Press Release
September 30, 2007

RP senator bats for long-delayed ASEAN
rights commission in wake of Myanmar atrocities

Mounting atrocities by Myanmar's 45-year-old military dictatorship have underscored the need for the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to establish a regional human rights commission without further delay, a Philippine senator said Sunday.

"There is already a draft agreement for such a commission. The Philippine government should now push for the accord's finalization so it can be endorsed by member-countries, and the commission can be activated right away," Sen. Loren Legarda said.

Legarda was referring to the Draft Agreement for the Establishment of the ASEAN Human Rights Commission. The planned pact was submitted to ASEAN senior officials in 2000 by a group composed of representatives of government institutions, parliamentary human rights committees, the academe, and non-government organizations from member-countries.

The proposed covenant seeks to install a regional human rights body that with monitoring, promotional and recommendatory powers. It may also receive complaints from states or individuals. A special regional court would also be created "to render binding decisions."

"Atrocities persist in Myanmar and other parts of the region because of the sense of impunity -- that (human rights) offenders cannot be held readily accountable," Legarda lamented.

"In Myanmar's case, the isolationist military junta there apparently still believes that they can literally get away with mass murder. Thus, they've been emboldened to perpetrate even more brutal abuses," the senator said.

Once the intergovernmental human rights mechanism is in place, ASEAN can play a more meaningful role in addressing abuses in the region, according to Legarda.

"Aggrieved parties do not have to go all the way to the United Nations Commission on Human Rights or to the International Court of Justice to seek redress," she added.

The Philippines should push for the commission, "in view of the Filipino people's strong tradition of fighting abuses, particularly during the Marcos dictatorship," Legarda pointed out.

Meanwhile, the senator asked ASEAN foreign ministers to compel Myanmar to lift its ban on international journalists. "There is no question that foreign media presence there will go a long way in averting more abuses," added Legarda, a former journalist.

Following a ruthless crackdown on pro-democracy protesters in Myanmar, the Philippine Senate on Thursday urged the United Nations Security Council to "take decisive action" to end the violence. If the military regime keeps on suppressing its own people, Myanmar should be ousted from ASEAN, the senators said in a resolution.

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