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Published on November 20, 2007

References to the promotion and protection of human rights in the charter (including in the purposes and principles of Asean), and the establishment of an Asean human-rights body are welcome, but these references have been left deliberately vague. This has enabled governments of Asean to retain the state-centric approach of the organisation, while feigning progress on human rights.

More concrete and meaningful references to human rights in the Charter (for example, specific references to international human-rights standards) and an Asean human-rights body (for example, some minimum requirements for a credible body and a set timeframe for its establishment) can only come if concerns of the people are listened to and taken into account. Instead, with the charter as it stands, it is clear that the concerns and interests of Asean government officials and bureaucrats have been given priority.

Further, Forum-Asia is calling for the postponement of the signing of the charter due to the ongoing political crisis in Burma, reiterating the statement that came from the third Asean + Civil Society Conference (ACSC III) earlier this month. Since the countrywide protests that began on August 19 and the violent military clampdown that followed, the Burmese generals have failed to take meaningful action towards a process of democratic reform within the country and towards ensuring against future human-rights violations.

It appears that the visits of UN special envoy Ibrahim Gambari, and the special rapporteur on human rights in Burma, Paulo Sergio Pinheiro, have been used by Burma's military generals to assuage international criticism prior to the Asean Summit and the signing of the Asean charter. Forum-Asia emphasises that an Asean charter for a caring community that professes to promote and protect the human rights of all of the people of Southeast Asia cannot be signed while widespread and systematic human rights violations continue to occur within one of its member states.

Pokpong Lawansiri

Southeast Asia Programme Officer

Forum-Asia

Bangkok

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Regional heads must deal with charter carefully

Re: "Citizen engagement with the Asean charter", Opinion, November 19.

There is no doubt that Asean lawmakers have to show their political will by reacting to the Asean charter. But how? A specific answer is needed.

Today, we will witness a historic event, when, in conformity with its article 47, the Asean Charter is signed by all Asean member states. This fundamental legal document is subject to ratification by all Asean members, in accordance with their respective internal procedures. Instruments of ratification shall be deposited with the secretary-general of Asean who shall promptly notify all member states of each deposit. Finally, the charter will enter into force on the 30th day following the date of deposit of the tenth instrument of ratification with the secretary-general of Asean.

Indeed, a failure to do so within an appropriate time frame would tarnish Asean's credibility. However, there are strong reasons to believe the Asean Charter will enter into force next year, as expected not only by the members of this promising regional organisation, but also by the world community as a whole.

Ioan Voicu

Bangkok

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Illegal wildlife trade in full force at weekend market

Yesterday, I took a group of foreign visitors on a tour of the Chatuchak weekend market. One of the group is an avid bird breeder and was curious what birds were on offer at the market. We walked around and eventually found the section where exotic pets are sold in the western part of the market.  A cursory look at half a dozen shops revealed a host of Asian declining or endangered species including Indian star tortoises, Siamese crocodiles (hatchlings suggesting poaching not captive breeding), Moluccan cockatoos, bulbuls, clown fish and other reef fish and corals. There were also animals from farther afield including crimson rosellas, hyacinth macaws (babies not adults, suggesting they were smuggled not captive bred), gila monsters (native to the south-western US and Mexico), and Australian pygmy possums (babies again, suggesting smuggling). 

On leaving the market we walked up the steps to the Skytrain station and saw some of the very same animals on posters, with English language captions telling people not to buy exotic animals.  The weekend market is the most open expression of Bangkok's illegal wildlife trade. Why all the lessons for buyers when there is no enforcement of the rules for sellers?! Can anybody explain what the Wildlife Enforcement Network is really doing in Thailand?

Wildlife Enthusiast

Bangkok

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Sonthi's public remarks belie gentlemanly image

Re: "Sonthi lambasted for remarks on migrant babies", News, November 16.

In this age of media-made images and public relations wizards working magic for people who may not have otherwise been seen as too savoury, I would say that few people in modern politics have been able to keep as undeservedly good a reputation as General Sonthi. I point to your story focusing on his views that all pregnant immigrant workers should be shipped home before they give birth. This statement is not only cruel and inhumane but actually quite ill-informed for somebody in charge of internal security because since when does being born in Thailand guarantee citizenship? Just ask the hill-tribe people who have been without citizenship for generations.

This is not the first time the general has come out in public with statements that should have meant his career or at least the loss of his image as the "Gentleman General". Remember when he said that "Coups were a thing of the past?" and how about his more recent observation about the Burmese situation in which he called it an "internal police matter" and said that there was little evidence that monks were being massacred, etc. Thaksin was looking too far abroad when he hired Edelman. He needs to find out who Sonthi's PR guy is and get that person on board. That's the true wizard!

BF

Bangkok

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Population issues, global warming threaten Earth

Climate change is real, is happening now, and will increasingly affect the lives of everybody on the planet. The interminable debates over the causes are irrelevant but what is certain is that man-made pollution in all its forms is one of the greatest hazards affecting our well-being and quality of life.

Pollution results from man's insatiable greed for what is considered a better lifestyle coupled with poor education of the effects of pollution. There is a stark difference between the attitude that "the more toys and luxury one has the better our lives will be" and the admirable philosophy advocated by His Majesty the King of self-sufficiency. Unfortunately the self-sufficiency concept rarely enters the minds of those who drive industry to satisfy the ever-increasing demands and greed of modern mankind.

We are in a vicious circle of self destruction that nothing will change until the base issues of poverty and education are addressed in a meaningful way that eventually leads to a well-educated public being a part of a truly democratic decision-making process. Lip service will do nothing to alleviate these basic problems. Environmental awareness training should be mandatory in every school curriculum from primary school onwards.

In all the debates over global warming it is surprising the greatest threat to mankind is not given a higher profile. Unless changes occur to the rate at which the world's population is expanding, the changes to lifestyles of our grandchildren and their grandchildren will be far more dramatic than those resulting from climate change. Population explosion is a significant factor influencing changes to the climate and in the modern day it is astonishing that the Catholic Church will not support birth control. Its followers are driven by fear and a lack of education to blindly follow the church's outdated doctrines. It is even more shocking that some countries actively encourage people to have more children. When will we ever learn?

Chris Kaye

Chon Buri

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