashion, movies, and even humour, will take shape – and the Internet will help, not hinder, the process.

IMF and World Bank rebuke Singapore

Financial Times
September 8, 2006
By John Burton in SINGAPORE and Shawn Donnan in Jakarta


THE International Monetary Fund and World Bank on Friday, Sept 8, issued an unprecedented rebuke to Singapore over a ban on accredited activists invited to attend the annual meetings of the two financial institutions next week.
The IMF/World Bank suggested that Singapore had violated the terms of its agreement to host the event by blocking the entry of 19 civil society representatives, who allegedly posed a security threat.

"Singapore had promised to faciliate the entry of accredited representatives under the memorandum of understanding with us," a World Bank official said. The IMF/World Bank was only informed this week of Singapore's plans.

The crackdown is part of tough security measures that Singapore will implement during the September 11-20 meetings. The government will also ban all outdoor demonstrations and has warned it will shoot at violent protesters, citing the threat of terrorist attacks.

The incident represents a setback to the IMF/World Bank, which has sought to improve relations with non-governmental organisations that have accused them of conducting policies that have ignored the plight of the world's poor. A record 500 NGO representatives are accredited to attend this year's meeting.

"This is a major blow to the credibility of the IMF/World Bank. It's terribly embarrassing since the World Bank had adopted good goverance as the theme of this year's meeting," said Antonio Tricarrio with Campagna per la Riforma della Banca Mondiale, who was one of those banned.

Mr Tricarrio said he was "astounded" at Singapore's decision since his group was a widely-respected organisation that had never been associated with violent activities.

Some NGOs alleged that the IMF/World Bank, which holds its annual meetings outside Washington every three years, had selected Singapore as the venue for this year's meeting because of its authoritarian reputation. Previous IMF/World Bank meetings have been marred by violent protests.

Among those banned by Singapore were representatives from the UK-based World Development Movement, Thailand's Focus on the Global South, the Freedom from Debt Coalition in the Philippines and the Forum on Indonesian Development (Infid).

The IMF/World Bank said these "individuals have been cleared to attend the annual meetings by their respective governments and we have accredited them according to our standard procedure."

"We strongly urge the Singapore government to act swiftly and reverse their decision on entry and access to the meetings for these representatives, " the IMF/World Bank said in a joint statement.

The Singapore police force said this week that it had compiled a list of potential "troublemakers" who would be denied entry to the city-state. “Every country reserves the right to determine whether a foreigner would be eligible for entry into the country,” said the Singapore police on Friday.

Some NGOs had planned to hold rallies on the neighbouring Indonesian island of Batam because of the security measures in Singapore. But they were told this week by the local police that the protest would be banned because foreign groups were involved in violation of the law.

The chief of Indonesia’s national police, Sutanto, told reporters that NGOs would not be allowed to hold protests on Batam, although authorities would let them meet. “Seminars are welcome,” he said. “But there should be no political agenda, let alone rallies, because this could make foreigners think Indonesia is not safe for investment.”

September 8, 2006

Prostitution in Indonesia just a newspaper away
By Dewi Kurniawati

Jakarta - In Indonesia, newspaper readers who are tired of daily politics and endless domestic problems sometimes skip the headlines that makes them frown and turn to the classified advertisements.

It is both shocking and amusing.

'Would you like a second honeymoon? Call me, Rosita, a sweet and aggressive woman, sexy, bra size 36C, able to cure premature ejaculation, great service, 250 thousand rupiah (about 30 dollars), for hotel and motel only,' read an advertisement in Rakyat Merdeka daily, a widely circulated newspaper.

'I find it very funny, and I can't stop thinking how can people blatantly advertise themselves for prostitution like that in newspapers,' Budi Widiawanto, 29, a Jakarta bank employee, told Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa.

'Me and my friends talk and laugh about it, especially if we find men with the same name as us advertising themselves,' Budi said. 'I thought there was some kind of control mechanism within newspapers.'

Not really. The classified ads of many Indonesian newspapers are an open window for male and female prostitutes to solicit clients. Some ads even offer women from various professions such as secretaries, models or sales promotion girls to boost their sales.

