Asean Summit

[webfact]

ASEAN SUMMIT

'Time to act'

By Kavi Chongkittavorn

The Nation

Published on October 23, 2009

At the start of the summit today, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva will urge Asean countries to focus their energy on their citizens in what Thai government sources described as a "do-or-die" message to regional leaders.

It is only through such focus that Asean can maintain its relevance, especially since it has been under attack recently in terms of its human-rights standards, slow progress in trade liberalisation and conflicts among members.

Abhisit's message, which will kick-start the three-day summit in Cha-am, will call on the grouping to maintain its standing in the globalised world, be responsive to the well-being of its citizens and commit itself to the Asean Community. Efforts must be action-oriented and connected in all spheres, he will say.

This is the first time that the prime minister will be sharing his vision of the Asean Community, which will come into being in 2015. An informed source said that now the crisis is under control and Abhisit has recovered from the mishaps he went through as the Asean chair, it was time for him to share his thoughts on the future of the grouping. "It is a do-or-die message," added the source.

Abhisit, who was only three years old when Asean was established, thinks the Asean Community should be action oriented so it can respond to any challenges in terms of regional security or the well being of its citizens.

While he has been contending with progress and the achievements of Asean in handling both global and regional challenges - including the financial crisis, pandemics, climate change, food and energy security - he believes a better institutional structure would help the grouping make prompt decisions and execute them more effectively.

The source said that one way of doing this is to ensure that Asean Secretary-General Dr Surin Pitsuwan explains to the leaders the pivotal issues that need attention and decision. After the Asean Charter came into force last December, the grouping's chief role and responsibility has expanded to include humanitarian operations as well.

For the Asean Community to remain vibrant, Abhisit believes the nations and their 600 million citizens should be interconnected. He also envisages the free flow of goods and services as well as investment and initiatives within Asean in 2015.

The Asean chair will also push for the need to improve the grouping's infrastructure and information as well as communications technology to bring all members closer and at the same time allow Asean citizens to reach out and get to know each other better.

"Abhisit wishes to see the Asean people connected in their hearts and minds. He wants to make Asean work for the Asean people," said the source, who asked not to be named because he was not authorised to speak.

Over the past one year, Thailand has been pushing Asean to continue its engagement with the citizens and civil societies. The source said that Abhisit would also be touching on the issue of human rights in Asean, and would express hope that in the future, when "comfort levels" among Asean members increase, the role of the Asean Inter-governmental Commission on Human Rights would be further enhanced.

After the opening session in the morning, the Asean leaders will hold informal meetings with representatives from various groups, including lawmakers, youth and civil-society organisations, which has become a routine at Asean summits.

-- The Nation 2009/10/23

[webfact]

Full opening speech of PM Abhisit

The 15th Asean Summit and related summits officially starts on Thursday at Cha-am/Hua Hin, Thailand. The following is Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva's opening remarks.

Statement by

H.E. Mr. Abhisit Vejjajiva

Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand

At the Opening Ceremony

of the 15th Asean Summit and Related Summits

23 October 2009, Cha-am Hua Hin, Thailand

************************

Your Majesty,

Excellencies,

Distinguished Delegates,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

1. I would like, once again, to extend a very warm welcome to all of you to Cha-am Hua Hin.

2. Nine months ago, we all gathered here to pledge ourselves to work towards realising our aspiration to build a "people-centered Asean Community" that is rules-based and more effective in meeting the challenges of our times.

3. Today, we are gathering here again to reaffirm our commitment to driving our vision and dreams one step closer to becoming a reality.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

(Achievements)

4. As we move on to the new phase of ASEAN, we can proudly look back to what we have accomplished together during the past year.

5. We now formally have in place the Asean Charter that will make the organisation truly rules-based and more effective in enforcing what has been agreed upon among Member States. To make this achievement more tangible, we have adopted the Cha-am Hua Hin Declaration on the Roadmap for an Asean Community to guide our community-building efforts in all three pillars.

6. Indeed, an Asean Community has begun to institutionally come into place. The Committee of Permanent Representatives in Jakarta has been fully operationalised, and the three Asean Community Councils have already convened their respective Meetings to map out measures to achieve their targets and goals envisaged by the Charter.

7. Moreover, while advancing in these community-building efforts, Asean has had to weather the regional and global challenges, ranging from the economic and financial crisis, through the adverse impacts of climate change and food and energy security, to natural disaster and pandemic diseases. With both solidarity and togetherness, we have succeeded in keeping not only Asean relevant but also its vision alive.

8. In response to the global financial and economic crisis, we have acted promptly to convene a Special Asean Plus Three Finance Ministers' Meeting in February to expedite the launching of the Chiang Mai Initiative Multilateralisation (CMIM). I really hope that this regional self-help mechanism can be launched by the end of this year. Thailand will be pleased to temporarily host the CMI surveillance unit.

