Statement of Representatives of 2011 ASEAN Civil Society Conference/ASEAN People’s Forum to the Informal Meeting Between ASEAN Leaders and Civil Society

We are representing the participants of the ASEAN Civil Society Conference/ASEAN Peoples’ Forum (ACSC/APF). The ACSC/APF brought together 1,300 participants, working on a wide diversity of issues in ASEAN countries. We met from May 3-5 to share updates on our work to deal with the critical challenges facing […]

Burma’s Asean Chairmanship up in the Air

The decision of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) on whether Burma will be the allowed to become the chair of the organization in 2014 has been deferred until later in the year. Asean is in no rush to approve the Burmese bid to become head of Asean, the Indonesian foreign minister, Marty Natalegawa told The Irrawaddy a day before the latest regional summit starts in Jakarta […]

Statement of the 2011 Asean Civil Society Conference/Asean Peoples’ Forum

During the ASEAN Civil Society Conference/ASEAN People’s Forum 2011 (ACSC/APF) in Jakarta, Indonesia, the 1,300 delegates gathered to discuss key concerns confronting the peoples of ASEAN, and produced the statement linked within.[…]

Burmese Civil Society Groups Face Impasse at Asean Summit

A delegation of civic groups from inside Burma that are backed by the government and a separate delegation of independent pro-democracy groups from outside Burma were unable to agree on who would represent the combined groups at the May 7 interface meeting with Association of Southeast Asian Nation (Asean) leaders in Jakarta, Indonesia […]

Asean civil society battles govt domination

Civil society groups say Asean governments have again thrown cold water on any attempt at engagement and taken control of nominations and agenda-setting for Saturday’s Interface meeting between leaders of the two sides.

Thai NGO Coordinating Committee secretary-general Suntaree Saeng-ging said on Wednesday the Thai government, and many other governents, had independently appointed representatives and it was not clear who would attend […]

Inclusive Democracy Must Come before the ASEAN Chairmanship for Myanmar

The ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Myanmar Caucus (AIPMC) calls on ASEAN leaders attending the 18th ASEAN Summit in Jakarta, Indonesia on 7-8 May 2011 to reject the application by Myanmar to chair ASEAN in 2014 unless real democratic and human rights reforms are made by the Myanmar government […]

Varied Challenges to Civil Liberties Persist in ASEAN; Vietnamese Debate Human Rights and State Progress

Civil Liberties in Southeast Asia are under threat from government policies and actions, according to civil society participants of the “Challenges to Civil Liberties in the ASEAN Region” workshop on the 2nd day of the ASEAN Civil Society Conference / ASEAN People’s Forum 2011 […]

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s Message to ASEAN Civil Society at ACSC/APF 2011

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi addresses civil society and people’s movements at the ASEAN Civil Society Conference/ASEAN People’s Forum (ACSC/APF) 2011 in Jakarta, Indonesia […]

Human Rights Experts Call on ASEAN to Support an Investigation into Violations in Burma

The Vice-Chair of the Indonesian National Human Rights Commission, Mr. Nurkholis, today called on the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to support a UN investigation into business and human rights violations in Burma. Mr. Nurkholis made his statement as a member of the experts panel at regional civil society’s first Public Hearing on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Human Rights in ASEAN held in Jakarta today […]

Burma Representatives Attend Regional Civil Society Conference in Jakarta, Indonesia

This coming week, eighteen representatives from Burma’s independent civil society will be participating in the ASEAN Civil Society Conference/ASEAN People’s Forum 2011 (ACSC/APF) and associated events in Jakarta, Indonesia. This is an important venue for Burma advocates to raise concerns about the human rights violations and the lack of genuine democratization, and to call on the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to take concrete action on Burma.[…]