Legal aid body says ASEAN neglects aims, principles

JAKARTA (JP): As ASEAN celebrated its 30th anniversary yesterday, the Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI) rebuked the grouping for neglecting its own aims and principles, resulting in "widespread human suffering and human rights violations".

In a statement signed by chairman Bambang Widjoyanto and secretary Munir, YLBHI argued that the Association of Southeast Asian Nations neglected the laudable goals it set for itself in its founding document, the Bangkok Declaration.

"We condemn the association's apparent willful ignorance of the commendable aims contained in the declaration in favor of a principle of 'noninterference in the affairs of another'," YLBHI said in a statement.

"We consider this a betrayal of the spirit of the association as well as the aspirations of the peoples of Southeast Asia," they charged.

"We note that the failure of ASEAN and its member states in this regard has lead to widespread suffering and human rights violations in significant sections of the region," the foundation said.

ASEAN has nine member states: Brunei, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

Despite the economic success of ASEAN, YLBHI accused ASEAN yesterday of being unfaithful to its founding declaration which stipulates the ideals of freedom, social justice and economic well-being.

"A large section of this region's population continues to be denied human, civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights by representatives of ASEAN member states," the YLBHI statement said.

In particular, the foundation highlighted ASEAN's continued recognition of the military junta in Yangon despite continuing allegations that the State Law and Order Restoration Council suppresses human and political rights in the country.

ASEAN has maintained a policy of "constructive engagement" with Yangon and shrugged off criticism as it accepted Myanmar as a full member of the association last month.

YLBHI urged "ASEAN leaders to exercise their responsibility now that they have accepted Burma (Myanmar) as a member, to help bring about political change". (05/mds)