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INVESTMENT ROADSHOWS FUTILE WITHOUT



Subject: INVESTMENT ROADSHOWS FUTILE WITHOUT SOUND FUNDAMENTALS 

For immediate release: July 23, 1999

INVESTMENT ROADSHOWS FUTILE WITHOUT SOUND FUNDAMENTALS 
- DISPLAYS POINTLESS IF ASEAN IS ?IMPOTENT?

Singapore, Fri ­ Human rights activists said Asean roadshows and displays of 
unity were pointless if the regional grouping failed to recognise that human 
beings were the most important element of any economy.

Ms Debbie Stothard, Coordinator of Altsean-Burma said: ?Instead of trying to 
impress potential investors with light and sound, Asean must first address 
the festering human problems in the region, including Burma. Selectively 
using ?non-interference? as a convenient excuse for inaction is 
unacceptable.

?Asean appears to be impotent to solve the life-and-death problems faced by 
millions in the region. It should get its fundamentals right and work 
concertedly to ameliorate the root causes of these problems first. 
Otherwise, Band-Aid solutions will only perpetuate the cycle of human rights 
abuses, displaced people, increased instability and the consequent economic 
and social costs.?

Responding to the keynote address of Singapore Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong 
at the opening of the 32nd Asean Ministerial Meeting this morning, the 
activists said progress to resolve economic weaknesses were slow and 
unsustainable because the lack of genuine commitment to accountability and 
transparency prevailed amongst its members.

Dr Chee Soon Juan of the Open Singapore Centre said: ?In addition to 
deliberately withholding or manipulating information, many Asean members use 
security laws such as the Internal Security Act and controls to discourage 
citizens from asking questions. Fear and intimidation is not at all 
consistent with the accountability and transparency rhetoric used by Asean 
leaders.?

Ms Alison Wee of SUARAM said: ?Asean must stop the selective and 
hypocritical abuse of ?non-interference?. Pushing for economic reforms and 
integration already constitute an interference.

?Asean that it was formed as a political organisation in 1967 to peacefully 
resolve and prevent conflicts in the region. It now appears that Asean would 
rather think about cash instead the people.?

Mr Wilson Lucente concluded that the lack of civil and political rights in 
many Asean countries allowed greater erosion of their economic, social and 
cultural rights. ? If the governments were responsive to the people?s 

concerns, many of the tragic human impacts of the crisis could have been 
reduced.

?Now is a good time for Asean to regain its soul by recognising the 
indivisibility and universality of human rights.?
ENDS

Enquiries: Open Singapore Centre, Tel: 65 358 0548
Altsean-Burma, Tel: 662 275 1811


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A L T S E A N - B U R M A
Alternative Asean Network on Burma
Tel: 66 2 275 1811 * Fax: 66 2 693 4515
<altsean@xxxxxxxxxx>