Posted 25 October 2009 | link

It seems certain that the fledgling AICHR will face a tough time welding its mission to the pragmatism of Southeast Asian bureaucracies

Posted 26 October 2009 | link

After only a few days Southeast Asia's inter-governmental human rights body is already being criticized over its terms of reference as well as its ability to have any impact on human rights in Myanmar.

Posted 26 October 2009 | link

All the built-up hope for 15th ASEAN summit currently underway at the twin resort of Cha Am and Hua Hin has dried up. The three day high-profiled conclave does not seem too keen on supporting civil society actors and their "the peoples' agenda", before the heads of ASEAN governments and advisers who have gathered in Cha Am. Hours before the summit began, heads of five ASEAN governments refused to meet with some NGO representatives.

Posted 23 October 2009 | link

Southeast Asian leaders have inaugurated the region's first body to promote human rights at summit meetings in Thailand. But the inauguration was overshadowed by activists being barred from a dialogue with Southeast Asian leaders and tension between the Thai and Cambodian prime ministers.

Posted 23 October 2009 | link

HUA HIN, Oct 23 (Bernama) -- The governments of Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines and Singapore have rejected members of civil groups from their respective countries at the 15th Asean Summit here.

Posted 23 October 2009 | link

SINGAPORE: Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) has responded to media queries on the statement from the organisers of the ASEAN Peoples' Forum/ASEAN Civil Society Conference that it was "shocked" to learn that Singapore had selected "substitutes from government-sponsored agencies" to the Informal Dialogue with ASEAN Leaders.

Posted 24 October 2009 | link

Posted 25 October 2009 | link

The organisers of the ASEAN Peoples’ Forum/ASEAN Civil Society Conference said that it was “shocked” to learn that Singapore had selected “substitutes from government-sponsored agencies” to the Informal Dialogue with ASEAN Leaders.

Posted 23 October 2009 | link

HUA HIN, Thailand, Oct 23 (Reuters) - Thousands of troops swarmed over the Thai seaside resort town of Hua Hin on Friday for a twice-postponed Asian leaders' summit to tackle issues from human rights and trade to climate change.

Posted 23 October 2009 | link

CHA-AM, Thailand – Southeast Asia's efforts to create a commission to curb human rights abuses and encourage free-trade deals got off to a rocky start Friday when delegates from several countries refused to meet with a group of pre-selected civil society activists.