ASEAN Charter is being drafted by the High-Level Task Force with recommendation from the Eminent Persons Group Report. The Charter is expected to be completed in time for the 13th ASEAN Summit, November 2007, in Singapore. The ASEAN Charter is expected to be signed at the ASEAN Summit.

Engaging grassroots

The grassroots and civil society and the "ordinary people" need to have an understanding of the people-centred ASEAN Charter. There is much ignorance on what is the ASEAN Charter and its impact on the population.

The coming saturday Forum's objective is to provide space for raising awareness and expressing views, encourage civil society to participate and better understand the ASEAN Charter.

The forum will also be the platform to launch and invite participants for the coming ASEAN Civil Society Conference III, November 1-3, Singapore.

Engaging Civil Society

Both the Eminent Persons Group and High-Level Task Force [HLTF] have been engaging civil society groups in the drafting of the Charter. It now remains for them to complete the draft by September-end. The HLTF is meeting in Singapore this week to do the drafting.

Singapore's HLTF member, Prof Tommy Koh, should find time to brief civil society groups, think tanks and others who are interested on the ASEAN Charter. It's also important to share on Singapore's preparation for the ASEAN Civil Society Conference that parallels the ASEAN Summit in November 2007.

As such, the SAPA Working Group on ASEAN and the Singapore Working Group for ASEAN met on August 24 to prepare for the ASEAN Civil Society Conference III [ACSC3]. The ACSC3 is scheduled for Novemeber 1-3 that's before the HTLF and The ASEAN Summit.

The SAPA Working Group on ASEAN and the Singapore Working for ASEAN engages ASEAN as we see civil society in partnership with ASEAN in improving the living and working enviroment of the people.

Draft ASEAN Charter must be distributed as 'white paper" to the people

The Singapore Working Group for ASEAN expresses that the people must have access to the Draft ASEAN Charter as a 'white paper" and the ASEAN Secretariat website should upload PDF for the ASEAN people to be informed. Providing space for civil society to better understand and appreciate the draft ASEAN Charter, feel the ownership, and engage ASEAN where there are differences.

Managing the civil society and peoples expectation is not an easy task but sharing the draft ASEAN Charter will surely gain the support and solidarity of the people. It will also remove any doubt among people. ASEAN will be seen as engaging more proactively and welcoming the peoples participation.

Sinapan Samydorai
Chairperson
Singapore Working Group for ASEAN

Sources and Relevant Links:

Forum Asia 40th Anniversary Highlights the Need to Set ASEAN on a New Path

Forum Asia ASEAN: Need for Greater Civil Society Involvement

SAPA Southeast Asian Civil Society and the ASEAN Charter: The Way Forward by Alexander C. Chandra 01 October 2006 Read full text in pdf

SAPA SAPA letter to the EPG on the ASEAN Charter reiterating the key points of its submissions 24 November 2006

SAPA In put for the Civil Society Contribution to the Discussion on the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community 25 October 2006

SAPA SAPA Submission on the Economic Pillar for the EPG on the ASEAN Charter 28 June 2006

SAPA SAPA Submission on the Security Pillar for the EPG on the ASEAN Charter 17 April 2006

ASEAN THE ASEAN CHARTER: FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS