Aung San Suu Kyi asks ASEAN to do m

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Subject: Aung San Suu Kyi asks ASEAN to do more for human rights

HEADLINES
Stooges used in `trumped up' campaign
Aung San Suu Kyi asks ASEAN to do more for human rights
What is in it for us women?
Double blow for Anwar team
Thousands join rallies
Son-in-law of Suharto snubs army farewell
Driver tells of threesome encounter
Soros' regret about what he said just 'not acceptable'

NEWS 
Stooges used in `trumped up' campaign
 YANGON: Aung San Suu Kyi yesterday accused Myanmar's military rulers of using
stooges to falsely suggest en masse resignations from her party in a ``trumped
up'' campaign against the opposition. 
``Some of the so-called members of the NLD that resigned were not members of
the NLD at all _ the resignations don't worry us,'' she said. 
Hundreds of resignations from the National League for Democracy (NLD) have
been reported by the official media in recent months which have seen scores of
activists detained by the authorities. 
``It is all a great big trumped up operation _ what is obvious is that all
this is being orchestrated by the authorities,'' she said at a United Nations
event on the 50th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
``It proves to the world there is no justice involved.'' The NLD accuses
military intelligence of forcing the activists to quit. 
She said the government is trying to blackmail her after it said detainees may
be freed if she renounced call for a meeting of an elected parliament. 
- AFP 
HONG KONG STANDARD - DEC 11, 98
Aung San Suu Kyi asks ASEAN to do more for human rights
posted at 14:15 hrs (Bangkok time) 
YANGON, Dec 10 -- Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi on Thursday
called on ASEAN members to concentrate more on human rights when they meet in
Hanoi for their annual summit next week. 
''The most appropriate message is to ask them to show greater respect and
concern for human rights all over the world including our region and of
course, particularly my country, Burma,'' Aung San Suu Kyi told reporters. 
''No one can deny that there is no human rights in Burma,'' she said at a
United Nations function here marking the 50th anniversary of the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights. 
Aung San Suu Kyi habitually refers to Myanmar as Burma, disdaining the name
given to the country by its military junta. 
Looking trim and fit, and wearing a pale blue jacket and traditional Burmese
dress, the Nobel peace prize winner deplored the human rights situation in
Myanmar. 
Members of the government were also invited to attend the ceremony in a Yangon
hotel, but sent only a junior Foreign Ministry official. 
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations meets in Hanoi next week. The
political situation in Myanmar, which was allowed to join the group a year and
a half ago remains one of the greatest potential threats to ASEAN unity. 
Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy won elections in 1990 but the
government has refused to cede power. (AFP)
THE NATION - DEC 11, 98

What is in it for us women?
If Dhammakaya is a religious reform movement in response to our Sangha
community's inability to keep up with events, my interest as a woman is what
better deal has it in store for us women? Mainstream Theravada Buddhism,
unlike Mahayana Buddhism, doesn't ordain women as Bhikkhuni, a female
equivalent of monks.
Rights groups have sought female ordination, but to no avail. The Sangha
argues that the Bhikkhuni lineage in Theravada Buddhism ceased long ago,
making new ordination - which requires the presence of Bhikkhuni - technically
impossible. But women groups contend that some Bhikkhuni orders now can be
traced to the Theravada lineage, so ordination is indeed possible.
The Sangha fathers remain adamant. Which is understandable. It boils down to
power: the male-dominated order wants to continue excluding women from
entering and sharing monks' sphere of authority.
Though barred from ordination, women have always been more active temple
supporters than men. Women's greater financial independence today has made
their donations even more substantial.
If the Sangha wants to be relevant to modern women, it must have a better
answer to religious discrimination. If not, women will go elsewhere.
Santi Asoke, the reformist, anti-consumerism sect, for example, has apparently
adapted to women's needs by agreeing to ordain female ascetics called
Sikkhamart. To be eligible, the Sikkhamart must go through rigid testing over
years before they receive ordination approval from the Sikkhamart community.
The brown-robed Sikkhamart, though inferior to Santi Asoke monks, are active
teachers and have the great respect of lay followers. This is in stark
contrast to the image of traditional white-robed nuns who aren't even
recognised legally and are often exploited as temple maids.
What about the capitalist Dhammakaya? One of the temple's most revered
founders is nun Jand Khonseenokyoong, a disciple of the late Luang Por Sod
Chantasaro who made popular the Dhammakaya meditation technique. It was she
who taught meditation to Phra Dhammachayo, now worshiped by his followers as
the Messiah and a reincarnation of the Original Element of Dhammakaya,
whatever that means. Add the fact that the temple is targeting urban, well-
educated Thais, one might conclude that Dhammakaya is more gender sensitive.
I made that mistake about 10 years ago. During an interview with deputy abbot
Phra Dhattacheewo, I asked him about Dhammakaya's view on women's spiritual
status.
Women, he said, are spiritually inferior to men, which is why they are born
women in the first place. If they want to be born on a higher spiritual plane
in future lives, they must practise dhamma and make merit harder in this life
so they can be reborn men.
That's right. Despite its sophisticated facade, use of modern technology to
propagate its teachings, and effective corporate-like management, Dhammakaya
is as chauvinistic as the traditionalist Sangha. This may partly explain why
there's no female ordination at Dhammakaya.
Meanwhile, the popularity of Dhammakaya among middle-class, urban women should
make feminists re-think the class dimensions which retard the women's
movement. Also, the diverse aspirations of women in different classes and
communities.
As for Dhammakaya's traditionalism, when the controversial 30-000-million-baht
chedi is finally completed, who knows if its core area will end up a no-women
zone like other traditional religious sites? I wouldn't be one bit surprised.
* Sanitsuda Ekachai is Assistant Editor, Bangkok Post. 
BANGKOK POST - DEC 10, 98
Double blow for Anwar team 