'I feel so insulted that they have misused my profession for prostitution ads like that,' Frida Attila, 29, a secretary in Jakarta, told dpa. 'They're taking advantage of the old stereotype of a secretary who is just attractive but has no skills, and it's not like that nowadays,' she said. 'Of course it's one part of secretarial work to provide service - but not that kind of service.'

After being unshackled following the fall of dictator President Suharto in 1998, Indonesia's media has blossomed into hundreds of publications that are free of government censorship or interference.

'Yes, of course I notice those ads and it's totally against the journalistic ethic code,' said RH Siregar, deputy chairman of Indonesian Press Council.

'Unfortunately, there are segments of readers who are looking for those kind of ads, there is a market demand and obviously, of course, an economic consideration,' he said adding that the council has no power to stop the practice. 'It's not like the old days.'

During Suharto's 32-year regime, a special department in the Ministry of Information could revoke at will the licenses of publications that displeased the government.

'Now, we can only attempt to persuade the media; no repressive action can be taken,' Siregar said.

Surprisingly, classified sex ads fall below the radar screen in the ongoing debate within Indonesian society about morals and personal freedoms. Indonesia is the world's largest Muslim-majority nation, but its government is secular and the country has large minorities of Christians, Hindus and Buddhists.

Hard-line Islamic groups, backed by Muslim-based political parties, are attempting to impose their version of morality on the country, including a controversial anti-pornography bill that bans public kissing and jails women for wearing skirts.

These groups have violently protested the new Indonesian edition of Playboy magazine, even though the publication does not show nudity. The magazine was forced to relocate its editorial offices from Jakarta to Bali after rock-throwing protestors attacked its building following the release of the first edition in April.

On the other side of the fence, thousands of people from various cultural groups, including artists and performers, have rallied against the proposed law. The legislation, initially proposed in 1999, is strongly supported by orthodox Muslim groups, but its vague definitions allows for multiple interpretations.

Some provinces, such as Hindu-majority Bali, flatly reject the draft, saying it does not accommodate local cultures and tries to push a certain religious belief.

The articles on public dress and restrictions on nudity in the media and art are particularly controversial. Women who bare their shoulders or legs, or artists who include nudity in their work, could be prosecuted and thrown in jail for up to 10 years.

Amazingly, no Islamic group has made a peep about the classified ads. And some of the publications that run them insist they are a form of expression in Indonesia's more open society and one of many ways readers can interact with their newspapers.

Many newspapers run personal ads from people looking for companionship, not necessarily just offering sex for money.

'The idea at first was to help our readers find their soul mate, although I realize it is a bit slanted these days,' said Karyono, the advertisement manager of Non-stop daily newspaper.

Karyono, who like many Indonesians goes by one name, said his newspaper, with a circulation of 125,000 copies, allows readers to submit personal ads via mobile phone text message.

'It depends on how you look at it,' he said. 'Sure it may violate ethics codes, but I know someone who found his wife from those ads. After all, it has a good impact on people's lives.'

Sept 3 2006

A colleague of mine encounters this personally....feel so unworth for her...
So friends...do keep a lookout and watch out for such a shop....

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hello Friends,

I just want to share with you a terrible experience we had when we traded-in my mother-in law cellphone at the CYBER JIN Pte Ltd (Lucky Plaza #B1-81,near 7-eleven) this weekend.

The story goes like this; my Mom wanted to trade-in her old cellphone to buy a brand new N70. We accompanied her to the Lucky Plaza hoping we could get a good bargain. Then we found this store that agreed to buy my
Mom's cellphone for $220 and would charge us only $550 (net) for an N70 under the condition that we do both transactions (buy and sell) with them. So far, this store offers us the best bargain compared to other stores from the rest of the building.

We agreed to their transaction proposal as we were then in a bit of a hurry (she was only a tourist and would stay in Singapore for only 4-days). However, when we were about to pay, the salesman suddenly told us "Why do you want an N70? This is a very bad phone. In fact this is one of the most problematic phones of Nokia." He immediately caught our attention and in fact gained our trust (imagine a salesman telling you that a product you are about to buy from him is not worth the money you are paying it for). He then proceeded to make his presentation about why
we should not buy an N70 and even said "If you really want it I can sell it to you but please know that we've heard a lot of complains about it". Afterwards, he brought out an N6280, which he said was by far a better phone than the N70 at almost the same price (he even gave another short presentation of its advantages). Of course, since he already gained our trust, we found his presentation very convincing. We bargained for the phone and he said "I can give it to you at just $555 (net)".

