DAP national chairperson Lim Kit Siang said it is time that Asean tackles burning regional issues, indicating that there is no better moment to start than during the two-day Asean ministerial meeting from today in Phnom Pehn, Cambodia.

He cited the need for the regional body to discuss the 'protective custody' of Burmese pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi ( photo, left ), Indonesia's military operations against the separatist movement in Aceh , and the jailing of former Malaysian deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim. ( photo, right )

"Thirty-six years after (the formation of Asean), there is a need for greater openness and frankness to address problems in the member countries instead of continuing with the current practice of sweeping them under the carpet or pretending they don't exist," Lim said in statement.

"The very act of putting these issues on the agenda would mark the maturing of the regional body in moving closer towards "constructive intervention" with greater openness and frankness."

Regional commission

He pointed out that, ironically, it had been Anwar who proposed six years ago that Asean should pursue "constructive intervention" particularly in dealing with issues of democracy and human rights.

Lim proposed that Asean makes a start by establishing a regional commission on human rights to monitor, protect and promote human rights in the region and make periodic reports to national governments.

"If member nations of the European Union can discuss each other's problems and confront each other without undermining the cohesion and solidarity of the European community, there is no reason why Asean should not similarly progress from its traditional doctrine of non-interference," Lim said.

He had earlier chastised Asean for being the "weakest link" by failing to provide support to international attempts in finding solution to the Burma issue.