Asean chief calls for patience in human rights development

By Pravit Rojanaphruk, Subhatra Bhumiprabhas, The Nation, February 23, 2009 

Asked whether it would take 230 years - like the US Constitution - before the Asean Charter would bring about human rights, democracy, the rule of law and respect for fundamental rights, Asean secretary general Surin Pitsuwan said "he's not a dreamer" but will have to "coordinate" many issues.  

Surin made the remark at a meeting with the Asean People's Forum, attended by 1,000 activists from the region which concluded yesterday. 

Many demands were made and topics covered, ranging from: human rights and democracy in Burma, migrant workers, rights of indigenous people, rights of the disabled, the environment, food crisis and more. 

Surin said he told US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in their recent meeting that it took 200 years before the Barack Obama became president, although the US Constitution stated from the onset that all men are created equal. 

 "I'm not here as a dreamer. You are single-issue constituency. You can be as passionate as you want because you only have one issue to focus on…I think sarcasm is out of place here." 

 Surin spent most of the time being diplomatic and accommodating, saying he's ready to listen and work with civil society in the region to tackle all problems, including Burma. He said civil society is regarded as a socio-cultural pillar of Asean and without this firm third pillar, the first two pillars of Asean- the political and economic - cannot be fully realised. 

 He appealed to the gathering, heavily funded by the Thai Foreign Ministry, to make the Asean Charter a "living charter" and said there's space for civil society to participate, even though it is not formally recognised in the charter. 

 "[The Charter was] written for you and signed in your name. Ten leaders signed this [document] on November 21, 2007 in Singapore. You hold them responsible for the words they have used," he said, because the leaders signed it in the name of the people. 

 "All of us will share the responsibility for not moving it forward to become the people-oriented Asean." 

 Surin was asked how civil society can make him "accountable for all the nice words that [he] said" because they cannot sue Surin. The secretary-general again said it won't take 230 years, but urged civil society organisations not to "undermine each other's effort." 

 On Burma, Surin was on the defensive when asked whether any good had come from Burma being part of Asean. Surin said Burma's membership of Asean enabled the international community and the UN to help Burma with cyclone Nargis. 

 The junta-sponsored constitution "is not written by us or for us but by them," said Khin Ohmar, a woman Burmese political dissident based in Chiang Mai. 

 Some shouted "Free Burma!" several times. There were also shouts of "No FTA" as some participants said FTA benefits the rich at the expense of ordinary farmers and poor people. 

 Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya said over the past 15 years, civil society has moved Thailand into becoming a democracy.