After being impressed by a convincing presentation, my Mom agreed to trade-in her old cellphone for $220, and buys the brand new N6280 for $555(This means that she just would have to shell out another $335). We told the salesman that we would pay by Nets and we gave him our card. While paying, he tried to sell to us a 64Mb mini-SD Card for $20. We said we did not want it (as my mother wouldn't use it anyway). We proceeded with the transaction, got our phone and asked for the receipt. The salesman said that the Nets certificate would be our receipt. Should
we encounter any problem, we just look for him and he would be happy to assist us. Since we are in a hurry, we took our phone and nets certificate and left. While we were leaving, he handed us the 64Mb mini-SD Card and said "Take this as a free gift from me".

After a long day of sight seeing and a little shopping, we finally got home and my mom finally had her first chance to test her new cellphone. To her surprise, the supposedly brand-new cellphone had contact numbers (some even had photo-contacts) of some people in its phone memory (meaning it was used and wasn't brand new!). We then checked the phone's serial number (IMEI#) and again to our dismay, we found out that the phone's IMEI# doesn't match the IMEI# listed in the box. We did a research to see what other things the salesman tricked us into believing and we found out that the 64Mb SD Card that he was trying to sell us for $20 was in fact part of the phone's original package (some other things listed as part of the original package as seen from brochures were also missing). Not just that, we checked the Nets certificate, and learned that he charged $355 instead of just $335 (so sneaky, we didn't even
notice!). Worst of all, we found that the price of the N6280 from neighboring stores is just $450(net) while he sold it to us for a total of $575! (Including the extra $20 we did not notice that he charged us through Nets).

Imagine how disappointed my Mom would be after knowing that she bought a cellphone that is not just $100+ overpriced but is also isn't brand new as we were made to believe (plus the fact that some of the components
from the original package were removed and the that salesman charged more than what we had agreed).

The next day, we went back to the store to complain and get a refund. The salesman said that he couldn't give us a refund. What he can do is to buy the cellphone we bought from him a day ago for $575, and give us ONLY $300 (does he think we're that stupid!!!)... We did not agree and insisted a REFUND; during our discussion one of his colleagues shouted, "Give them a new box so that they would leave!!!" (He's so rude!) I don't know how stupid these people think we are if all we came for was to get a new box.... I told them that if they wouldn't refund our money,
we would report this matter to the police. They just gave an insulting grim and said "Go ahead, we'll see you in court" and then one of them lit a cigarette (inside the shop), and smoked in front of us and along the hallways of the mall (while wearing that insulting smile) as if telling us that he is not scared of the police. In fact, he can smoke in a "No Smoking Zone".

While we were leaving (to complain to the police) we came across an Indian couple who owns souvenir shop nearby and told us that this (our incident) happens almost every week. The Indian lady said that this store always gets complains from tourists but are always able to get away with it because tourists usually would just go away. She also said that this store avoids (if they can) giving receipts to unsuspecting customers to cover their fraudulent transactions. She suggested that if we can, we should complain these people to the authorities because they make Singapore look bad. We went to the security department of Lucky Plaza and the security people helped us contact the police. The Lucky Plaza security people also admitted that this always happens but it's just not their jurisdiction so they really cannot do anything about these incidents other than making a report to the police. The security people also advised that it is illegal for a store not to issue a proper receipt detailing all transactions to a customer. This means that the
Nets certificate that we have (although having the store name and address) is not a valid receipt after all.

The police came, talked to us and told us to wait for them at the security counter of the mall while they went to the store and talked to these people. We told the police that we want a refund because we were cheated and do not trust these people or any of their products anymore. We also reported that the store did not issue a proper receipt. The
police went to the store, talked to the manager and came back to tell us that the manager's suggestion was to give us a new N6280 (one that matches the IMEI of box and the unit!!!) so that all of these would be settled. We told the police that we want a refund and we don't want to do any business with them. Then, the Police suggested that we file our complaints to CASE, because they are not the right person for these kinds of situations.

As of now, we are gathering all evidence we can that could help when we file our complaint to CASE. We are hoping that the Nets certificate that we have will suffice as one of our evidences. We are no longer interested of the refund, what we want now is to teach these crooks a lesson so that they will stop cheating other people.

