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BURMA RELATED NEWS
- November 02, 2002.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
HEADLINES
------------------------------------------------------------------------ AFP - Terrorism, North Korea, free
trade to dominate ASEAN summit
AFP - Asian leaders step-up fight on
terrorism, criticise Western warnings
AFP - ASEAN and China make political
breakthrough on South China Seas
AP - ASEAN dragged down by Myanmar,
activists warn
AP - Report: Monk shot by ethnic
insurgents in Myanmar
AP - Six nations to endorse major
development of Mekong basin despite
Reuters - Annan worried Myanmar
reform drive is losing steam
IB - Mizoram-Myanmar border sealed to
prevent terrorists' entrance
ICFTU - ICFTU Welcomes Accor Group
Announcement of Withdrawal from Burma 31/10/2002
Bkk Post - EDITORIAL - Use of
children in adult wars must stop
UN News Centre - Annan renews appeal
for dialogue between Myanmar authorities and opposition
Kyodo News - ASEAN commits to
agriculture tie-up with China
Asia Tribune - Activists criticize
ASEAN leaders for avoiding dialogue?
------------------------------------------------------------------------ Saturday November 2, 4:42 PM
Terrorism, North Korea, free
trade to dominate ASEAN summit
PHNOM PENH, Nov 2 (AFP) - Asian leaders will begin a series of crucial meetings in Cambodia Monday that are expected to define their approach to regional terrorism, North Korea's nuclear weapons program and free trade. The two-day annual summit of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) will also bring together the leaders of China, South Korea, Japan, India and South Africa for concurrent meetings. The talks are the first chance for ASEAN and the other Asian leaders to meet face-to-face since regional stability was thrown into deep turmoil last month with the Bali bomb attacks and the United States' revelations that North Korea was pursuing a nuclear weapons program. "Today's international terrorism is probably the most serious security threat in the region since the then Indochina conflict," ASEAN spokesman M.C. Abad told AFP this week. Abad said the ASEAN leaders would exchange views on how best to counter the terrorism threat, with Southeast Asia being increasingly seen as a home for Islamic militancy following the attacks on Indonesia's Bali island that left more than 190 people dead. Leaders discussing regional terrorism will be aware of the immediate personal threat in this impoverished city, which the United States has listed as a potential target of Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda terrorist network. Emerging from 30 years of civil conflict, Cambodia already had a reputation for lawlessness before the bombings in Bali, which some Western and Indonesian leaders have linked to al-Qaeda and its regional allies. However authorities have vowed to provide the tightest security possible for the summit's delegates. "I can tell you that we are confident that... there will be no security problems during the summit," Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong recently told AFP. With regard to North Korea, Hor Namhong said China, Japan and South Korea would hold initial talks about the Stalinist state's nuclear program, then discuss the issue with their ASEAN counterparts in an 'ASEAN Plus Three' summit on Monday. "The view between themselves will be how to approach North Korea on this subject," he told AFP. Trade and tourism have been pushed into the background by terrorism and North Korea, however landmark agreements on these issues are expected to be struck during the meetings. China and the ASEAN nations are due to sign a framework pact to create the world's largest free-trade zone by about 2010. If realised, the zone will cover 1.7 billion people, have an aggregate gross domestic product of almost two trillion dollars and two-way trade worth 1.2 trillion dollars. A Singapore trade spokesman said the full establishment of the free-trade agreement (FTA) could occur by 2010 for China and the six original ASEAN states -- Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. He said the date could be pushed back to 2015 for the less developed ASEAN members -- Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam. The proposed agreement is part of a series of engagements ASEAN is planning with its more prosperous Northeast Asian neighbours to deepen regional integration and lessen dependance on the US market. Japan's delegation to Cambodia will also discuss a proposed Closer Economic Partnership with ASEAN that would include elements of a free-trade agreement. South Korea, the only missing part of the East Asian FTA jigsaw puzzle, has said it is studying the feasibility of a free-trade agreement with ASEAN. Restoring confidence in Southeast Asia's tourism industry, which is suffering its worst crisis in years following this month's Bali bombings that killed more than 190 people, will also be high on the agenda in Phnom Penh. Tougher anti-terrorism measures to be nailed down at the summit are seen as the most vital parts of any bid to rejuvenate tourism. However a tourism pact to be signed in Phnon Penh, a draft of which has been obtained by AFP, also intends to boost intra-regional movement by phasing out travel taxes and extending visa exemptions to ASEAN's 500 million citizens. South African President Thabo Mbeki will become the first non-ASEAN head of state to address the summit on Tuesday in what is being viewed as a mission to boost African-Asian solidarity. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Saturday November 2, 3:30 PM
