InfoAnda - Southeast Asia approves 'toothless' rights body

Pakistanis angry over detentions in Times Sq. case
Monday, May 24, 2010
ISLAMABAD – Relatives of three men detained by Pakistan for alleged links to the suspect in the attempted Times Square bombing say the men are innocent.
They

Taiwan denies boycotting Australian film festival
Thursday, August 6, 2009

AFP - Thursday, August 6TAIPEI (AFP) - - Taiwan's Beijing-friendly government on Wednesday denied boycotting an Australian film festival amid a row over the e

Merkel's support dips, regional ally resigns International
Thursday, September 3, 2009

By Sarah Marsh and Noah Barkin

BERLIN (Reuters) - Chancellor Angela Merkel suffered a double blow on Thursday as a senior party ally in east German

Minister seeks closure of anti-Berlusconi websites
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
ROME (AFP) - – The Italian government moved Tuesday to close down Internet sites encouraging further violence against Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who

Asian markets mixed after Wall Street rally
Wednesday, March 18, 2009

By ELAINE KURTENBACH,AP Business Writer AP - Wednesday, March 18SHANGHAI - Asia's stock market rally seemed to be running out of steam Wednesday, despite an

Apple to hold San Francisco event on September 12 | | 4 September 2012
WRAPUP 2-Bank of Korea holds rates, March raise seen | 11 February 2011
Suicide car bomb hits Lahore, 23 dead | 27 May 2009

Gwyneth Paltrow: actress, singer, southern farmer? | | 9 November 2010

Forum Views () Forum Replies ()

