The discussion on the human rights charter to be adopted by the Association of Asian Parliaments for Peace gave member nations a platform to voice problems and complaints affecting their country.
The head of the Iraqi delegation appealed to the international community to quickly lift the economic sanctions imposed on his country after the Persian Gulf War.
“I feel much pain about the embargo imposed against us,” he said. “Tens of thousands of Iraqi people died of famine. I would like to appeal to humankind to cease economic sanctions against Iraq.”
AAPP President Prince Norodom Ranariddh, who is also president of the Cambodian National Assembly, stopped the Iraqi delegate from commenting further.
Afterward, Prince Ranariddh told reporters that his father, King Norodom Sihanouk, opposed economic sanctions against Iraq and Cuba.
Also in Wednesday’s session, the Chinese delegation opposed moves to adopt resolutions on the five main agendas of the conference: the culture of peace, the role of women and youth in promoting peace, rights to development, good governance and promotion of sustainable human rights.
China’s delegation said only the resolution on women and youth promoting peace should be adopted, while the other agenda issues should just be non-binding recommendations.
The AAPP, which is composed of more than 25 Asian nations, decided to follow China’s recommendations.
China was inducted into the AAPP Wednesday, and was given the vice presidency seat, meaning China will be the host nation for the next AAPP meeting in 2002.
An agreement on the Charter of Human Rights for Asia Nations could not be reached during the conference because of differing views among the members, including varying ideas about how “Asian values” should be included in the charter.
Singapore, Malaysia and Bangladesh were among the countries that said the Universal Declaration of Human Rights proclaimed by the UN General Assembly and the ideas under “Asian values” were not always harmonious.
For example, the Bangladeshi delegates noted that in their country, people under 18 are allowed to work, which goes against the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. In Cambodia, the legal working age is 15 years old.
Bangladesh, China and Cambodia were the three countries that presented their versions of the Charter of Human Rights for Asian Nations. The Cambodian version most closely matched the UN human rights declaration. China’s version mentions the UN human rights declaration, but also notes that it didn’t agree with the UN document.
“The two other nations’ versions looked more ambiguous as to whether it included the full standards mentioned in the UN human rights declaration,” said Klok Buddhi, a Funcinpec member of Cambodia’s National Assembly who drafted Cambodia’s human rights charter.
Other countries also could propose human rights charters, and each would be examined by a six-nation committee. The charter chosen by the committee could be released publicly within six months.
Asia-Pacific NGOs, an umbrella group, demanded that AAPP members work toward an immediate ratification of a human rights charter that meets international standards. “Any regional charter must be extended by the international framework that they provide, and not diminish it,” said a statement by Asia-Pacific NGOs.
Prince Ranariddh, who gave the closing remarks Thursday, called the gathering a success and said he is committed to making AAPP a stronger institution.
At the end of his remarks, he said he hoped AAPP delegates would see the Cambodia’s sights before they leave.
“I also hope that you will contribute to the Cambodian economy during your stay,” Prince Ranariddh said. “Please help the Cambodian economy.”
The conference was the first to take place at the newly refurbished Chaktomuk Theater. However, due to problems in the sound system, the conference was moved Wednesday to Hotel Le Royal.
“This is very bad that we are holding a huge event, with huge amounts spent for a new sound system” that isn’t working, said a sound technician. The new sound system cost $1 million, the technician said.
Some of the conferees went Thursday to see the Angkor temples at Siem Reap. The conference officially ends today.
