Statement about ASEAN (Amnesty Inte

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Subject: Statement about ASEAN (Amnesty International0

>From:	SMTP%"owner-amnesty-l@xxxxxxxxxxx" 28-JUL-1997 22:45:12.69
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Subj:	HUMAN RIGHTS AND REGIONAL SECURITY - A CHALLENGE FOR THE 


AI INDEX: IOR 64/01/97
26 July 1997

   HUMAN RIGHTS AND REGIONAL SECURITY - A CHALLENGE FOR THE
                      ASEAN REGIONAL FORUM

Statement by Rory Mungoven, Asia-Pacific Program Director, Amnesty
International

                   Kuala Lumpur, 26 July 1997

The meetings this week between ASEAN governments and their dialogue and
consultative
partners on regional security underline the importance of ASEAN as a
regional grouping in
securing stability and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region.  One of the
stated aims of the first
meeting of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) in 1994 was "the enhancement of
political and
security cooperation within the region as a means of ensuring a lasting
peace, stability and
prosperity for the region and its peoples".  If this goal is to be met, it
is vital that the regional
security agenda is addressed more comprehensively, by all the participants.

Human rights and regional security issues are inextricably linked.  The
security of nation states
begins with the security of the civil society of which they are composed.
The security problems
that beset the region - notably in Cambodia, North Korea,  East Timor,
Bougainville and
Myanmar - are the projected shadow of human rights violations.

In Cambodia, serious human rights violations committed in recent weeks are
again thwarting the
country's development, constraining its full participation in regional
affairs, and posing a threat to
the stability and security of the Asia-Pacific region.  Thousands of
Cambodians are gathering at
the border with Thailand, in fear of more fighting.

Far from being an "internal affair", human rights issues directly engage
the international
responsibilities and national interests of other states.  They belong
squarely on the agenda of
regional security discussions such as those in Kuala Lumpur this week.
Conflicts cannot be
resolved, confidence cannot be built and multilateral cooperation cannot be
 strengthened unless
regional security issues are addressed at their root cause - the violation
of human rights.  Poor
security in any one country in the region has direct consequences for the
Asia-Pacific region as a
whole; the long history of refugee flows in Southeast Asia, currently
continuing from Myanmar,
East Timor and now again Cambodia, is a sad illustration of this point.

Human rights considerations must be at the heart of confidence building and
 preventive
diplomacy if regional security cooperation is to meet the objective of the
ARF and become more
comprehensive and effective.  Ensuring respect for humanitarian law and
principles should be a
basic first step in managing any conflict.  Countries in the region which
are called upon to
provide safe haven to refugees should abide by international standards for
their protection.
Encouraging greater respect for human rights in neighbouring countries is
the best way of
stemming refugee flows.  Adherence to international human rights standards
should be an integral part of promoting
stable government and the rule of law.

The initiative taken by the ASEAN states in creating the ARF and pursuing
greater security
within the Asia-Pacific region is an important one.  Equally important is
the firm stand taken by
ASEAN ministers in recent weeks over the situation in Cambodia, which
demonstrated a clear
awareness that regional security and stability are everyone's business.
This is in fulfilment of the
explicit commitment made by ASEAN states and all their partners in the 1991
 Paris Accords to
promote respect for human rights in Cambodia.  Now that ASEAN has admitted
Myanmar as a
member state, it is to be hoped that a renewed effort will be made to push
the Myanmar
authorities to initiate dialogue with opposition and ethnic groups, and
bring an immediate halt to
the ongoing human rights violations committed by the armed forces, before
that country too
descends further into conflict and chaos.

ASEAN members have already demonstrated their concern about events in
Cambodia -- and their
humanitarian efforts to help those in need of protection have served as an
example to all members
of the ARF.  Further action to bring Cambodia back on the track of
development and stability
should include setting clear benchmarks for the Cambodian authorities that
include protection for
human rights.

Just as human rights considerations were integral to the settlement of
Cambodia's ongoing
conflict in the 1991 Paris Accords, so too will they be integral to any
durable solution to the
current crisis.  Protection for human rights must be at the forefront of
efforts to promote peace
and normalise government in Cambodia.  The violent suppression of
opposition in Cambodia will
in no way help to restore peace and security in the country or the region.
  Elections held without
full guarantees for freedom of expression and association will not advance
the cause of national
reconciliation and stable government.

Representatives of all the governments gathered in Kuala Lumpur for the
fourth meeting of the
ARF should press for the following measures to protect human rights in
Cambodia:

1.   concrete steps to restore respect for human rights and the rule of law
 --

          the Cambodian authorities must clarify the status of all
prisoners, give assurances
          as to their safety, welfare and fair treatment, and afford
ongoing access to them by
          independent human rights monitors;

          the circumstances of reported summary executions of political
opponents must be
          revealed and anyone responsible for such abuses brought to
justice;

2.   increase scrutiny and monitoring by the international community --

          the tenure of the UN Centre for Human rights in Cambodia must be
extended and
          its reporting, monitoring and training functions strengthened;

3.   confidence building measures ahead of elections --

          clear benchmarks should be established to ensure future elections
 take place in a
          free and fair climate, allowing full freedom of expression and
association,
          regardless of political affiliation and preventing violence or
other forms of
          harassment against candidates and party activists;

4.   end impunity for past abuses --

          the efforts made in recent weeks to prepare the way for an
individual state or
          international tribunal to bring to justice those implicated in
the gross human rights
          violations during the 1975-1979 period should not be allowed to
dissipate.

By agreeing to promote these steps, ASEAN and its partners will not only
help to restore peace,
stability and respect for human rights in Cambodia.  They will also
strengthen ASEAN as a
political community, and further enhance the role of the ARF throughout the
 whole of Asia and
the Pacific.

 .../ENDS


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