Top row, left to right, Brunei’s Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah, Burmese President Thein Sein, Cambodian PM Hun Sen and Laotian PM Thongsing Thammavong;bottom row from left, Malaysian PM Datuk Seri Najib Tun Rajak; Philippine President Benigno S. Aquino III, Singaporean Senior Minister Shunmugam Jayakumar; and Vietnamese PM Nguyen Tan Dung arriving at the Asean summit in Jakarta on Friday. EPA Photos
By Ismira Lutfia & Ulma Haryanto
The Jakarta Post
May 07, 2011
Leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations meeting in Jakarta during a two-day summit starting today may discuss giving military-led Burma the chair of the grouping in 2014 instead of 2016 despite grave concerns about human rights abuses and a sham democracy.
Burma has asked to switch its turn with Laos and serve as the chair of Asean in 2014. Marty Natalegawa, the foreign minister of the host nation, said that although it will be discussed during this year’s summit, an immediate decision on the request would not be likely.
“We are aware that [Burma] has formally submitted its request to exchange its chairmanship with Laos, and no doubt it should be a matter that our leaders should look into,” Marty said after talks with Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya.
He added that the matter was also discussed on Wednesday during bilateral talks between President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono as the current Asean chair and visiting Burmese President Thein Sein at the State Palace.
However, Marty added that, “I have a feeling personally that it is not a matter that will be decided here and now, but perhaps there will a process to ascertain the readiness of [Burma] to assume the chairmanship in 2014.”
The chairmanship of the 10-member regional group is rotated annually on an alphabetical basis. Last year, though, Indonesia asked to swap its turn with Brunei for 2011 as Indonesia will host the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in 2013.
Asean members agreed to the request on condition that it was a one-time swap only.
Burma skipped its turn to chair Asean in 2006 because of international pressure for democratic reforms.
US-based Human Rights Watch has called on Asean to reject Burma’s request until the government makes significant steps to improve human rights.
“Rewarding Burma with Asean’s chairmanship after it staged sham elections [in November 2010] and still holds 2,000 political prisoners would be an embarrassment for the region,” Elaine Pearson, the deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch, said in a statement. “Asean leaders need to decide if they will let Burma demote Asean to the laughingstock of intergovernmental forums.”
Haris Azhar, national executive director of the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras), told the Jakarta Globe that granting Burma’s request could be an opportunity for other Asean countries ‘to put pressure on Burma to commit itself to human rights and democracy.”
The country will hopefully have to become more open, he said, including toward delegations of civil society organizations from other countries.
“As the chair of Asean, Burma will have to engage with other countries that takes democracy and human rights seriously. This can be an opportunity for the world to help Burma’s civil society, and most importantly, they will have to cooperate with the United Nations Special Rapporteurs,” he said.
Ifdhal Kasim, chairman of the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM), said it was a bit risky to support Burma’s bid to be Asean chair.
“Indonesia, as the current chair of Asean, and as the largest Southeast Asian country, should lead the criticism against such idea, for the sake of Southeast Asia,” Ifdhal said..
By Ismira Lutfia & Ulma Haryanto
The Jakarta Post
May 07, 2011
Leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations meeting in Jakarta during a two-day summit starting today may discuss giving military-led Burma the chair of the grouping in 2014 instead of 2016 despite grave concerns about human rights abuses and a sham democracy.
Burma has asked to switch its turn with Laos and serve as the chair of Asean in 2014. Marty Natalegawa, the foreign minister of the host nation, said that although it will be discussed during this year’s summit, an immediate decision on the request would not be likely.
“We are aware that [Burma] has formally submitted its request to exchange its chairmanship with Laos, and no doubt it should be a matter that our leaders should look into,” Marty said after talks with Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya.
He added that the matter was also discussed on Wednesday during bilateral talks between President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono as the current Asean chair and visiting Burmese President Thein Sein at the State Palace.
However, Marty added that, “I have a feeling personally that it is not a matter that will be decided here and now, but perhaps there will a process to ascertain the readiness of [Burma] to assume the chairmanship in 2014.”
The chairmanship of the 10-member regional group is rotated annually on an alphabetical basis. Last year, though, Indonesia asked to swap its turn with Brunei for 2011 as Indonesia will host the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in 2013.
Asean members agreed to the request on condition that it was a one-time swap only.
Burma skipped its turn to chair Asean in 2006 because of international pressure for democratic reforms.
US-based Human Rights Watch has called on Asean to reject Burma’s request until the government makes significant steps to improve human rights.
“Rewarding Burma with Asean’s chairmanship after it staged sham elections [in November 2010] and still holds 2,000 political prisoners would be an embarrassment for the region,” Elaine Pearson, the deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch, said in a statement. “Asean leaders need to decide if they will let Burma demote Asean to the laughingstock of intergovernmental forums.”
Haris Azhar, national executive director of the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras), told the Jakarta Globe that granting Burma’s request could be an opportunity for other Asean countries ‘to put pressure on Burma to commit itself to human rights and democracy.”
The country will hopefully have to become more open, he said, including toward delegations of civil society organizations from other countries.
“As the chair of Asean, Burma will have to engage with other countries that takes democracy and human rights seriously. This can be an opportunity for the world to help Burma’s civil society, and most importantly, they will have to cooperate with the United Nations Special Rapporteurs,” he said.
Ifdhal Kasim, chairman of the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM), said it was a bit risky to support Burma’s bid to be Asean chair.
“Indonesia, as the current chair of Asean, and as the largest Southeast Asian country, should lead the criticism against such idea, for the sake of Southeast Asia,” Ifdhal said..
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