Let this email be a warning to you and your friends. Always check a product very well (research if possible) before buying and always make sure you get a 'detailed receipt' of all your transactions.

Never fall prey on these predators waiting for unsuspecting customers.

India home for 60 percent of Asia's HIV cases

By M Rama Rao
August 31, 2006

New Delhi - India is home to nearly 60 per cent of the 5.5 million people afflicted with AIDs in Asia, and with in the country, almost 70 per cent of the victims are concentrated in just eight states, latest studies show.

Unprotected commercial sex and injecting drugs are most commonly cited reasons for the severity in magnitude and scope of the HIV in India, though its prevalence varies greatly between and within districts, and even across villages in the same areas, says the World Bank, which studied the phenomenon in great detail to bring into sharp focus the challenges South Asia is facing in curbing the spread of the epidemic.

Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Goa, and Maharashtra have a large percentage of Aids cases. "Sex work is the critical driver of HIV transmission in these states". Northeastern states also have a high concentration of Aids cases particularly in Mizoram, Nagaland, and Manipur; in these states injecting drug use is a major driver of transmission.

Evidence is growing of significant rural epidemics in parts of India and Nepal, but knowledge is lacking of HIV prevention needs and service delivery patterns in South Asia's rural settings. "Understanding rural epidemics and configuring an effective response to them constitute a major challenge," according to the World Bank.

The study highlights a home truth in so far India is concerned. "Throughout India, tackling stigma and discrimination toward people engaging in high-risk behaviors and those living with HIV remains vital".

It calls for tailoring and applying focused strategies to reduce HIV transmission amongst vulnerable segments on a priority.

Uneven Development

In another report titled "India Development Policy Review", the World Bank has some interesting findings, which will not please the Union Health Ministry. Even for the medical fraternity as well.

"While India's economy is booming, its healthcare, education, water, power and transport appears to be deteriorating", it says and adds "India's full immunization rates have fallen over the past five years".

Other finds are no less uncomplimentary.

A typical doctor at a Primary Health Center in Delhi is less competent than a counter part in Tanzania, and substantially less so than the one in Indonesia.

Almost two-thirds of children in government primary schools cannot read a simple story, and half of them cannot solve simple numerical problems.

While the prosperous states have poverty rates that are comparable with the richer Latin American countries, the poorest states are mired at Sub-Saharan African levels of poverty. And, the gap is growing.

The services sector is booming but agricultural productivity is declining constraining the growth of the rural economy - a fact Indian government has conceded on the floor of parliament and is now grappling with the uphill task of reversing the trend.

Korea's first Sexpo gets underway in Seoul

August 31, 2006


Models pose for a photo to promote the first 2006 Seoul Sex Education Expo at the Millennium Seoul Hilton in Seoul.
The 2006 Seoul Sex Education Expo, which ostensibly seeks to enlighten the public about sexual health, will run Thursday to Sunday at the SETEC in Daechidong, Seoul.

The 2006 Seoul Sexpo will feature seminars on sex, medical consultations, exhibitions of sex toys and accessories, lingerie fashion show, strip shows, a nude photo zone, kissing competitions and other events that provide visitors with the opportunity to experience most of what the adult industry has to offer, the sponsors say.

For the expo, 11 famous nude models including Penthouse Pets and Hustler models have come to Korea, and met the press at a promotional event on Tuesday. The original Sexpo has been held in Australia for 10 years now as an event for the adult industry to exhibit itself, and has also now spread to Singapore and other countries.


The Seoul Sexpo, which has the domestic rights, says it hopes to "provide accurate information about sex, foster a more open approach towards sex, and search for a means of revitalizing the flagging domestic adult industry." Critics say the event is just a pretext to flog pornography. Those over 19 years of age may attend for W15,000 (US$1=W961).

The nude photo zone, where entrants can admire nudes from the leading adult magazines and even take pictures with glamour models, will cost an additional W20,000. "Sex shouldn't be handled in a secretive, closed-off manner any more," the organizers say, adding the expo aims to anchor a "healthy sex culture." They appealed to the public to approach it with an open mind.

Group dating popular among white collar in China

August 31, 2006

Hu Liu blushed when a young man came up to ask for her phone number. Dressed in a Chinese gown, with delicate makeup, Hu sat quietly in her chair, a little out of place in the bustling atmosphere inside the hall. She timidly answered the man's questions.

