EU-ASEAN POLICY DIALOGUE ON HUMAN RIGHTS

EU-ASEAN POLICY DIALOGUE ON HUMAN RIGHTS

AICHR, ACWC, ACW, ACMW, ASEC VISIT TO BRUSSELS,

19/23 OCTOBER 2015

Joint Press Release

ASEAN

Brussels, BELGIUM

Tuesday, 27th October 2015

Link to photo

On 19 and 20 October 2015, the EU and ASEAN held a first policy dialogue on Human Rights as part of a one-week visit in Brussels of the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR), the ASEAN Commission on the promotion and Protection of the Rights of Women and Children (ACWC), the ASEAN Committee on Women (ACW), the ASEAN Committee on the Implementation of the ASEAN Declaration on the Protection and Promotion of the Migrant Workers (ACMW) and the ASEAN Secretariat (ASEC).

This policy dialogue results from the agreement of EU and ASEAN Ministers at the 20th EU-ASEAN Ministerial Meeting held in Brussels on 23 July 2014, to promote respect for human rights and the rule of law through exchange of good practices, information, dialogues, seminars and capacity building initiatives. In doing so, it built on the study visits to EU undertaken by the AICHR and ACWC in 2011 and 2013 as well as visits of the EU Special Representative for Human Rights, Stavros Lambrinidis, to Jakarta in 2013 and 2014.

The first policy dialogue allowed for open and constructive exchanges on themes of common interest, including recent human rights developments in the EU and in ASEAN, the rights of migrants, the rights of women, children, persons with disabilities and older persons, interaction with civil society, corporate social responsibility as well as economic, social and cultural rights and the right to development. Both sides saw the merits of encouraging dialogue and exchange of experience between civil society organizations from the two regions. They exchanged documents on their respective work. The ASEAN Delegation had an exchange of views with Members of the European Parliament and attended a seminar on “pan European human rights mechanisms” hosted by the Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs with the participation of representatives from the Council of Europe and the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe. The ASEAN Delegation also met the Brussels-based Human Rights and Democracy NGO network and engaged with European businesses on Corporate Social responsibility, in a round table hosted by The Shift and CSR Europe. Site visits of Belgian institutions dealing with migrants, persons with disabilities and equal opportunities completed the one-week programme.

Ending this week of dialogue and events, the two sides expressed satisfaction on their mutual engagement and agreed to explore further regular dialogues on human rights issues of mutual interest. Some of the potential areas for bilateral and multilateral cooperation identified include: corporate social responsibility and human rights, strengthening accessibility for persons with disabilities, child protection systems, gender mainstreaming, promoting economic rights of women, violence against women and children, rights of older persons and trafficking in persons. The two sides also looked forward to further exchanges on freedom of expression and how it deals with the advocacy of national, racial or religious hatred and the incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence.

HISTORY, will be the Judge & Jury.

POLITICAL ECONOMY - Column: " from THE fringes "

Kuala Lumpur, MALAYSIA

Tuesday, 27th  October 2015 

(Post-Budget 2016 'Show'?)

Budget 2016 was tabled last Friday 2016, a week after the former Mufti of FT  passed away.
Having been involved in either covering previous government budgets for a TV station or taking part in the pre-budget discussions leading to the tabling of the budget itself, this year I am not involved in the event or the post-budget show.

Let history be the Judge and Jury for Budget 2016.  

( MORE to FOLLOW )

I'd expected Budget 2016 to be a budget for the Malay heartlands (read 20th October 2015 "from THE fringes" HERE ) and also geared towards Sabah and Sarawak (especially Sarawak due to the impending state elections) and I was proved right.

It so happens that last Friday was hari Asyura i.e. the 10th of Muharram, a day of many significant events. The local mosque I go to organised a break of fast or iftar to commemorate the day. Over the breaking of fast when asked what they thought of Budget 2016, 2 matters were highlighted i.e. the tax increase for those earning RM50,000 a month and the RM250 handed to pensioners.

