Forum calls for social issues to be included in ASEM<\/p>\n
Ivy Susanti, The Jakarta Post, Hanoi<\/p>\n
The ASEM (Asia-Europe Meeting) People's Forum (AEPF) urged the
\ngovernments of Asia and Europe on Thursday to establish a social
\nforum, which in turn would contribute to the building of an
\nAsian-European partnership and interaction with the official ASEM
\nprocess.<\/p>\n
The statement, which also contained recommendations on three
\nmajor discussion themes: Peace and Security, Economic and Social
\nSecurity, and Democratization and People's Rights, was issued on
\nThursday at the end of the three-day forum. The forum is part of
\nthe ASEM Summit, which will be held in Hanoi next month, and is
\nintended to promote the role of civil society in the cooperation
\nbetween the two continents.<\/p>\n
\"The AEPF calls for fundamental changes in Asia-Europe
\nrelations so that the necessary steps can be taken toward
\nestablishing a just and equal world where people's rights,
\nsustainable economic and social development, and people-centered
\nsecurity dominate,\" the statement said.<\/p>\n
It urged the governments of Asia and Europe to set up the
\nsocial forum before the sixth ASEM Summit in 2006, to be held in
\nHelsinki.<\/p>\n
The social forum issue was discussed at a workshop on
\nWednesday on the social responsibility of ASEM. The suggestion of
\nthe need for a separate social pillar aside from the existing
\neconomic, culture and political pillars of the Summit did not
\ncreate much excitement on the European side.<\/p>\n
\"As a fourth pillar, it would be dangerous as we would be
\nseparating the social issue from the core issue. Instead of
\ncreating a new pillar, it would be strategically more useful to
\nhave the social issue discussed as part of the earlier
\nstructure,\" said Felix Schmidt, the resident director of the
\nHanoi branch of the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, a German-based non-
\ngovernmental organization that promotes social democracy
\nworldwide.<\/p>\n
He suggested that the people's organization could further push
\nfor social debate, instead of institutionalizing the issue as a
\nmajor theme in ASEM.<\/p>\n
On peace and security, the forum appealed to the governments
\nto publicly disclose their defense and security budgets. It also
\ncalled on the government to repeal national legislation
\nintroduced under what it termed \"the pretext\" of the \"War against
\nTerrorism\", which it was claimed imposed restrictions on
\ncitizens' legitimate rights and interests, and victimized Muslim
\ncommunities and peaceful movements.<\/p>\n
On democratization and human rights, the Forum urged the
\ngovernments to respect the freedom of association, expression and
\nassembly, and to develop a dialog between Asia and European
\ngovernments on the role of participatory local government in
\npromoting sustainable development and democratic services.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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