Thread: The 18th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit

ASEAN to strengthen fight against human trafficking - Channel NewsAsia

ASEAN to strengthen fight against human trafficking

Posted: 06 May 2011 1516 hrs


JAKARTA: Southeast Asian leaders will take steps to strengthen the fight against human trafficking in the region, according to a draft of a joint statement expected to be released after a summit this weekend.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) leaders will say there is an "urgent need" for a comprehensive approach to the transnational crime, according to the draft communique which was seen by AFP on Friday.

The leaders will acknowledge "the urgent need for a comprehensive regional approach and a legal instrument" that will enable ASEAN's 10 member states to help victims, especially women and children, it said.

The trafficking of people including women and children for forced or low-paid labour such as prostitution is a major problem in Southeast Asia, but governments have often been accused of doing little to fight the smugglers.

This could change at the weekend when ASEAN leaders vow to "strengthen regional and international cooperation" and improve the region's ability to investigate smuggling syndicates, according to the draft document.

Measures will be put in place to ensure that victims are "treated humanely and provided with such essential medical and other forms of assistance", including prompt repatriation to their countries of origin, it says.

The presidents and prime ministers will also task officials with accelerating the setup of an ASEAN convention on the trafficking of persons.

Many victims of human trafficking -- especially women lured by the prospect of finding legal work abroad -- end up as prostitutes in the region's notorious red-light areas, experts said.

Southeast Asian children are meanwhile trafficked to be press-ganged into the global fishing industry, according to Euan Graham, a senior fellow at the Singapore-based S Rajaratnam School of International Studies.

"Southeast Asians, including children, also feature prominently among the victims of trafficking for forced labour," wrote Graham, a maritime security expert, in a recent commentary.

"Southeast Asia is the principal location for trafficking persons for forced labour into the fishing industry. Thailand is the main destination country and many of those trafficked are from Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos," he wrote.

The leaders will also refer to commitments on people smuggling made as part of the Bali Process initiated in 2002, under which Australia has been pushing for the region to do more to stem the flow of asylum seekers on rickety boats to its northern shores.

PM leaves for Jakarta to attend 18th ASEAN summit

PM leaves for Jakarta to attend 18th ASEAN summit

วันศุกร์ ที่ 06 พ.ค. 2554


BANGKOK, May 6 -- Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva left Suvarnnabhumi International Airport for Jakarta Friday afternoon to attend the 18th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit.

The premier departed at 4.25pm and was scheduled to arrive at Soekarno-Hatta Airport in Jakarta at 10.40pm.

The meeting will start tomorrow, with the opening ceremony of the 18th ASEAN Summit in the morning, followed by the plenary meeting between ASEAN Leaders.

In the afternoon, there will be informal meetings between ASEAN Leaders and AIPA parliamentary representatives, as well as representatives of youth and civil society organisations.

Sunday morning there will be a 'retreat' involving the ASEAN Leaders, a signing ceremony with ASEAN Leaders as witnesses in the afternoon, followed by the closing ceremony.

The main theme of the summit is "ASEAN Community in a Global Community of Nations."

During the summit, the regional leaders will discuss the progress of the three main pillars of the ASEAN Community, and enhancing ASEAN connectivity for a more closely linked region, as initiated during Thailand's chairmanship.

There will also be discussions on the Master Plan for ASEAN Connectivity, including the role of the ASEAN Connectivity Coordinating Committee that is tasked to push forward links in terms of physical, institutional and people-to-people connectivity.

At the summit, Mr Abhisit is expected to discuss many important issues, like increased opportunities for the people to participate and benefit from the ASEAN Community.

As for the outcome documents, there will be declarations on the "ASEAN Community in a Global Community of Nations," as well as the establishment of ASEAN's Institute of Peace and Reconciliation and its Center on Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief.

Mr Abhisit told reporters before departing that at the moment, there is no plan to meet bilaterally with his Cambodian counterpart Hun Sen on the summit's sidelines.

He said that there will be, however, many discussions with ASEAN leaders overall.