Beside her at the same table, a young woman was animatedly discussing dinner plans for that evening with a man. Hu, 26, an introverted single Beijinger and taking part for the first time in a group dating session with 699 people available for marriage, was not quite accustomed to the event.

Hu, a budget accountant with the China State Construction Engineering Corporation, is obviously not a social animal. "I am at the age to seriously think of marriage," she said, "but it's hard for me to meet and get to know guys." There are few young men in her company and she stays home in her spare time. She has seen several guys introduced by her colleagues, but they never met again after the first date.

"People always have a certain purpose in one-to-one dating," Hu said. "If they find the person is not their type, they won't waste any time." That's why she tried the group dating session held by the Beijing Municipal Women's Federation.

"I am less nervous sitting among hundreds of people," Hu said. "I like the easy atmosphere."

The activity, held over weekends, is the biggest the federation has ever organized, but it pales compared with some others.

On April 22, 12,658 people took part in a group dating in Ningbo of Zheijiang, and nearly 10,000 showed up for one in Shanghai on May 20. The agencies charge each participant 10-150 yuan (USD $1.25-18.75) for entrance tickets to parks, food and drink, and other expenses including files on each participant.

"We don't make money out of the participants, but from sponsorship from studios, hotels and marriage service companies," said Xu Xiaoming, organizer of a 10,000-people dating event in Nanjing, the capital of Jiangsu Province.

Xu said that companies sponsoring the group dates were aiming at potential customers for their products and services.

Wu Xiuping, former vice-chairman of the women's federation, said more than 300 couples have tied the knot since the federation began to organize such activities three years ago.

The great popularity of group dating is no surprise since there are nearly 1 million single, young and available urban residents in Beijing and Shanghai, most of whom are well-educated, white-collar workers.

Frequently working overtime under pressure has isolated young people in the metropolises, leaving them no time to make friends and communicate with the world outside their companies," Wu said.

In the activity Hu took part in, participants were divided into 41 teams. In each team, everyone had one minute to stand up and introduce themselves to the others, and some of them were asked by the compere to sing a song or tell a story to break the ice. Then all 700 people could ask for a phone number. Hu had three requests. Hu hadn't decided who was her Mr Right, but she said her ideal other half is a man who's not afraid to share his feelings with her.

Another female participant was less fortunate than Hu.

Ren Qun, a 28-year-old civil servant, who holds a master's degree in business administration, had quit early because she wasn't interested in the men at her table. Nevertheless, Ren believes the activity is a "good and safe way to make friends," compared with gatherings arranged by some private dating agencies.

Ren had tried some "private dating clubs" where dozens of singles meet each weekend to discuss certain topics together.

"People can get a clearer impression of each other at those clubs," Ren said. "However, it's not easy to know the real background of the participants."

That's also why she doesn't want to look for a boyfriend on the Internet.

Ren said she trusted the activities organized by institutions like the women's federation as the organizers check the participants' resumes with their ID card numbers and other documents to verify their identities and backgrounds.

"I'll ask my single female friends to come together next time," Ren said.

Wu Xiuping said it seems group dating is especially popular with women.

"Women have to study and work harder to succeed in society; therefore, many girls have missed the best time for husband hunting," Wu said, adding that about 60 percent of the registered members of the organization's dating activities were female.

A survey of 4,000 single middle class women found 57 percent hoped to marry before 30, and only 5 percent preferred to stay single. Two-thirds cited difficulties of finding an appropriate man, and most said they felt lonely.

Hu said she often feels bored during the weekends when there is nothing to do but watch TV or surf the Internet at home.

"I'm afraid I'll forget how to talk to people if I do that much more," Hu said, forcing a smile.

Although not optimistic about its success rate, she expects group dating to breathe fresh air into her life.

"At least," she said, "I can make some female friends who are like me."

Vietnam: Prostitution ring for foreigners found

August 26, 2006

Hanoi police have raided a big prostitution network serving foreigners, arresting 31 people, including five foreigners.

While searching the Ngoc Huong Inn and Dan Ly Hotel on Dao Tan street, Ba Dinh district, police caught five prostitutes with their clients, red-handed.

