ASEAN Human Rights Mechanism public forum this Sunday 23
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A Public Forum - ASEAN Human Rights Mechanism
18 Sep 07
The ASEAN Summit that will be held in mid-November will see the signing of the ASEAN Charter in Singapore.
During the 40th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting in Manila last 30-31 July 2007, the ASEAN Foreign Ministers agreed to include a provision in the ASEAN Charter that mandates the creation of a human rights body.
As such, an ASEAN Human Rights Working Group (AHRWG) was established whose goal is to push for an intergovernmental human rights commission for ASEAN. At the moment, countries that have national Working groups and are part of the (AHRWG) are Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines and Thailand.
Human rights advocates in Singapore are looking to establish a national working group. As such a forum will be held to discuss the process towards the formation of such a group here.
The forum will look to educating the public on the ASEAN Human Rights Mechanism and also the establishment of a Singapore Working Committee. Public consultation, input and participation are important if the group hopes to represent views of civil societies, NGOs, interest groups and human rights bodies.
Date: 23 September 2007, Sunday
Time: 2.00 pm
Venue: Allson Hotel, Victoria Room, Level 2
Speakers:
M Ravi, human rights lawyer
Jolovan Wham, social worker
Alex Au, gay rights activist
Isrizal, arts community representative
Chee Soon Juan, politician & political activist
Admission: Free and open to the public
http://www.singaporedemocrat.org/articleaseanrightsbody9.html
Location:
http://www.allsonhotelsingapore.com/location.htm -
This Charter is vital to ASEAN, but Singapore has seen fit to cast doubts on its ability to be a strong component of ASEAN's evolution.
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I suspect they feel the heat.
I suspect Singapore will become more 'freedom' soon.
what about you guys and gals?
To be a leader in ASEAN, many criterias. -
It is ironical that this event should occur when Singapore is chairing the ASEAN seat for this round after just taking over from the Philippines in August 2007.
Can the Singapore Government escape the pressure from the respective societies of every ASEAN States - to loosen up and recognised the Human Rights of the ASEAN Citizens - including those that Singapore Citizens are entitled as a BIRTHRIGHT ?
ASEAN Civil Society Conference to be held in S'pore in October
By S Ramesh, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 18 September 2007 2034 hrs
SINGAPORE : Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in ASEAN now have a platform to represent their views to their governments at the ASEAN Summit.
They can have their say at the ASEAN Civil Society Conference 2007, which will be held in Singapore from October 27-28.
The event has the endorsement of the ASEAN Secretariat.
The Singapore Institute of International Affairs (SIIA), which is organising the event, said the conference will provide the platform for CSOs to convey their views, through ASEAN Secretary-General Ong Keng Yong, to leaders at the 13th ASEAN Summit in Singapore in November.
The conference is expected to focus on human rights, climate change, nuclear safety, fair trade, poverty and development and gender issues.
Associate Professor Simon Tay, Chairman of the SIIA, said: "ASEAN has often been seen as an inter-governmental organisation and (is) sometimes criticised as being limited to the ruling elites.
"We hope this conference, which aims to bring the voice of the people to ASEAN governments, will go some way to bring people and communities into the ASEAN process.
"We hope that the ASEAN Civil Society Conference 2007 will continue to grow into a platform to allow more structured participation by NGOs in ASEAN to work with the ASEAN Secretariat to give feedback to ASEAN heads of governments."
Singapore's Foreign Ministry spokesman said the ASEAN Secretariat will be the approved conduit for CSOs to channel their views to the 13th ASEAN Summit.
Singapore is the current Chair of ASEAN. - CNA/ms -
If the garment wants to walk their pragmatism talk, they better start changing.Originally posted by Atobe:It is ironical that this event should occur when Singapore is chairing the ASEAN seat for this round after just taking over from the Philippines in August 2007.
Can the Singapore Government escape the pressure from the respective societies of every ASEAN States - to loosen up and recognised the Human Rights of the ASEAN Citizens - including those that Singapore Citizens are entitled as a BIRTHRIGHT ? -
If IRONIC, why the Asean leaders nayber laugh at it? ha ha... I get what you mean lah... hee heee..Originally posted by Atobe:It is ironical that this event should occur when Singapore is chairing the ASEAN seat for this round after just taking over from the Philippines in August 2007.
Can the Singapore Government escape the pressure from the respective societies of every ASEAN States - to loosen up and recognised the Human Rights of the ASEAN Citizens - including those that Singapore Citizens are entitled as a BIRTHRIGHT ?
SG dam solid man.
