Germany must press for respect of human rights when assisting ASEAN

The Society for Threatened Peoples (STP) has called on the German government to insist that human rights are respected when providing financial assistance for ASEAN, the Southeast Asian community of states. "The ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights is not living up to its name when it fails to intervene in the deportation of people who are politically persecuted," criticized Ulrich Delius of the STP's Asia section on Tuesday in Göttingen. Thailand announced on Monday that it would deport 158 Muslim Rohingya, persecuted in Burma, back to their home country. The Commission, established in October 2009, has not reacted thus far. "If Germany is serious about defending human rights, it should not contribute to financing this farce." On January 20, 2011, the German government promised ASEAN four million euros in renewed financial assistance from 2011 to 2014.

After a 12-day ordeal, 91 Rohingya boat people arrived from Burma completely exhausted, landing their boat last Saturday in Southern Thailand. During their odyssey, the refugees lived entirely on dry rice. Another boat arrived on Monday with 67 Rohingya refugees. Up to six more cutters with boat people are still at sea, reported the refugees. "The Muslim Rohingya are fleeing the ongoing grievous persecution in Burma, which is a member nation of ASEAN," reported Delius. "The ASEAN must not close its eyes to this problem; it must provide asylum for the refugees."

Thailand has repeatedly deported refugees to Burma and Laos. The ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights has not offered any criticism, even though the deportees face whipping and long prison terms. The Rohingya who live in the state of Arakan, in western Burma, are systematically denied civil rights. Members of the Muslim minority are not allowed to marry, are not issued passports, and are routinely victims of displacement, forced labor and government discriminatory practices.