Surin worried Thai image as Asean chair may be affected

He described the political situation in Thailand as "pretty much hanging in the balance now" in the wake of the state of emergency declaration and violence on the streets.

"I have been on the record to say that the situation in Thailand could affect Thailand's image as Asean chair. But as far as the activities of Asean are concerned, under the Thai leadership, that certainly can go on.

"Because whatever change that may take place, it's the permanent officials who are conducting the activities that have already been agreed upon," Surin said in his office at the Secretariat of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

Surin, who is formerly a Thai foreign minister, said he would meet with relevant officials in Bangkok on Wednesday (Sept 3) to discuss ways and means how not to be affected by "possible change" that could take place in Thailand.

He also expressed optimism that the three last Asean member states that have not ratified the Asean Charter - Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines - would do so before the Bangkok summit in mid-December.

Thailand would only need "one small piece of legislation" to allow ratification of the Asean Charter, he said. And the draft law has already passed the first reading in Parliament.

Ratification by the Indonesian Parliament is expected by early next week, and the Philippines is likely to ratify the charter soon, according to Surin.

The Asean Charter was signed by the 10 member states of the grouping in November last year, but it has yet to be ratified by Indonesia, the Philippines and Thailand.

The secretary-general was speaking to a group of journalists from Asean countries in a trip co-sponsored by the Asean Secretariat and the German government.

Surin began assuming his five-year term on January 1, taking over from Singapore's Ong Keng Yong. Under the new Asean Charter, Surin is the first secretary-general to serve five years, compared to four years for his recent predecessors.

Termsak Charlermpalanupap, special assistant to the Asean secretary-general, said earlier that he expected the Parliaments of the three countries to ratify the Asean Charter by early November, at least a month before the leaders meet in Bangkok from December 15.

According to Article 47 of the Asean Charter, it shall enter into force on the 30th day of ratification by the last member state.