Asian leaders step-up fight on terrorism, criticise Western warnings PHNOM PENH, Nov 2 (AFP) - - Southeast Asian leaders announced measures to step-up their fight against terrorism but also criticised Western government travel warnings issued against the region. Associaton of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Secretary General Rodolfo Severino told AFP Saturday that a joint statement on terrorism would be released during the group's annual summit that begins here Monday to express concern over the recent spate of deadly attacks in Indonesia and the Philippines. "They will stress their commitment to anti-terrorism and say that ASEAN is doing practical things to combat terrorism," Severino said. As part of its boosted efforts, Severino said ASEAN would sign a memorandum of understanding with China to co-operate on trans-national crime, which would cover terrorism. Thailand's foreign affairs permanent secretary, Tej Bunnag, also told AFP that about five major ASEAN meetings would be held over the next 12 months, some of which would also include China, Japan and South Korea, to intensify regional co-operation aganst terrorism. And Philippines foreign department undersecretary Lauro Baja said an anti-terrorism center would be set up in Malaysia. However Severino said Southeast Asian leaders felt Western governments, especially through their travel advisories, were unfairly labelling the region as excessively dangerous. "I think there is an unconscious effort to identify Southeast Asia with terrorism because of the large number of Muslims in this area," he said. "It is true there are terrorist cells -- whether they are international or home grown -- in Southeast Asia," Severino said. "But we also know that there are such terrorist cells in Britain and Germany but nobody is calling, or issuing, advisories about travel in Germany and Britain." Thailand's Tej also hit out at the Western travel advisories while Baja said the issue would be raised in the joint declaration on terrorism. "We think these travel advisories are indiscrimate, they have no established evidence and I think all ASEAN countries are affected in the same way," Tej said. The ASEAN officials' comments came as US authorities warned that they feared a repeat of last month's bomb blasts on Indonesia's holiday island of Bali that left at least 190 people dead, many of them Australians. "In the aftermath of the terrorist bombings in Bali, Indonesia, the possibility exists that similar attacks may occur in other Southeast Asian nations," the US State Department said in a statement. "The Department is concerned that individuals and groups may be planning terrorist actions against United States citizens and interests, as well as sites frequented by Westerners." Aside from the October 12 blast in Bali, which Western nations and some Indonesian officials have linked to Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda terror netowrk and its regional allies, 23 people were killed in the Philippines last month in bomb attacks blamed on terrorists. Western governments issued travel warnings for most Southeast Asian nations recently, including Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. ASEAN groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. China, South Korea, Japan, India and South Africa will also participate in concurrent meetings at the ASEAN summit. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Saturday November 2, 8:52 AM
ASEAN and China make political breakthrough on South China Seas PHNOM PENH, Nov 1 (AFP) - - The 10 members of ASEAN and China have made a major political breakthrough to prevent an escalation of tensions in the disputed South China Seas, officials said. Chem Widhya, spokesman for the Cambodian foreign ministry, said all members of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) and China had reached a draft agreement on conduct in the region after marathon meetings. "The text stipulates the countries of ASEAN and China restrain from any activities that would escalate or that would complicate the relations among themselves... and also to help any person in distress," he said. Chem Widhya had chaired marathon meetings aimed at resolving long-running disputes in the area and this had resulted in the declaration on the conduct of parties in the South China Seas. He said four ASEAN countries at the center of the disputes -- Brunei, Malaysia, Philippines, and Vietnam -- had reached an agreement on the common text on October 11. The remaining six ASEAN members -- Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, Singapore and Thailand -- approved the text on October 31. China gave its agreement on November 1. Beijing's approval was signalled as Chinese Prime Minter Zhu Rongji arrived here for next week's annual ASEAN summit which will draw leaders from 15 countries. "Within 15 days we have gone from one