Asean lacks credibility |on rights issues

I read this article with considerable amusement, as it reports on what appears to be an exercise in gross hypocrisy. It was interesting to note that Sihasak Puangketkeow the chairman of the High Level Panel for the Asean Human Rights Body remarked that "The key is how we make the mechanism work effectively in line with local circumstances, since the issue of human rights is sensitive for many Asean members".

Well, if there was ever a prize for hyperbole, that must take the ticket. For starters, let's just muse about the crowd-control techniques of the generals in weather-devastated Burma, or the draconian restrictions on public assembly in lovely rich Singapore. Never, I suspect, were two so seemingly innocuous words - "local circumstances" - so loaded with understatement. A more obscene piece of meaningless window-dressing would be hard to concoct.

I am sure there are many well-meaning people somewhere in this miasma of pointlessness, but if they really believe they are creating a worthwhile, effective body rather than a pointless paper tiger they are clinically delusional or, more worryingly, seeking to deceive.

JOHN SYMONS

BANGKOK

Dragged screaming towards human rights

Re: "Asean human rights moves more talk than action", November 24.

Kavi Chongkittavorn writes a damning piece on Asean's human rights and the upcoming Asean Summit, but it is, to my mind, not scathing enough.

We have the generals in Burma happily giving out jail sentences of 65 years to human rights activists. These generals, who brutalise the people of Burma, have shown their contempt for civilisation and made it clear they intend to continue to abuse their citizens regardless of world opinion.

 Asean will no doubt be wallowing in a sea of self-congratulation as the final Instrument of Ratification is deposited with the Asean secretary-general, meaning that the Charter can come into effect on December 15. The general's actions are a slap in the face for the now discredited Asean policy of engagement with this regime.

One does not have to look far into the hypocritical Charter to discover the nauseating cant it contains. In the introductory preamble this undertaking of the member states appears: "Adhering to the principles of democracy, the rule of law and good governance, respect for and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms."

With Burma ignoring the Charter so blatantly, can't the other members see the elephant in the room? Or is it rather, as I suspect, that they don't really care, as they are being carried along on a journey they don't really want to make, and actually its nice to have a bad boy on board to make everybody else look good by comparison.

JOHN PATTERSON

BANGKOK