ASEAN: Civil Society Edges Deeper Into Regional Summit

The 10 members of ASEAN span the political spectrum. They range from Brunei, an absolute monarchy; Burma (or Myanmar), under the grip of an oppressive military dictatorship; Laos and Vietnam, both one-party states headed by their respective communist parties; and Singapore, a one-party state that tolerates little opposition. The only countries in the region where shades of democracy are visible are Indonesia and the Philippines – less so Malaysia, Thailand and Cambodia.

Promotion and protection of human rights in the region are recognised as a goal of the new ASEAN charter, which came into force in December, making the regional alliance a rules-based entity and one that could hold governments to be more accountable. IPS is monitoring developments…

SOUTH-EAST ASIA: Leaders Look to UN for Help With Burma
By Marwaan Macan-Markar
CHA-AM, Thailand (IPS) – South-east Asian leaders ended a summit here on Sunday by placing greater faith in the United Nations, than their regional bloc in dealing with a member – military-ruled Burma.

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SOUTH-EAST ASIA: Civil Society Edges Deeper Into Regional Summit
By Marwaan Macan-Markar
CHA-AM, Thailand (IPS) – In a nod towards greater engagement with people?s organisations, a summit of South-east Asian leaders in this resort town will slightly extend its customary face-to-face with civil society representatives.
www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=45908

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SOUTH-EAST ASIA: Plans for Regional Rights Body Hit Realities
By Marwaan Macan-Markar
CHA-AM, Thailand (IPS) – Plans to create a regional human rights body for the ten-nation South-east Asian bloc are threatening to expose the gulf that separates countries that seek to respect political and civil liberties and the notorious violators.
ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=45929

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CHINA: Khmer Rouge Trials Raise Ghosts of the Past
By Antoaneta Bezlova
BEIJING (IPS) – The skeletons are tumbling out of China?s cupboard of buried memories. The 30th anniversary of China?s brief but bloody war with Vietnam may have gone unmarked but for the fact that Feb.17 also saw the start of the trial of the chief torturer of Cambodia?s grisly Khmer Rouge.
ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=45828

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SOUTH-EAST ASIA: ‘Bali Process’ May Address Rohingya Crisis
By Marwaan Macan-Markar
CHA-AM, Thailand (IPS) – South-east Asian governments are examining the possibility of using a seven-year-old regional mechanism, known as the ??Bali Process,?? to find an answer to minority Muslim Rohingyas fleeing ethnic cleansing in military-ruled Burma.
www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=45926

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RIGHTS-BURMA: Rohingya Issue Figures in Regional Summit
By Marwaan Macan-Markar
CHA-AM, Thailand (IPS) – Burma?s military regime has set a tough challenge for regional leaders to grapple with when they gather for a summit over the weekend in this resort town south of Bangkok.
www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=45894

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There is more to South-South cooperation than making the right noises at international gatherings. South-South cooperation ? collaboration between developing countries – is a growing and dynamic phenomenon, an important process that is vital in confronting shared challenges.

Led by emerging giants India, Brazil and South Africa (IBSA) the South is a tremendous source of tested solutions to development challenges including the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
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