( This week's column is based on a series of informal discussions held in the F.T. of K.L.(Sri Hartamas & TTDI), Selangor (P.Jaya, Sri Damansara & Bandar Sunway) and Negeri Sembilan.  )

" Lie to me well enough and I will vote for you! " - The ASEAN 500's 3 Heads by Notrumi

CARTOON

"3 Heads" by Notrumi
Bukit Damansara, K.L. - MALAYSIA

Monday, 26th October 2015

" Lie to me well enough and I will vote for you!"

ASEAN and Korea Convene Connectivity Forum

ASEAN, Korea Convene Connectivity Forum

ASEAN

Seoul, KOREA
Thursday, 22nd October 2015

The ASEAN-Korea Centre hosted the 3^rd ASEAN Connectivity Forum entitled
“ASEAN-Korea Partnership for ASEAN Economic Community Building.” The forum, jointly 

hosted with the Federation of Korean Industries (FKI), took place today at the Convention 

Center of the Federation of Korean Industries. Through this forum, delegates from 10 

ASEAN Member States introduced infrastructure projects and policy directions in the fields 

of transport, energy, and ICT (Information and Communications Technology) to Korean 

business people.

The delegates also provided latest information on the current status and challenges of 

projects being implemented under the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity (MPAC). 

One-on-one business meetings were conducted to enable network building among the 

Korean business community, ASEAN government organizations and experts in the 

infrastructure field.

H.E. Le Luong Minh, Secretary-General of ASEAN, attended the Forum for the first time. H.E. Hasnudin Hamzah, Chair of ASEAN Connectivity Coordinating Committee (ACCC), H.E. Cho Tae-yul, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of Korea, and Mr. Seung-Cheol Lee, Vice Chairman of the Federation of Korean Industries (FKI) also attended.

The forum consisted of sessions on “Master Plan for ASEAN Connectivity – current status 

and challenges” and on “Financial Solutions for ASEAN Connectivity” where experts from 

ASEAN Secretariat, UNESCAP, ERIA, ADB, Korea EXIM Bank presented and discussed on each theme.

The amount of investment required for infrastructure projects in ASEAN is the second 

largest in the world after the Middle East. McKinsey, a global consulting company, assessed that USD 3.3 trillion in investments will be required in transport, water, energy and ICT areas in the ASEAN countries between now and 2030. When ASEAN Economic Community 

consisting of about 620 million people and a combined total GDP of UDS2.4 trillion is 

established, enormous opportunities for large-scale infrastructure projects will be created. 

Against this backdrop, the forum will be the only venue in Korea where latest information 

related to ASEAN Connectivity are shared and one-on-one business meeting takes place.

###

ASEAN Master Plan on Connectivity is a concept that envisions a well-connected ASEAN to bring the peoples, goods, services and capital closer together. Adopted at the 17^th ASEAN Summit in 2010, the master plan has made continuous progress to enhance physical 

connectivity, institutional connectivity and people-to-people connectivity.

ASEAN Launches Election Observation Workshop Report

ASEAN

Jakarta, INDONESIA

Monday, 20th October 2015 

ASEAN, through the initiative of the Philippines and in cooperation with the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA), launched the report on ASEAN Election Observation Workshop yesterday at the ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta. A copy of the report was symbolically handed to H.E. Vongthep Arthakaivalvatee, Deputy Secretary-General for the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community.

The report records the proceedings of the Election Observation Workshop held in Manila, Philippines on 24-25 June 2015. Officials of election management bodies and Ministries of Foreign Affairs of ASEAN Member States learned about election observation missions of various regional organizations like the Organization of  American States, the European Union and African Union in the workshop. Other stakeholders, including a civil society organization, also shared their experiences on election observation.

In his keynote speech, Dr. Nur Hassan Wirajuda, former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Indonesia and a member of the Global Commission on Elections, Democracy and Security, International IDEA and Kofi Annan Foundation, underscored the core values of the ASEAN Political-Security Community -- promotion of democracy, rule of law, respect for human rights, good governance and peaceful conflict resolution. “I hope the report and recommendations of the workshop present a strategy that will deepen democracy and improve the integrity of national elections in ASEAN.”