9. The representation of Asean in the G-20 Summits has also shown that Asean matters not just to the ten Southeast Asian nations, but also the rest of the world. We have made the voice of other developing countries heard in our attempt to cope with the economic and financial crisis both in London and Pittsburgh.

10. When people around the world were affected by the Influenza A (H1N1), ASEAN, together with our Dialogue Partners in East Asia, convened a Special Session of ASEAN+3 Health Ministers Meeting in Bangkok to collectively deliberate on effective measures to prevent and control this pandemic.

11. We have also reaffirmed the common position of Asean and other developing countries in the negotiation under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Moreover, Thailand was pleased to play our part in hosting the Bangkok Climate Change Talks earlier this month to prepare for the Copenhagen Conference.

12. To ensure food security in our region, there have been efforts to transform the East Asia Emergency Rice Reserve Pilot Project into a permanent mechanism under the Asean Plus Three Emergency Rice Reserve. We should extend our full support to this effort and urge our Agriculture and Forestry Ministers, who will meet next month in Brunei Darussalam, to expedite the realisation of this permanent mechanism.

13. We have reinforced ASEAN's outward-looking character with the completion of Free Trade Agreements with all our key Partners in the region including China, Japan, the Republic of Korea, India, Australia and New Zealand, and are now exploring the possibility of establishing a region-wide FTA.

14. Early this year, I had the pleasure to co-chair the Commemorative Summit with His Excellency the President of the Republic of Korea and next month, I will have the honour to co-chair the ASEAN-US Summit with President Barack Obama in Singapore. We are also working closely with Russia to convene the ASEAN-Russia Summit in 2010.

15. I hope that our discussion with Dialogue Partners during the Related Summits will provide us with a clearer picture on how Asean can continue to be a driving force in the evolving regional architecture.

16. All these developments demonstrate the recognition that Asean has gained from the world community over the past one-and-a half year as a rules-based and people-centred organisation which is committed to establishing a fully integrated community by 2015.

17. Indeed, ASEAN's many achievements can make us proud. Asean has delivered and thrived through the many global and regional challenges it has come to face with. What remains is the onus that lies on Asean to prove that it can implement whatever has been agreed, declared, or envisioned.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

(Vision for an Asean Community 2015)

18. Much has been discussed about realising an Asean Community---one that is a community of action, a community of connectivity, and a community of peoples. What we need to do is to collectively set a clear vision of what we want to achieve in the year 2015 and beyond. Let me share with you some of my thoughts as to how we are going to achieve our vision.

19. As a "Community of Action", Asean can act decisively and promptly to address both internal and external threats as well as challenges to regional security and the well-being of our peoples.

20. We have to start thinking about a new approach in the way we do things. In this increasingly globalised era, we no longer enjoy the luxury of time. In order to address these challenges effectively, our institutional structures should be strengthened so that the decisions can be made promptly whereas their execution can also be done in a timely manner. In this connection, I strongly support the role of the Secretary-General in bringing pressing issues to the attention of Asean Leaders for immediate action.

21. Second, as a "Community of Connectivity", Asean will be a region where goods and peoples, as well as investments and initiatives can move across the borders without obstacles. This can come about through concerted efforts to enhance region-wide multi-modal transportation linkages, including maritime, land and air transport. The challenge of logistics must also be jointly addressed. The 'missing links' in respective infrastructure development projects should also be completed by the end of the five-year Asean Transport Action Plan in 2010. Supporting legal infrastructure and rules for trade facilitation should also be harmonised to facilitate intra-regional transportation and communication.

22. It is evident that connectivity is at the heart of Asean centrality and will contribute to sustainable growth and prosperity of a vibrant East Asia at large. Inevitably, the success of this concept will largely depend on adequate funding for each project. To this end, the idea of establishing an Infrastructure Development Fund for Asean deserves our serious consideration, whereas participation and support from our Partners within and beyond our region should be welcomed.

23. This Asean Connectivity is only the first step. It needs to be linked with a larger East Asian connectivity where Asean will be connected to the rest of the Asia-Pacific region, bringing progress and prosperity to all.

24. Enhancing connectivity does not mean that peoples are only connected through physical means but also required the connecting of the hearts and minds of Asean peoples across the region. We need to promote intellectual and cultural connection based on friendship and mutual understanding of our common goals and shared historical heritage. This people-to-people connection will contribute to the 'we-feeling ASEAN' which is one of the key elements in our community-building process. In this connection, Thailand, on our part, is pleased to launch an Asean television channel to serve as a means to foster better understanding and promote common identity among Asean peoples.

