Europe Solidaire Sans Frontières
Civil society leaders and activists from the region under the banner of the ASEAN Civil Society Conference/ASEAN Peoples’ Forum deplored today the lack of substantial discussions and policy actions on critical issues such as human rights atrocities, peace and security, the territorial conflict on the South China/West Philippine Sea/East Sea, and social protection for all peoples, especially those affected by economic regional integration, during the 31st ASEAN Summit and East Asia Summit.
The ACSC/APF Regional Steering Committee (RSC) expressed disappointment that “ASEAN Heads of States and government leaders swept under the rug the crucial concerns confronting the peoples of Southeast Asia, which require urgent and decisive actions.” They released the statement in the wake of the closing of the 31st ASEAN Summit and the issuance of the ASEAN Chair’s Statement.
“There no agreements or even official ASEAN statements concerning the human rights violations and culture of impunity hounding most ASEAN countries such as the extrajudicial killings in the Philippines that has victimized more than 16,000 individuals, the genocide of the Rohingyans and the sexual violence against Rohingyan womenin Myanmar, and the crackdown on activists and dissenters in Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia,”said Jelen Paclarin, Chair of the ACSC/APF RSC.
A day after the summit, the main Cambodian opposition party was dissolved by the Supreme Court headed by a judge belonging to the ruling party of strongman Prime Minister Hun Sen, who is the world’s longest serving prime minister. Hun Sen was facing likely defeat from the popular Cambodian National Rescue Party in the upcoming elections next year. In the Philippines, Congress resumed deliberations on the impeachment of the Chief Justice, who President Duterte has been at loggerheads with and whose resignation he has called for.
Meanwhile, Co-convenor of the ACSC/APF Philippine National Organizing Committee Ed Tadem decried the ASEAN silence on the protection of fishers and the deprivation of their livelihoods as a consequence of the competing claims on and the occupation of the South China/West Philippine Sea/East Sea, particularly by Chinese forces.
Jane Aileen of Indonesia Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI) also lamented that despite agreements on investments and cooperation in economic ventures such as infrastructure-building, “there are no deals pertaining to job generation and ensuring decent work and living wage among Southeast Asian peoples.”
“Furthermore, there are no clear resolutions on guaranteeing social protection for every citizen to have a life of dignity, or even for marginalized sectors,” added Cambodian representative Srey Sotheavy. “Universal healthcare and education and affordable shelter were not put on the conference table. Non-discrimination and ensuring the welfare of women, youth, children, LGBTs, the elderly and indigenous groups were not also tackled,” she said.
Soe Min Than of Singapore, who is among the organizers and host of next year’s ACSC/APF in Singapore, said the silence from ASEAN leaders on these issues are manifestations of the “low priority they give to peoples’ concerns and their token engagement with civil society and people’s organizations.”
“Despite the ASEAN’s rhetoric of reaffirming the importance of engagement and dialogues with CSOs towards attaining ASEAN Vision 2025, the Chair’s Statement failed to mention the ACSC/APF and our efforts to surface various pressing issues in the region,” he said.
The ACSC/APF leaders called on ASEAN leaders to transform their decision-making processes and institutionalize peoples’ participation so they are well-informed about realities on the ground and are able to partner with grassroots communities and social movements towards developing socially-responsive and just policies.
“It is time that ASEAN makes a shift to alternative regionalism where people are deeply involved and engaged in shaping the ASEAN’s policy directions and governments exercise effective development practices together with CSOs,” concluded Ed Tadem. “ASEAN must support peoples’ alternative regional integration founded on solidarity, cooperation, complementarity, friendship and peaceful coexistence, and accountability to peoples.”
ASEAN Civil Society Conference/ASEAN Peoples’ Forum (ACSC/APF), November 17, 2017
Press Statement of the ASEAN Civil Society Conference/ASEAN Peoples’ Forum
During this 31st ASEAN Summit, we, of the ASEAN Civil Society Conference/ASEAN Peoples’ Forum 2017 (ACSC/APF) collectively demand an urgent break away from the dominant development narrative that has bred economic, social and environmental crises, including extreme inequalities, extensive human rights violations, situations of conflict and violence, and wanton exploitation of natural resources.