landmark step to another," Chem Widhya said. "This is a major political and diplomatic agreement." He said the declaration would be signed at the summit on November 4 and that it showed that the issue could not divide ASEAN. "We have had very intensive, very intensive, and very fruitful meetings." The declaration does not name the Spratly archipelago or Paracel Islands which are claimed by Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, Vietnam as well as China. However, Chem Widhya said although the Spratly Islands, or any other specific area of the South China Seas, was not named it was obvious that all concerns of claimants had been covered by the document. Vietnam and China have clashed twice over the Spratly Islands, in 1988 and 1992, and on both occasions the Chinese emerged victorious. It is believed the archipelago sits on top of vast reserves of oil and gas, although their commercial potential has never been confirmed. Chem Widhya said the agreement would contribute a free trade agreement between ASEAN and China within the next 10 years and that a code of conduct could be reached at a later date. "There is a mutual agreement that ASEAN and China need each other in terms of cooperation and they want to further expand that cooperation," he said. "It shows ASEAN is united." He said further details of the text could not be disclosed until the signing next week. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ASEAN dragged down by Myanmar,
activists warn
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) _ Southeast Asian leaders have a responsibility to encourage political and economic reforms in Myanmar or the repressive military junta will increasingly threaten regional security, activists said Saturday. Speaking at a human rights conference ahead of a summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, activists said conditions inside Myanmar, also known as Burma, were worsening. ``Without meaningful political and economic reform, Burma is a real threat to regional and international security,'' said Debbie Stothard, coordinator of the Alternative Asean Network on Burma. She cited the booming heroin trade that makes Myanmar one of the world's top suppliers, increased production of amphetamines, and the flow of migrants and refugees into neighboring Thailand. ``Very serious issues need to be addressed because a maverick state that lacks rule of law is a breeding ground for terrorism,'' said Stothard, a prominent Malaysian activist. ``ASEAN leaders cannot afford to continue to sit on their hands and do nothing.'' David Taw of the National Council of the Union of Burma, a Myanmar opposition umbrella group, said ASEAN's ``noninterference'' policy is backfiring because Myanmar's problems are spilling into neighboring countries. Myanmar is one of the poorest countries in ASEAN. The 10 member states traditionally avoid interfering in each other's internal affairs. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Report: Monk shot by ethnic
insurgents in Myanmar
Sat Nov 2, 8:35 AM
ET
YANGON, Myanmar (AP) _ Ethnic Chin insurgents shot and killed a Buddhist monk in northwestern Myanmar, a state-run newspaper reported Saturday. Two rebels from the Chin National Army allegedly entered a monastery in Paungmoewa village on Thursday and abducted head priest Sumingala, 40, before later shooting him dead, the official Myanma Ahlin daily reported. The newspaper said local residents pleaded with the gunmen to spare the monk, a 20-year veteran of the monkhood. The village is near the Indian border and about 600 kilometers (375 miles) northwest of Yangon. The newspaper criticized the insurgents for being ``jealous of the prevailing tranquility'' in military-ruled Myanmar and accused them of ``torturing the innocent.'' Military units were pursuing the rebels, the report added. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Six nations to endorse major
development of Mekong basin despite
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) _ Leaders of six Asian nations, including China, are expected to endorse projects to lace the Mekong River Basin with power grids and highways, over the protests of activists who say the region may be heading for an environmental disaster. Leaders of the Greater Mekong Subregion, or GMS, will hold their first summit Sunday. The 10-year-old group aims to bolster trade, investment, tourism and infrastructure development in the impoverished region. The other members are Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam. ``The leaders will hopefully say, `Here is our vision. Yes, let's go ahead and make it happen on the ground,''' said Rajat M. Nag, a senior official of the Asian Development Bank, the major donor to the GMS. Scheduled for signature at the one-day meeting, to be held here before a summit of Southeast Asian Nations, are agreements on facilitating cross-border movements and interconnections of power grids. GMS member countries hope these will one day form a vast, six-nation energy network based on one of the Mekong's greatest resources _ hydropower. The network is one of 11 ``flagship programs'' for the decade, which will cost an estimated US$1 billion over the next three years. Other key projects include construction and improvement of north-south and east-west highways, which would open up isolated areas in Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam. The projects have drawn fire from a local and international environmental groups. More than 30 of them have gathered in Phnom Penh, and the Asian Development Bank, which has formulated many of the development plans, is a particular target. ``It's a program imposed from above without any real participation from those who live in the basin. Our general theme is: `Whose Mekong is this? The people's or the ADB's?''' said Aviva Imhof of the U.S.