ASEM 2: Human rights crucial to lon

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Date: Tue, 31 Mar 1998 11:54:56 -0500
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Subject: ASEM 2: Human rights crucial to long-term stability (AI INDEX:

* News Release Issued by the International Secretariat of Amnesty
International *
AI INDEX: IOR 30/01/98
30 MARCH 1998

ASEM 2:   Human rights crucial to long-term stability

LONDON -- Heads of state from the European Union and Asia gathering in
London for the second ASEM summit will not achieve long term stability and
genuine partnership without respect for human rights, Amnesty International
 said today.

      An "ethical" engagement policy with human rights at its centre should
 be key to the "three pillars" of development to be discussed at ASEM 2 --
economic development, security and people-to-people links.

     "One of the major contributing factors to the Asian economic crisis
has been the failure of political, legal and institutional development to
keep pace with rapid economic and social change," Amnesty International
said.  "This has not only led to many countries in the region coming
unstuck -- it has also left them singularly ill-equipped to deal with the
political and social fallout."

     "The crisis has been fuelled by weak legal institutions, unchecked
corruption and a lack of transparency and accountability. Critics who have
spoken out on these issues have been jailed or silenced by authoritarian
governments, and international investors have been prepared to turn a blind
 eye to the human rights violations which have caused political
instability."

     "It's no good papering over the cracks with financial assistance and
economic restructuring packages.  Unless these deep-rooted problems are
tackled by governments at the ASEM 2 summit, long-term political and
economic stability will remain unachievable."

     According to Amnesty International, the current prospects for the
region are deeply troubling, particularly when viewed from a human rights
perspective. The economic crash will compromise many people's enjoyment of
basic economic rights -- the right to employment, to a livelihood for their
 families and to a roof over their head. Instead of addressing the
underlying causes, some governments have sought to blame outsiders and
react to discontent with a hardline response.

     Regional security is threatened by ongoing conflicts in Indonesia,
Cambodia, Myanmar, and the Philippines, where human rights abuses have led
to political and economic instability as well as having a knock-on effect
through massive refugee flows and demands on resources to house and feed
those people who have fled their countries.

     "Human rights problems also fuel regional insecurity, causing
conflicts and refugee movements," Amnesty International said. "Thailand is
already dealing with the consequences of human rights abuses in Cambodia
and Myanmar. Will other countries wait for similar problems to spill over
from Indonesia?"

     "Rather than sidelining human rights from the summit, the EU should be
 operating an ethical development policy at ASEM 2 ," Amnesty International
 said. "Economic rescue packages, financial aid and business investment
should be within the framework of ethical principles, so that human rights
in the region are guaranteed both in the short and long term."

     For all the talk about the importance of "people-to-people" links,
many governments continue to harass non-governmental organizations (NGOs)
working for human rights and development, some governments continue to
challenge the universality of human rights, and NGOs themselves have been
largely excluded from the ASEM governmental agenda.

     "The free exchange of ideas, experience and information should be at
the heart of ASEM's people-to-people agenda," Amnesty International said.
"But how can genuine links be built when many governments curb freedom of
expression and association?"

     "ASEM governments should realize that development across both the
Europe and Asia regions is about the development of people -- their
standard of living and their ability to interact with each other free of
restrictions and barriers," Amnesty International said. "The leaders
gathered in London should mark the 50th anniversary year of the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) by making 1998 the year that human
rights become central to ASEM's business."

     Amnesty International has human rights concerns about all ASEM
countries -- including Europe, where the organization has documented cases
of ill-treatment in almost every country of the EU. Amnesty International
is calling on ASEM in general to reaffirm the universality and
indivisibility of the UDHR and participating governments to ratify and
implement other relevant human rights instruments; to provide for proper
NGO participation and access to ASEM working groups and other initiatives;
to develop an operational dialogue on human rights; and address human
rights in discussions on regional issues and as part of any dialogue with
business.

BACKGROUND

The economic crisis brings with it the prospect of increased political
dissent and social unrest which may be met with a heavy handed response by
states.  New political currents have emerged in many countries, which, if
not given a proper outlet, threaten to spill over into violence and
instability.

     Some governments' response to the crisis may involve human rights
violations.  The struggle for competitiveness and foreign direct
investment, will see further downward pressure on wages and working
conditions and a continuing crackdown on independent trade union activity.
  Civil disturbance, crime and other problems may be met with an iron fist.

     The Indonesian authorities have reacted to anti-government
demonstrations by rounding up members of the opposition, including
respected economists and using the draconian anti-subversion law to detain
its critics. At least 330 people have been detained since the beginning of
the year, and President Suharto has been granted greater powers to deal
with "social unrest" and "subversive acts."

     The lack of real human rights protection in Cambodia continues to
provide a threat to the security and stability of South-East Asia, with
refugee flows to neighbouring countries, to add to existing refugee
movements from Myanmar. The international response to the crisis following
last year's coup fails to tackle the underlying problems of impunity for
human rights violations and to address the need for free and fair elections
 -- putting Cambodia at risk of a continuing cycle of violence.
 .../ ENDS


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