25. Third, and most importantly, as a "Community of Peoples" that promotes both equitable access to human development opportunities and human rights and fundamental freedoms, our peoples would be the ultimate beneficiaries of our future Asean Community. Asean has always sought to improve the quality of lives of its peoples. We therefore need to, first and foremost, make Asean work for the peoples. Asean relevancy in the future will be judged from our ability to respond to challenges affecting the well-being of our peoples in a concrete and timely manner. Our cooperation should also focus on empowering our peoples to be able to compete in a more globalised world through education and human resources development. We also need to make Asean continue to engage with peoples to ensure that people are given the opportunity to actively participate in and feel a sense of ownership in this Asean community-building process.

26. In this connection, Asean Leaders already took a bold step forward by convening an Informal Meeting with representatives from the Asean Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA), Asean Youth and Asean Civil Society Organisation during the 14th Asean Summit early this year. As the Chairman of ASEAN, I myself subsequently met with AIPA Leaders during the 30th AIPA General Assembly in Pattaya in August. They pledged to support our community-building process through early ratification of Asean agreements, harmonisation of laws as well as raising Asean awareness among our peoples. I therefore hope that these constructive dialogues will continue to take place in the years to come.

27. At the same time, we should make Asean a symbol of the hopes and values of our peoples. The purposes and the principles enshrined in the Asean Charter, including the respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, should be translated into concrete action.

28. In this regard, I am pleased to note that, in about two hours from now, our fifteen-year dream will come true with the inauguration of the Asean Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights. This important body, together with the establishment of the Asean Commission on the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Women and Children next year, will generate momentum in an effort to promote and protect human rights in the region. It will also increase the 'comfort level' of all Asean Member States to be able to accept a more enhanced role of this body in the future.

Your Majesty,

Excellencies,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

29. The task ahead of us will not be easy, as governments alone cannot make it happen. It is the responsibility of all sectors in the society including the private sectors, the civil society, as well as each and every one of us, to move forward our 'ASEAN Community'. Considering the changing dynamics of the region and of the world, we must work to sustain the efforts to achieve our goals. With sheer determination and in a spirit of cooperation, I am confident that we can collectively achieve a true Asean Community.

30. On my part, I am ready to work closely with all of you to ensure the concrete outcome of the 15th Asean Summit and Related Summits, so that, by the time we pass on this same torch to Viet Nam three months from now, Asean will be on course to becoming a more action-oriented and better-connected community for the benefit of our peoples.

Thank you

-- The Nation 2009/10/23

[dude007]

Looks sound and good but not enough fingerpointing to the wrotten apple in the organisation: Myanmar!

Nothing of what has been said by the PM is true over there. This country in democracy is still at square one ridiculising the entire ASEAN organisation as a powerless bunch of prominents whilst the generals continue to oppress their own people, jailing the political opponents and keeping the nobel price laureate in confinement. And nothing ASEAN can do? yes, look the other side... and close your eyes!

And what about the hosting country setting the example in the temple row with neighbour Cambodia? How far ar we there? Hun Sen even welcoming and harbouring a convicted criminal in his country from where this criminal can better continue to disturb and undermine the Thai Government by his Hitler-styled call-ins. bla bla bla... but the speech is good bla bla bla...

Now look for the action!

[khaowong1]

Abhisit is talking the talk, now lets see him walk the walk.. Thailand is so far behind other countries in providing for it's citizens, it's pathetic. I live out here in the country in Lopburi.. I have not seen such poor people since Mexico. This country needs to start politicing (not sure of the spelling) for more work for it's citizens. They need more manufactoring jobs. Farming, go-go bars and massage parlours aren't going to cut it. Internet Technology is going to be the biggest providers of jobs for years to come. Thailand needs to get on board and invite those companies into Thailand. This crap of, we don't want Thai's to lose their Thainess is just that. Big business, that runs Thailand, doesn't want the common citizen to start making a decent living, because then they would lose their excessive profits they've been enjoying for so long by paying a sub-standard wage. Look what Singapore has done. Singapore has approx. 170 IT plants in their country. Thailand has approx. 39. Thailand has got to change their standards to allow manufactoring in here. Yes, they have a human rights problem, but as I see it, giving their people a decent job with a decent wage should be at the top of their list. I don't see this happening..

[Thai at Heart]

I presume the Myanmar/Burmese attendees were asleep during this speech.

[LawnGnome]

yes yes yes power to the people. The rallying cry of fat retired men living in Thailand. Revolution indeed. Cut Chang production - they you'll see a revolution...

[risky11]

Great replies so far. Looks like ASEAN is aiming for a Union like the EU by 2015. Wonder if they will attempt a common (fiat) currency? Wonder if the NAU (North American Union) plans are the same? Sure is alot of resistance to the idea here in the USA.

[yp198408]

power to the people. The rallying cry of fat retired men living in Thailand. Revolution indeed.