Whether the summit will consider the Thai-Cambodia issue or not, will depend on the situation and whether it is appropriate for the agenda, the premier said.

Mr Abhisit is scheduled to return to Thailand on Sunday. (MCOT online news)

Originally Posted by StrontiumDog

ASEAN to strengthen fight against human trafficking

They will strengthen from a rating of "zero" to "piss weak".

Can ASEAN have bigger global role amid internal problems?


English.news.cn 2011-05-06 19:45:35

By Cundoko Aprilianto

JAKARTA, May 6 (Xinhua) -- The Association of Southeast Asia Nations (ASEAN) wants to have a bigger global role. But could the bloc materialize its goal amid ongoing internal rift among its own members?

ASEAN is facing a huge task to settle border issue between Cambodia and Thailand. Besides, Indonesia and Malaysia are in prolonged dispute over sea boundary.

The world needs to see that the ASEAN could resolve its own problem before allowing it to have a bigger voice in global issues.

ASEAN has made several achievements such as forming the ASEAN Humanitarian Center (AHA), rolling the ASEAN Maritime Forum and consolidating the ASEAN Inter-governmental Human Right Commission that was formed two years ago, among others.

And, for Indonesia, as the country is holding the chairmanship of ASEAN in 2011, it would be very advantageous for the country if conflict between Thailand and Cambodia could be resolved this year.

Spokesperson of the Foreign Ministry Michael Tene told Xinhua that the border issue is one that member countries must manage better.

"It does not mean that such issue is an excuse for us to be enemy. We just haven't yet to manage the issue well. We have to know that it needs years to put us in peaceful condition, and to attain the goal, negotiations and diplomacy must be put forward," said Tene.

On May 4, Cambodia replied to Indonesia, current ASEAN chair, about the acceptance of the 7th terms of reference (TOR) for the deployment of Indonesian observers to the border with Thailand.

If TOR for observers will be signed on the sideline of 18th ASEAN Summit here,it will be a success for the regional bloc to settle disputes among its members, observers said. ASEAN Charter provides for the establishment of dispute settlement mechanisms.

However, Cambodian academics voiced their skepticism over ASEAN 's capability to solve the problem of Thailand and Cambodia. In fact, they warned that the conflict can lead to a rift in this bloc.

"It's beyond ASEAN's ability to solve it out despite that the ASEAN is putting its strong efforts to mediate it," said Ros Chantrabuth, advisor to the Royal Academy of Cambodia.

In fact, Chantrabuth said that only the United Nations could solve the problem. "I believe that only the United Nations Security Council can help to tackle the Cambodian and Thai border conflict," he added.

He also warned that the Cambodian and Thai row could lead to the rift in the ASEAN, and the security stability in the Southeast Asian countries could be in jeopardy if the fighting still continues for a longer time without any intervention from the third party.

Meanwhile, Indonesia faces waters boundary with Malaysia for years and there is no sign that the two countries could solve the problem in near term.

Reports on the arrest of Malaysian fishing boats by the Indonesian authority and vice versa, emerged several times this year and 2010.

However, Indonesia is optimistic that ASEAN could voice more, at least in East Asian region. According to Indonesian Vice President Boediono, the country is firmly committed to ensuring ASEAN in a position to play the kind of regional role it aspired to.

"First, by enhancing its capacity and credibility to act together, and second by skillfully managing its relations with major neighboring powers," he said.


Editor: Yang Lina

ASEAN mulls single currency | Democratic Voice of Burma

ASEAN mulls single currency

By JOSEPH ALLCHIN
Published: 6 May 2011


Japanese Finance Minister Yoshihiko Noda greets his Burmese counterpart Hla Tun at the Hanoi meeting (Reuters)

The prospect of a single ASEAN currency was raised at a high level ministerial meeting in Hanoi this week in a move that would ask serious questions of the regional bloc, not least its less developed economies like Burma.

A briefing paper was prepared for the ASEAN+3 meeting of deputy finance ministers and was the first time that such an idea has been studied “concretely”, according to Dow Jones financial news.

