JAKARTA, November 20 (RIA Novosti) - The leaders of Southeast Asian nations have signed a historic charter which will change the 10-nation bloc into a rules-based legal association, regional media reported Tuesday.
The document, which took about three years to draw up, was signed at the 13th ASEAN summit taking place in Singapore, and is designed to regulate the association's main laws and rules, including legal and financial. The charter focuses on the principles of democracy, legal norms and human rights making association members accountable for their actions.
In line with the charter, a regional human rights body will be established, although it will not be entitled to introduce sanctions against governments that violate their citizens' fundamental human rights.
The first member of the association to come under consideration for human rights violations is Myanmar, whose leaders used force to suppress mass protest rallies in September, leaving 15 dead. ASEAN Secretary General Ong Keng Yong said that the association's leaders wanted to "focus on the summit" and did not want the issue "to be a big distraction."
A planned ASEAN leaders' briefing by the UN secretary general's envoy Ibrahim Gambari was canceled after objections from Myanmarese leaders.
ASEAN leaders said the Myanmar situation should not affect integration processes within the organization, adding that they hope Myanmar will turn to democracy.
Thailand's former foreign minister Surin Pitsuwan was appointed new ASEAN secretary general for 2008-2012. He will assume this post January 1, 2008, when the current secretary general's term expires.
Dr. Pitsuwan, 57, was Thailand's foreign minister in 1997-2001 and is now a member of the country's legislature.
The Association of the Southeast Asian Nations was established in August 1967, and comprises Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines, Brunei, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar and Cambodia.
The organization's aim is contributing to the development of member countries' social economic and cultural cooperation, as well as to consolidation of peace and stability in Southeast Asia.