[peacefulwarrior]

Mingle, mingle and kiss the Chinese butt. If the AfricanUnion, EuropeanUnion, NorthAmericanUnion & ASEAN are working sometime by 2015 we will see the next crisis (WWIII maybe) and then world government. These guys all want to keep the population in the ranks of serfs. Corporations run countries not fake democrats or republicans. Grasp what is being told between the lines and what is already predictet by those great visionairies. Unite & smite is what I hear. Sovereign states are a hoax today, so why not blend it all into even greater untouchable institutions. No more states fighting each other only terrorists and seperatists. The wording is coined today for future generations to wake up robbed naked & devoid of reality. Btw. Singapore... great example of dictatorship. 60 years ruled by one family, only state television and 2000 Dollar fines for spitting out chewing gum. Good one to follow. China, death penalty state #1 - getting rich is now allowed but you still better shut tf up. Burma, ohhh don´t get me started, everyone kissing their but and also <deleted> because of their resources, where you think Thailand is getting it´s gas from? That´s why they are so quiet about their ´partner´. Better waiting for a UFO than to expect the minion race of politicians ever to give a -s- for the better of the people...

[cutz]

Abhisit is talking the talk, now lets see him walk the walk.. Thailand is so far behind other countries in providing for it's citizens, it's pathetic. I live out here in the country in Lopburi.. I have not seen such poor people since Mexico. This country needs to start politicing (not sure of the spelling) for more work for it's citizens. They need more manufactoring jobs. Farming, go-go bars and massage parlours aren't going to cut it. Internet Technology is going to be the biggest providers of jobs for years to come. Thailand needs to get on board and invite those companies into Thailand. This crap of, we don't want Thai's to lose their Thainess is just that. Big business, that runs Thailand, doesn't want the common citizen to start making a decent living, because then they would lose their excessive profits they've been enjoying for so long by paying a sub-standard wage. Look what Singapore has done. Singapore has approx. 170 IT plants in their country. Thailand has approx. 39. Thailand has got to change their standards to allow manufactoring in here. Yes, they have a human rights problem, but as I see it, giving their people a decent job with a decent wage should be at the top of their list. I don't see this happening..

i so much agree,the technology is already there!!! ex denmark are already 20% of the country is powered by windmills!! Abhisit its actoin!! your country needs, make the pore more richer and lets rase the standard FOR ALL!! in denmark they have free education+free healthcare!!free dr-free hospital.. maybe there is something to learned instede of thinking you can do it your self!!! honestly its to late already!!! thai well lose there thainess!! and faith compleatly!! and the climate well change!!! for the worse!!

[webfact]

UPDATE

Civil society walks out of meeting with leaders

Representatives from Asean's civil society walked out in protest of Friday's informal meeting with the government leaders after their colleagues were not allowed to attend.

The "interface" meeting continued as planned around noon at the Dusit Thani Hotel in Phetchaburi's Cha-am district. The Asean leaders met with the civil society people approved by the authorities.

Asean People Forum activists from Burma, Cambodia, Laos, the Philippines and Singapore were not allowed to attend the meeting with the government leaders. One of them said they were not given any reasons for being rejected.

"This is really disappointing ... completely contradictory to what they say and do," said Khin Ohmar from Burma, one of the five from the people's forum who were not allowed to attend the meeting.

-- The Nation 2009/10/23

[Foggy Bottom]

Does all this human rights and law-equalisation across borders mean that farangs will be soon able to own the land under their house in Thailand?

Are CAT & TOT aware of this need for connectivity across borders? They can't even manage it from our moobaan to the exchange in the city centre with any persistency.

Will all this human rights stuff mean 4th and 5th generation Thai Hill Tribes peoples will finally get citizenship without having to pay tea-money to officials and the military?

Will rural schools finally be given the electricity to run the computers the government bought from Thaksin 15 years ago?

Will the open-ness and "learning each other's culture" (blah blah blah etc) mean revocation of all the media and other censorship laws in Thailand, to facilitate the free passage of information and accurate histories?

I could go on forever in this vein ... but would rather like to hope that this speech is akin to Martin Luther King's "I had a dream" speech

... or is it me that's dreaming?

Foggy

[Thai at Heart]

UPDATE

Civil society walks out of meeting with leaders

Representatives from Asean's civil society walked out in protest of Friday's informal meeting with the government leaders after their colleagues were not allowed to attend.

The "interface" meeting continued as planned around noon at the Dusit Thani Hotel in Phetchaburi's Cha-am district. The Asean leaders met with the civil society people approved by the authorities.

Asean People Forum activists from Burma, Cambodia, Laos, the Philippines and Singapore were not allowed to attend the meeting with the government leaders. One of them said they were not given any reasons for being rejected.