Experts suggest however that this could spell “the end of the regime” in Burma. Australian-based Burma economics expert Sean Turnell told DVB that such a move would bar the Burmese government from funding itself through printing money as it pleases. That practice, he said, has led to the “biggest divergence” between an official and unofficial currency in history.

The briefing paper was prepared by Japan’s Institute for International Monetary Affairs, Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University, and the University of Indonesia, with an eye to “accelerate the integration process”, the Dow Jones report said.

“As economic integration deepens further in East Asia, it would be more beneficial to East Asian countries to adopt an exchange rate regime that collectively floats against the US dollar and the euro while maintaining a stable intra-regional exchange rate.”

This could initially be achieved through what is known as a currency basket, where an average value of a group of regional currencies is worked out and traded against international currencies such as the dollar or the euro.

Burma’s dual exchange rate and massive inflation rates would be a major stumbling block, but the prospect of a single currency could alternatively be a way out of the country’s persistent currency woes.

Turnell believes that ASEAN ignoring Burma’s self-financing through printing money is a “massive problem… which would undermine any sought of single currency”. If this was prohibited, as it is in the EU, for example, which has a single currency, then the Burmese regime’s “main financing vehicle would disappear in a single stroke”.

Europe’s experience moreover, where economies such as Greece, Ireland and Portugal collapsed under the weight of enormous government debt, has warned other blocs away from seeking a single currency. And while the divergence between Greece and Germany is great, the two systems are not as alien as Singapore’s to Burma’s, for instance.

While the prospect of an ASEAN single currency or regional monetary unit (RMU) is at present a distant possibility, moves such as the China-ASEAN free trade agreement have encouraged many to look at such mechanisms as most East Asian economies continue to perform well.

Originally Posted by SteveCM

Can ASEAN have bigger global role amid internal problems?

NO .

useless waffle here because the board thinks a two letter answer is too short , when the reality is that all this extra guff is surplus to requirements .

Originally Posted by StrontiumDog

ASEAN mulls single currency

Next up they will be putting a man on the moon ,

however ,

these useless topics do serve the purpose of occupying the junket delegates from discussing the real , pressing and necessary issues .

Asean told to concentrate on securing life’s basic necessities

Asean told to concentrate on securing life’s basic necessities

JAKARTA: Asean countries have been urged to forge greater cooperation on food security and efforts to address concerns over energy supply amid global competition for dwindling supplies of life's basic necessities.

In making the call, Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono described issues pertaining to food and energy security as among the biggest challenges for the regional grouping.


Susilo welcoming Najib at the Asean Summit

"We're faced with fluctuating food and energy prices that may well go up further on the world market.

"One of the measures that could be taken is to implement the Asean Integrated Food Security Framework in a comprehensive manner, especially in the area of expanding and investing in food production initiatives," he said when opening the 18th Asean Summit here Saturday. Indonesia chairs the grouping for one year.

The two-day summit, themed "Asean Community in a Global Community of Nations", is being attended by heads of government or their representatives from 10 Southeast Asian countries.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak is leading the Malaysian delegation at the Jakarta summit.

He leads the Malaysian team at the summit's related meetings, namely the pleno session and the retreat, the meeting of Asean leaders with representatives of Asean Inter Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) and the unofficial meeting of Asean leaders and youth representatives.

In addition, he is also scheduled to attend the unofficial meeting of Asean leaders with representatives of civil organisations and the 7th Summit Meeting of the Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East Asean Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA).

Susilo said Asean states should look for innovative solutions to energy security issues, including seeking out new energy and renewable energy sources in a bid to diversify energy supplies and reduce the use of energy sources that may harm the environment.

On efforts to tackle natural disasters, the president said that Asean should strengthen regional coordination through the formation of the Asean Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on disaster management.

He was also in favour of joint training programmes to deal with potential natural disasters in the region, like the one conducted in Manado, Indonesia, in March. - Bernama

Good grief..... there's more from Mr Vacuous:


Abhisit wants Asean to go Global

7 May 2011

BREAKINGNEWS

Jakarta—Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva will today urge their Asean colleagues to go global with its vision and action.

