APSN | Burma to chair Asean despite rights record

Home > South-East Asia

Burma to chair Asean despite rights record

Jakarta Globe - May 8, 2011

Asean considering giving Burma chair: Officials - Agence France Presse. May 6, 2011
Domestic issues fuel Thai-Cambodian spats - Asia Times. April 29, 2011
Thailand-Cambodia clash deflecting domestic woes - Irrawaddy. April 26, 2011
Activists fight to stop dam across Mekong - Associated Press. April 12, 2011
New research tracks palm oil's carbon footprint - Straits Times. March 19, 2011

Burma will likely take over the rotating chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in 2014 despite the military-dominated country's record on human rights.

The regional grouping is supposed to rotate the post every year between its 10 member countries.

Burma was forced to skip its turn in 2005 after coming under heavy pressure from the international community over slow progress on national reconciliation and human rights.

A draft of the Asean chairman statement – to be issued at the close of a two-day summit later Sunday – says Southeast Asian leaders "consented to the proposal of Myanmar that it would host the Asean Summits in 2014, in view of its firm commitment and dedication to implement the Asean community building as well as to Asean solidarity."

The draft added that Asean leaders supported the "steady progress and political developments in Burma" after it held general elections and formed a new government in March, calling the ballot "successful".

Rights group Human Rights Watch slammed the Asean decision. "This is unfortunately a decision of political convenience over political principle, and indicates once again that human rights is not a priority for Asean," Phil Robertson, the HRW's Asia deputy director told Reuters. (AP, Reuters)