"This is really disappointing ... completely contradictory to what they say and do," said Khin Ohmar from Burma, one of the five from the people's forum who were not allowed to attend the meeting.

-- The Nation 2009/10/23

Got to giggle don't you.

[Publicus]

UPDATE

Civil society walks out of meeting with leaders

Representatives from Asean's civil society walked out in protest of Friday's informal meeting with the government leaders after their colleagues were not allowed to attend.

The "interface" meeting continued as planned around noon at the Dusit Thani Hotel in Phetchaburi's Cha-am district. The Asean leaders met with the civil society people approved by the authorities.

Asean People Forum activists from Burma, Cambodia, Laos, the Philippines and Singapore were not allowed to attend the meeting with the government leaders. One of them said they were not given any reasons for being rejected.

"This is really disappointing ... completely contradictory to what they say and do," said Khin Ohmar from Burma, one of the five from the people's forum who were not allowed to attend the meeting.

-- The Nation 2009/10/23

The usual suspects:

The untouchables, ie, the fascist generals of the past 40 years in Burma.

The prosperous and free Socialist Republic of Laos.

Hun Sen Family Enterprises Inc of Cambodia, a wholey owned subsidiary of Thaksin-Thailand Inc.

The Philippines.

The one party Sino 'democracy' of Singapore.

I'd rather not think of the Union Asean will create.

Short of my nominating Tony Blair for Secretary General of ASEAN (or PM General?) rather than for President of the EU, where are the leaders of vision and dynamism to congeal this ragtag Union of never were's and not gonna be's? And by 2015???

Everyone can drive their Proton cars to the go go club to drink Chang then fly Asean Air to Singapore where the authorities will strip search for chewing gum. And everyone in LOS will retain their Thai-ness to live happily ever after.

Edited October 23, 2009 by Publicus

[Rumfoord]

from the Ceremony to Inaugurate ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights, AICHR

http://media.thaigov.go.th/pageconfig/albu...y=&aid=4095

from left: Philippines Foreign Secretary Alberto Romulo, Singapore PM Lee Hsien Loong, Thailand PM Abhisit Vejjajiva, Vietnam PM Nguyen Tan Dung, Myanmar PM General Thein Sein

few more photo galleries, click link to see more images:

press the buzzer, opening signal for TV broadcast

http://media.thaigov.go.th/pageconfig/albu...089&pageno=

from the opening show:

http://media.thaigov.go.th/pageconfig/albu...y=&aid=4090

Leaders at lunch:

http://media.thaigov.go.th/pageconfig/albu...y=&aid=4096

[khaowong1]

Mingle, mingle and kiss the Chinese butt. If the AfricanUnion, EuropeanUnion, NorthAmericanUnion & ASEAN are working sometime by 2015 we will see the next crisis (WWIII maybe) and then world government. These guys all want to keep the population in the ranks of serfs. Corporations run countries not fake democrats or republicans. Grasp what is being told between the lines and what is already predictet by those great visionairies. Unite & smite is what I hear. Sovereign states are a hoax today, so why not blend it all into even greater untouchable institutions. No more states fighting each other only terrorists and seperatists. The wording is coined today for future generations to wake up robbed naked & devoid of reality. Btw. Singapore... great example of dictatorship. 60 years ruled by one family, only state television and 2000 Dollar fines for spitting out chewing gum. Good one to follow. China, death penalty state #1 - getting rich is now allowed but you still better shut tf up. Burma, ohhh don´t get me started, everyone kissing their but and also <deleted> because of their resources, where you think Thailand is getting it´s gas from? That´s why they are so quiet about their ´partner´. Better waiting for a UFO than to expect the minion race of politicians ever to give a -s- for the better of the people...

yes, great input.. btw, I may be retired, but I'm sure not fat... actually, I'm a Buddhist monk, and yes I would like to see the power go back to the people. both here and in the U.S. in the U.S., the people haven't had a say in politics since Eisenhower..

[khaowong1]

Does all this human rights and law-equalisation across borders mean that farangs will be soon able to own the land under their house in Thailand?

Are CAT & TOT aware of this need for connectivity across borders? They can't even manage it from our moobaan to the exchange in the city centre with any persistency.

Will all this human rights stuff mean 4th and 5th generation Thai Hill Tribes peoples will finally get citizenship without having to pay tea-money to officials and the military?

Will rural schools finally be given the electricity to run the computers the government bought from Thaksin 15 years ago?

Will the open-ness and "learning each other's culture" (blah blah blah etc) mean revocation of all the media and other censorship laws in Thailand, to facilitate the free passage of information and accurate histories?

I could go on forever in this vein ... but would rather like to hope that this speech is akin to Martin Luther King's "I had a dream" speech

... or is it me that's dreaming?

