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Press release: Maintenance of Non-i
- Subject: Press release: Maintenance of Non-i
- From: altsean@xxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Sat, 24 Jul 1999 05:46:00
Subject: Press release: Maintenance of Non-interference Policy a Wimp Out
Asean Disempowering Itself
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For immediate release: July 24, 1999
MAINTENANCE OF NON-INTERFERENCE POLICY A WIMP OUT
ASEAN DISEMPOWERING ITSELF
Singapore, Sat Human rights activists today slammed Asean?s decision to
maintain its non-interference policy as a ?wimp out?.
Debbie Stothard, Altsean-Burma Coordinator said: ?Asean is disempowering
itself by its reluctance to be pro-active to deal with human rights crises
in the region. Once again, the Asean Ministerial Meeting has turned out to
be a talkfest irrelevant to millions of Asean citizens.
?If Asean is impotent to resolve such human rights crises as Burma and Aceh,
it should step aside and allow peoples organisations and other agencies to
get on with it,? said Ms Stothard.
Ms Alison Wee of SUARAM said: ?In this day and age where diverse systems
have become closely interrelated, non-interference has become an out-dated
and irresponsible method of avoiding conflict.
?Non-interference has been selectively used to avoid engagement in key
life-and-death issues in the region. Not surprisingly, non-interference is
overlooked when it comes to profit related matters, ? said Ms Wee.
Ms Wee asserted that non-interference led to a deterioration and
regionalisation of so-called domestic problems. ?For instance the abuses of
Burma?s military regime in Burma has led to increased flows of refugees,
migrant workers and drugs to other Asean states. If Asean had been
pro-active, we wouldn?t be paying the political, social and economic costs
now.?
Mr Wilson Lucente of Amnesty International Philippines noted that Professor
Jayakumar refused to reveal the context in which human rights,
democratisation, civil society and the role of NGOs were mentioned in the
Foreign Ministers? retreat. ?Perhaps this secrecy implies that such topics
are still taboo in some Asean states.
?Professor Jayakumar said that Asean Foreign Ministers discussed problems
and challenges owing to its expansion to include 10 members. This is
inefficient and ineffective Asean should have seriously considered these
implications and made provisions BEFORE the new members were so hastily
accepted,? concluded Mr Lucente.
ENDS
Inquiries:
(If calling from within Singapore): 02012 330 0996
(If calling from outside Singapore): 6012 330 0996
-----------------------------------
A L T S E A N - B U R M A
Alternative Asean Network on Burma
Tel: 66 2 275 1811 * Fax: 66 2 693 4515
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