The Philippines has made the argument that a Human Rights mechanism will improve relations and will be a major step towards international credibility. And Burma finally agreed to such a body.
A Phillipines Congressional press release stated,
"We challenge our ASEAN leaders to give the human rights situation a premium as they discuss the direction that the Southeast Asian region will take in the coming years. It needs to have a clear stand and strategy in protecting civil liberties in the region for the organization to have more authority in the international community. It cannot talk of economic progress and social transformation if political prisoners continue to languish and journalists, rights workers, priests and many others are shot in broad daylight for their convictions,"
Though we shouldn't be very surprised when ASEAN continues to maintain their position of noninterference, at least that is what a research fellow from the Rajaratnam School of International Studies suggest,
"If ASEAN pushes too hard, Myanmar will walk away from the association. It should be noted that ASEAN needs Myanmar, as much as Myanmar needs ASEAN. The unity of the association is very important for all the members."
It's true, not many people would be surprised if the generals walked away from what is in the best interest of the economy and the people.
Even greater the reason for the U.S. to focus it's influence in China. "The road to reform in Burma runs through China", as this commentary (so very polite to all parties involved) points out. And perhaps directly telling China, as I've suggested in the past, that reform in Burma is in their best interest too, is not the best way to gain their cooperation.
Teresa Kok, a member of the Malyasian Parliament fears the body,
might end up like the Malaysian Human Rights Commission which has no executive power and serves only as an advisory body.Also, there is always the possibility Burma might actually end up serving as head of the human rights body, even temporarily.