Amid appearances of economic growth, and self-congratulatory platitudes of the region’s leaders in keeping the organization together through the “ASEAN way”, we also find ourselves on a path of rapidly rising inequality. There is a yawning gap between the richest ASEAN member-states and those still in early stages of development.
ASEAN’s narrow focus on creating a single market is seriously undermining peoples’ food sovereignty and reducing policy space that protect small-scale farmers and fishers. The neoliberal thrust for an integrated regional market steers member states into preparing the region to take its place in a global market ever hungry for profit accumulation.
The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and new generation bilateral treaties are a growing cause for concern owing to their negative impacts on the region’s agricultural sector, on labor and migrants rights, women, marginalized sectors, and on indigenous peoples, access to reasonably priced and life-saving medicines, and on national sovereignty.
Corporate dominance and greed, supported by ASEAN states, also manifest in the unabated pursuit of extractive activities and fossil fuel projects, even as climate science has shown incontrovertible links between climate change and dirty energy use. Our region ranks among the most threatened in the world by intensifying climate-related impacts.
Presently, Southeast Asia faces serious threats to peoples’ right to peace. There is an increased militarization of ASEAN countries because of overlapping territorial and maritime claims. Most ASEAN countries have correspondingly increased their spending for importing arms anywhere from 6% to more than 100%, resulting to higher access to arms in conflict areas.
The exclusion of a large part of the region’s population from exercising their basic rights continue to fuel national and sub-national situations of ongoing conflict and violence. Furthermore, global superpowers, aiming to protect their interests in the region, have encouraged militaristic approaches to the resolution of armed conflicts instead of preventing the escalation of such by addressing the root causes of the unrest.
Despite voices of concerns from regional and international communities, China is adamant on using its military power to expand its territorial claims in the South China/West Philippine Sea/Vietnam’s East Sea, aiming especially for the rich marine and seabed resources of Southeast Asian countries, particularly Vietnam and the Philippines.
Furthermore, ASEAN States continue to ignore the universality and interdependence of human rights. Despite ASEAN having its own human rights mechanism, AICHR remains weak and toothless. In some ASEAN countries, governments are installing laws and committing acts that continue to destroy the enabling environment for CSOs and grassroots organizations, as well as human rights defenders. Ordinary innocent people become targets of extra judicial killings. Leaders of groups challenging government policies are threatened and intimidated with trumped up charges.
Freedoms of expression, religion, belief, peaceful assembly and association are being curtailed in many ASEAN States both in online and offline spaces while hate speeches targeting LGBTI groups, human rights defenders, national human rights institutions, journalists, parliamentarians, and minorities. There is a pervasive culture of impunity in violence against women and girls, owing mostly to the ASEAN governments’ blatant disregard for women’s rights. In conflict or post-conflict situations, sexual violence persists.
Furthermore, throughout ASEAN’s 50 years, majority of the people are deprived of their social and economic rights and criminalized forpracticing their sustainable traditional livelihoods.. More than 50 percent of workers are in precarious working condition, suffering from poverty-level income. ASEAN women in vulnerable employment, comprising more than 60% of workers, are not covered by labor laws or social protection. Adequate income especially in times of old age, chronic and serious illness, disability, and unemployment, as well as guaranteed essential services are most needed by majority. However, government spending on social protection remains low – an average of 3% of GDP, way below the minimum 6% recommended by ILO.
Also, ASEAN’s economic integration and migration policies continue to neglect realities of the region which is characterized by large displacement of people from their lands, labor mobility and different migration flows. While the integration will provide greater mobility for workers, it fails to recognize that the majority of migrant workers are found in low-skilled sectors and in the informal economy. Many of them are women migrant workers who are more vulnerable to greater risks.
