Senior lawyer Thio Su Mien stood up to respond to the jibes on why she had declared herself the 'feminist mentor' of the women who seized control of the Association of Women for Action and Research (Aware) in March.

She had called herself that when she revealed on April 23 her key role in bringing about Aware's sudden leadership change.

Dr Thio, Ms Josie Lau and five others on the executive committee booted out yesterday all attend the Anglican Church of Our Saviour in Margaret Drive.

Yesterday, amid loud boos and objections, she held up a 2007 book that Aware had published on the women's movement here and pointed out that she was mentioned as the first woman dean of the Law Faculty - from 1969 to 1971 - at the then-University of Singapore.

Holding up the book, she said she felt 'very charmed' to have been included.

As the booing and jeering continued, Dr Thio told the crowd: 'Show some respect to your elders.'

Someone in the audience responded: 'You have to earn respect.'

Dr Thio had sent out e-mail messages encouraging women to join Aware and change it, but she maintained yesterday it was no 'covert operation'.

Old guard leaders had said that most of the people who came to the March 28 annual general meeting were unknown new faces, and they voted solidly for unknown new faces who took over without saying who they were, or why they were in Aware.

But Dr Thio yesterday accused long-time members of having fallen asleep.

'You were not interested in your organisation...So don't blame others...don't blame other people. You are not interested. You are not interested!'

She wanted to continue, but she was drowned out by chants of 'Your three minutes are up, three minutes, three minutes.'

Later, she told The Sunday Times she was surprised by the 'anger' and 'vehemence' she felt from the Aware members.

'It's very scary,' she said. 'What is happening to women in Singapore?'

This article was first published in The Sunday Times.