The judge in the sodomy trial of Malaysia's former deputy leader Anwar Ibrahim
has refused defence demands to disqualify a key prosecution witness. 
The setback was compounded by evidence of additional sexual crimes that drew
gasps from the public gallery. 
Mr Anwar's lawyers had asked the judge to throw out the evidence of key
witness Azizan Abu Bakar after he appeared to contradict his statement that
the former cabinet minister sodomised him in 1992. 
But on Thursday Mr Azizan told court the confusion had arisen because he had
misunderstood a lawyer's question. 
Mr Azizan, who worked as Mr Anwar's driver, says his one time boss repeatedly
sodomised him and made him a "homosexual slave". 
The accusation is central to the government's case against Mr Anwar, who has
pleaded not guilty to five counts each of corruption and sodomy. 
On Monday Mr Azizan apparently contradicted himself under cross-examination
when he agreed with the defence that he had visited Mr Anwar's family between
1992 and 1997 because Mr Anwar did not sodomise him. 
But under re-examination by the prosecution, the ex-driver said he had
misunderstood the question because the year 1992 was ''too general'' 
"The sodomy act indeed happened to me while I was working as driver for the
wife of the accused from early 1992 to May 1992," he added. 
Shock new allegations 
Mr Azizan said he remembered one incident at the home of Mr Anwar's adopted
brother, Sukma Darmawan. 
"One incident that I cannot forget is in the house of Sukma... where the
accused sodomised me first after which his adopted brother sodomised me," he
said, drawing gasps from the gallery. 
The commotion was so great, a court bailiff warned members of the public to
leave if they wanted to comment on the proceedings. 
Mr Sukma and one of Mr Anwar's former speechwriters were both sentenced to six
months in jail in September after pleading guilty to being sodomised by Mr
Anwar. 
They have since lodged appeals, saying police coerced them into the guilty
pleas. 
The new allegations came after Judge Augustine Paul rejected a defence motion
to have Mr Azizan impeached, or disqualified, as a witness. 
"It is meaningless to hold proceedings to impeach," he added. 
The defence had argued that Mr Azizan had contradicted himself while on the
witness stand. 
A separate hearing on a lawsuit by Mr Anwar challenging the legality of his
dismissal from the government on 2 September was adjourned until 21 December.
BBC - DEC 10, 98

Thousands join rallies
JAKARTA: Thousands of protesters rallied in Jakarta yesterday, demanding
former president Suharto go on trial for corruption and pressing for an end to
the military's role in domestic politics. 
The protesters, mostly students, were marking International Human Rights Day. 
About 5,000 rallied outside the Defence Department in a largely peaceful
protest. 
Some 1,000 people gathered outside the United Nations offices, closing one of
Jakarta's main thoroughfares. 
About 1,000 more protested outside parliament. - Reuters 