ASEAN also fails to recognize the social cost of migration, in particular, the impact on families and children left behind. People escaping from conflict such as Rohingya, who face constant abuse and harassment including systematic violation of human rights in Myanmar, are at the mercy of traffickers and horrendous treatment in countries of destination. Protection of migrant workers’ rights remains inadequate, subjecting them to low wages, long hours and dangerous work, and have led to the endangerment of the lives of migrants.
Forced migration has increased in the wake of climate change and its intensifying impacts. Persistent poverty, deprivation and large coastal populations make Southeast Asia one of the most climate-threatened regions in the world.
Lastly, for 50 years, genuine peoples’ participation in the ASEAN has been severely limited. Despite CSOs’ efforts to initiate engagements for constructive dialogue alongside ASEAN’s claims of having more inclusive and meaningful spaces, ASEAN remains largely inaccessible to the people. What we are witnessing is a direct assault on civil and political, as well as economic, social, and cultural rights of the people.
In the face of these grave challenges, peoples’ movements are consolidating and building networks to resist and push back these attacks on peoples’ rights. The rallying cries and demands are finding their way in new protest art, plays, and musicale, street dances, effigies helping to educate, awaken, enrage and mobilize the public to stand up for their rights.
An ASEAN well-grounded in the concerns of its peoples and receptive to active civil society participation can only work to its benefit, by making its policies and programs more responsive and effective. It can begin right here, with ASEAN heeding the following general recommendations from the ACSC/ASEAN Peoples’ Forum:
1. PUT A SOCIAL DIMENSION TO THE ASEAN INTEGRATION with emphasis on rights of people particularly marginalized and discriminated sectors
2. UPHOLD HUMAN RIGHTS AND THE RULE OF LAW
3. REVIEW THE ASEAN PRINCIPLE OF NON-INTERFERENCE AND ADVANCE DEMOCRACY AND DEMOCRATIC DECISION MAKING IN ASEAN
4. FORGE REGIONAL SOLUTIONS TO REGIONAL PROBLEMS LIKE CONFLICT
5. ADOPT INTERNATIONAL LAWS AND POLICIES (e.g. human rights, labor laws, law on refugees, etc)
6. EXPAND SPACES FOR PEOPLES PARTICIPATION
7. BUILD CAPACITIES FOR PEOPLE EMPOWERMENT
8. PRIOTIZE PEOPLES’ AGENDA OVER CORPORATE AGENDA
9. SUPPORT PEOPLES’ ALTERNATIVE REGIONAL INTEGRATION
10. RESPECT STRUGGLES OF COLLECTIVE RESISTANCE
We urgently call on ASEAN Heads of States and leaders to make partners of peoples’ organizations and social movements so we all can truly create a just, equitable and human Southeast Asia and an ASEAN advancing programs and policies that are genuinely people-centered.#
ASEAN Civil Society Conference/ASEAN Peoples’ Forum (ACSC/APF), 14 November 2017
ASEAN CSOs march against human rights abuses and inequitable development; demand Heads of State to put social dimension to regional integration
Press release: November 13, 2017
On the first day of the 31st ASEAN Summit Heads of State, hundreds of representatives of civil society and social movements across Southeast Asia participating in the parallel ASEAN Civil Society Conference/ASEAN Peoples’ Forum marched to the People Power Monument today to protest the human rights atrocities, breakdown of the rule of law and unjust and inequitable economic policies in the region. They pushed for transformative changes in the ASEAN and demanded for a social dimension in the ASEAN economic integration.
SreySotheavy, Executive Director of the Alliance for Conflict Transformation Organization in Cambodia pointed out the need to review the non-interference policy of the ASEAN, which she says “has served as an excuse for ASEAN governments to remain silent on human rights violations of authoritarian governments.”
“The ASEAN virtually condone these brutal acts as they hide behind the shield of ‘non-interference,” said JelenPaclarin, Chair of the ACSC/APF Regional Steering Committee.