Philippine Ambassador to ASEAN H.E. Elizabeth P. Buensuceso hailed the workshop, the first of its kind to ever be held in ASEAN, as an excellent example of how to realize a truly people-centered ASEAN which will be the focus of the ASEAN Vision 2025 - the new roadmap that will chart the direction of ASEAN in the next ten years. She said that the workshop underscored the symbiotic relationship of governments and civil society to enable them to deliver credible, satisfactory and legitimate election results for the benefit of the people. “Member States should consciously include and harness the valuable contribution that civil society can make in the common vision of ASEAN integration and community building,” she added.

For her part, Ms. Leena Rikkila Tamang, Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific, International IDEA said that “it is a fundamental principle of IDEA’s approach that building of democratic institutions within any community comes from within that community and cannot be imposed from outside, while the sharing of experience among peers can enrich and inform the process.”

Former Minister Nur Hassan Wirajuda, Ambassador Buensuceso, DSG Arthakaivalvatee, and Philippines Election Commissioner Luie Tito F. Guia officiated the event which was witnessed by members of the ASEAN Committee of Representatives, other Ambassadors and diplomats based in Jakarta, officials of the International IDEA, media and other civil society representatives. International IDEA, an intergovernmental organization that has engaged the ASEAN Secretariat through the Inter Regional Dialogue on Democracy, lent its expertise to the workshop. The Mission of the Republic of Korea to ASEAN provided support to the workshop. 

###

Link to Remarks of Ambassador Elizabeth P. Buensuceso

Link to Remarks of Dr Hassan Wirajuda

Link to Remarks of Leena Rikkila Tamang

Link to Remarks of Mr. Sang-beom Lim

Report Highlights

• Respect to the state sovereignty, and adherence to the law of the host country, respecting the internationally recognised global standards for domestic election monitoring, and the global principles and codes of conduct for observers.
• Electoral integrity is a fundamental element of democracy; electoral observers can play a vital role, raising voter confidence, reassurance, providing credible and essential feedbacks before, during the elections, and after the elections are over.
• EMB independence, voter registration, media freedom, freedom of movement, women’s participation, access for disabled people, minority participation, and use of money in campaigns and political financing are all key issues which may be addressed during electoral cycle implementation and for recognition of credible elections by regional and international community.

Key recommendations

• Developing and strengthening ASEAN Network of Election Monitoring Bodies
• ASEAN EMBs, International IDEA and dialogue partners should open dialogue and engage the AMS High Level Task Force on ASEAN Community Vision 2025 to get election observation expressed within the ASEAN political cooperation agenda.
• Based on the tentative dates declared by various AMS, Myanmar General Elections on 8 November 2015, the Philippines Presidential and Vice Presidential Elections on 9 May 2016, Indonesian General Elections 2019, and Thailand General Elections sometime in 2017 (undecided) present opportunities to ASEAN and IDEA in putting together a regional framework for elections observation as trials and learning opportunities.
• Asian Engagement with other EMBs, IDEA could facilitate an Asia Regional experience sharing with other EMBs sometime in 2016, which could provide opportunity for the ASEAN region to both share and learn from other Asian experiences on election observation.
• Engaging ASEAN & Asian Civil Society, IDEA and ASEAN Secretariat can gradually facilitate the participation as dialogue partners of various groups working at regional, sub-regional and national level for the electoral rights of vulnerable groups, minorities, women, and physically challenged people, ensuring that the right to vote is upheld with the utmost respect by EMBs and the legal framework developed is reflective of the inclusive goal of the ASEAN Political Security Community.
• Resource persons encouraged ASEAN EMBs and host governments to be open to the possibility of having domestic and international election observation missions (EOMs) and not to view these missions as impinging on sovereignty and interfering in internal affairs of the state.

WHO Will Blink - SECEDE or, In Defense of PM Najib?

POLITICAL ECONOMY - Column: " from THE fringes "

Federal Territory of  Kuala Lumpur, MALAYSIA

Tuesday, 20th  October 2015 

( An UNVERIFIED Merdeka Centre Survey being circulated on the Social Media )
Note: Confirmation of the Survey veracity is very much appreciated.

