Democracy and human rights imperative, say ASEAN partners

JAKARTA (JP): Dialog partners of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) emphasized the importance for democracy and human rights yesterday as an imperative prerequisite to regional stability.

United States Secretary of State Warren Christopher at the opening plenary session of the Post Ministerial Conferences (PMC) said the spread of democracy throughout Asia is a critical factor in ensuring peace, stability and continued economic growth.

"The most stable and prosperous societies will be those where creative ideas are freely exchanged, where political debates can be resolved peacefully at the ballot box, where the press can expose corruption and courts can root it out, and where contracts can be respected," he said.

Christopher, along with representatives from other dialog partners, met for the two-day PMC with their ASEAN counterparts.

Chaired by Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas, the morning's plenary session was attended by all 10 dialog partners and the foreign ministers of the seven ASEAN states.

Christopher, in his assertion of the need to respect democracy and human rights, questioned the myth that "democracy in Asia must wait for development." He pointed to countries like the Philippines where a return to democracy had helped to galvanize economic renewal.

"Democracy and development must go hand in hand if either one is to succeed," he said.

He claimed that the continued suppression of democracy in Asian countries could have powerful destabilizing consequences for the region as a whole.

Canadian Foreign Minister Lloyd Axworthy noted that with the rapid pace of growth in the region, "pressures are increasing for democratization, centers of influence are shifting and demands for accountability are growing."

He said that growth and prosperity requires stability, and stability in one area is affected by instability in another.

Speaking on democracy and human rights, Warren Christopher pointed to what he said were the Myanmarese people's aspirations for democratic government. He warned that "the longer their wishes are denied the greater the chance of instability, bloodshed, and migration within Burma (Myanmar) and across its borders."

He then urged ASEAN to encourage its relations with Yangon to promote greater openness.

ASEAN has rebuffed Western demands for ASEAN to take a tougher stand against Myanmar and maintains that "constructive engagement" with Yangon is more useful.

Of these conflicting approaches, Christopher said Washington wants to work together with ASEAN, but "we retain the option of taking a more forceful action as developments in Burma warrant."

Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer expressed Canberra's "serious concern" over Myanmar.

He said last year there had been encouraging signs with the release from house detention of pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, but added that recent developments have been less encouraging.

"Our hopes have been frustrated. Instead of new dialog and compromise we have seen confrontation and refusal to talk," Downer said, adding that people are fleeing the country because of institutionalized abuse of social, economic and political rights.

He then called on all nations to urge Myanmar to bring its human rights record in line with regionally and internationally accepted standards.

Irish Foreign Minister Dick Spring in front of the ASEAN ministers also expressed "deep concern" at the situation in Myanmar adding that the military regime in Yangon "still rules in an unacceptable manner."

He said he would like to hear ASEAN's views on the matter.

"The European Union would be grateful to hear the views of ASEAN on what is happening in its neighbor country and what, in its view, the best approach should be to achieving national reconciliation in Myanmar," said Spring, who is attending the PMC on behalf of the European Union.

Spring then touched on the issue of East Timor, saying that the European Union welcomed the meeting between President Soeharto and Portuguese Prime Minister Guterres during the Asia Europe Summit in March.

"We hope this will help facilitate a settlement of the East Timor question," he said, adding that the European Union has recently defined the common position of its member states on East Timor.

The former Portuguese province of East Timor was integrated into Indonesia in 1976. However, the United Nations still regards Lisbon as the administrating power there. (mds)