Paclarin saw the “crucial need to reform ASEAN’s decision-making processes” as she noted that “the non-interference policy blocks ASEAN to seriously address issues on the ground."
“ASEAN must respond to and act on the various human rights violations in the region,” said SunsaneeSutthisunsanee of Pro-Rights Foundation in Thailand. She also stressed that the ASEAN must engage more with the people and civil society.
“When it comes to decision-making, ASEAN should consult with the people and civil society before adopting a treaty or an instrument because this impacts on the people.” She emphasized the need for the “participation of peoples in the monitoring of the implementation of the ASEAN blueprint.”
Meanwhile, Soe Min Than of Singapore, who is among the organizers and host of next year’s ACSC/APF in Singapore said they “envision a region where all stakeholders can openly engage and work on the issue of human rights and social concerns to allow greater collaboration, better and more sustainable solutions.”
He said the ASEAN member states’ current emphasis on the ASEAN Economic Community “does not include issues which affect marginalized communities and groups to ensure that they are not left behind.” According to him, the ASEAN ‘”should ensure that policies are grounded in regular consultation with all stakeholders to push towards greater economic prosperity.”
Jane Aileen of Indonesia Legal Aid Foundproation (YLBHI) hopes to see an ASEAN that “embraces everyone without any discrimination, preserves the culture and local languages, protects the environment and empowers people.”
YasintaLujina of Timor Leste hopes her country becomes a member of ASEAN. She said she envisions “an ASEAN that respects human rights, human dignity and the contribution of peoples organizations and their indispensable participation.” She further said that the “ASEAN should be a region that is safe for everyone.”
The march rally concludes the four-day ASEAN Civil Society Conference/ASEAN Peoples Forum that brought together people’s organizations, social movements and NGOs of youth, children, women, workers, older people, indigenous groups, persons with disabilities, LGBTIQ and other sectors, including academics from the ten (10) ASEAN countries plus East Timor. The delegates substantially discussed issues on human rights and access to justice, corporate greed and power, labor mobility and mixed migration, decent work,transformative social protection and life of dignity for all, peace and human security.
The delegates vowed to forge stronger alliances, continuously engage the ASEAN and push for alternative regionalism and practices.
ASEAN and EU Parliamentarians decry shrinking civic space; unite with CSOs in defending human rights and rule of law
Press release: November 12, 2017
ASEAN and European parliamentarians speaking at a Town Hall Meeting organized by the ASEAN Civil Society Conference/ASEAN Peoples’ Forumat the Commission on Human Rights grounds in UP Dilimandecry the “democratic deficit” andworsening human rights situation in the Southeast Asian region.
MP Charles Santiago from Malaysia and Chair of the ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights stressed that the shrinking of civic space today is “unprecedented as not only labor unions and civil society organizations are under attack, but also members of parliament and political parties”. He said thiscurrent alarming situation is starkly different compared to a decade ago.
Rep. Tom Villarin of the Philippine Congress echoed Santiago’s assertion as he noted the “attacks on the freedoms of the press, political parties and democratic institutions” in the region, which signify that the ASEAN merely pays “lip service to human rights.”
“The ASEAN governments are definitely not committed to democracy, human rights and the rule of law,” added Santiago. He pointed out that despite the atrocities committed against the 650,000 Rohingya in Myanmar, “not one ASEAN government stood up.”
Both ASEAN lawmakers also criticized the ASEAN’s policy of non-interference as being selective. “Non-interference merely applies to human rights, democracy and the rule of law and not to trade and investments”, which they say greatly benefit big business while exploiting labor and people’s livelihoods.
Member of European Parliament Enrique Guerrero from Spain is equally alarmed at the shrinking civic space“not only in developing countries but also in Europe.”He notedgovernments curtail civil society through “taxation, the bureaucracy, criminalization and stigmatization.”
“Civil society organizations push for open democracies and accountability – principles that governments are against,” he said. For CSOs, these are the very principlesthat challenge and pose as threats to power.