( a purported post from the from Southern Tiger@Harimau Selatan fB? )
Note: Confirmation of the fB post is very much appreciated.

( Allahyarham Tan Sri Abdul Kadir Talib - former Mufti of FT passes away, Al-Fatihah )

A really, really, really Unbelievable game of High Stakes Poker is being played in my homeland,
...even better than what was at stake in Casino Royale!

Amongst the chips on the table or power cards played are ...well...to quote the youngest chess master in Malaysia's 58 years of history i.e. CM(Candidate Master) Amir Faiz when he was 6 years old - 
" ...I can't think anymore. If I think my brains will become smaller! "(NAG 2013, UTP-Perak).

On a Friday morning, almost a month back a legal practitioner and I met some VIPs from Sarawak in a KL hotel. The purpose of the meeting is for me to propose an economic initiative which can result in around 20-50 employment opportunities (if not more) to be created in mainly the state capital of Kuching. The jobs which can be created will predominantly be in the finance/securities sector. A spin-off from the initiative can also differentiate Sarawak from the rest of Malaysia during the state government's investment roadshows abroad. In a serious mode sprinkled with dosses of humour we talked about the reason(s) and possibility(ies) of Sarawak seceding and together with Johor, forming a separate nation. Various name combinations were offered and economic sectors and possible co-operations discussed.

Fast forward to October 2015 and who would have thought that the Crown Prince of Johor (fondly referred to as TMJ) would have suggested secession if the terms of the forming of the Federation of Malaysia are not met. There must have been strong reasons for TMJ to highlight the matter publicly. The way the country is being run might be one of them.

Less I be accused of being an agent provocateur - I am writing this for academic discussions and theoretical purposes as well as theoretically speaking, IF and that's a very BIG IF Johore were to leave Malaysia tomorrow, Ministers and Deputy Ministers like Hishamuddin, Azalina, Ahmad Maslan 3.85, Nur Jazlan (ex-PAC Chairman) as well as MCA's T.Y.Chua, J.S.Wee and MIC President Subramaniam will be out of a job automatically.

Economically, perhaps even Iskandar Malaysia(IM) can be reinvigorated. The following is the profile of the nationalities of consumers searching for property to be purchased in Iskandar released by the iProperty Group during its PC yesterday. Notice the absence of Arab nationalities? Perhaps, they are in the 2% unaccounted for?

( Nationalities of Consumers Searching for Property in Iskandar Malaysia "
* source iProperty Group H2 2015 - Consumer Market  Sentiment Survey, 19th October 2015.

Historically, UMNO's track record in preserving Johor have been nothing to shout about. Though Johor is often seen as a Fixed Deposit of sorts for the ruling coalition of BN and its Alliance predecessor, 2 UMNO Presidents had in one way or another 'allowed' Johor lands to be reduced. The Father of 2 Countries allowed it (read from THE fringes 8th September "2 Countries but 1 Father" Column HERE) while later on PM Abdullah Badawi allowed the case of Pulau Batu Puteh to be tried at the ICJ. We all know what happened next - Rais Yatim declaring the ICJ decision as a 'Win-Win' decision for both countries!

( MORE to FOLLOW )

This is the second week in a row that I'd to change what was meant to be published.
Last week I intended to write about how despite the controversies surrounding some overseas purchase or investment made by certain government agencies or GLCs, the weak Ringgit would enable these investments to be pretty much profitable if divestments can be made and the money brought back to resuscitate the local economy. However, the decree by the Malay Rulers on 1MDB put a stop to my arguments.

The title for my column this week should have been simply " In Defense of Najib! ". 
I would then proceed to outline how or what Najib should do to retain BN if not UMNO's failing and falling grip on power in the next GE. However, a threat of secession however remote is a plot that is too tempting to be passed over and needs to be written about especially since my discussions regarding this matter on the 11th of September with the Sarawakians.

