Published: Oct. 23, 2009
(Posted by CAAI News Media)
BANGKOK, Oct. 23 (UPI) -- Asian leaders at a regional summit have made good their promise to set up a human rights commission, but critics say it lacks any authority.
The 15th annual event, postponed from April, is being held under heavy security in the southern resort of Hua Hin, around 125 miles south of the capital Bangkok.
The several thousand Thai military and police are taking no chances with disruptions by demonstrators after the April meeting in the resort of Pattaya was canceled because of demonstrators smashing past ill-prepared riot police.
Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva opened the summit being held at the Dusit Thani Hua Hin Hotel. The aim of the meeting was to plan a "people-centered ASEAN community" based on the rule of law, the Bangkok Post newspaper reported.
The leaders of the 10 Association of South East Asian Nations signed into being the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights on the first day of the meeting.
But democracy and human rights campaigners are saying that the commission has no powers to punish wayward states such as Myanmar, regional media report.
Myanmar was reportedly on the defensive as ASEAN foreign ministers held talks with its representative, urging the military rulers to hold their promised elections next year. They also advised Myanmar to release democracy advocate Aung San Suu Kyi, recently put back under house detention for what the junta said is a violation of the Nobel Peace Prize winner's original house arrest.
Countries attending the summit are Brunei, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Cambodia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Laos and Malaysia.
A major diplomatic row was averted by Thailand after it would not make detailed comment on statements by Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen soon after arriving at Hua Hin Airport.
He told reporters that he might appoint controversial former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra as his economic adviser.
Thailand wants Cambodia to return Shinawatra, who was in office from 2001 to 2006, when he was deposed in a military coup and convicted in absentia for a conflict of interest over business dealings. He has since traveled from country to country, including the United Kingdom, and lived off his millions in foreign bank accounts.
Cambodia's Foreign Ministry has said it would probably reject an extradition request from Thailand if Shinawatra seeks political asylum.
Vejjajiva said only that the Cambodian prime minister may be misinformed about the situation.
Also on the summit agenda until the end of the event on Sunday is the regional economy, climate change and disaster management.
Earlier this week the International Monetary Fund urged Asian nations to keep spending during the current global financial downturn, a report on BBC ASIA news Web site said.
Just because Japan and China appear to be climbing out of a recession, there is no reason to believe spending can be cut back without damaging an overall recovery, analysts said.
IMF First Deputy Managing Director John Lipsky said the recovery still risks stalling. "This could occur if private demand does not pick up and replace the policy stimulus and inventory restocking that have recently been the key drivers of growth," he said.
The opening of the summit was also the first time that Thailand's ailing King Bhumibol Adulyadej left his room in Siriraj Hospital in a month, the Bangkok Post newspaper reported.
In a picture story, the Post reported that the king, 81, paid his respects to his father and mother by sitting in his wheelchair, appearing happy and smiling, in front of their statues on the hospital grounds.
The world's longest reigning monarch -- 60 years on the throne -- was admitted to hospital Sept. 19 suffering from fatigue.
© 2009 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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