Meanwhile, Member of European Parliament Norbert Neuser from Germany recognizes the importance of civil society to a progressive parliament. “We need CSOs but they also need support to effectively play their roles,” he said to hundreds of participants to the ACSC/APF.
MEP Neuser quipped that “there are no borders in human rights” in reaction to criticisms that the EU is “interfering” in another nation’s affairs when it raises human rights issues.
“Defending human rights is never an interference,” MEP Guerrero added. “We must fight for it in every part of the world, including in ourown countries.”
Meanwhile JelenPaclarin, ACSC/APF Regional Steering Committee Chair, expressed disgust at the ‘rise and normalization of misogyny.”
“The advances and gains of women, their rights and autonomy brought about by several decades of struggle are being reversed”, she said. “Progressive forces and CSOs must come together and collectively counter attacks and hatred against women and further push for their empowerment.”
The parliamentarians reinforced Paclarin’s call and expressed strong support for civil society in Southeast Asiain forging stronger alliancestowards ending oppression and marginalization of people in the region.
Dr. Ed Tadem, co-convenor of the ACSC/AFP Philippine National Organizing Committee, raised that after 50 years since ASEAN’s inception, the regional body is “still a work in progress” in terms of engaging with CSOs. “ASEAN has still to arrive at concrete mechanisms in involving CSOs in its processes, moreso in partnering with them.“
Dr.Tademgave this reaction in response to a statement by a representative of the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community that although the ASEAN in its blueprint highlights engagement with CSOs, it still faces the challenge of actualizing what is stated on paper.
Dr.Tadem reiterated its call to the Philippine government as chair of the ASEAN to approve its Terms of Reference with it clearly defining the relationship between government and CSOs and their mutually beneficial engagements in relation to ASEAN concerns.
The civil society network has been asking the Philippines as Chair of the ASEAN to leave a significant legacy by institutionalizing peoples’ participation in the ASEAN through a TOR with ACSC/APF. However, thedraftTOR, which has been submitted to the ASEAN in December 2016, has been idling away in its office without any action.
ACSC/ASEAN Peoples’ Forum criticize ASEAN’s exclusivist character, shrinking civic space; calls for alternative regionalism
Press release: November 12, 2017
The ASEAN Civil Society Conference/ ASEAN People’s Forum 2017 pinpointed today ASEAN’s characteristic exclusion of marginalized peoples and underprivileged sectors since the regional organisation’s inception 50 years ago and called for an alternative regionalism that puts utmost premium to peoples’ rights and concerns in development programs and regional integration.
elen Paclarin, Chair of the ACSC/APF Regional Steering Committee, deplored the shrinking civic space given to civil society and peoples’ organizations in ASEAN processes and mechanisms.
“Since the start of this year, the ACSC/APF has been persistently seeking dialogues, interactions and engagements with ASEAN leaders in order to bring to their attention key issues faced by the peoples of Southeast Asia and develop alternatives that address social injustices. However, these have virtually fallen on deaf ears as ASEAN Heads of States and Ministers give least priority to our proposals and initiatives. They do not even give time to meet and discuss with us,” she said.
Paclarin explained that among the reasons they organized a Town Hall meeting entitled “Addressing Shrinking Civic Space in Southeast Asia” in the ACSC/APF activities today was precisely to raise the issue of limited CSO participation in the ASEAN. A town hall meeting is designed to be a venue for civil society, parliamentarians and government representatives to learn from one another on key democracy and human rights issues in the region.
“We organized our own gathering expecting that ASEAN leaders would come upon our invitation and fully listen to peoples’ voices and concerns. Unfortunately, ASEAN leaders chose to grant only token representation by sending ASEAN representatives to our meeting, who are not in positions of significant influence although they may be committed in engaging the people.”
The ACSC/APF further said that over the past 50 years, “the ASEAN and its member-states have generally ignored the plight and demands of farmers, fisherfolk, workers, women, indigenous groups, youth and children, persons with disabilities, and LGBTIQ.”
