Jakarta, May 3 – The first plenary session on the first day of the 2011 ASEAN Peoples’ Forum/ASEAN Civil Society Conference (APF/ACSC) focused on the trends and challenges towards a ‘people-centered’ ASEAN. Indonesia’s former Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr. Nur Hassan Wirajuda and Focus on the Global South’s Senior Associate Ms. Jenina Joy Chavez shared their views on the process to a more people-centered ASEAN. Points made will serve as food for thought for further discussions and deeper analysis during the workshops scheduled later on this week.
 
At the session titled “trends and Challenges towards a People-Centered ASEAN”, Dr. Nur Hassan Wirajuda pointed out that while political cooperation was a focal point for ASEAN, it has been timid in this area. Instead, ASEAN has persisted more in promoting economic cooperation between Member States. It took almost 20 years for ASEAN to set the agenda on the promotion and protection of human rights within the ASEAN context. Dr. Wirajuda stressed that the process of community-building is also ‘work in progress’ and it is ‘a long way to go’. He said the role of civil society should focus on the promotion of an open and democratic society within their own countries and urge governments ‘to not be allergic’ to the promotion of human rights and democracy. Dr. Wirajuda said he is a strong believer that what happened in the Middle East could be a lesson for ASEAN – “it is better to have a process of democratization than to experience a sudden death.”
 
Ms. Jenina Joy Chavez expressed her concerns on the divide between ASEAN and the people. She said that while civil society is the driving force behind the APF/ACSC, ASEAN government officials’ involvement is low. While ASEAN has taken on people-centered and people-empowering approaches, people’s awareness of ASEAN is also low. Ms. Chavez listed the failure to address people’s concerns, ASEAN’s complicity in people’s suffering, and the lack of openness in people’s participation as the key challenges for ASEAN.
 
After the panelists shared their views, members of civil society expressed their concerns and presented their questions during an engaging Q&A session. Activists focused on issues of migrant workers, corporations violating human rights, democratic processes, massacre survivors, people with disabilities, LGBTIQ rights, and local communities – issues that resonated with the broad audience.
 
The panelists concluded that the process to a people-centered ASEAN is a long way to go. They insisted that civil society actors should remain optimistic and focus on democratization and openness in the ASEAN region.