'Put human rights, Burma at top of Asean Summit agenda'

Amnesty said human rights should "top the agenda" at the summit.

"The treatment of the Rohingya boat people has highlighted the urgent need for regional action on human rights. Asean must act now to address humanrights concerns in Southeast Asia," said AsiaPacific deputy director Donna Guest.

 Burma was described by Amnesty as being "in a dire humanrights situation", as some 2,100 people are still locked behind bars as political prisoners.

 HRW's deputy Asia director Elaine Pearson said the cruel treatment of Rohingya refugees, which had led to hundreds of deaths, "was proof of the need for regional solutions to Southeast Asia's humanrights problem".

 "The tragedy surrounding the Rohingyas' perilous exodus reveals glaring failures by Asean in dealing with Burma. Asean's continuing failure to hold the Burmese military government accountable for abuses and Asean's unwillingness to provide refuge for those fleeing opression in Burma are two sides of the same coin," she added.

 HRW said the soontobecreated Asean Human Rights Body should "independently investigate and report on humanrights conditions in member states, and that Burma should be a priority".