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Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim slammed the
Asean Charter as “weak” and strongly urged said
member-countries not to turn a blind eye to the
atrocities against people in the region by being
satisfied with a “diluted” charter.
He said
the primary objectives of the Asean Charter include
addressing inequality, human-rights violations and
economic injustice but these are not firmly integrated
in the regional bloc’s constitution.
“The
Asean Charter is a major disappointment...look at it
now, it is diluted in terms of democracy and human
rights in the region,” said Anwar at a peace forum at
the RCBC building in
Makati
over the weekend.
In
particular, he noted that while the charter seeks to
address military dictatorships similar to that in Burma,
the human-rights council proposed
in the charter had been emasculated by member-countries
and no longer has any provision imposing sanctions
against a government violating the rights of its people.
“Asean
member-countries have agreed to adopt a human-rights
body based on the charter but countries are not prepared
to accept its [key objectives] to promote the human
rights of their people.”
Asean
members are expected to convene rights experts by July
this year to draft the terms of reference for the
implementation of the human- rights body.
He also
criticized the adoption of an internal security act by
various Asean members as a common response to the
lingering problem of terrorism. “I am against the
draconian internal security act that leads to suspension
of civil liberties and writ of habeas corpus. These are
clearly unconstitutional and against the laws of a
civilized society.”
Anwar
was concerned the Malaysian government pulled out its
cease-fire observer forces in Mindanao at the time when
the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic
Liberation Front are still engaged in the peace process.
“We, in
the opposition [in
Malaysia]
have agreed to strongly call on the Malaysian government
to resume its participation in the International
Monitoring Team [IMT] of peacekeepers in Mindanao,” said
Anwar.
He said
the Malaysian government can have “strong views” on its
commitment to help in the peace process between the
Philippine government and the MILF, “but it should be
nothing short of participation in the peacekeeping
process to reduce skirmishes and violence in
Mindanao. . .it’s proven that the presence of the IMT has helped ease tension in
Mindanao.”
Kuala Lumpur
recently pulled out 12 of its 41 peace contingent
members in
Mindanao and its last batch will leave September this year following
the expiration of its contract in the IMT.
Malaysia
had been in Mindanao since 2004 as part of the IMT.
Libya has five military officers and Brunei has 10
military members in the IMT; both have agreed to
continue their stay in Mindanao.
He was
invited to
Manila by former President Joseph Estrada. During his two-day
visit, he met with Estrada and former President Corazon
Aquino at Estrada’s home in Greenhills,
San Juan.
He was accompanied by his wife, Wan Azizah. |
