Asean and Human Rights Issues

Western countries have been criticizing the Asean for being too liberal about the human rights violations by some of its member nations. Two of its members have been criticized by cause- oriented groups for continued violation of human rights in their countries. These include Malaysia and Mayanmar.

Myanmar (formerly Burma), a member of the Asean block, has been criticized by several countries including some members of the Asean, for suppressing freedom and peaceful assembly. One of Myanmar's popular freedom fighter, Aung San Suu Kyi, has been languishing in jail for almost 20 years for her non-violent efforts in restoring peace and freedom for the people of Myanmar. Recently, the Military Junta has caused warrantless arrest and detention of Monks who were peacefully expressing their support for the cause of freedom and democracy and for the immediate release of Aung San Suu Kyi.

Myanmar has been ruled by martial law through its Military Junta for the past 20 years. On several occasions, some freedom loving Asean members and other western countries have called on Myanmar to exercise restraint in dealing with human rights issues. Some of the heads of state of these countries have even called for the expulsion of Myanmar from the Asean membership. And somehow, the Military Junta is able to get away with their almost perennial commitment to restore democracy in the country.

Another country in the Asean region that has been able to get away with their continued human rights violations committed on helpless Filipinos in the island of Sabah is Malaysia.

There exists a continuing purge of Filipino residents in Sabah. Thousands have been shipped out forcibly by the Malaysian Police to neighboring Zamboanga, Philippines. Many are languishing in jails and denied of their basic human rights. Some of them were born and raised in Sabah and many do not even have relatives in the Philippines. Others do not even speak the Filipino language.

How could the Malaysian Police be so brutal in dealing with these helpless people who have considered Sabah their homeland? The Asean knows that Sabah is a contested territory that is being claimed by both Malaysia and the Philippines. Malaysia in fact is paying the Philippines a certain amount of rent for the contested territory, indicating that the Philippines is the rightful owner. For all intents and purposes, Malaysia will not pay rent for a territory that they owned.

With the territorial claims pending resolution by the United Nations, Asean should perhaps use its persuasive powers on Malaysia to exercise prudence and extreme care in dealing with the deportation of these helpless Filipinos who are often subjected to police abuse and other human rights violations.

In the meantime, human rights violation continues in Malaysia and Myanmar and perhaps in some member countries of the Asean.