Arroyo calls for human rights protection at Asean meet

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, criticized by leftist groups for allegedly tolerating violence against militants, pushed for the restoration of democracy in Myanmar in the interest of human rights. "I called for the early and safe release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and political prisoners, the full and free participation of political parties, including the National League for Democracy, in the political process, and for the return of democracy," Mrs Arroyo told dignitaries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) in Singapore. She made the call saying she was "tasked" to convey the "agenda" of Filipinos on the matter. The President, outgoing Asean chair, said it is expected that Myanmar would work for the release of Suu Kyi once it signs the regional body's Charter. "The belief of the Filipino people and the Philippine Congress, as well as my own, that those who will sign the Charter agree to the objective, spirit and intent of establishing a human rights body – the full protection of human rights within Asean," she said at the Asean Leaders Informal Working Dinner. Mrs Arroyo added that, "With this in mind, the expectation of the Philippines is that if Myanmar signs the Charter, it is committed to returning to the path of democracy and release Aung San Suu Kyi." She said there would be "extreme difficulty" in ratifying the Asean Charter until "Philippine Congress" sees Myanmar's commitment. Nearly seven years old, the Arroyo administration had been branded by human rights group Karapatan as the deadliest for activists and journalists alike. Hundreds of cases have been linked to her military forces around the country. President Arroyo has shrugged off calls to reprimand her retired Army commander, Jovito Palparan, and her Armed Forces leadership over the alleged killings and enforced disappearances. Leftist groups extensively cited her alleged state policy against human rights in a recent supplemental impeachment complaint against her before the House of Representatives, but the bid failed to even get off the ground. However, President Arroyo said Philippine and regional leaders had worked hard for the protection of democratic processes. "In drafting that important document (Asean Charter), the Philippines insisted that the protection of human rights be a crucial and indispensable part of that Charter. I am pleased that in our draft, we will establish a human rights body," she said. - GMANews.TV