Through the declarations of those people, police arrested 11 people at Café 56 in Ngoc Khanh ward, Ba Dinh street, including broker Nguyen Hong Phuong, 35, and 10 people at Ha Anh Karaoke Bar, including broker Nguyen Thi Khanh, 25.

Both Café 56 and Ha Anh Karaoke Bar are owned by Tang Thi Ngoc Yen, 41. Those cafés have been operating without licences for over three years.

According to police, prostitutes mainly stay at Café 56. As clients come, they will bargain the price, which ranges from ask US$40-70. After that, they ask the permission of broker Nguyen Hong Phuong.

This network only provides prostitutes for foreigners. The goal of brokers in this ring is to attract foreigners to their café and bar, which offers products and services at high prices. Brokers don't take 'fees' from prostitutes.

Malaysia: Sex in the university

By: Chong Lip Teck
August 26, 2006

A lecturer from MARA Polytechnic University conducted a study on the sexual habits of 18-25 year old students from 4 national and private universities. The results showed that 50% of Malaysian university students were sexually active.

This is hardly surprising. If your housemate is a university student or you are the landlord of a university student, or if you have a relative or friend who is a university student, you would find that cohabitation is a common practice among these students. They will even tell you about their sex lives without any reservations.

You also shouldn't be surprised that the study results indicated 80% of university students do not use birth control methods. Our schools do not provide any sex education courses and parents have never taught their children about how to avoid unwanted pregnancies, so it is only natural that youths do not have adequate sexual knowledge.

Thanks to advancements in technology, we now have all kinds of information at our fingertips. We can access all kinds of data on the internet with a single mouse click. Pornographic discs are readily available at the pasar malam and pasar tani as well as in shopping centres. The hip youth culture espoused in HK, American, Japanese, Korean films and TV series convey ideas about sex and sexuality that emphasise a lack of responsibility or accountability.

Another study showed that primary and secondary school children who did not even know where babies came from had admitted to engaging in sexual acts. They were simply imitating the actions they saw in pornographic films, without being aware of the risks and results of such actions. When the media went to interview a private clinic, a girl in secondary school uniform was seen coming in for an abortion. The newspapers also frequently carry news reports about babies that were thrown into toilet bowls or abandoned in rubbish bins.

These university students who claim to be adults said they understood about taking precautions and accepting responsibility, yet there are those among them who would abandon their babies. Of course, there are also those among them who would marry, give birth to the child and build a family. It all depends on whether these youths had been given the proper education at the proper time about sex and gender relations.

The new generation's idea of sex is open and uninhibited, they are intent only on the pursuit of sexual pleasure while ignoring notions of safe sex, responsibility and proper relations between the two genders. They are not wholly to blame, as no channel exists to instil in them proper ideas and knowledge about sexual relations.

It is vital that sex education classes be held in primary and secondary schools. The Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development is eager to get started. It only awaits approval and help from the Cabinet and the Ministry of Education. Hopefully, such classes will soon become a reality.

A few parents have actually started educating their own children about sex, but most parents are reluctant to talk about the subject. Some of them feel that sex education should be taught by the schools.

With the increase of double-income families where both parents are busy with their work, the time that children spend alone by themselves has also increased. Without urging from their parents, the chance for communication and sharing between parents and their children is almost zero. What parents really need is guidance on how to communicate with and educate their children, instead of just being made to shoulder the blame for their children's misdeeds.

A large portion of our society, including youths and their parents, have never received any formal sex education. Sex education shouldn't just be confined to a class held in schools, but should include parents, providing them with the correct idea about sex and how to handle problems related to their children's sexuality. Schools and parents must work together to instil society with proper knowledge and ideas regarding sex.

The government has actually already conducted many workshops dealing with youth and family problems and has enthusiastically implemented various community activities related to these subjects. Perhaps they simply did not promote such activities well enough, so that many people did not know such activities existed. When the government carries out such activities it should try to get community and religious activities involved and benefit more people.

The lack of sexual knowledge and safe sex practices amongst our youth is hardly anything new. It is also not the first time that such a study has been conducted on Malaysians, whether as university students or regular citizens. The important thing about the study is not the figures, but the information it has grasped.

