NGOs slate Asean leadership

Poor attendance for second Peoples' Forum

Published: 19/10/2009
Source: Bangkokpost

CHA-AM : The 2nd Asean Peoples' Forum has started without key representatives from the government and Asean Secretariat.

This was in contrast with the forum's launch in Bangkok in February.

The absence of official representation yesterday raised doubts if the regional grouping is really serious in creating a "caring and sharing community".

The concern was fuelled not only by the lack of government interest in discussing Asean civil society organisations but also by claims that some Asean governments have been meddling with the NGO process of selecting delegates to participate in the "Interface Meeting" with leaders on Friday. Corinna Lopa, of Southeast Asia Committee for Advocacy, said the total absence of government representatives at the Asean Peoples' Forum (APF) discussions, in comparison with their active participation in the first APF in Bangkok six months ago, was a disappointment.

"We would like to condemn some governments' efforts to sabotage the Interface process by making it optional for leaders to participate in the face-to-face meeting with the NGOs," said Ms Lopa, who also represents Solidarity for Asian Peoples Advocacies. Asean Secretary-General Surin Pitsuwan and Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya joined the first APF meeting but were not present yesterday on the first day of the three-day event. NGOs from Brunei, Burma, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia and Vietnam have appointed their representatives to meet the leaders during the Interface Meeting.

The meeting was organised to promote interaction between Asean leaders and civil society representatives after the launch of the Asean Charter in December last year. One NGO representative from each country was to participate in talks with Asean leaders. The APF was to be the venue for the NGOs to select representatives.

At the first Interface Meeting in February, Cambodian and Burmese leaders threatened to boycott the gathering if it was attended by NGO representatives critical of the two governments.
Chalida Tajaroensak, of People's Empowerment, said the meeting would be meaningful only if the representatives were chosen by NGOs.

"We are dismayed Asean governments can spare 20 minutes for youth representatives and have a working lunch with the business sector, but they have shortened talks with the civil society to 10 minutes," Ms Chalida said.

Chanida Bamford, of the APF steering committee, said despite interference, the selection of the NGO representatives for Indonesia, the Philippines and Thailand would be transparent.
Despite the absence of Burmese and Cambodian representatives at the February meeting, Asean NGOs raised problems such as human rights and Burma's democratisation process for discussion, prompting intervention in the selection process by some governments.