ASEAN Peoples' Forum

Note: This press release has been circulated by participants from the APF

Fifty one civil society organizations from Burma today submitted a petition to the Thai government at the ASEAN People’s Forum demanding an immediate halt to dam plans on the Salween River to avoid being drawn into Burma’s escalating civil war.

The groups cited recent increased military operations and human rights abuses by the Burmese regime around the sites of the planned Hat Gyi dam in Karen State and Ta Sang dam in Shan State, and warned that the projects would never provide guaranteed energy security for Thailand.

At the conclusion of the first day of the 2nd ASEAN Peoples’ Forum (APF), the ASEAN countries caucused to select delegates who will interface with ASEAN heads of state at the 15th ASEAN Summit on 23 October in Hua Hin, Thailand. Vigorous discussions in the caucuses were followed by a spirited debate in the plenary concerning the delegate selection process.

Cha-am, Thailand October 19 – Representatives from different sectors of Thai civil society shared their views on Thailand’s role in advancing an ASEAN regional community during the second plenary session at the 2nd ASEAN People’s Forum / 5th ASEAN Civil Society Conference in Cha-am, Thailand. Several participants cited nationalism as a significant obstacle to the realization of a caring and sharing ASEAN community.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has put forth the ambitious goal of creating a “community of caring and sharing societies” by 2015. With such a broad and, as yet, undefined vision, the manifestation of this future community has been a topic of much discussion and debate. State-centred thinking appears to be a key point of concern.
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Caption for the photo:
Cha-am, Thailand - Southeast Asian civil society representatives gather to discuss and identify major challenges facing the region ahead of the ASEAN Summit, which will be held here from October 23 to 25. Photo: Brook Lynn

Cha-am, Thailand Oct 19 – Criticizing the absence of ASEAN officials, civil society organisations demanded that ASEAN expand its dialogue with civil society groups during the opening plenary of the Second ASEAN Peoples’ Forum (APF)/5th ASEAN Civil Society Conference (ACSC) in Cha-am, Thailand.
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