Take action on regional security issues, urge CSOs

KUALA LUMPUR: Civil society organisations (CSO) at the Asean People’s Forum (APF) want governments to take up their recommendations on issues that affect peace and security in the region.

APF steering committee chairman Jerald Joseph said that for the past nine years, the CSOs had seen “little traction” from governments in addressing their statements and recommendations.

He said that Malaysia in particular had differed from its Asean partners by not having a post-summit interface meeting with the CSOs.

Jerald said a final statement from the CSOs had been presented to governments of Asean member countries.

In the past, statements to the governments would be handed over just a day or two before the Asean Summit.

“This time we have handed over our finalised statement two or three months back,” he said at a media briefing at Wisma MCA here yesterday.

Jerald said he was hopeful that the Asean chairman’s statement would address the issues raised by the CSOs.

APF steering committee member Yap Swee Seng said some recommendations were taken up, especially the adoption of human rights into the Asean Charter, indicating its importance in the region.

The conference is held in the run-up to the Asean Summit scheduled on April 26 and 27.