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The ASEAN has traditionally avoided thorny intra-region foreign policy and security issues, and the official agenda outlined by the Philippine government for its year-long chairmanship is no exception. However, as these internal issues-such as human rights violations in Myanmar and southern Thailand, political killings in the Philippines, brutal repression of secessionist movements in Indonesia, and the resurgence of authoritarianism throughout the region-take on an increasingly international import, the rigidity of the ASEAN is becoming more and more apparent, even as the need to resolve these issues become more and more urgent.
The 12th ASEAN Summit in Cebu will therefore be a crucial venue for the 10-nation grouping to come together and flesh out the ASEAN charter, which will define to a large extent the future character of the ASEAN as a regional organization ( i.e. whether it will be the venue to address the long-standing conflicts within the region). On the part of civil society, the summit marks an opportunity to be actively engaged in this process while the chairmanship is held by the Philippine government, which is traditionally the most amenable to civil society participation as compared to the other nations.
Given the significance of the upcoming summit, the Thematic Working Group of the Development Roundtable Series on Foreign Policy would like to invite you to "ASEAN: A Caring and Sharing Community?", a forum that aims to critically analyze the ASEAN states' policies and issues in relation with peace, security, and human rights; and, at the same time, consider an alternative vision for ASEAN that Philippine civil society should push for and imagine ways at which the 12th ASEAN summit can be used to push for this vision. The forum will be held on the 27th of September 2006 , from 1 to 4 p.m., at the Sulo Hotel .
A discussion on the "Military Take Over In Thailand: Destroying Democracy In Order To Save It? Thanksin Now, Taksil Later?" with Dr. Walden Bello of Focus on the Global South will follow shortly after the ASEAN public forum, from 4-5pm.
Wednesday 27, Septemeber 2006,
1:00 to 4:00 PM
Sulo Hotel, Matalino St, Diliman, Quezon city
RSVP
Herbert Docena/ Kenneth Cardennas
433 3387 or 433 0899