Foggy

good one Foggy... it's hard to believe that some Thai people actually hope for this stuff.. they must be dreaming.. I think some of us farangs take for granted our freedoms..and our much easier way of life in our home country's..these people have bsically got dukus, nothing. and no hope for their children.

[khaowong1]

UPDATE

Civil society walks out of meeting with leaders

Representatives from Asean's civil society walked out in protest of Friday's informal meeting with the government leaders after their colleagues were not allowed to attend.

The "interface" meeting continued as planned around noon at the Dusit Thani Hotel in Phetchaburi's Cha-am district. The Asean leaders met with the civil society people approved by the authorities.

Asean People Forum activists from Burma, Cambodia, Laos, the Philippines and Singapore were not allowed to attend the meeting with the government leaders. One of them said they were not given any reasons for being rejected.

"This is really disappointing ... completely contradictory to what they say and do," said Khin Ohmar from Burma, one of the five from the people's forum who were not allowed to attend the meeting.

-- The Nation 2009/10/23

The usual suspects:

The untouchables, ie, the fascist generals of the past 40 years in Burma.

The prosperous and free Socialist Republic of Laos.

Hun Sen Family Enterprises Inc of Cambodia, a wholey owned subsidiary of Thaksin-Thailand Inc.

The Philippines.

The one party Sino 'democracy' of Singapore.

I'd rather not think of the Union Asean will create.

Short of my nominating Tony Blair for Secretary General of ASEAN (or PM General?) rather than for President of the EU, where are the leaders of vision and dynamism to congeal this ragtag Union of never were's and not gonna be's? And by 2015???

Everyone can drive their Proton cars to the go go club to drink Chang then fly Asean Air to Singapore where the authorities will strip search for chewing gum. And everyone in LOS will retain their Thai-ness to live happily ever after.

[peecee]

yes yes yes power to the people. The rallying cry of fat retired men living in Thailand. Revolution indeed. Cut Chang production - they you'll see a revolution...

What's elephant's got to do with it?

[Rumfoord]

PM responds to Cambodia’s remarks on Thaksin

PHETCHABURI, 23 October 2009 (NNT) – Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva responded to Cambodia’s earlier stance regarding former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and other issues regarding Myanmar and the ASEAN-US Summit during a press briefing at Media Marquee, Dusit Thani Hotel.

Earlier, the government of Cambodia has announced not to extradite former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra if he chose to take refuge in Cambodia since the case was a political offense. Upon queries of media on this issue, Prime Minister Abhisit believed that there must be some misunderstandings in this issue. He said adjustments must be made.

In regards to human rights issues in Myanmar, the prime minister stated that Myanmar was implementing a roadmap for the transition to democracy and reconciliation. He stated that ASEAN was always ready to provide humanitarian assistance to Myanmar as ASEAN had been doing thus far while the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) would be supporting the issue.

According to his bilateral talk session with Myanmar Prime Minister General Thien Sein, the prime minister said Myanmar was moving towards a fair and free electoral process. However, he believed the Myanmar prime minister would mull over further details with other ASEAN leaders in the summit tomorrow. Other issues discussed included infrastructure development and border trade.

Asked upon the upcoming the ASEAN-US Summit, Prime Minister Abhisit said this could show that the US wanted to have a closer relationship with ASEAN countries. Potential topics of discussion in the meeting include economic issues and the exchange of human resources. Earlier, during the opening remarks, the prime minister announced his honor to co-chair the ASEAN-US Summit with US President Barack Obama in Singapore in early November.

-- NNT 23 October 2009

http://thainews.prd.go.th/en/news.php?id=255210230050

---------------------------------

ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR)

Press Release

- Remarks By H.E. Abhisit Vejjajiva, the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand On the Occasion of the Inaugural Ceremony of the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) 23 October 2009 Royal Dusit Grand Ballroom, Dusit Thani Hua Hin Hotel, Thailand

...

read the full speech here: http://www.mfa.go.th/web/35.php?id=23316

other press releases here http://www.mfa.go.th/web/31.php

[Hardie]

This meeting actually made the news in US, as did HM's illness... it looks like a meeting of overseas Chinese to me. But for all the bitching and moaning here, I doubt anyone's ever had it so good, though no guarantees for the future. In terms of purchasing power parity, Thailand ranks higher than some G20 countries, and in reference to a previous comment, Mexico is hardly the poorest, far from it in fact. Thailand desperately needs a merit-based educational system to move into the ranks of 'developed countries', and for all its other merits, Buddhist passivity probably works best for the stressed IMHO.

[Rumfoord]

the upcoming the ASEAN-US Summit,

next month, with Obama, in Singapore. can't wait. watch out for at the first glance irritating headlines and some funny bloopers by newsreaders.