The ASEAN civil society network said these sectors have historically been excluded in the ASEAN’s development targets as governments pursue pro-trade liberalization policies that are damaging to peoples’ livelihoods and jobs and further worsen inequalities.
"While we persist in our engagements with ASEAN, we are also building and developing an alternative Southeast Asian regional integration based on alternative practices on the ground among communities and social movements,” said Dr. Ed Tadem, co-convenor of the ACSC/APF Philippine National Organizing Committee. “We also want to ensure a social dimension to the ASEAN, create a Social ASEAN that fulfils the rights of people and guarantees social protection, decent work and essential services, especially healthcare, for all.”
Paclarin further pointed out that “under the existing ASEAN integration, many remain vulnerable to greater risks, particularly women migrant workers who are mostly in low-skilled sectors and in the informal economy.”
Paclarin said the ASEAN integration has failed to recognize the social cost of migration, particularly the impact on families and children left behind. She stressed the urgent need for the ASEAN to adopt the instrument on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of All Migrant Workers immediately to protect the workers and their families.
On the second day of the ASCS/APF at the UP Diliman campus, over 1000 delegates gathered to discuss in plenary and workshop groups critical issues concerning the ASEAN, such as pursuing a social dimension in regional integration towards a life of dignity for all, impact of corporate greed and power, human rights and access to justice, and labor mobility and mixed migration.
The conference will continue until November 14 as participating people’s organizations, social movements and NGOs, and academics from the ten (10) ASEAN countries plus East Timor substantially tackle issues and firm up unities in their continued engagements with the ASEAN. #ASEAN#ASEANPeoples #ACSCAPF2017 Philwomen on Asean ASEAN Civil Society Conference/ASEAN Peoples’ Forum (ACSC/APF) 2017
ASEAN: Be For the People, Work With the People
Press release: November 10, 2017
We are people’s organizations, social movementsand NGOs of youth, children, women, workers, older people, indigenous groups, persons with disabilities, LGBTIQ and other sectors,including academics from the ten (10) ASEAN countries plus East Timor. We have been engaging the ASEAN and its member states for twelve (12) years now.
In conjunction withthe 31st ASEAN Summit that also marks the 50th year of the ASEAN, we are organizing the ASEAN Civil Society Conference/ASEAN People’s Forum 2017 that will be held at that University of the Philippines, Diliman Campus starting today until November 14.
Similar to previous ASEAN summits, we are again conducting our own parallel activities and solidarity gathering to traverse the landscape of challenges within the ASEAN as well as present peoples’ viable alternatives for the future of peoples in the region.
We see the ASEAN as a strategic platform to engage member states and theirmechanisms to advance peoples’ interests and address issues concerning development, trade, environment, migration, peace, security and human rights.
The official ASEAN theme for this year is “Partnering for Change, Engaging the World.”Yet, wefind it ironic that ASEAN’syearning for partnership continues to exclude and marginalize the very people that it claims should be at the center of development.
In its 50 years of existence, the ASEAN has provided limited spaces for peoples’ participation as it crafts and develops most of its policies and programs to primarily serve big business interests over people’s economic, social, cultural, civil and political rights. The concerns of the marginalized and exploited often remain unaddressed while corporate greed and abuse of power are generally unfettered.
And today, this trend is reaching alarming proportions as democratic spaces further shrink and human rights violations abound withthe rise of authoritarian rule among ASEAN governments and their use of repressive measures to curb dissent.
The ASEAN may have advanced significantly in incorporating human rights to its principles, but it seems only to be on paper.Human rights violations have been very evident in the continuous threats and actual subjugation of democratic rights, fundamental freedoms and economic rights in the region.
