ASEAN leaders ready to sign landmark charter (2nd Roundup)

Nov 18, 2007, 14:05 GMT

Singapore - Leaders of the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) gathered in Singapore on Sunday ready to sign a landmark charter giving legal status to the 40-year-old body and making strides in human rights.

With Myanmar's Prime Minister Thein Sein and Foreign Minister U Nyan Win set to attend and the delegates from the 10-member bodies staying in 11 different hotels, police designated 'protected areas' giving authorities greater leeway to deal with possible security threats, demonstrations or other incidents.

Among the affected venues and a 500-metre perimeter around each are The Shangri-La Hotel where the 40th anniversary summit is taking place, The Raffles City Convention Centre site of a gala dinner and the Asian Civilizations Museum where a reception will be held.

Nearly 1,000 delegates from 43 countries are attending. Their security is the focus of more than 2,000 police.

Philippines President Gloria Arroyo emphasized the importance of ASEAN.

The group is 'becoming a more cohesive regional powerhouse that will enhance the interest of each member and provide balance to the rise of China as well as to our traditional relationships with North America and Europe,' she said in a statement.

While the charter, a blueprint for an ASEAN economic community by 2015, and a document on climate change and the environment are highlights, diplomats said Myanmar is overshadowing the other issues after its bloody crackdown on pro-democracy protesters in September.

Activists called for the section creating a human rights body to be removed from the charter and made into a separate treaty.

Myanmar could sign the charter along with the other members, but should not not be allowed to sign the rights treaty, said the group of Singaporeans called SG Human Rights at a forum.

Ten balloons were also released, one for each of the ASEAN states, calling for a free Myanmar.

ASEAN countries have made many commitments over the years, but have only implemented a third of them, said Professor Tommy Koh, Singapore's representative on the task force which drafted the charter.

'This is not an acceptable record,' Koh said. 'A key feature in the charter is the emphasis on developing a culture of taking our obligations seriously,' he added.

The secretary-general will be empowered to monitor compliance with ASEAN agreements and report breaches to the summit, he said.

Referring to critics who maintain that ASEAN is little more than a 'talk shop,' Koh said the charter will enable the grouping to play a bigger role in regional and global affairs.

ASEAN includes Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam and Myanmar.

The UN Secretary General's special Adviser Ibrahim Gambari is scheduled to brief the East Asia Summit which includes the ASEAN countries in addition to China, India, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand.

Police have warned against staging any outdoor protests after learning of plans by foreign students to do so on Monday.

Public demonstrations against Myanmar's junta have flared elsewhere, but police said Singapore's prohibition against outdoor gatherings of more than four people without official approval is in full force.

ASEAN admitted Myanmar a decade ago despite opposition from the United States and the European Union over its human rights record and detention of pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

Critics maintain that keeping ASEAN's policy of non-interference in other members' affairs and continuation of decision-making by consensus could result in a 'paper tiger.'

While creating a human rights body, they point out the draft of the new charter lacks an effective enforcement mechanism.