Abhisit, who is attending the Asean summit for the last time, is expected to say that Asean's past success has been based on it being "open and outward looking." So, it is important, he will argue, that Asean must harness this trends and developments in the global community to its advantage.

At the 18th Asean Summit beginning today, Abhisit will put forward a set of ideas to push Asean into the global setting reinforcing the theme set forth by the Asean chair, Indonesia, of transforming Asean in to a global community of nation.

In order to keep the Asean's brand recognition around the world, Abhisit will call on the Asean leaders to have a clear voice on key global issues, which they must act together if necessary. He will mention disastrous management, maritime security and peacekeeping as the potential areas for common policies and actions for the grouping.

He expected to propose that Asean members to cultivate the culture of sharing information and collaboration among members regarding the activities in international meetings including at the United Nations and World Trade Organization.


The Nation

ASEAN chair response still normative: Civil society | The Jakarta Post

ASEAN chair response still normative: Civil society

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Sat, 05/07/2011 8:24 PM | World

Indah Suksmaningsih, a steering committee member of the 2011 ASEAN Civil Society Forum/ASEAN Peoples Forum, said Saturday that a meeting with leaders at the 18th ASEAN Summit was unsatisfactory.

“We of course raised the issue of economic justice and asked for the institutionalization of civil society engagement in policy making. But [Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono] as chair responded that he had to consider the interests of industry and other parties,” Indah said at the Jakarta Convention Center.

She added that Yodhoyono would welcome civil society representatives who wanted to give suggestions to the governments.

“However, there was nothing about institutionalizing our engagement, so it was still business as usual,” she added.

In a joint statement to ASEAN leaders, civil society representatives also criticized the government of Myanmar for its actions to sabotage the process by appointing their own nominee to represent civil society.

“The Myanmar leader was silent, but I could see the tension in his face,” Indah said.

She said the civil society representatives were happy with this year’s meeting.

“They listened to us more than we listened to them. We had a chance to talk and receive a response from them. That’s good because they finally learned to listen to us,” Indah said. (swd)

Three statements adopted on first day of summit | The Jakarta Post

Three statements adopted on first day of summit

Dina Indrasafitri, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Sat, 05/07/2011 8:46 PM | World

The first day of the 18th ASEAN summit heard the adoption of three statements: The joint statement on the Institute for Peace and Reconciliation; the statement on matters involving human trafficking; and the statement on issues concerning the role of ASEAN in the global community of nations.

“These statements are progress,” Indonesian Foreign Ministry Director General for ASEAN Djauhari Oratmangun said Saturday in Jakarta, where the summit is being held and attended by member countries.

The first day of the summit comprised several agendas: a plenary session, the ASEAN leaders’ meeting with ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly Representatives, the ASEAN leaders’ informal meeting with youth representatives and the ASEAN leaders’ informal meeting with Civil Society Organization Representatives.

Djauhari said that the leaders also underlined the importance of connectivity between bloc nations, as well as nations outside ASEAN, including Japan, China and Australia.

The second day will likely see the discussion topics, including the possible membership of Timor Leste and the prospect of Myanmar becoming the next chair.

Ade Padmo Sarwono, Indonesian Foreign Affairs Ministry director for ASEAN political and security cooperation, said that the statements would likely be issued on the second day of the summit.

Originally Posted by The Nation

Abhisit, who is attending the Asean summit for the last time

hummn ....... somebody knows something

then again when one refs the by-line.

Prime Ministers Abhisit and Hun Sen aren't talking and certainly not touching - but Indonesia President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (next to Hun Sen at the Asean summit photo op) has called them in separately on Sunday to discuss the border problem.
(AFP photo)

bangkokpost.com

Border embarrasses ASEAN
David Boyle and Cheng Lita
Friday, 06 May 2011


Ouk Damry, a member of the National Assembly, speaks during an ASEAN-ISIS conference held in Phnom Penh
Photo by: Heng Chivoan

The Secretary General of the Association of South East Asian Nations admitted its failure to resolve Cambodia and Thailand’s border dispute had become “embarrassing” yesterday, as delegates at a Phnom Penh conference of the regional body warned its relevance was threatened by the issue.