-based International Rivers Network. She said the highways could open up pristine areas to deforestation and other degradation, and facilitate the influx of cheap goods from China to compete with local production. The power grids, Imhof said, would accelerate the building of dams on the Mekong and its tributaries. GMS member governments downstream from China are likewise concerned about a cascade of dams the Chinese plan to erect on their stretch of the still relatively untamed Mekong in Yunnan province. Two have already been built. At least six others are planned by the Chinese, who have not consulted the downstream nations. ``There will be these potential tensions, but I'm very hopeful that the spirit of cooperation will persist,'' the ADB's Nag said of the dams. Joern Kristensen, who heads the Mekong River Commission, said the regional river authority fears that changes in the temperature and quality of the water downstream from the dams will cause the extinction of some fish species. But farmers would get more water in the dry season. ``It's always a trade-off _ what you gain and what you lose,'' he said. Others see the dams as disrupting the annual cycle of flooding which has fertilized the Mekong's banks and created one of the most biodiversity-rich inland waterways in the world. These critics point to disastrous efforts at harnessing major rivers around the world. Kristensen said there was ``no option but to develop the Mekong'' since the basin, home to more than 60 million people, was one of the world's poorest regions. The GMS meeting precedes the annual summit Monday and Tuesday of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations, comprising Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Saturday November 2, 2:01 AM
Annan worried Myanmar reform drive is losing steam By Irwin Arieff UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - Concerned that a political reform drive in Myanmar is losing steam, U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan on Friday urged the Asian nation's military government and pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi to quickly launch talks laying the groundwork for democracy. "It is only through an all-inclusive dialogue that Myanmar will be able to ensure that national reconciliation is durable and the transition to democracy smooth," Annan said in a report to the 191-nation U.N. General Assembly. He also called on the authorities in the country formerly known as Burma to quickly release all remaining political prisoners and eliminate all remaining restrictions on the activities of legal political parties. The military has raised hopes for political change in the last two years by releasing around 400 political prisoners and freeing Suu Kyi from 19 months of house arrest in May. Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy won national elections in 1990, but has never been allowed to rule by the military, which has held power for the last four decades. Many Western countries, including the United States and the European Union, have imposed political and economic sanctions on Myanmar, a country diplomats say has been impoverished by decades of economic mismanagement. Annan noted it had been five months since Suu Kyi had been allowed to resume her activities as the leader of a lawful party, yet no talks had yet begun with the government on political reforms and national reconciliation. "I am concerned that the positive momentum generated since this spring could dissipate unless some tangible progress is made in the near future," he said. "It is my strong belief that the objectives of preserving stability and pressing ahead with much-needed reforms are mutually compatible." Despite the recent releases of political prisoners, his report said hundreds were believed still in custody including 220 members of the National League for Democracy, 400 nonmembers and "several hundred others, including students." In addition, the activities of the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy has been limited in Shan state and the National League for Democracy has been prevented from publishing and distributing political material while the pro-government National Unity Party is allowed to do so, according to the report. Annan said Myanmar Foreign Minister Win Aung, during talks in New York in September, had assured him his government was committed to moving toward a multiparty democratic system "but at the same time stressed the need to build a strong nation that could withstand any challenge to its territorial integrity". ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The
Independent-bangladesh - (2-11-2002.)
