SEA countries struggle to end differences on human rights

MANILA (AP) - Southeast Asian diplomats struggled on Saturday to settle their differences over the creation of a human rights body under a proposed regional charter, delaying its completion.

Military-ruled Myanmar, which has been condemned for its dismal human rights record, has objected to any mention of a human rights commission in the landmark charter being drafted by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

More liberal countries such as the Philippines in the 10-member bloc have pushed strongly for such a commission, saying ASEAN needs to show the world it is dealing with human rights concerns to gain more credibility.

An ASEAN high-level task force was to resume debate on the issue Saturday after failing to reach a consensus in previous meetings in Manila. A draft of the charter has to be completed for submission to ASEAN foreign ministers at their annual meetings in Manila on Monday.

Philippine Foreign Secretary Alberto Romulo said Friday his government would strongly push for the creation of such a body under the charter to give ASEAN "more credibility in the international community."

ASEAN, formed in 1967, has decided to draft a charter to become a more rules-based organization with better bargaining power in international negotiations. It hopes the charter can be formally signed at an annual ASEAN leaders' summit in November.

The debate on the proposed charter reflects how ASEAN's diverse membership, including fledgling democracies, communist countries and a military dictatorship, has hobbled decision-making and rapid progress on key issues.

In a bid to break that handicap, the Philippines has also proposed that ASEAN, which traditionally makes decisions by consensus, should allow voting on crucial issues for more rapid decision-making, Romulo said.

Enshrining human rights protection in the charter has been a touchy issue because some ASEAN countries have spotty rights records, such as Myanmar.

Some ASEAN members fear such a commission could allow scrutiny of rights conditions in one country, possibly violating the group's cardinal policy of noninterference in each other's affairs.

Human rights groups complain that ASEAN's noninterference principle has fostered undemocratic regimes in the region.

Senior ASEAN diplomats were working separately in Manila to prepare the agenda for Monday's ministerial meetings, which are to tackle terrorism, better enforcement of a regional anti-nuclear treaty, disaster management and ways to help poorer members catch up with wealthier ones to foster faster economic integration.

A draft of a communique to be issued by ASEAN ministers on Monday calls on all member states to ratify an ASEAN convention on counterterrorism that was signed by heads of state early this year.

It also calls on ASEAN countries to intensify efforts to better enforce a 2002 accord that aims to prevent armed confrontations in disputed territories in the South China Sea.

ASEAN was founded as an anti-communist organization during the Cold War but has evolved into a trade and political bloc. It consists of Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.