东南亚国家外长赞同成立区域内第一个人权委员会。星期一在泰国普吉召开的东盟外长会议批准成立这个委员会。这个委员会无权监督或者制裁践踏人权者。
泰国总理阿披实对记者表示，这个机构的重点将是推动人权。
批评人士担心，这个新成立的人权机构无权解决例如缅甸等东盟国家践踏人权的问题。东盟秘书长素林星期一承认，缅甸停滞的改革损害了东盟的声誉。
在东盟外长星期一发表的一份公报中，缅甸对它所称的外部干涉表示抗议。缅甸表示，外部的压力和经济制裁“阻碍”缅甸在民主化和发展方面所做的努力。
Southeast Asian foreign ministers have endorsed the creation of the region’s first human rights commission.
The commission — approved at a meeting in Phuket, Thailand Monday — will not have the power to monitor or punish human rights offenders.
Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva told reporters the body will focus on promotion of human rights.
Critics are concerned the new rights group will have no authority to address abuses in ASEAN countries, like Burma.ASEAN Secretary-General Surin Pitsuwan acknowledged Monday that Burma’s lack of reform is hurting the regional grouping’s credibility.
In a communique issued by the foreign ministers Monday, Burma protested what it calls outside interference. It said external pressure and economic sanctions were “hampering” its democratization and development efforts.