Read more with google mobile : Southeast Asia approves 'toothless' rights body

Yahoo! My Yahoo! Mail Yahoo! Search Search: Sign InNew User? Sign Up News Home - Help Navigation Primary Navigation Home Singapore Asia Pacific World Business Entertainment Sports Technology Top Stories Most Popular Secondary Navigation Australia China India Indonesia Japan Malaysia Philippines Thailand Vietnam Search Search: Southeast Asia approves 'toothless' rights body AFP - Tuesday, July 21 PHUKET, Thailand (AFP) - - Southeast Asian foreign ministers endorsed the region's first human rights watchdog Monday, rejecting criticisms that the body would be powerless to tackle rogue members such as Myanmar. ADVERTISEMENT Officials also urged North Korea to return to talks on its nuclear programme and they condemned the hotel bombings in Jakarta after meeting on the Thai resort island of Phuket, ahead of Asia's main security forum this week. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) will officially launch its long-awaited rights commission at a summit in October after years of claims that it is too soft on military-ruled Myanmar and communist Vietnam and Laos. But rights groups said the proposed watchdog lacks teeth to punish violators, has no monitoring powers and would merely make the bloc's members provide internal reports on rights conditions inside their countries. "It's better to make a start than to leave this hanging with no progress at all," Thai premier and ASEAN chairman Abhisit Vejjajiva said, shortly before officials confirmed that ministers endorsed the body at their talks on Monday. He added that the commission would first focus on the "promotion" of human rights "and then the next step obviously once that is put into place, is that there will be more teeth for the body in terms of protection" of rights. Myanmar has been a thorn in the side of ASEAN since it joined in 1997 because of its detention of more than 2,000 political prisoners, including pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi. The junta caused fresh headaches for the bloc by putting the Nobel peace laureate on trial following an incident in which an American man swam to her lakeside house in May. She faces up to five years in jail. ASEAN has been hamstrung throughout its 42-year history by its guiding principle of non-interference in members' internal affairs. The rights commission is being set up under a new ASEAN charter agreed in December. Rights groups said the new body's remit fell short of international standards. "The human rights body is born, but it needs a lot of careful care so that it can become a mechanism with teeth and not become toothless," Rafendi Djamin, of the regional group Solidarity for Asian People's Advocacy, told AFP. Splits emerged in ASEAN's normally placid facade on Sunday as Indonesia objected to the final terms for the rights body and Myanmar protested against changes wanted by the Indonesians, diplomats said. A statement issued by the ASEAN ministers urged Myanmar to free all detainees including Aung San Suu Kyi "thereby paving the way for genuine reconciliation and meaningful dialogue" ahead of elections planned in 2010. The statement also urged North Korea to return to six-party talks on its weapons programme and comply with UN Security Council resolutions. Pyongyang's foreign minister has declined to attend Thursday's ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) in Phuket, which groups 27 nations including the United States, and is sending an ambassador-at-large. North Korea quit the talks with the US, South Korea, China, Russia, and Japan after the Security Council censured its April 5 long-range rocket launch. It staged its second nuclear test on May 25. Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya said that a five-member North Korean delegation was still coming and expressed hopes that ASEAN could help move the stalled talks forward. The statement also vowed to step up the fight against terrorism following the bombings of the Marriott and Ritz-Carlton hotels in Jakarta on Friday in which two suicide bombers killed seven people and wounded dozens more. US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is due in Phuket on Wednesday for the ARF. The ASEAN statement welcomed the planned signing of a so-called treaty of amity and cooperation with the United States at the forum this week. Thousands of police and troops remained on duty to prevent a repeat of anti-government protests that derailed an Asian summit in April. Email Story IM Story Printable View Blog This Sign in to recommend this article » 0 users recommend Related Articles: Asia Pacific India and U.S. agree nuclear sites and defence pactReuters - Tuesday, July 21 US, India announcing trade agreement in New DelhiAP - Tuesday, July 21 Japan PM set to call poll as party at risk of defeatReuters - Tuesday, July 21 Southeast Asia approves 'toothless' rights bodyAFP - Tuesday, July 21 Lone surviving Mumbai attacks gunman admits guiltAP - Tuesday, July 21 Enlarge Photo Southeast Asia approves 'toothless' rights body Most Popular – Asia Pacific Viewed Shark attack victims fight for their attackers Man who went to the moon and came back an artist Lost love letter reunites couple after 16 years Madonna visits family of dead Marseille stage hand British airlines blocking swine flu travellers View Complete List » Search: Home Singapore Asia Pacific World Business Entertainment Sports Technology Top Stories Most Popular Copyright © 2009 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy - Terms of Service - Community - Intellectual Property Rights Policy - Help