In this age of globalisation and information proliferation, we cannot avoid being negative and positively affected in various ways. The best way to deal with this outpouring of information is by analysing it and knowing what benefits us and what we need to improve on. We should avoid conducting studies that merely end up as a collection of statistics in a report without providing any solutions. Hopefully, the next study that is conducted will be filled with new information instead of just packed with doubts.

Pakistan cracks down on groups duping women into prostitution

By Ashfaq Ahmed
August 21, 2006

Dubai - Pakistan's Federal Investigation Agency has started taking stringent measures against people involved in sending women to the UAE to work in the sex industry.

The clampdown started following complaints from the Pakistan Consulate General in Dubai, which reported a number of cases to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) in Islamabad.

"The FIA has caught an agent involved in trafficking women from Pakistan to Dubai through a report from the Pakistan Consulate in Dubai," said a senior diplomat, who did not want to be identified.

He said that an agent identified as Khalid was arrested by the FIA on his arrival at Islamabad Airport from Dubai.

"We informed the FIA official in Islamabad after questioning a woman who came to the Consulate complaining that some men had tried to force her into prostitution," he said.

According to the woman who went to the Consulate for help, she was duped by a person whom she met in Lahore a few months ago.

"He promised me a job but when I landed here he forced me into prostitution," said the woman, who managed to escape from the man's house 15 days after her arrival.

"We immediately took action and came to know that the accused was already on his way to Islamabad. He was arrested by the FIA officials soon after landing," the official said.

The Consulate recovered the woman's passport, bought her a ticket and sent her home within a few days.

Sources at the Consulate told Gulf News that the number of cases of women being forced into prostitution had increased in the past few months.

"Earlier, we rarely received any such cases in a year, but over the last few months, at least three to four cases have been brought to our notice in a month. In many cases the women themselves came to us," he said.

He said the Consulate is in touch with the FIA and immediately reports these cases to them.

The campaign was intensified after a recent visit to Dubai by the Additional Director-General of the FIA Tariq Khosa. Khosa held meetings with Consulate officials as well as officials from Dubai authorities to discuss issues of human trafficking and cooperation on this issue. He also briefed the officials about action being taken by the FIA to curb the menace.

According to Khosa, the FIA arrested 1,006 agents in Pakistan in 2005 involved in human trafficking.

He said an anti-trafficking unit had been set up by the FIA to handle human trafficking cases, with special reference to women and children.

In October 2002, the Pakistan government passed a law that criminalises all aspect of trafficking. It is the first law of its kind in Pakistan.

A Pakistan Consulate General official has said the community should cooperate with the mission in identifying people involved in bringing women for prostitution.

"We're trying to end the menace from its roots in Pakistan and are trying to catch hold of the agents involved in this dirty business back home," he said.

Sex trade a lucrative in Malaysia


By Andrew Sagayam
August 1, 2006

Kuala Lumpur - The lucrative sex trade is attracting not only local but also foreign women, some as young as 14 years old, with vice syndicates in the country raking in at least RM1mil daily.

Police findings have shown that these syndicates are operated by locals with international connections.

The younger and better looking sex workers are branching out on their own and are able to command three times or even more from their clients.

According to police, sex workers are coming to Malaysia from all over the world, with China, Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines providing the largest numbers.

Other source countries include Russia, Uzbekistan and India while syndicates have started taking in more Vietnamese women following "current market demand".

Given the situation, Bukit Aman's anti-vice, gaming and secret societies division has set up a special task force to crack down on these syndicates.

Division head Senior Asst Comm (II) Sidin Abdul Karim said the police needed public assistance now more than ever in their fight to wipe out vice syndicates.

The syndicates, he said, had created websites and placed advertisements in newspapers on the pretext of offering escort services and were sending sex workers to nightspots to pick up clients.

They had also moved on from just operating in hotels and budget motels, he added,

"It is getting harder to track them down as most are now working from apartments and condominiums and through door-to-door delivery to avoid detection.

"That's why we need the public's help. If people notice suspicious activities taking place in their housing area, they should contact us," he said.

SAC Sidin said the women were smuggled into the country through various means, both legal and illegal.

In some cases, he said, they were brought in as maids and later referred to local pimps.

"The local pimps have connections with vice syndicates overseas, and their foreign counterparts will have also informed women coming to Malaysia to contact them for better jobs," he added.

