You guys are all amazing. I just want to say that.
I want to ask Ms. Siew a question.
We know about rape as a weapon in war. It appalls me. When I hear it was used as a weapon of war within my own country and armed forces.... You're from 1975. I think we're of a similar vintage.
You said:
I can state that overall the military, forced into this change in the 1970s, did so begrudgingly and with an unwillingness to accommodate women. They maintained this posture for as long as they possibly could. They proactively dismissed, mistreated, humiliated and even hurt us.
Both policy and culturally based barriers set conditions for abuse and harassment—physical, mental and sexual—and negated our voices.
Yours is the first one, out of all the testimonies from those who have come out, to say that so clearly. I think you have the foundation, experience and grounds to speak to this.