Mizoram-Myanmar border sealed to prevent terrorists' entrance A Correspondent, Bandarban Nov 1: The government on the reports of different intelligence branches has sealed 172 kilometres along the Mizoram-Myanmar border to prevent terrorists from crossing the border for safe shelter elsewhere. The army has declared red alert in the areas adjacent to the border. The BDR men have been kept alerted. The government has taken up the measures on the reports by the intelligence branches that the listed terrorists in the face of joint raids by army and police across the country have taken shelter in Bandarban town and in the remote hills as safe places. The report indicates that the terrorists may cross the border if raids are intensified. The government has identified 47 points as vulnerable passing an order that the terrorists could in no way enter Bandarban through these points. The movement of unknown persons in Bandarban town has been reported. The remote hills are reportedly being frequented by unknown people. The selection of Bandarban areas by the godfathers in the face of army raid for safe shelter has left the people in panic. The men in the hills are always in panic. Police Super Shamsul Alam said vigilance had always been kept on the movement of new faces, saying that measures had been taken to stop the entrance of the outside terrorists into Bandarban. He said that raids would be conducted as soon as the location of the terrorists could be identified. The local people said that hundreds of new faces who appear to be Bengalis in alliance with the hill people are living in the hills. The terrorists do not spend more than one night in one place. Most of them in the guise of day labourers, boatmen, wood cutters, beggars and brickfield workers are living in the hill areas. They are distributing money among the tribes people to get their sympathy for shelter. Sources said the listed terrorists from across the country have come in good terms with the tribal terrorists and are living at ease and comforts in the hill areas. The hill people said the terrorists who have gathered in Bandarban have expressed their resentments saying that those who have become billionaire, MPs and ministers with their help have deserted them in the midst of army raids. Most of the tribes people are not opening mouths about the existence of the outsider terrorists. Sources said the joint operation is being delayed in Bandarban as the authorities are not certain about the actual number of terrorists and the quantity of arms at their disposal. A reliable source said the concerned authorities have prepared a list containing atleast 500 terrorists equipped with arms. Joint raids are expected to be started soon. The source said the terrorists have chosen the dense jungles in the hills and the tribal people inhabited areas as their safe shelter before the operation starts. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ International Confederation of
Free Trade Unions
ICFTU Welcomes Accor Group Announcement of Withdrawal from Burma 31/10/2002 Brussels October 31 2002: On 30 October, the multinational leisure chain, Accor, announced at a meeting with the IUF that it would be withdrawing all operations from Burma, closing the doors of two hotels in Rangoon and Mandalay for the last time. Their decision is strongly welcomed by the ICFTU. Under increasing pressure from international trade union campaigning to halt investment in Burma, Accor is the latest on a growing list of multinational investors to pull out of the country. With the Burmese military junta approving each foreign direct investment through its foreign investment body and a number of companies in joint ventures with junta-controlled front companies, the ICFTU maintains that the very fact of doing business with Burma provides support to this brutal dictatorship: a dictatorship that is directly responsible for the extensive and increasing use of forced labour and a wide range of other grave human rights abuses, as well as being heavily implicated in money-laundering and the production of opium and other illicit drugs. See List
on = http://www.global-unions.org/burma/default3.asp
------------------------------------------------------------------------ Bangkok Post -
Saturday 02 November 2002
EDITORIAL - Use of children in adult wars must stop Current and former child soldiers from Burma, Cambodia, Indonesia and the Philippines featured prominently in the sample of 69 interviewed by Unicef for the report Adult Wars, Child Soldiers, that was launched here in Bangkok on Thursday. The remaining came from East Timor, which has made known its wish to join Asean when it is ready, and Papua New Guinea, a long-time associate of the grouping and a member of the Asean Regional Forum. At the launching, Unicef pointed out that there were 70,000 child soldiers in the East Asian and Pacific region, and urged ``new and concerted efforts'' to demobilise and reintegrate them into society. The executive director, Carol Bellamy, said the use of children as soldiers by state and non-state armies should be recognised as ``an illegal and morally reprehensible practice that has no place in civilised societies''. The report was launched in Bangkok because the Thai capital is the seat of Unicef's regional office. But the timing of the launch, just