HONG KONG STANDARD - DEC 11, 98

Asean cohesiveness has become an issue
The nine foreign ministers will have define what ''enhanced interaction''
means. Marisa Chimprabha writes. 
HANOI -- Nine Asean foreign ministers start today their two-day meeting in
this capital of Vietnam prior to a summit of the leaders scheduled for
December 15. Their top priority is how to define what they have called ''Asean
cohesiveness'' which has been tested on many occasions, particularly now when
most members' pockets are empty. 
Asean's cohesiveness, which has been been left unattended for some time, has
now become important because the global political and economic arena is busy
with unsettled controversies and conflicts. 
The nine members of Asean had been planning to step towards the new century
with pride and full pockets as they had been regarded as an emerging powerful
economic group. However their expected pride and elegance have been dashed by
the unprecedented economic crisis. 
The crisis has coincided with political instability in Indonesia and Malaysia.
The unrest in Indonesia resulted in the resignation of long-time President
Suharto but did not bring an end to violence in the country. In Malaysia, the
dismissal and trial of former deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim have proved to be
controversial. Both have badly affected Asean's image in the eyes of others. 
One of the factors which marred the reputation of Asean countries is their
long-standing policy of ''non-interference'' in what they claimed to be each
other's ''internal affairs''. The policy has previously been criticised by
others, particularly the west. 
However, thanks to globalisation which not only spreads good deeds worldwide
but also bad behaviour including increasing trafficking in narcotics,
prostitutes and illegal labour, no country can live in isolation. So the
policy of non-interference is now being criticised by some members of Asean
itself who demand a review so that they would not have to bear the burden of
what are claimed to be the internal affairs of others countries. 
It is Thailand that called for the review of the non-intervention policy,
which was heatedly discussed when the foreign ministers met in Kuala Lumpur in
July. Bangkok was backed by the Philippines, but the rest disagreed. However,
Asean agreed to use the term ''enhance interaction'' as a compromise for the
adjusted policy. 
Sad but true that though it is Thailand that called for enhanced interaction,
when the time came for such action Thailand did nothing. It turned out that
the Philippines and Indonesia were the first to adopt the new policy. They
criticised the sacking of Anwar. Other Asean countries have remained silent
claiming that Anwar's trial is internal affairs of Malaysia. 
The difference in members' reaction to this matter has affected their
solidarity. The foreign ministers who will gather today will for the first
time discuss the topic of their unity. 
A draft of the declaration to be made at the end of the summit states that
''We (the leaders) shall move Asean onto a higher plane of regional
cooperation in order to strengthen Asean's effectiveness in dealing with the
challenges of growing interdependence within Asean and of its integration into
the global economy. In doing so, we also commit ourselves to intensifying our
habits of dialogue on current and emerging issues, further consolidating our
unity in diversity, our cohesiveness and harmony.'' 
It is Vietnam, the host, that has called for a discussion of the unity of
Asean and for a definition of what has been termed as enhanced interaction so
that each member could correctly interpret it. 
Also to be pondered during the foreign ministers' meeting is whether they are
ready to greet a new member to the club, Cambodia, which desperately wants to
be welcomed as a member at the summit. 
This issue dominated the consultations among senior officials since Tuesday.
However the officials, who are well aware that it is a matter of political
determination, decided to leave the issue to their foreign ministers due to
meet today. Cambodia has sent an advance team to Hanoi to lobby each member in
the group. 
Having regained its UN seat Cambodia believes it is quite important that it
gains recognition from its neighbours. 
Vietnam itself prefers Cambodia to be admitted into the group at the summit
partly because it wants Asean to achieve its ultimate goal of Asean 10 when
the meeting is held in Hanoi. 
The Nation - DEC 11, 98


Son-in-law of Suharto snubs army farewell 

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE in Jakarta 
Lieutenant-General Prabowo Subianto, a son-in-law of former president Suharto
discharged from the army for his role in the kidnapping and torture of
activists, failed to turn up at his official retirement ceremony yesterday. 
General Prabowo had been invited along with 60 other generals to attend the
official ceremony to mark their retirement from the forces at the military
academy in Magelang, Central Java. 
He was honourably discharged by a presidential decree dated November 20
following a decision by the armed forces chief General Wiranto in August. 
The honourable discharge meant he would be prematurely retired. 
General Wiranto's decision was taken after a military council said General
Prabowo had been engaged in the abduction and torture of several activists
earlier in the year. 
Diplomats said General Prabowo, married to Suharto's second youngest daughter,
had travelled to France, the United States and Jordan, but Britain had made it
known he was not welcome. 
Other senior officers who entered retirement included Co-ordinating Minister
for Political and Security Affairs General Feisal Tanjung and Home Affairs
Minister Lieutenant-General Syarwan Hamid. 
General Wiranto said in August that two others investigated with General
Prabowo by a special Officers' Honour Council, Major-General Muchdi and
Colonel Chairawan, were "released from all structural duties", meaning they
would remain in the army but without any position. 
The three officers had been investigated by the Honour Council set up by
General Wiranto in August to determine their role in the abduction of the
activists. 
At least 24 activists have gone missing this year.
SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST - DEC 11, 98