Sex workers are also known to have entered the country hidden in the baggage compartment on buses, which are seldom checked by Immigration officers. Others have used fake passports as well as student and tourist visas.

SAC Sidin urged the public to contact the Rakan COP hotline at 03-2115 9999, send an SMS to 32728 or go to the nearest police station if they had information on vice activities.

In their efforts to wipe out vice, police have smashed 428 vice syndicates operating nationwide since 2000 and rescued an average of one sex worker every other day since 2004.

Since 2000, police have arrested 30,107 sex workers of various nationalities in 84,359 raids nationwide, but the number of sex workers operating at any one time cannot be established as they are constantly on the move.


 

Arabs encouraged to pay for sex with women in Indonesia


July 5, 2006

Jakarta - Indonesia's vice president said he saw nothing wrong with Arab men paying local women to marry and then divorcing them days or hours later, and suggested the practice - dismissed by critics as legalized prostitution - could boost tourism.

Jusuf Kalla made the off-the-cuff remarks at a travel industry seminar on how to attract more Arab visitors to Indonesia. It was not clear whether he was joking, though his comments caused laughter in the audience.

Kalla said that many Arab tourists currently traveled to the hill town of Puncak near Jakarta to enter into short-term marriage contracts with Indonesian women.

"We need different kinds of marketing campaigns, more targeted. At the moment most Arabs go to Puncak. If they go there looking for widows or divorcees, that is not our business, it is not a problem."

"So what if the man goes home, the lady gets a small house that is good isn't it?"

Women activists say the weddings, which are not recognized by the state but are blessed by Islamic clerics for a fee, they are a form of legalized prostitution and encourage poor families to sell their daughters for sex.

Media reports say the practice is common throughout Indonesia, and that most of the grooms are local men.

Puncak is notorious for prostitution, and signs in Arabic at several restaurants and hotels testify to the area's popularity with Arab visitors. But it was unclear on what Kalla was basing his assertion that Arab men were especially involved in short-term marriages.

Kalla was not available for comment Thursday, and he does not have a spokesman.

Associated Press

Ever seen a karung guni woman dressed like this?
One Jurong resident has. He says: She offered me 'extra services'
June 29, 2006

THIS karung guni woman wears perfume, sexy clothes and offers extras - right at your doorstep. She has been going around HDB flats in Jurong, pretending to buy old items, but that is actually a cover for her to offer massage services.

HOT PANTS

She wears heavy make-up and is clad in a pair of hot pants and cleavage-revealing top.
She holds a horn in one hand to look like a karung guni woman.
But as soon as a man answers the door, she turns on her charm and offers the extra services, reported Lianhe Wanbao.

A resident in Jurong, Mr Huang, told the newspaper that about a month ago, a long-haired woman who seemed to be in her 30s came knocking on his door, asking if he had any old newspapers to sell. Not only was she dressed sexily, she was also wearing a lot of perfume. She didn't look like a karung guni person at all, he told Lianhe Wanbao.

When he replied that he did not have any newspapers to sell, the woman started asking him questions about his family. In no time, she popped the question - do you want me to give you a massage? The administrative executive, 40, declined. But she did not back off.
She kept persuading him, saying that her services were very cheap. But I kept telling her I was not interested. I even told her I had only $20 to $30 on me and couldn't afford a massage, said Mr Huang.

He added that from her accent, he could tell she was from China. She did not give up and replied: Don't say that. I accept loose change too. Mr Huang, a Jurong resident, said that a sexy "karang guni woman" offered to give him "whatever he wanted". LIANHE WANBAO She even tried to enter the flat.

At one time, she asked to use the toilet. Then, she asked for some water to drink. And all the time, she would be fiddling with her hair seductively and touching his hand, which was on the gate. She kept emphasizing that her skills were superb, and that I would definitely be very satisfied, said Mr Huang. Half in jest, I asked her how satisfied I would be. She replied that whatever I wanted, I would get. He was put off by her tactics. Besides, he also feared for his safety.

I don't know who's lying in ambush nearby. What if they barge in as soon as I open the door? It's always good to be cautious,' he reasoned. The woman was not deterred by his indifference and continued persuading him.

In the end, Mr Huang came up with an excuse and said he had an old computer which he wanted to sell and asked if she was interested. I think after that, it finally sank in that I would not succumb to temptation and rele