three days ahead of the Asean summit in Phnom Penh, is perceivable as a gentle nudge for the leaders to do something about the transgressors in their midst. In 2000, the report notes, Asean ministers responsible for social welfare issued in their respective countries a ``Declaration on the Commitments for Children in Asean''. That statement included agreements to protect children from ``all forms of violence'' and from armed conflict. Thailand, as a front-runner in Asean in terms of human rights protection , should seize the opportunity to further advance its good reputation. The country's clean record with regard to the use of children in combat should encourage Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra to speak out against the scourge. As Ms Bellamy said at the launching of the Unicef report, political dialogue, political pressure and political will are very important to the achievement of changes in this area. The fact that children may not be exploited in any one country ``does not mean that the leader of that country might not speak out'', she added. In line with the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child which came into force in February this year, Unicef is advocating 18 as the minimum age for children to be recruited or allowed to participate in armed conflict. The convention, which dates back to 1990, had set the standard at 15. Eighteen is also the age limit for the use of child soldiers under the International Labour Organisation's convention No 182. The Rome statute for the International Criminal Court which entered into force in July made conscription, enlistment or use of children under 15 a war crime. Thailand has ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child but not the Optional Protocol. The hold-up could be due to bureaucratic red tape, or the obstructivist thinking of conservative groups still stuck in the Cold War. A government that prides itself on being up-to-date and plugged into new technology like Mr Thaksin's should take little time to put an end to that, and launch Thailand on the map of enlightened states. The Unicef report came up with dramatic findings about Thailand's neighbours. One Burmese boy had been abducted by Burmese government soldiers at the age of only seven, with promises of food and candy. A 16-year-old Cambodian recruited into the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces at the age of 12 still has nightmares of being arrested, taken away and shot. As Thailand would not wish such horrible events to befall its own children, it should persuade its partners in Asean to reform. Mr Thaksin's team should not shy away Asean-style, citing the internal nature of turmoils causing the use of child soldiers by armed opposition groups and government soldiers. Rather, they should be emboldened by published facts to speak out loud. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ UN NEWS
CENTRE
Annan renews appeal for dialogue between Myanmar authorities and opposition 1 November ? With the reconciliation process in Myanmar at a ?pivotal? stage, substantive dialogue between the country?s authorities and opposition leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is essential, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan says in a report released today. While welcoming the recent positive political momentum in Myanmar, the Secretary-General voices concern that it could dissipate unless some tangible progress is made in the near future. ?It is my strong belief that the objectives of preserving stability and pressing ahead with much-needed reforms are mutually compatible,? he stresses. ?While recognizing the Government?s desire to build a strong nation that can withstand challenges to its territorial integrity, history has proved that a system of governance is more stable and sustainable when it is flexible enough to accommodate diverse opinions and allow peaceful change.? Emphasizing that all-inclusive talks are necessary to ensure a smooth transition to democracy, Mr. Annan renews his appeal to Senior General Than Shwe, other leaders of the Government and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi to set aside their differences, unite for the larger cause of national reconciliation and commence substantive dialogue as soon as possible. He also reiterates his call on the Government ?to find ways to release quickly all the remaining political detainees and to relax evenly the remaining restrictions on the activities of the legal political parties.? The Secretary-General underscores the international willingness to assist in the transition process, but warns that it could falter without national support. ?I remind the Government of Myanmar that the longer it delays in realizing its commitment to enter a substantive dialogue with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, the harder it will become for the international community to provide a framework within which the process of national reconciliation can move naturally towards its logical conclusion.? he says. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ASEAN commits to agriculture
tie-up with China
