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UN official welcomes ASEAN commitment to human rights, but concerned over declaration wording
19 November 2012 – The United Nations human rights chief today welcomed the renewed commitment by leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to universal human rights norms – but expressed concern that the regional body’s recently-adopted human rights declaration, the region’s first, retains language that is not consistent with international standards. “The…
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Drama over Vietnam’s PM a hopeful sign of change
Jonathan London says unprecedented call for PM to quit shows elite power also has its limits Tuesday, 20 November, 2012, 12:00am It is not every day that a Vietnamese national assemblyman publicly confronts a sitting prime minister and Politburo Standing Committee member live on national TV, suggesting that the latter resign. Yet that was what…
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SE Asia to Ask China to Start Talks Over Islands
By JIM GOMEZ Associated Press PHNOM PENH, Cambodia November 18, 2012 (AP) Southeast Asian leaders have decided to ask China to start formal talks “as soon as possible” on crafting a legally-binding, non-aggression accord to prevent possible major clashes in disputed South China Sea territories. Association of Southeast Asian Nations Secretary-General Surin Pitsuwan says the…
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Asean meet strengthens AHRD rules – HUMAN RIGHTS DOCUMENT REVISED
Published: 18/11/2012 at 12:00 AM PHNOM PENH : The Asean Human Rights Declaration was revised during the Asean Ministerial Meeting yesterday to smooth the way for its adoption by leaders of the grouping today. Ministers at the meeting also reviewed the Joint Statement on the 10th anniversary of the Asean-China Declaration on Conduct of Parties…
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Activists slam Cambodia obstruction
Published: 15/11/2012 at 08:12 PM Phnom Penh: Southeast Asian activists on Thursday cried foul over attempts by Cambodian authorities to derail their meetings just as the government prepares to host the Asean summit. Their regional meeting in the Cambodian capital under the banner of the Asean Civil Society Conference and Asean People Forum was disrupted…
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“ASEAN Human Rights Declaration should maintain international standards,” urge key UN expert group
GENEVA (16 November 2012) – The largest body of independent experts in the United Nations Human Rights system today called on the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to ensure that international human rights standards are maintained when they come to consider the adoption of the ASEAN Human Rights Declaration this Sunday, 18 November. “It…
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In Cambodia, Panetta Touts Benefits of US Asia ‘Pivot’
VOA News November 16, 2012 U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta has visited Cambodia for talks aimed at expanding military alliances in southeast Asia, in advance of President Barack Obama’s trip for a regional summit.Panetta, who met with counterparts from 10 southeast Asian nations in Siem Reap on Friday, touted the benefits of Washington’s recent strategic…
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Vietnam’s Prime Minister urged to resign
Posted 14 November 2012, 22:08 AEST Vietnam’s embattled Prime Minister on Wednesday faced an unprecedented call in the communist-dominated parliament to step down over mistakes in his stewardship of the troubled economy. Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung (Credit: AFP) It is believed to be the first time ever that a Vietnamese prime minister has…
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Vietnam’s Search for Stability
By Alexander L. Vuving October 25, 2012 On October 15, Vietnam’s Communist Party concluded its longest meeting ever, admitting big mistakes in preventing and remedying corruption. Central to the meeting’s discussions was the mismanagement and nepotism committed by Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, who eventually escaped punishment. The half measures encapsulate the entrenched nature of corruption…
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Vietnam’s long road to SOE reform
October 17, 2012 From Frances Yoon Hanoi has announced plans to restructure its bloated state-owned enterprises by selling off assets or listing them on the stock exchange. But it most needs to root out the deep-seated cronyism that permeates these companies and the banking sector. Frances Yoon reports. Vietnam is stumbling under a mountain of…
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