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yeah I think SG gov got a big fat "F" when it comes to leading human rights, ah lee used a metaphor not to put Myanmar to a dog house.....and now look at what the Monks are doing......! I think at some point gov have to distance themselve from the military gov of Myanmar. If it gets urgly and bloody in Myanmar, and sg gov will find themselve in the wrong side of the moral authority.Originally posted by LazerLordz:This Charter is vital to ASEAN, but Singapore has seen fit to cast doubts on its ability to be a strong component of ASEAN's evolution.
A big boo....... -
If the events in Myanmar had happened in Singapore, the entire Buddhist church would have been arrested as Communists and for inspiring a communist insurgency amongst Singaporean.
The Third World Military Dictators in Myanmar at least have some respect for the religious, unlike the money worshippers of a First World Government. -
not respect but rather is very wary of taking the next step becuz the world is watching..and any wrong step they make in handling the monks will triger a potential uprising among the commoners and even the soldiers in its millitary itself.. religion is a powerful tool.. they shud know, since they are in politics..Originally posted by Atobe:If the events in Myanmar had happened in Singapore, the entire Buddhist church would have been arrested as Communists and for inspiring a communist insurgency amongst Singaporean.
The Third World Military Dictators in Myanmar at least have some respect for the religious, unlike the money worshippers of a First World Government.
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I wonder; does PAP know that with every stupid step they take, the ice under their feet is growing ever thinner??
They are already threading on VERY thin ice....
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A thought came to mind.. how many ministers do we have, who are grounded in the disciplines of international relations, strategic studies or international economics..
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Even if SG gov is displaying lamb but sell dog. I though in principle we should not openly support a military gov. At least being so many years in politics, I thought he understood political correctness and street smart!Originally posted by Atobe:If the events in Myanmar had happened in Singapore, the entire Buddhist church would have been arrested as Communists and for inspiring a communist insurgency amongst Singaporean.
The Third World Military Dictators in Myanmar at least have some respect for the religious, unlike the money worshippers of a First World Government. -
Zilch..... the Ministers are supposed to be elites, it is those behind the scene - the donkeys in the Civil Service - who will need to be trained, to handle the details.Originally posted by LazerLordz:A thought came to mind.. how many ministers do we have, who are grounded in the disciplines of international relations, strategic studies or international economics..
Some of the hard working ones include - Dr Tommy Koh, Dr Chan Heng Chee, Mr Kishore Mahbubanis - they have certainly displayed ground breaking abilities in navigating the intricacies of international relations.
Dr Tommy Koh had successfully chaired the Internal Laws of the Seas Conference that help to provide guidelines that are acceptable in resolving international disputes over territorial claims on the sea surface and under-sea resources.
In any case, Disciplines and Specialised Studies will need formulation by someone dedicated to the field, and prepared to document knowledge and experience for the purposeful studies.
All studies of any disciplines are ''Simple sound logic and common sense are always made difficult for studies, when these are written as theories and principles''. -
Originally posted by Arapahoe:
If the ''he'' that you are referring to is LKY - for supporting the military government of Mynamar, you should not be surprised, and should begin to worry that he is getting more senile with each passing year.
Even if SG gov is displaying lamb but sell dog. I though in principle we should not openly support a military gov. At least being so many years in politics, I thought he understood political correctness and street smart!
The last time he spoke about Singapore Politics, he actually advocated that perhaps the SAF should step in when an Alternative Party is ever elected to govern Singapore and begin to use the National Reserves
This is a dangerous thought expressed openly, and he has consistently shown himself to deviate from his original positions once too often.
From his views of democracy expressed when struggling for his own political space, which changed through the years of domineering political power.
With the most recent change to his own scheme of having the Elected Presidency to hold the Second Key, which is now made nonsensical when PM LHL is allowed a free-hand in deciding where and how budget surplus is to be applied.
Amendments to the original legislations have been made to make the position of the Elected Presidency less effective in managing the Second Key to the National Reserves; and more recently, legislations have also been passed that will allow PM LHL more political space to decide when and how much of the National Reserves are to be used, WITHOUT further consultation with the Elected President or the Parliament. -
Dun like dat wan lah. They got the Majority to support them waht. Those very smart Majority who may all be on annuity. So lucky.Originally posted by HyperFocal:I wonder; does PAP know that with every stupid step they take, the ice under their feet is growing ever thinner??
They are already threading on VERY thin ice.... -
Singaporeans come together to form group for human rights
At a forum held at the Allson Hotel yesterday, a group of Singaporeans came together to push for human rights in Singapore.
Motivated partly by the recent announcement that the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) would include a mechanism to look into human rights issues in its charter to be signed later this year, the forum participants decided to form a group that would facilitate the development of human rights in this country.
Moderator Mr Alex Au, writer and gay rights activist, kicked off the session by explaining how ASEAN had agreed to include a segment in its charter that promised to respect the rights of its peoples. This came about after years of engagement with civil societies within and outside of ASEAN.