Ahead of an ASEAN summit in Indonesia this weekend, Secretary General Surin Pitsuwan said attending regional leaders should give the border dispute a “high level of attention”.

“It has been so embarrassing for ASEAN already, not being able to solve this problem,” he said.

“But ASEAN has tried. I think you have to recognise the fact that ASEAN has never been so pro-active before this year on this issue.”

In February, at a meeting of ASEAN foreign ministers, it was agreed in principle that Indonesian observers would enter the border area. But Thailand has yet to confirm the terms of reference for their deployment.

Pou Sothirak, a Cambodian government advisor, told an ASEAN Institute of Strategic and International Studies conference in Phnom Penh yesterday that if the dispute was not resolved, other member nations would revert to settling disputes by force.

“The border clashes between Cambodia and Thailand are now threatening the very existence of ASEAN – if this now develops into a full blown war ASEAN must do something right,” he said.

Dr Tang Siew Mun, director of foreign policy and security studies at the Institute of Strategic and International Studies in Malaysia, agreed the issue had becoming embarrassing for ASEAN on the sidelines of yesterday’s conference at the capital’s Cambodiana hotel.

“This is definitely a test case on how ASEAN functions as a community because ASEAN needs to, for lack of a better work, to police.

“It needs to keep the peace within the community itself,” he said.

“If we can’t do that, then what’s the point in having this community, we need to be able to solve problems within ourselves.”

The ASEAN charter, which came into effect in 2008, commits the regional body and its member states to a principal of non-interference with fellow members.

Cambodia is due to takeover chairmanship of ASEAN at the beginning of next year.

Thai and Cambodian forces continued to honour a ceasefire yesterday negotiated the previous day, Ouk Damry, a member of the National Assembly told the ASEAN – ISIS Conference.

“The sound of fighting has stopped and villagers returned to their villages,” he said.

phnompenhpost.com

TAN_Network TAN News Network

ASEAN Leaders' Summit in Indonesia winds to a close; Cambodia to be host next year

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english201...c_13865012.htm

18th ASEAN Summit concludes in Jakarta with Chair's Statement

English.news.cn 2011-05-08 2317

JAKARTA, May 8 (Xinhua) -- The two-day 18th ASEAN Summit concluded here Sunday with the release of the Chair's Statement on ASEAN Community-building, the implementation of ASEAN Charter and other issues.

JOINT EFFORTS FOR COMMUNITY-BUILDING

The leaders agreed and adopted three joint statements on "ASEAN Community in a Global Community of Nations", "Establishment of the ASEAN Institute for Peace and Reconciliation" and "Enhancing cooperation against trafficking in persons in Southeast Asia."

While acknowledging the challenges of establishing the ASEAN community, the ASEAN leaders agreed to increase the efforts of each individual member state and joint efforts to establish the ASEAN Community by 2015.

As to the fight against people trafficking, they agreed to enhance the work of the existing law-enforcement agencies, ensure the victims are treated humanely and have essential medical and other forms of assistance and accelerate the consideration of an ASEAN Convention on Trafficking in Persons.

They also recommend the establishment of an "ASEAN Institute of Peace and Reconciliation," with the aim to "promote a culture of peace as well as respect for diversity and tolerance in order to create the conditions necessary for sustainable regional peace and reconciliation."

The leaders discussed the implementation of the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity, which provides the basis for regional connectivity that prioritizes the development of infrastructure, institutions, and community empowerment.

Other strategic issues discussed include the protection of rights of migrant workers, the handling of piracy and terrorist activities and the expansion of cooperation in food and energy security, and disaster management.

JOINT EFFORTS FOR DISPUTE SETTLEMENT

The leaders also agreed to facilitate the resolution of the conflict between Thailand and Cambodia, and they also agreed that ASEAN must take the leading role in securing the peaceful resolution of conflicts.

With the mediation of Indonesia, chair of ASEAN, Cambodian and Thai leaders met Sunday on the border issue.

