ARTICLE 19 SLAMS ASEAN HUMAN RIGHTS POSTURING

November 19, 2012

The 21st Summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) held in Cambodia has just drafted its very own declaration of human rights. Cause for celebration? Apparently not!

The principles provide enough loopholes to make it a worthless mesh. Its provisos cover national security, public order and morality; in other words anything a government may choose to take objection to. ASEAN was conceived in 1967 and its original membership consisted of Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines. It was later expanded to include Brunei, Burma (Myanmar), Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam. The ten countries are pledged to support each other in matters of national security as well as economic and social well-being.

Dr Agnes Callamard, ARTICLE 19 Executive Director, had this to say about the hypocritical declaration:

"The ASEAN Declaration is a slap to the face, there is no other way to interpret it. With the Cambodian government cracking down on protestors and activists while it sells off the country’s resources; with Vietnam patrolling the Internet and locking up bloggers; with Thailand’s draconian lèse-majesté law and its devastating penalties; It is clear that the priority of the ASEAN governments is self-preservation above all else." Ouch: the truth hurts!