ASEAN is not a safe place for human rights activists and defenders, journalists and people who have progressive and modernizing ideas. Ethnic and religious minorities across the region are being repressed, raped, and attacked, including, most dramatically, the Rohingya as well as the peoples from Patani, Papua and Mindanao. The violent crackdown on dissent has reached alarming levels, as shown by the experiences of political parties, media and civil society in Cambodia; dissenting voices in Thailand; human rights defenders, LGBTIQ people and victims of past human rights violations in Indonesia; and activists, specifically the Bersih movement in Malaysia. The extra-judicial killings in the Philippines reaches to thirteen thousand and still counting.The increasing use of the death penalty as threat and punishment in the region is a further cause of concern.
Furthermore, throughout ASEAN’s 50 years, majority of the people have been suffering from social and economic insecurities. More than 50 percent of workers are in precarious condition – without regular jobs and suffering from poverty-level income. The average number of ASEAN women who are in vulnerable employment is slightly above 60%, unprotected and not covered by labor laws or social protection. And only 27% or 2 to 3 in every 10 persons have protection. Despite commitments made by governments across Southeast Asia, workers in many countries are still prohibited from forming independent trade unions. Labor policies across ASEAN states do not protect people from employment and discrimination based on various grounds such as disability, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, and ethnicity.
Indeed, change must happen. But this change must transform the existing systemic inequalities and injustices towards a socially-responsive and rights-based ASEAN.
The 50thyear of ASEAN should be a year to realize the hopes of its people that is anchored on human rights, promotes non-discrimination, equality, and inclusive development.
Thisyear, the ASEAN should make a shift to a truly people-centered sharing and caring community with the people as its main and primary partners.
We call for the strengthening of the mandate ofASEAN Human Rights Mechanisms from the promotion of human rights to monitoring, investigating, commenting and recommending binding solutions to address human rights issues in the region.
In connection with the decision at the ASEAN Summit to postpone the application process for East Timor to be part of ASEAN, we call for the government of East Timor and the ASEAN member-states to take this opportunity andreview consultations with the peoples of East Timor that wereconducted and prioritize their membership in the ASEAN without sacrificing the economy, resources and peoples’ rights.
We call for a stronger solidarity among the people of ASEAN beyond nationalities and identities to stand together and defend our rights for a better Human Rights situation in ASEAN.
Overall, we hope to see an ASEAN that dares to truly care and partners with people first. And,together with other grassroots communities, social movements and civil society organizations, we will persist in demanding for an ASEAN For the People that works With the People.er
Issued during today’s press conference at Max’s Restaurant and read by: JenelPaclarin(Chair, ACSC/APF Regional Steering Committee/Philippine National Organizing Committee)
Detained Timorese delegates to ASEAN civil society assemblies released
Press release: November 05, 2017
Four East Timorese nationals earlier detained by immigration authorities who arrived to attend the ASEAN Civil Society Conference/ASEAN Peoples Forum (ACSC/APF) were finally released at around 6 o’clock in the evening yesterday. Philippine Immigration authorities at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) held the four at the airport’s terminal 3 holding area for almost twelve (12) hours.
The Immigration officials allowed the delegates’ entry to the Philippines after they verified during negotiations with the organizers and lawyers of the ACSC/APF that the Timor Leste nationals are indeed participating in the civil-society ASEAN assemblies organized by the group. However, airport officials still withheld the visitors’ passports for “safekeeping” pending the issuance of a “Recall of Exclusion Order” or REO.
The official reasons cited for the “exclusion order” were: “not able to explain the purpose of their travel” and “not able to establish financial capacity for their visit.”
The ACSC/APF legal team is assisting the Timorese nationals and is working out the issuance of the REO in order for their passports to be released by Monday.
Members of the ACSC/APF National Organizing Committee (NOC) expressed appreciation for the favorable intervention of BI Commissioner Chief Jaime Morente, and the assistance of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Sec. Jesus Dureza. They are pleased that the Timorese delegates are no longer detained and are now out of the airport.
However, while the NOC understand the more stringent security measures being implemented due to the upcoming ASEAN summit, they remain concerned of the possibility of similar incidents upon the arrival of many more participants from other countries in the coming days. They hope that this recent incident will not happen to other foreign delegates to the ACSC/APF.