PHNOM PENH, Nov. 2, Kyodo - The 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on Saturday signed a memorandum of understanding with China pledging cooperation on agriculture for the next five years. The agreement, to be implemented up to 2006, covers training on hybrid rice, cultivation skills, fertilizer, water management, fisheries, aquaculture, biotechnology applications in agriculture, farm machinery, agro-industry and livestock. By the memorandum, signed in Cambodia's capital on the sidelines of ASEAN's annual summit, ASEAN and China also pledged to jointly identify cooperation in other fields of mutual interest such as advanced technology in agriculture, forestry, post-harvest technology and food security. More than 250 agricultural management and technical personnel have participated in various training courses on agriculture in China this year, according to Chinese Vice Agriculture Minister Qi Jingfa, who signed the memorandum with outgoing ASEAN Secretary General Rodolfo Severino. Qi said after the signing he believes that Chinese economic development is creating tremendous development opportunities and will be a great market for ASEAN countries. ''We are fully convinced that by playing a strong role and by strengthening the exchange of cooperation, we will definitely be able to promote the common development of agriculture in East Asia,'' he added. ASEAN consists of Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Asia Tribune
Date : 2002-11-02 Activists criticize ASEAN leaders for avoiding dialogue? Phnom Penh, Nov.02:- Regional activists today criticised Asean leaders at the Association of South East Asian Nations (Asean) Summit for avoiding dialogue with people?s organisations. Organisers of the 3rd Asean People?s Forum (APF) expressed deep disappointment that the Asean delegations attending the Asean + 3 Summit refused to meet with representatives of both the APF and of the Southeast Asia People?s Festival taking place in Phnom Penh. The APF themed ?Uphold the People?s Voice? began last night and is attended by 90 activists representing human rights NGOs and civil society from Asean countries. Somchai Homlaor, Secretary-General of Forum-Asia said: ?The reaction of the Asean delegations to isolate themselves from civil society is unjustified and unreasonable. It is a departure from previous practice.? ?Governments, and Asean as a body, need to realize that the work of human rights activists is a help, and not a hindrance.? ?If human rights organizations are prevented from functioning effectively, then it will amount to stifling the people?s voice. Peaceful conflict resolution will be difficult to achieve, and this could lead to desperation that is a fertile ground for violence,? said Homlaor. Toni Kassim, speaking on behalf of the Southeast Asian Committee for Advocacy (one of the organizers of the People?s Festival held in Phnom Penh from Oct 29 to Nov 3) said that a peaceful march to present a declaration to the Asean Summit was stopped. ?Why are these leaders so scared of us?,? she asked. ?We were merely trying to voice our hopes and aspirations for the future of Asean communities.? Kassim, a Malaysian, said that it was unfortunate that Asean governments refused to listen to the inspiring insights gained from Asean people sharing their culture and experiences. During the opening session of the APF, other commentators also deplored the lack of political will and leadership to make Asean a body that is more relevant to its people. Irene Xavier of the Committee for Asian Women said that key issues affecting women remain unaddressed by Asean, including violence against women, unemployment, discrimination and the effects of an increasing informal sector. ?And now that there is a war against terrorism, women?s options are decreasing. They are being oppressed by repressive governmental measures and religious conservativism.? Dr Sriprapha Petcharamesree from the Regional Working Group for an Asean Human Rights Mechanism expressed disappointement at the reluctance of Asean leaders to implement human rights mechanisms in the region. ?The non-inteference principle and its selective application are the key obstables to upholding basic human rights standards.? Kavi Chongkittavorn of the Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA) deplored Asean leaders? unwillingness to form consensus on human rights issues in the Asean region, even though they are keen at establishing a common position on abuses taking place elsewhere in the world, such as in South Africa. He therefore urged the Asean leadership to expand its mandate and to include human rights and civil society in the core of its activities. The Asian People Forum?s proceedings wouldl continue tomorrow. Human rights activists will pass resolutions addressing issues of anti-terrorism and of human rights violations committed in conflict situations in the Asean region. The organizers of the Asean People?s Forum are: ADHOC (Cambodia), LICADHO (Cambodia), Asian Human Rights Commission (Hong Kong SAR), Initiatives for International Dialogue (Philippines), Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (Forum-Asia), Asia Pacific Forum on Women, Law and Development (APWLD), Altsean-Burma, Southeast Asian Committee for Advocacy (SEACA), Committee for Asian Women, Nonviolence International Southeast Asia and the Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA). ------------------------------------------------------------------------ |