Other News on Tuesday, 21 July 2009
Apollo 11 astronauts call for trip to Mars
Israeli settlers set fire to Palestinian fields
Caucasus situation 'very, very difficult': Medvedev
Nortel strikes deal to sell business unit to Avaya
Iraqis restrict US operations in Baghdad
NATO urges allies to do more in Afghanistan | International |
In South America, Israeli FM seeks to block Iran
Escort tapes put Berlusconi back in spotlight | International |
Bosnian Serb pair jailed for burning Muslims alive | International |
Sudan refers Chad to U.N. over air raid accusation
Peru's Fujimori gets 7.5 years in prison | International |
British jet crashes in Afghanistan as four US troops killed
Sudan refers Chad to U.N. over air raid accusation | International |
Fifty-six more on trial in Turkish coup plot case
Israelis held in Romania over human egg trafficking
Crews plan aggressive attack on B.C. wildfires | International |
Iran's Mousavi says detentions will not end vote row
India and U.S. agree nuclear sites and defence pact
Japan PM set to call poll as party at risk of defeat
Southeast Asia approves 'toothless' rights body
Families, Va Tech survivors oppose US gun measure
US doing all it can to free soldier in Afghanistan: Clinton
Lone surviving Mumbai attacks gunman admits guilt
Malaysian royal sues model wife for $30 mln
Police: Rampage that killed 6 began in Ala.
Mumbai attacker in surprise guilty plea
A Clinton moment: the naked truth about Americans
China quarantines 178 pupils from Britain, US
Pakistan asks EU for weapons to fight Taliban
Statement from family of captured soldier
Govt.'s potential Wall Street, bank support $24 T
Boston trolley driver pleads not guilty in crash
Colorado's top doctor backs pot restrictions
Thieves target mourners at California graveyard
Interior halting uranium mining at Grand Canyon
Stocks extend rally as worries over CIT ease
US, India announcing trade agreement in New Delhi
Idol fans campaign to keep Paula Abdul on show | Entertainment |
Michael Jackson movie in works
China's small-company exchange nearing launch
Beastie Boy Adam Yauch diagnosed with cancer | Entertainment |
Kazakhs to boost wheat exports by one-third
Stigma driving AIDS crisis among African gays: Lancet
Music Review: Rockers OLP return with 'Burn Burn'
Music Review: Jordin Sparks' 'Battlefield' is lost
Rootsy folk rock from NYC's Assembly of Dust
The way he moved: Jackson leaves dance world void
Foster, Koolhaas firms to advise HK cultural hub
Michael Jackson's boyhood home still draws curious
2 killed in Baghdad bombing
Barnes & Noble launches world's largest eBook shop
Obama pledges backing for US space program
Japan PM Aso calls election, risks historic defeat | International |
Deutsche Bank in 'spying' probe: report
British watchdog warns banks on bonuses
Israel to Lebanon: stop border violations
Aussie swimmers struggle with swimsuit scenarios
Israel to evacuate all outposts in a day: report | International |
Iran election dispute escalates to new phase
Google cleared in UK defamation suit
India becomes R&D hot spot as high-tech firms cut costs
Barnes & Noble unveils store for digital books
Gushing Obama honors Apollo 11 crew at White House
Guantanamo report on detainee policy delayed | International |
Warner Music and YouTube still talking on deal
Israeli museum displays rare clocks stolen in 1983
Israeli police recommend more charges against Olmert
Mumbai attacker in surprise guilty plea | International |
Britain bids to quell flu fears
EMC takes control of Data Domain
IT spending forecasts improve, Cisco popular: UBS
Colombia backs plan for increased U.S. military aid | International |
Iceland announces relaunch of rescued banks
Australia hopes to raise China/Rio case at ASEAN | International |
Sony inks DVD distribution deal with Redbox
CORRECTED: Barnes & Noble unveils online bookstore
Forest fires force thousands to flee in Canada
UNDP to help Philippines combat AIDS threat
Report: Agency withheld distracted driver research
Post-election optimism fades in Nepal
Family of captured soldier wants privacy in ordeal
Japan PM to dissolve parliament ahead of election
United flight makes emergency stop in Iceland
Surprise confession by surviving Mumbai gunman
Australian FM hopes to discuss Australian's arrest
Yahoo set to unveil new homepage | Technology |
CORRECTED
Warner Music and YouTube still talking on deal | Technology |
Deal reached to close Calif's $26B budget deficit
India becomes R&D hot spot as high-tech firms cut costs | Technology |
Union: San Francisco train operator blacked out
Popular San Diego seals win reprieve from governor
Gandhi trust awards Aung San Suu Kyi peace prize