Driver tells of threesome encounter 

IAN STEWART in Kuala Lumpur 
Anwar Ibrahim's former driver yesterday alleged that he had been sodomised in
an apartment by both his employer and another man on one occasion in 1992. 
Reaffirming his original allegation that he had been sodomised several times
by the former deputy prime minister in 1992, Azizan Abu Bakar told the High
Court he was confused by defence questioning when he appeared to have
retracted the accusation on Monday. 
Yesterday, he again provoked gasps from Anwar's family and members of the
public by stating there was one incident in 1992 when he was sodomised by both
Anwar and Anwar's Indonesian-born adopted brother, Sukma Darmawan. 
Sukma was jailed for six months after pleading guilty in September to allowing
Anwar to sodomise him. He has since sought to withdraw his guilty plea and
lodge an appeal against his conviction. 
A former speechwriter for Anwar, Munawar Aness, a Pakistani, appeared in court
on the same day facing the same charge and was also sentenced to six months'
imprisonment after pleading guilty. He is also appealing against the
conviction. 
Mr Azizan said yesterday that the homosexual acts allegedly committed by Anwar
took place from early 1992 until May of the same year. 
He said he had misunderstood a defence question on Monday which prompted him
to say he had not been sodomised by Anwar. The question included a reference
to his visits to Anwar's house between 1992 and 1997. 
Mr Justice Augustine Paul said he had understood Mr Azizan's answer to be that
"during the period [from 1992 to 1997] he was not sodomised". 
Anwar is being tried on charges of corrupt practices and faces a later hearing
on counts of sodomy. 
Under re-examination by the prosecution, Mr Azizan said: "One of the acts I
cannot forget is the incident that happened at Sukma's house at Tivoli Villa,"
a luxury apartment block in an upmarket Kuala Lumpur suburb. 
"The accused sodomised me first followed by . . ." 
He was interrupted by a defence objection but allowed to continue. 
"His adopted brother then sodomised me," he said. 
The judge rejected a defence objection that the prosecution was adducing fresh
evidence that was making the witness' allegations "more sordid". 
SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST - DEC 11, 98

DEC 10 1998 
Soros' regret about what he said just 'not acceptable' 

It's his attitude that is a problem. He has no right interfering in the
country's internal affairs, says Malaysia's Foreign Minister 
KUALA LUMPUR -- The regret expressed by international financier George Soros
for calling for the ouster of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad is
not acceptable, Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi told
Parliament. 
"We cannot accept...because of his attitude of interfering in Malaysia's
internal affairs," he said on Tuesday when winding up the debate on the 1999
Supply Bill for his ministry. 
Datuk Abdullah said the currency speculator was actually worried over the
economic-recovery measures announced by Dr Mahathir which might block his
chances of amassing wealth. 
"It was out of anger when he issued a statement recently asking Malaysians to
remove Dr Mahathir," he said. 
The Foreign Minister said Mr Soros had stated clearly in one of his books that
Malaysia could be the cause for the economic problems faced by the world
because of its economic-recovery approaches. 
"He is very worried that if our approach succeeds, other countries will follow
our measures. 
"And being a currency trader, he will surely be sad as his chances to become
very rich will be limited," Datuk Abdullah said. 
He said he did not see why Malaysia's economic-recovery measures should be
criticised as the Washington-based International Monetary Fund itself had
admitted that its measures to revive the economy in West Asia had failed to
yield positive results. 
"If there is another formula, why not give that formula due attention rather
than criticise it?" he asked. 
"Maybe the criticisms were made with certain motives to support currency
speculation and to reap profits from the Malaysian ringgit by people like
Soros," he said. 
Datuk Abdullah said he always took the opportunity to explain to the
international community Malaysia's rationale in implementing its economic-
recovery measures when he attended international conferences abroad. 
"Many said our measures are rational and they wished us well. 
"If we succeed, our measures may be adopted by their countries with certain
adjustments," he said. 
He said he also explained the reasons leading to the arrest of former Deputy
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and many were satisfied with the explanation. --
Bernama 

WHAT HE SAID THEN 
IN A speech at the John Hopkins University in the United States last week,
international financier George Soros accused Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk
Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad of cronyism and abuse of power and said that he
should be removed from office. 
WHAT HE SAYS NOW 
On Monday, Mr Soros told a news conference in London that he regretted calling
for the ouster of Dr Mahathir. 
"Had I known I was going to be quoted, I would have moderated myself because I
do think that's counter-productive," he said. 
THE STRAITS TIMES - DEC 10, 98