[eggomaniac]

Does all this human rights and law-equalisation across borders mean that farangs will be soon able to own the land under their house in Thailand?

... or is it me that's dreaming?

Foggy

How, exactly, are farang 'rights' germane to this Topic and a concern of ASEAN?

[From what I have read, Thai nationals don't even 'own' the land and/or the mineral rights 'under their house.' This is not unusual in other countries, as well, where the Crown retains first title with powers of expropriation.]

Some of your other points, about conditions facing thais, are well taken but countries have rights to set their Immigration policies.

Edited October 23, 2009 by eggomaniac

[webfact]

UPDATE

ASEAN SUMMIT 2009

Civil-society leaders slam Asean govts over snub

By Kittipong Thavevong

The Nation

Published on October 24, 2009

Asean's civil-society activists yesterday strongly condemned Asean governments for mistreatment of their representatives.

They accused the governments of poor treatment and disrespect by rejecting five of their 10 representatives from an informal meeting with the leaders and "gagging" five others who were allowed to attend.

Three of those allowed to attend - Sawart Pramoonsilp from Thailand, Yuyun Wahyuningrum from Indonesia and Moon Hui Tah from Malaysia - walked out of the "interface" meeting in protest to show solidarity with their colleagues from Burma, Cambodia, Laos, the Philippines and Singapore who could not attend.

"We feel strongly that the rejection of our democratically selected representatives is a rejection of both civil society and the democratic process," the group said in a statement released yesterday.

The activists were informed by the Foreign Ministry shortly before midnight on Thursday that the five would not be allowed at the meeting, according to the statement. Those who could attend were told to be ready to be picked up at 7am yesterday, nearly five hours before the scheduled meeting around noon.

The civil-society groups said the latest move by certain governments of Asean was "fundamentally undermining the spirit and content" of the Asean Charter that was approved and became effective since last December. The charter promotes the idea of a people-centred Asean.

"We are deeply disappointed at the irresponsibility and apparent irrationality of the governments' position," the statement said. "We plead with these leaders to stop trying to kill the spirit of an Asean community. Such moves not only hurt the development of the region but also the credibility of individual member states and Asean as a whole." Yesterday's informal meeting, lasting about 30 minutes, went ahead as planned around noon at the Dusit Thani Hua Hin Hotel in Phetchaburi's Cha-am district. Government leaders met with civil-society representatives from Singapore, Burma, Brunei and Vietnam. Singapore and Burma selected substitutes for the activists from the Asean people's forum who were rejected.

-- The Nation 2009/10/24

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ASEAN SUMMIT

Red shirts tell Asean leaders they weren't to blame for April

Published on October 24, 2009

The red shirts yesterday submitted a statement addressed to Asean leaders denying they were responsible for the collapse of the Asean Summit in Pattaya in April.

The delivery of the statement took place amidst tight security at Puek Tian Bean, some 20 kilometres north of the venue of the 15th Summit in Cha-am.

A team of four red shirts, led by Arisman Pongruangrong, handed the statement to the authorities, including Asean Affairs Department director-general Vitavas Srivihok and Asean Secretariat representative Balakumar Palaniappan.

The red shirts claimed they had no intention of disrupting the April summit, but the situation had spiralled out of control after attacks by anti-riot forces and the blue shirts.

The statement went on to voice support for Asean's work even though the red shirts will continue to oppose the current Thai government, which they say lacks legitimacy.

"The red shirts want to clear their name and distance themselves if the current Asean Summit fails," Arisman said after delivering the statement.

He claimed a success in having delivered the statement regardless of tight security.

He said he and a number of red shirts had stayed in Hua Hin for the past couple of days and could have delivered the statement at the meeting venue if they had wanted to do so.

By delivering the statement, the red shirts wanted the world to know the Thai government had not come to power via constitutional means, Arisman added.

In a separate development in Bangkok, Huai Khwang police detained about 10 red shirts before they could rally against chief royal adviser General Prem Tinsulanonda.

Prem was scheduled to have a luncheon at the Huay Kwang Hotel on Ratchadaphisek Road.

After a brief detention, police released the potential protesters without booking them.

-- The Nation 2009/10/24

[mca]

from the Ceremony to Inaugurate ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights, AICHR

http://media.thaigov.go.th/pageconfig/albu...y=&aid=4095

from left: Philippines Foreign Secretary Alberto Romulo, Singapore PM Lee Hsien Loong, Thailand PM Abhisit Vejjajiva, Vietnam PM Nguyen Tan Dung, Myanmar PM General Thein Sein

"You put your left leg in, your left leg out...."

[Publicus]

The 'people centered' Asean charter and civil society groups in Asean countries simply means the 'right' people.

Five of the ten countries' representatives weren't the 'right' people so were banned previous to the meeting. Three of the other five who attended quickly walked out in support of the banned five.