Peru's Fujimori sentenced to 7.5 years for corruption
4 US troops die in deadliest month in Afghanistan
Deadliest months for US troops in Afghanistan
Google cleared in UK defamation suit | Technology |
Barnes & Noble unveils store for digital books | Technology |
Police look for man who stabbed 2 women in Seattle
Sony inks DVD distribution deal with Redbox | Technology |
NZ credit card billings up slightly in June
Doha round, global slump top APEC talks
Bain, Chinatrust eye joint bid for AIG unit -source
IMF eyes 2.5 bln dlr loan for Sri Lanka
S.Korea exports down 22 pct in first 20 days of July
S.Korea firms want loose policy maintained -survey
Seoul shares open up after CIT deal, positive data
Huge Hollywood prop house closing after 40 years
Magna, RHJ, BAIC in the race to take over Opel: GM
Taiwan, China to open tourist liaison offices
404 Not Found
Hungarian carpenter serves Pope on throne
Zimbabwe in Victoria Falls World Cup revival hope
Susan Boyle calls fame a demolition ball | Entertainment |
SAfrican child star
Guthrie ends fiscal year with slight deficit
Capsule reviews: `Shrink' and other films
Reality show pits Shaq against other star athletes | Entertainment |
Group forms to head off Neverland development
Fla. man sued over Batman character figurines
Huge Hollywood prop house closing after 40 years
Swine flu virus hits Royal Ballet on Cuba visit | Entertainment |
Susan Boyle calls fame a "demolition ball"
Singer Chris Brown says ashamed of Rihanna attack
Suicide bombers, gunmen attack east Afghan towns | International |
Deutsche Bank managers leave amid spy probe: source
to unveil redesign: report
Light manual labor for Madoff in prison: report
Suicide bombers target Afghan cities, kill 4: officials
Baghdad bombs kill 11, vehicle ban in Anbar region | International |
US-TECH Summary
Netanyahu's son, Yair, starts military service
California lawmakers, Schwarzenegger agree budget
Sony inks DVD distribution deal with Redbox
Flu death toll at 700, school closures an option: WHO | International |
Iran police chief says opposition incites sedition | International |
Israeli settlements political suicide: Merkel ally | International |
U.N. reports record $4.8 billion aid shortfall | International |
Spain sends first cabinet minister to Gibraltar in 300 years | International |
Berlusconi's popularity slips after sex scandals | International |
Soldier due in court on Iraq Army slaying charges
Clouds 'likely to block eclipse in Shanghai'
Five dead, eight missing in Japan mudslides: officials
Fifteen arrested over Indonesian Papua attack: police
Ala. city plows beneath Indian site for Sam's Club
Clinton in Thailand for talks on N.Korea, Myanmar
Meeting Apollo 11 Crew, President Touts Education Agenda
13 die as Taliban bombers attack 2 Afghan cities
Obama pushes health care, goes country
Second Of 3 Escaped Indiana Inmates Caught
Pentagon Temporarily Increases Army By 22,000 Soldiers
Watergate Hotel set to go on D.C. auction block
Police detain 17 suspects in Freeport killings
U.S. Airlines Report Dramatic Drop In Passenger Revenue, Demand
Is Myanmar going nuclear?
Clinton in Thailand for Asian security talks
Clinton arrives in Thailand for Asian security talks
Legislators Introduce Bill Protecting Drinking Water System From Terror Attack
Uproar in India after former president frisked
Apollo Astronauts Push Return To Moon, Visit To Mars
Ore. bank reopens 7 months after fatal bombing
Mideast, Africa mobile broadband to explode: report | Technology |
Mumbai gunman describes indoctrination in Pakistan
Astronauts Give Space Station DIY Fixup
Texas agriculture losses reach $3.6 billion
Texas town prepares for protests in dragging case
Study: White Males Preferred By North Americans Over Females, Minorities
Ohio to execute man convicted in '92 killing spree
Census Study Finds Rapidly Aging World Population
Interior Department Stops Uranium Mining In Grand Canyon
S.Korea says IMF plan to lift reserves by $3.4 bln
Rice experts say 'dollar trap' will pressure price
Seoul shares end firm, hit new 10-mth closing high=2
Japan stocks shrug off political ructions
China's sovereign wealth fund invests in Diageo
404 Not Foun
Reality show pits Shaq against other star athletes
Seoul shares end firm, hit new 10-mth closing high
China says profit at state companies down
Kookmin Bank to acquire Kazakhstan bank: reports
Police detain 17 suspects in Freeport killings
China's export powerhouse sees growth: state media
Vietnam plans Phu Bai airport upgrade: govt
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights

USD EUR - 1 year graph	VPN on MacOSX	BlogMeter 1.01