The two countries have agreed on the deployment of Indonesian observer team to monitor cease-fire. But Thailand has not formally submitted its acceptance letter. On Monday, the foreign ministers from Cambodia and Thailand will continue dialogue with the presence of Indonesian foreign minister.

Meanwhile, Thailand has invited Cambodia to participate in meetings of the Joint Commission on Demarcation for Land Boundary (JBC), the Regional Border Committee and the General Border Committee.

"We are waiting for Cambodia to accept the invitations", said Thailand's Prime Minister Abhisit during a press conference held on Saturday.

EFFORTS FOR INTER-REGIONAL COOPERATION

The first ASEAN-EU Business Summit was held before the 18th ASEAN Summit, giving business from ASEAN and the EU not only an opportunity to engage between themselves, but also to have dialogue with policy makers from both regions.

The Summit aims to enhance business networking and rising awareness about trade and investment opportunities in ASEAN and the EU, to identify market access opportunities and challenges, and to better facilitate trade and investment relations between the two sides with formulation of policy advice and recommendations to the ASEAN Governments and the European Commission.

Surin Pitsuwan, Secretary-General of ASEAN, said that the EU has been the No. 1 source of foreign direct investment (FDI) into ASEAN.

"We all agree that the trade between us has been robust, although the year 2009 it dipped a little bit about 16 percent, but this year we are going up again, and it is very very encouraging," he said.

For his part, EU trade commissioner Karel De Gucht said the first-ever ASEAN-EU Business Summit provides an opportunity for creating business ties and the platform to engage with governments.

Seems to be an omission about Burma and the chair ?

This is a good thing

Inside Thailand -- Thailand

Thailand’s Proposal on the “3Cs” for ASEAN

(24/05/2011)

Thailand has proposed the ”3Cs” strategy for ASEAN to enjoy success as a regional organization.

The proposal was made at the 18th ASEAN Summit, held in Jakarta, Indonesia, on 7-8 May 2011. Members of the diplomatic corps were briefed about the results of the summit at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Bangkok on May 19.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva had explained to the ASEAN summit that the “3Cs” strategy consists of “credibility, centrality, and connectivity.”

Concerning ASEAN connectivity, it is imperative that ASEAN’s priority this year be the full implementation of the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity, following on the “Community of Connectivity” idea launched in 2009. In Thailand’s view, first, ASEAN members need to instruct all their sectoral bodies to undertake the necessary measures to support the implementation of the Master Plan. In this connection, cross-border management issues are critical.

Second, ASEAN looks forward to the quick finalization of the ASEAN Infrastructure Fund. Third, ASEAN needs to work with its dialogue partners to pursue connectivity. For example, China could focus on funding North-South Economic Corridor links, Japan on East-West, the European Union on cross-border management capacity-building, and the United States on water management and maritime transport.

Fourth, ASEAN needs to develop synergies among the actions undertaken by various regional and subregional frameworks on connectivity, particularly as connectivity is expected to be a key issue in the expanded East Asia Summit (EAS).

Fifth, ASEAN should be thinking about a Connectivity Master Plan “Plus” which would explore connectivity beyond ASEAN, focusing on Northeast Asia, South Asia, and other regions. Indeed, a lot of groundwork has already been done. There was a successful Road Trip from Thailand through Laos to southern China earlier this year and a possible Road Trip to northeastern India in the future.

Regarding ASEAN centrality, Thailand urged ASEAN to continue to play a central role in the region. It explained that ASEAN must continue to develop an ASEAN-centered regional architecture. This involves the strengthening of ASEAN institutions. ASEAN also supports feasible and effective measures to strengthen the capacities of the ASEAN Secretariat, including finances and personnel, so that ASEAN can pursue effectively a strategy for Community-building by 2015.

As for ASEAN credibility, Thailand called on ASEAN to enhance its credibility by fully implementing its own agreements, the Blueprints and the Charter. To be credible, ASEAN must also be able to address and resolve challenges within its region. In sum, ASEAN must have political will to fulfill its commitments and to overcome its challenges.

Originally Posted by SteveCM

credibility,

failed at the first hurdle