Indonesia to raise problem of press freedom at AICHR meetings

Saturday, October 24, 2009

Om Yentieng is a member of the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR)

Hua Hin (ANTARA News) - Indonesia`s representative in the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR), Rafendi Djamin, said he would bring up the question of press freedom at the commission`s meetings.

"The problem of press freedom poses a great challenge in ASEAN despite it being one of the three pillars of democracy," Djamin said on the sidelines of the 15th ASEAN Summit in Hua Hin, Thailand, on Friday.

He said there was need for tangible steps to prevent the suppression of press freedom in ASEAN member countries and therefore Indonesia would try to bring up the matter at AICHR meetings.

The problem of press freedom must receive the same portion of attention in AICHR as other human rights issues in ASEAN member countries, he said.

The first meeting among the AICHR members would take place on Saturday (Oct 24) on the sidelines of the 15th ASEAN summit where they would introduce themselves to each other.

AICHR is an inter-governmental consultative group and an integral part of ASEAN`s organizational structure.

The commission`s task is to formulate efforts to promote and protect human rights in the region through education, monitoring, and dissemination of international human rights values and standards as laid down in the Universal Declaration on Human Rights, the Vienna Declaration and other human rights instruments.

It is responsible for the advancement and protection of human rights in ASEAN and would cooperate with other ASEAN organs dealing with human rights for proper coordination and synergy in the field of human rights.

AICHR has 10 members, each representing one of ASEAN`s 10 member countries, with Dr Sriprapha Petcharamasree of Thailand as chairman.

The nine other commission members are Om Yentieng (Cambodia), Rafendi Djamin (Indonesia), Bounkeut Sangsomsak (Laos), Awang Abdul Hamid Bakal (Malaysia), Kyaw Tint Swe (Myanmar), Rosario G. Manalo (Philippines), Richard Magnus (Singapore) and Do Ngoc Son (Viet Nam).