Burma pulls down ASEAN

by Nem Davies
Tuesday, 22 July 2008 21:56

New Delhi - Burmese Foreign Minister, Nyan Win has reportedly hinted at Burma's opposition to empowering a Southeast Asian human rights body with investigative powers. This is a move seen by critics as a sign of stopping the regional bloc from progressing.

Following Burma's ratification of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) charter on Monday, a high-level panel began a sitting to draft the Human Rights body's future makeup, role and powers that will be presented to a summit of ASEAN leaders in Bangkok in December.

But during a closed door meeting, Nyan Win told his counterparts that the rights body should uphold ASEAN's bedrock principle of non-interference in each other's affairs, according to an AP report.

Debbie Stothard, Coordinator of the Alternative ASEAN network on Burma, an advocacy group lobbying for democracy and human rights in Burma, said the Burmese military regime has never tried to put a halt to the violation of human rights that it has committed and is dragging the ASEAN along with it.

"For a long time now, Burma has dragged down ASEAN. Every time ASEAN wanted to move forward, Burma pulled it down by opposing the basic reforms of ASEAN," Stothard said.

Reports said Nyan Win made it clear to his counterparts that his government is opposed to the idea of empowering the ASEAN human rights body with monitoring authorities on rights violation.

As ASEAN members had already agreed that the rights body will not be empowered to impose sanctions or prosecute violators, if Burma's objections are considered and honoured, the body will be less effective.

"ASEAN should no longer be allowed to be hijacked by Burma," Stothard added.

Nyan Win's opposition on empowering the rights body with investigative and monitoring powers came after he signed Burma's agreement to honour the ASEAN charter on Monday.

Critics, however, said on Monday that they doubt whether Burma's commitment to abide by the charter will hold water because it also includes a human rights mechanism.

David Scott Mathieson, Burma consultant Human Rights Watch on Monday said, signing the charter does not call for 'congratulation', the Burmese junta must abide by the principle.

"Burma being a member of ASEAN in the past has weakened it," he added.