Governments should treat asylum seekers equally and not deprive them of the right to a habeas corpus application or to legal representation, the region's legal profession resolved in a Bangkok meeting on Wednesday.

The Law Association for Asia and the Pacific's (Lawasia) council resolved that the immediate detention of asylum seekers upon arrival, justifiable for health or security reasons, or to establish their identity, can only be extended for defined and legitimate purposes and period.

"It must be subject to judicial review and take into account the alternative systems for monitoring the whereabouts of asylum seekers other than detention," said a statement on Lawasia's resolutions issued by Malaysian Bar president Mah Weng Kwai today.

The region's law society presidents and senior representatives sit on the body's council, of which Mah is a member. The council meets annually to issue statements on current issues.

Another resolution is for governments to treat asylum seekers in accordance with the rule of law and a country's international obligations.

"Applications for asylum should be processed promptly and fairly," it said.

The regional body also resolved that every country had the right to determine the number and nature of people who enter it, provided the conditions for entry are explicit and non-arbitrary and not applied in an arbitrary or discriminatory manner.

"Children must nor be detained unless there are reasons in the interests of the child to do so."

Justice 'victimised'

Noting reports of child prostitution in some countries, the council urged all countries to do whatever necessary to criminalise and deter this activity.

It condemned the abduction, trafficking and forced use of children as camel jockeys in some Middle East countries, particularly the United Arab Emirates, and urged the relevant governments to continue efforts to "implement and enforce more appropriate laws to eradicate this inhuman practice".

Noting with concern the strains placed on the justice system in Nepal, the council expressed concern over the possibility of lawyers getting arrested for representing accused terrorists, and the total dismantling of state courts in terrorist-controlled areas.

It recorded its support for the conclusions contain in the September 2002 report by the International Bar Association and the Human Rights Institute entitled 'Nepal in crisis: justice caught in the crossfire'.

On international current affairs, the Lawasia council issued a caution against any military initiative designed to counteract alleged threats of proliferation of weapons of mass destruction except in accordance with recognised international law.

The council resolved that an improved dialogue and understanding between competing philosophies by United Nations bodies can contain international tension, military action or the threat of such action.

The council also noted its support for international initiatives which attempt to prevent the use of weapons of mass destruction.