My supposed article this week would have started with an analysis of the toll increase.
Though the decision is cursed at by almost all motorists, I take the stand that this is a move that I would have taken myself if I was the PM though it seemed to be a very unpopular move. Reason being is that a majority of tolled road users are not my i.e. BN's supporters as they tend to live in the urban areas. As most are aware the urban voters have not been kind to the BN coalition. With the exception of the parliamentary seats of the F.T.of Putrajaya and Johor Bahru, all other seats are in the hands of the now defunct Pakatan Rakyat.

I might as well use the amount 'saved' from subsidising the toll rates for urban motorists to reward my (BN) supporters which lives in the 'Malay heartlands'. The reward should normally take the form of targeted subsidies for specific demographics. An example is increasing the BR1M payouts or assistance or whatever one wishes to call it. Others will be increasing education opportunities via additional places in boarding schools and universities coupled with easy access to financing the studies like scholarships or PTPTN loans, giving grants and subsidies for the farmers/settlers and fishermen. The normal "frog in a coconut shell" thinking...but then again that's just me. A reason why I am not the PM.

( PC by Dato' Dr. Zulkifli Mohamad - the Mufti of KL
on Friday, 16th October 2015 at the Bukit Kiara Muslim Cemetery around 3.15pm )

In concluding this week's column, I would lkie to pay tribute to the former Mufti of the Federal Territory (1991-1997) and also former Imam Besar of the Putrajaya mosque i.e. Allahyarham Tan Sri Dato' Abdul Kadir Talib who passed away at the age of 86 on the morning of Friday, 16th October 2015 after subuh(dawn) prayers. 

It was my first PC at a Muslim cemetery or any cemetery area for that matter. Many would have notice that the clouds were covering the cemetery area in Bukit Kiara but perhaps many may not have notice that not only were the clouds covering the area but also the fact that in the middle of the clouds there was an opening with a ray of sunlight coming through to lit the area. Immediately after what was a fast burial, the heavens opened up and it started to drizzle just as the remaining attendees were leaving the area. AL - FATIHAH to Allahyarham Tan Sri Dato' Abdul Kadir Talib.

( This week's column is based on amongst others a myriad of  attendances at meetings, events or PCs held in the F.T. of K.L(Bukit Kiara Muslim Cemetery, Mid Valley & TTDI)., Selangor (Ara Damansara, Kelana Jaya and Sri Damansara) and the F.T. of Putrajaya.  )

ASEAN Supports Efforts for Peace, Stability and Prosperity in the Korean Peninsula and the Region

ASEAN Supports Efforts for
Peace, Stability and Prosperity
in the Korean Peninsula and the Region

ASEAN

Jakarta, INDONESIA

Tuesday, 13th October 2015

ASEAN supports efforts to maintain peace and stability in the Korean Peninsula which will contribute to promoting peace, stability and prosperity in Northeast Asia and the wider region. This position was conveyed by Secretary-General of ASEAN H.E. Le Luong Minh to the Vice Chairman of the Presidential Committee for Unification Preparation (CPUP) of the Republic of Korea (ROK), H.E. Chung Chong Wook, during a courtesy call yesterday.

Vice Chairman Chung briefed Secretary-General Minh on the work of CPUP which was established in 2014 by President Park Geun-hye to prepare a comprehensive and systematic plan for unification of the Korean Peninsula.

Secretary-General Minh reiterated ASEAN’s support for the Trust-Building Process on the Korean Peninsula and the Northeast Asia Peace and Cooperation Initiative in promoting lasting peace in the Korean Peninsula and cooperation and trust in Northeast Asia. ASEAN called for the early resumption of Six-Party Talks which would pave the way for the complete and verifiable de-nuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula in a peaceful manner.

Secretary-General Minh and Vice Chairman Chung discussed the progress in ASEAN-ROK relations and noted that both sides are committed to further strengthening the strategic partnership as agreed at the ASEAN-ROK Commemorative Summit in Busan last year. Secretary General Minh also noted that the ROK has been an active Dialogue Partner in ASEAN-led frameworks such as the ASEAN Regional Forum and ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus which aims at promoting peace and stability in the region.

Further, SG Minh briefed Vice Chairman Chung on recent developments in ASEAN, including preparations for the formal establishment of the ASEAN Community at the end of this year and formulation of a new vision for the next 10 years.