Asia-West delegates clash on human rights<\/p>\n
By Meidyatama Suryodiningrat<\/p>\n
PETALING JAYA (JP): A clash over human rights closed the two-
\nday Post Ministerial Conference (PMC) here yesterday, as Western
\nstates were pitted against Asian ones in a public debate over
\nreviewing the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights.<\/p>\n
The debate erupted during the final joint press conference as
\nministers and senior delegates attending the PMC were queried on
\na proposal to review the UN Declaration.<\/p>\n
United States Undersecretary of State for Economic, Business
\nand Agricultural Affairs Stuart Eizenstat fired the first salvo,
\nsaying that a review would "dilute" one of the most fundamental
\nset of values already agreed upon.<\/p>\n
Eizenstat, who sat in on behalf of Secretary of State
\nMadeleine Albright, remarked that there seemed to be a notion
\nthat there was a contradiction between individual liberty and
\neconomic growth as well as political stability. "It is a
\ncontradiction which does not exist and never has existed," he
\nsaid<\/p>\n
His comments were immediately responded to by the Asian
\nministers sitting near him.<\/p>\n
Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas quickly
\nexpressed surprise that a review of the UN Declaration was
\n"immediately interpreted as a dilution of individual rights".<\/p>\n
Malaysian Foreign Minister Abdullah Badawi also retorted with:
\n"I don't expect the U.S. to say yes, yes, and yes. They have very
\nstrong views but we do have equally strong views."<\/p>\n
The question of a review of the 1948 UN Universal Declaration
\nof Human Rights came after Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir
\nMohamad said a day earlier that his country might propose a
\nreview of it to allow developing countries to include their
\nperceptions.<\/p>\n
Alatas also pointed out yesterday that the perception of human
\nrights had evolved over the last 50 years and now not only
\nincluded political and civil rights, but also economic, social
\nand cultural rights.<\/p>\n
"There are at least 120 developing countries, newly
\nindependent countries, which did not participate in the debate to
\ndraft the 1948 Declaration on Human Rights," he argued.<\/p>\n
Badawi added that "it is a question of interpretation and a
\nquestion of perception how we view it ... When we talk of human
\nrights, naturally it has something to do with the situation we
\nare in, our own experience and our own expectations".<\/p>\n
Chinese Foreign Minister Qian Qichen suggested double
\nstandards were being applied to Asian countries, pointing out
\nthat the U.S. State Department issues a human rights report on
\nother countries but not one on itself.<\/p>\n
European Union representative M. Patijin, who is Dutch deputy
\nforeign minister, said the EU was extremely reluctant to embark
\non a review.<\/p>\n
Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer also voiced
\ndoubts, saying the review proposal would not gain enough support.<\/p>\n
The PMC serves as a forum between the Association of Southeast
\nAsian Nations (ASEAN) and its dialog partners. ASEAN comprises
\nBrunei, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines.
\nSingapore, Thailand and Vietnam.<\/p>\n
The dialog partners participating in the PMC were Australia,
\nCanada, China, the European Union, India, Japan, South Korea, New
\nZealand, Russia and the United States.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/asia-west-delegates-clash-on-human-rights-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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