Long and winding road for civil society engagement with ASEAN

Main theme
•  Dialogue   interrupted,   Wither   a   Peoples’   ASEAN?
•  “ASEAN can’t continue to ignore civil society”
•  Govt’  interference  rendered  interface  with  civil  society meaningless
•  AICHR must end culture of impunity and move to protect human rights defenders
•  “Burma is not free because ASEAN is not free yet”
•  Untangling  the  mess  at  the  15th  ASEAN  Summit in
•  Faces of the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights
•  Civil Society message to AICHR: “Congratulations! Now it is time for action!”
•  Will Vietnam  promote  a  more  people-centred ASEAN?

Regional highlight
•  Restrictions  on  freedom  of  opinion  and  expression creep into cyberspace
•  Freedom of expression true mark of a democratic nation

Country Highlight
•  Thailand - Freedom in cyber space hampered by security
•  Malaysia  -  Cyber  journalists  under  threat,  despite  no censorship guarantee
•  Singapore - A climate of self-censorship
•  South Korea - New govt’ ruins freedom of cyber netizens
•  Afghanistan  -  Election  process  in  dire  need  of  reform
•  Pakistan  -  Militarisation  is  not  the  “only  solution”  to peace in Balochistan

Advocacy
•  Burmese  junta  urged  to  lift  all  restrictions  on  peaceful political activities
•  ‘Traditional  values’  draft  resolution  may  be  used  to
justify human rights abuses
•  Cambodia’s  first  review: A  lengthy  list  of  human  rights challenges

Special feature
•  FORUM-ASIA’s  General Assembly  concludes  with  new Executive Committee elected

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