But in Singapore, as Mr Au noted, there was little activity. He pointed out that Singapore lagged behind our "less-developed" neighbours when it came to the issue of human rights.
"We seem to be the dullards of the class," he said. "Of the five founding members of ASEAN (Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand and Singapore), Singapore is the only state that doesnÂ’t have a human rights commission."
Even the Cambodian civil society has established a working group to get its government to establish a human rights commission.
He then called on the first speaker, Mr J B Jeyaretnam, to address the audience which had swelled to about 80 (The Today newspaper reported that the number was 30. A headcount of the photo will show the newspaper lying yet again). Mr Jeyaretnam spoke about the "complete disregard" of human rights in Singapore where people can be arrested and imprisoned under the Internal Security Act and the Criminal Law Temporary Provisions without the Executive having to prove its case in a court of law.
The opposition leader said that "it was time" that Singaporeans came forward to campaign for a body that would protect the rights of the people.
Forum convenor, Mr M Ravi, spoke about the regional effort spearheaded by Forum-Asia, a human rights NGO based in Bangkok, to form "Task Force" groups in the various ASEAN countries.
He urged those present to sign up to form the Singaporean Task Force, which would coordinate with their ASEAN counterparts to push for an effective regional human rights body. More than 40 did.
Social worker Mr Jolovan Wham spoke of the need the public to recognize that human rights was part and parcel of social work. Dealing with disenfranchised segments of society such as the homeless and migrant workers, Mr Wham said that the need for human rights in such circles was natural and understandable.
Mr Isrizal, an independent researcher in the arts community spoke next. He encouraged the arts community not to shy away from standing up for human rights and quoted the late playwright and author Kuo Pao Kun who was detained under the ISA from 1976-1980:
"IÂ’m very concerned of this country as a working artist that we have yet to effectively pry open and make valid a cultural space, a space that has its own rights and laws of operation...The great Chinese write Lu Xun said that progressive politics and progressive art very often seem to be fellow travelers, partners in struggle. But once that political movement assumes power, their paths begin to part because it is the nature of every political movement or party to hold on (to) power and perpetuate its role; and it is in the nature of art to always pursue truth, even to the extent of incurring the hostility of the ruling powers."
Dr Chee Soon Juan then spoke of the need for political and civil rights to address some of the issues that the people are unhappy with such as the proposed compulsory purchase of annuity by Singaporeans.
Without human rights, he pointed out, the people are not able to hold the Government accountable. He said that while other peoples are actively campaigning for human rights for their countries, it was the duty and responsibility of Singaporeans to do the same for Singapore.
It was pointed out in the course of the ensuing discussion period that there were several upcoming conferences and forums being planned in Singapore that would provide Singaporean human rights defenders more opportunity to raise awareness and advance human rights in this country.
Among them are the ASEAN Civil Society Conference that would be held from 1-3 Nov 2007 that would bring together ASEAN civil society groups to discuss human rights vis-Ã -vis the ASEAN Charter to be signed in mid-November.
Financial consultant, Mr Leong Sze Hian, also informed those present about a similar conference to be held from 27-28 Oct 2007. However, this event, understood to be organised by the state-sponsored Singapore Institute for International Affairs, may only be open to selected individuals.
Dr Chee also informed the audience of the upcoming conference of the International Bar Association and its related events (click here) and encouraged Singaporeans to be actively involved in these activities.
"I have always advocated that the Singaporean public must consulted and given every opportunity to participate in events that affect their lives," he said.
http://www.singaporedemocrat.org/articleAseanHRForum.html -
yes to be a leader in ASEAN it has many criterias but it takes a single issue to bring it down. I like to see how the new ASEAN human right going to implment its Human Right charter in view of Myanmar.Originally posted by reddressman:I suspect they feel the heat.
I suspect Singapore will become more 'freedom' soon.
what about you guys and gals?
To be a leader in ASEAN, many criterias.
If our million"air" leader were smart this is a great opportunity to TAKE THE LEAD and make a new legacy out from ASEAN and bring the region to a greater and open societies. Changing live for many SE Asian. SG is rank high as a great cities, but is our leader forward looking...
on the other hand since they are already million"air" why rock the boat. Be safe don't change. Do you do make the right decision or do you make the smart decision. (decision and indecision!) and of course there are frog in a well decision.
they can of course keep quiet and let the opportunity goes by....and SG will be just like any other cities without Human Spirit. ( CRAP!) -
Precisely, SG can either use this chair to be a greater nation, or be hindered by politicians who only think that they are the sole arbiters of Singapore's continued prosperity.
Leading in ASEAN or staying in power?