The ACSC/APF regard the participation of foreign delegates in the civil society led- ASEAN forums as crucial in the meaningful intervention of social movements and sectoral groups from Southeast Asia towards forging a socially-responsive ASEAN. The ACSC/APF has been engaging and recognized by the ASEAN as a civil society platform since its inception at the ASEAN summit in 2005 in Malaysia. The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) have been regularly in touch with the ACSC/APF in the run-up to the summit.
Civil society in Southeast Asia: “ASEAN for Whom?” Why prevent people from joining forums tackling issues in ASEAN?
Press release: November 04, 2017
A network of civil society groups engaging the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) raised alarm over attempts and malicious insinuations by authorities to undermine legitimate forums and prevent participants from joining people’s/civil society-initiated assemblies that will tackle urgent issues in Southeast Asia in connection with the upcoming 31st ASEAN Summit in Manila on 12-14 November 2017.
The ASEAN Civil Society Conference/ASEAN Peoples’ Forum (ACSC/APF) expressed its apprehension and dismay amid two recent incidents.
Second, four ACSC/APF2017 delegates from Timor Leste are currently being held by the Bureau of Immigrations at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport despite the former having complied with immigration requirements and the absence of any travel ban on any of them. Having no valid reason to detain these foreign visitors, immigration officials must immediately release them and allow them entry into the country.
Ms.JelenPaclarin, chair of the ACSC/APF Regional Steering Committee, said civil society groupsare “extremely disturbed by these incidents as we expect more participants from ASEAN member countries entering the Philippines to join the preparatory and actual ASEAN Civil Society Conference/ASEAN Peoples’ Forum on November 10-14, 2017.”
“The ACSC/APF is a legitimate process steered by many organizations and movements across the ASEAN region, upholding the value of democratic participation of civil society. In many instances, ACSC/APF resulted in direct dialogues with ASEAN officials, including heads of states,” she clarified.
Paclarin pointed out that since the Philippines chairs the ASEAN 2017, the ACSC/APF National Organizing Committee has been discussing with the government officials involved in ASEAN about the ACSC/APF statements as well as updates on the Peoples’ Forum and other related activities.
“There was even a dialogue with some ASEAN ministers at the sideline of the 30th ASEAN Summit in April 2017. About 50 civil society networks from all over Southeast Asia attended this dialogue with ASEAN ministers,” she said.
Prof. Eduardo Tadem, ACSC/APF National Organizing Committee Co-Convener,added,“Philippine government officials are fully aware of and are involved in our and various sectors’ engagement in the ASEAN processes. So we are deeply concerned that these incidents are happening now, especially since we have never encountered such tight control in previous large regional and international peoples’ forums.”
“We hope we are wrong, but these incidents will only show that the 30th ASEAN Chair’s Statement was yet another lip service, especially that which pertains to the people,”he said.
The Chairman’s Statement at the ASEAN Summit on 29 April 2017 stated ASEAN Heads of State recognizing the importance of engagement and dialogues with the youth and the ACSC/APF:
“We had a productive Interface with ASEAN Youth Representatives and took note of their aspiration to contribute towards the realization of the ASEAN Community Vision 2025 with their innovation and creativity…We recognized the role that the youth has in community-building, and gave our highest assurances of support for the five priority areas of the ASEAN Work Plan on Youth 2016-2020 …
We recognized the importance of engagement and regular dialogue with civil society organizations (CSOs) as an important part of building a people-centered, people-oriented Community, and of attaining ASEAN Vision 2025. We note the initiative of the Chair to organize a Dialogue between ASEAN and the ASEAN Civil Society Conference/ASEAN Peoples’ Forum (ACSC/APF) and the recommendations of the latter.”
“These incidents today show that the trend of shutting out people’s voices and government’s accompanying threats are real. The democratic spaces for people in Southeast Asia is indeed shrinking. We ask: Whose interests does ASEAN really serve?”he concluded.
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