Human rights abuse in Cambodia (Photo: John Vink/Magnum)11/13/2009
Agence France-Presse
Human Rights Watch demanded Obama also "openly challenge Prime Minister Hun Sen's increasingly authoritarian practices" in CambodiaBarack Obama must address "rampant" rights abuses in Myanmar and across Southeast Asia during the first summit between a US president and regional leaders this weekend, campaigners said Friday.
Barack Obama must address "rampant" rights abuses in Myanmar and across Southeast Asia during the first summit between a US president and regional leaders this weekend, campaigners said Friday.
"Obama should use his first trip to Southeast Asia as president to put human rights on the ASEAN agenda," said Elaine Pearson, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch, referring to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
"Burma (Myanmar) is the obvious place to start, but media repression and unpunished rights violations are rampant throughout the region," she said in a statement.
Obama is due to hold an unprecedented meeting on Sunday with the 10 ASEAN leaders including the prime minister of military-ruled Myanmar, Thein Sein, following an Asia-Pacific summit in Singapore.
The US administration is pursuing a new approach of engagement with the isolated state, while vowing to keep sanctions in place until Myanmar makes significant strides towards democracy.
"ASEAN leaders have long sent mixed messages on Burma, so Obama should encourage them to unite in a strong statement of support for real democratic reforms," Pearson said.
"All ASEAN countries should oppose repression in Burma and adopt basic refugee protections to promote the rights of the Burmese people."
Human Rights Watch demanded Obama also "openly challenge Prime Minister Hun Sen's increasingly authoritarian practices" in Cambodia, and demand that Vietnam release "hundreds of peaceful government critics".
"A major problem is the widespread use of legal systems in Southeast Asia to silence peaceful government critics, journalists, and human rights defenders, in violation of international law," the group said.
Pearson added that a new ASEAN commission on human rights, which activists have condemned as toothless, "should have the power to protect people from abuses, not just pay lip service to human rights".
From Singapore, Obama will head for a state visit to China. On Thursday, Human Rights Watch said it was "seriously disappointed with the administration's efforts to date on human rights in China".
1 comment:
Barrack Obama I hopeing not so worrying about Myanmar/Burma as they have own Government to look after their Nation and because Burma have China to look after them already, if you want to involve inside Burma like you want to make enemy with China, now U-S economy will down another 50 per cents , and I hoping you should save money five trillions dollars to repay back to China better than you to take care of other Countries, today China should not let U-S as super power, China also want super power as well, Barrack Obama I understanding U-S have human right and democracy, but why most American student bring the Gun with them go to School? from Khmer in Australia
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