Asean to include human rights body in charter

Senior diplomats drafting the proposed Asean charter had struggled over the weekend to settle differences on the inclusion of the human rights body in the document, with strong objections by Burma impeding progress.

Until late Sunday, no consensus was reached among the diplomats.

Human rights clause falters - The Nation

But at the meeting of the foreign ministers on Monday, the differences were apparently ironed out.

"At the ministers' level we have a consensus. We have agreed to establish a human rights body," Singapore Foreign Minister George Yeo told reporters during a break from the session.

Philippine Foreign Secretary Alberto Romulo said the ministers have already ordered the high-level task force (HLTF) drafting the charter to include a provision on the establishment of the human rights body.

"Among the issues on which there was consensus among the Asean foreign ministers is the inclusion of a provision in the Asean charter that mandates the creation of human rights body," he said.

"We have instructed the HLTF to include this provision in the draft charter," he added.

Romulo, however, could not say when the body would be created.

The Philippines, the chairman of the meetings, had pushed for the creation of a human rights commission and decision-making by voting under the proposed charter as a bid to boost Asean's credibility.

However, Burma opposed the measures amid concerns that these would violate Asean's cardinal policy of non-interference on internal matters and its consensus-based approach to decision making.

Other newer members Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam only raised concern over when the human rights body would be created, according to diplomats.

The other Asean members - Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand - have been in support of the creation of the human rights body from the start.

Founded in 1967 at the height of the Vietnam War and Cold War, Asean provided newly independent states in South-East Asia a forum to engage each other and to deal with other powers as a single entity.

It played a key role strengthening the trust among the highly diverse people and governments in the region, as well strengthened cultural, economic and economic ties.

Its non-interference policy to internal affairs of member countries and consensus-based approach worked well in maintaining the cohesiveness of the organisation during the Cold War.

 But in January, Asean leaders signed a blueprint for a charter that would transform it into a rules-based organisation, improve its decision-making process and set up a legal framework to restructure its existing mechanism.

Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo said she and other Asean leaders were looking forward to receiving the draft of the charter during their summit in Singapore in November.

"Building the Asean community and voice is a long-term endeavour," she said in a keynote speech at the meeting. "There are no short cuts or quick fixes. But we are determined and will persevere to build a community that will provide a more secure, stable and prosperous life for all people."

Analysts have said that the adoption of a legally binding charter will make the Asean more effective and efficient in terms of delivering its decision on key issues.

Former Philippine president Fidel Ramos, a member of the Eminent Persons Group that developed the blueprint for the proposed Asean charter, had warned that unless Asean takes bold changes in its traditional ways, its relevance might be diminished.

"Although Asean is one of the most successful regional organisations today, there is no guarantee that it can maintain its relevance in the coming decades and remain a driving force in regional cooperation," he said.//dpa