For Immediate Release

October 6, 2003

ASEAN SUMMIT/BALI

ASEAN GOVERNMENTS CREATING MORE TERRORISM THROUGH VIOLENCE AND REPRESSION, SAY ACTIVISTS

Regional human rights activists today slammed Asean governments for turning the "War Against Terrorism" into a "War FOR Terrorism" through the increased used of violence and repressive laws to create more insecurity, fear and resentment amongst the peoples of the region.

Mr Sunai Phasuk, a political analyst for FORUM-ASIA said that the policies and actions of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's government on numerous issues have made Thailand a major impediment for ASEAN to truly become a regional community that promote and protect human rights, democracy and fairness. He explained "People's participation, central to Thailand's democracy, has rapidly been restricted. To consolidate an unchallenged rule, the government has curtailed freedom of assembly, freedom of association and freedom of expression.

"The Thaksin government is bringing back old practices where punishments were meted out at the wish of the rulers without any references to limits imposed by law and morality. Extrajudicial killings, taken place after Prime Minister Thaksin declared war on drugs in February 2003, have claimed more than 2,500 lives. After
decades of people's struggle for democracy, it has taken Prime Minister Thaksin less than three year to create a police state and install a climate of fear," he said.

Mr Yap Swee Seng from SUARAM, a Malaysian human rights organization, warned Asean that repressive laws, such as Malaysia's Internal Security Act (ISA), will not wipe out terrorism, but only perpetuate more injustices and human rights violations, which are some of the main causes of terrorism.

"Asean should respect human rights if it desired genuine security and stability. All political prisoners, including Aung San Suu Kyi and Anwar Ibrahim should be released immediately." He said that retiring PM Dr Mahathir Mohamad had done a grave disservice to human rights and democracy in domestically and regionally. Yap said "Malaysia should take responsibility for the continuous deterioration of human rights in Burma as it was the regime's main sponsor for Asean membership."

Ms Debbie Stothard, Coordinator of Altsean-Burma said that Asean had not learnt any lessons from the Burma (Myanmar) experience. "For decades, the Burmese military regime has used brute force and repressive laws against their own citizens in the name of national security. Their repression has caused millions to flee their homes and scared investors away.

"Burma was considered one of the richest countries in the region when it first gained independence. Thanks to the repressive practices that Asean governments are now embracing, Burma is an economic basket case that has locked up Aung San Suu Kyi and hundreds more other political prisoners," she said.

Indonesian activists called for their government, which is hosting the Summit, to have a greater commitment to peace. "Most of the victims of the war in Aceh are civilians. We call on both sides, the government and the Aceh independence movement to stop the war and declare a cease- fire during the fasting month (Ramadan). They should use that time to go back to the negotiation table. In the meantime, the Indonesia government should also allow international organizations to provide assistance and monitor the human rights situation in Aceh," said Mr Bonor Tigor of SOLIDAMOR.

"The Indonesian government should also hold a genuine dialogue with the
representatives of the people of Papua in order to prevent further violence. The government should delay the division of Papua, and instead, respect the special autonomy law," he stressed.

To ensure both regional and national economic stability, Mr Max de Mesa of Task Force Detainees of the Philippines (TFDP) called on the Philippine government to promote and integrate human rights alongside national security concerns, as well as development, investment and trade areas. The government should propose, among others, an Asean Decade of Human Rights education from 2004-2014 and the completion of an Asean Human Rights Mechanism.

"We also call on Asean to have a more active role in regional conflict resolution, including the war in Mindanao. Patient and determined peace talks must lead towards a political settlement.

"Asean governments should work in solidarity against the flood of subsidized agricultural exports from countries of the North. These goods have been wrecking havoc on the region's rural communities," he emphasized.

Mr Gandhi Ambalam, of the Open Singapore Centre reminded the press conference that economic development without political freedom would not be able to bring about wealth creation and sustainable growth. "This truth has begun to dawn on the island republic of Singapore which has been bogged in a prolonged recession since 1998. Singapore has been under one-party rule headed by Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew for the past 44 years. Initial euphoria over the double-digit growth, experienced from the 1970s to the early 90s has given way to increased despondency among the people of Singapore where unemployment is at an all-time high of 6 per cent", he said.

Mr Landry H. Subianto of the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) Jakarta pointed out that Asean's attempts to create an integrated community would be difficult without certain prerequisites, including good governance, inclusiveness and democracy.

"There must also be an improved spirit of partnership, not only among governments but also between governments and civil society and among the people of Southeast Asia. The three Asean pillars being proposed at the Summit (ASC, AEC and ASCC) should not be made to stand on a weak foundation. In that regard, some concerned Asean citizens who attended the 3rd Asean People's Assembly last week reiterated the centrality of a revised Asean in both its processes and institutions in making Asean a community," he explained.

Sacha Jotisalikorn, a project office with FORUM-ASIA said that human conflicts or differences in views couldn't be addressed through restrictions on freedom of expression. "While Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights guarantees the right to seek, receive and impart information, we need specialized mechanisms to promote freedom of expression in all parts of the world. We need an information society that will support social, cultural, educational, political and economic benefits to all including minorities and indigenous peoples. We need a free and independent press, and we must be aware of the threat posed by increasing concentration of ownership of media and the means of communication, and its effect on diversity and editorial independence. We must recognize the rights of the public to access communication resources such as community radio and other community media. We believe that cooperation exercised through freedom of expression, not conflict, is vital to a democratic and prosperous region," he said.

[ENDS]

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