Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL-Foundation) has supported the promulgation of the ASEAN Charter
for promoting democracy and constitutional government. Article 1.7 of the Charter clearly states that the regional
body will be working “…to strengthen democracy, enhance good governance and the rule of law, and to promote
and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms, with due regards to the rights and responsibilities of the
Member States of ASEAN…”. Even though the ASEAN members comprise of democratic countries, authoritarian
countries, militaries state and socialist countries, the Charter should be a focal point for all ten nations to tune their
practice and adapting themselves for political goal of an inclusive democratic ASEAN community.

The Charter’s commitment towards democracy is made clear in Article 2, Principle (h) that all ASEAN countries
should adhere to the rule of law, good governance, the principles of democracy and constitutional government,
principle (i) of the same article, further emphasizes that, members will show respect for fundamental freedoms, the
promotion and protection of human rights, and the promotion of social justice. This should be implemented in a
concrete way and must be part of its road map for those developed and developing countries in ASEAN, rather
than just wordy commitments of a democratic ASEAN community. The roadmap must have clear benchmarks and
indicators regarding the fundamental freedoms, a strong democratic principle as a prerequisite for free and fair
elections.

The meeting of ASEAN Summit at Hua Hin could be a crucial step for every individual member to begin their
commitment for the political development of democratic principles in ASEAN and outline a clear indicative
roadmap. The lack of any steps undertaken to initiate development of a regional road-map inclusive of each
individual members’ road-map towards implementing the democratic principles, as identified and agreed per the
international standards of Inter Parliamentary Union, would reflect the lack of commitment by ASEAN towards it
own Charter and its commitment to democratic principles.

ANFREL joins the peoples’ spirit to develop an acceptable peoples’ ASEAN and see the implementation of a
genuine democracy in the ASEAN community where freedom of choice is not compromised or ignored and
everyone enjoys the same rights, equal access to information and freedom of assembly, association, expression and
movement.