That's eight countries of the Asean 10 whose civil society groups did not have the 'right' people.

The only remaining question is whether the charter might rise to the level of usable bathroom tissue.

[Sherlocke]

ASEAN – has aspirations to become the EU of asia – .essentially free movement of goods and labour with a sprinkling of civil rights.

Here's some reasons why that can't happen.........

“ASEAN will be a region where goods and peoples, as well as investments and initiatives can move across the borders without obstacles” - not withBurma involved

“We therefore need to, first and foremost, make ASEAN work for the peoples.”

Not without free mobility of labour – and whatever the problems with other members, with Burma included that can't happen.

“The purposes and the principles enshrined in the ASEAN Charter, including the respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, should be translated into concrete action.” - not with Burma involved.

At present you can't even drive a vehicle across most borders without hassle, bureaucratic corruption and incompetence..........so when do they think this will happen? When will Thailand let alone the other countries get rid of the pervading culture of corruption and nepotism?

They an't even begin to get this off the ground – it will in the end simply be a series of trade deals to make the fat cats in power fatter and more powerful.

[Publicus]

ASEAN – has aspirations to become the EU of asia – .essentially free movement of goods and labour with a sprinkling of civil rights.

Here's some reasons why that can't happen.........

"ASEAN will be a region where goods and peoples, as well as investments and initiatives can move across the borders without obstacles" - not withBurma involved

"We therefore need to, first and foremost, make ASEAN work for the peoples."

Not without free mobility of labour – and whatever the problems with other members, with Burma included that can't happen.

"The purposes and the principles enshrined in the ASEAN Charter, including the respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, should be translated into concrete action." - not with Burma involved.

At present you can't even drive a vehicle across most borders without hassle, bureaucratic corruption and incompetence..........so when do they think this will happen? When will Thailand let alone the other countries get rid of the pervading culture of corruption and nepotism?

They an't even begin to get this off the ground – it will in the end simply be a series of trade deals to make the fat cats in power fatter and more powerful.

The 'right' people only. No one else need apply.

[webfact]

Gen Thein Sein: Myanmar won't allow Thailand's foe to use its soil

HUA HIN, Oct 24 (TNA) -- Myanmar Prime Minister Gen Thein Sein has told his Thai counterpart Abhisit Vejjajiva that his country would not allow anyone opposing Thailand to use its soil as a springboard to attack the kingdom.

Gen Thein Sein, who is now attending the 15th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit being held in the Thai resorts of Hua Hin and Cha-am, reportedly told Mr Abhisit on the sidelines of the summit Friday that Myanmar upheld the principle of living in harmony and that it would not allow anyone opposing Thailand wishing to use his country as springboard in attacking this country.

Expressing his confidence that Southeast Asian countries, including Thailand, could sail through obstacles and negative challenges, Gen Thein Sein told Mr Abhisit that both Myanmar and Thailand share a long border and both countries have to depend with each other and good neighbourliness is, therefore, significant.

Gen Thein Sein's remarks were made after Mr Abhisit and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen traded words after the Khmer leader reasserted Friday on arriving for the ASEAN summit that his government would reject any Thai request to extradite former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra if the self-exiled ex-premier accepts an invitation for refuge in Cambodia.

Mr Hun Sen told journalists to read the extradition treaty thoroughly to understand why the former Thai premier, whom he described as his friend, can stay in Cambodia as a guest of the Cambodian government.

Ousted in a bloodless coup in September 2006, Mr Thaksin jumped bail and fled sentencing to a two-year jail term for malfeasance in the controversial Bangkok's Ratchadapisek land purchase case.

The toppled Thai premier now spends most of his time in the United Arab Emirates after his status as a visitor was rejected by a number of countries including both the United Kingdom and Germany.

Thanking Myanmar for its support given to Thailand as chairman of ASEAN, Mr Abhisit told Gen Thein Sein that his government supports Japan's financial assistance bestowed to Myanmar on various projects, including developing hospitals and schools.

Mr Abhisit said his government, as a close neighbour to Myanmar and host of ASEAN, had told every country to strengthen ties with Myanmar and had requested the Myanmar government leader to "unofficially report" on progress on development projects in his country during the ASEAN summit on Saturday.

Wishing Myanmar to successfully hold its general election next year, Mr Abhisit also told Gen Thein Sein that he hopes to officially visit Myanmar when he has the opportunity and to also meet Myanmar's opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi to boost democracy for the world community.

The leaders of ASEAN's 10 member countries--Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam-- are holding their three-day summit in the Thai resorts with their six dialogue partners--China, South Korea, Japan, India, Australia and New Zealand.

The summit ends Sunday. (TNA)

-- TNA 2009/10/24