Nothing different, Asean Charter

There is not different after Asean Charter.

1. Could not remove membership if deny to comply the charter
2. Not attempt to stop serious human rights persecution in Burma


Continued flak over Asean Charter
By MERGAWATI ZULFAKAR

SINGAPORE: Asean leaders will ink the landmark Asean Charter here tomorrow which has been criticised for being silent on punitive measures against members for non-compliance.

Scepticism over the charter – giving the grouping a legal personality and institutional framework after 40 years in existence – arose as the group’s principles of non-interference in each other's internal affairs and decision-making by consensus are set to prevail.

Critics see the charter as ineffective against a country like Myanmar – ostracised over its human rights violations.

Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar said many people misunderstood the non-interference principle.

Tight security: A woman being screened at the security screening area while policemen observe at the entrance of the Shangri-la Hotel, venue of the Asean Summit, in Singapore Sunday. - AFP“It is also in the United Nations Charter. It is not something that is alien, the principles are there but they are being interpreted and reinterpreted to suit the times.

“At the UN, we talk about the principle of equality and sovereignty of big or small nation. I don’t think it is right for us just to import wholesale the principle of democracy and human rights as understood by other regions or countries.

“The important thing is we respect the basic rights of the people of a certain country.”

In Asean’s case, Syed Hamid said it would not impose changes on a country.

“There are countries that have adopted human rights but also breached human rights. You don’t just sack people for that sort of thing,” he told The Star in an interview.

The group is monitoring the situation in Myanmar following the military junta’s suppression of pro democracy protests in September. United Nations special envoy Ibrahim Gambari has been to the country twice to hold talks with military officials.

Asked if Asean was being sidelined as the United Nations took the lead, Syed Hamid said Myanmar was comfortable dealing with the United Nations.

“Asean has always encouraged the direct interaction with the UN. Asean countries support the UN and this has helped the UN processes to succeed.

“There has been much consultation between the special adviser to the secretary-general with a few Asean countries.

“We have not failed, things are moving, we can be hopeful. We just have to wait,” he said.

http://www.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/11/19/nation/19512302&sec=nation