ASEAN bars rights groups, yet starts panel

HUA HIN, Thailand, Oct. 23 (UPI) -- The South East Asian Nations barred human rights representatives from its summit in Thailand, marring the inauguration of ASEAN's new human rights agency.

Representatives from human rights groups were to participate in informal discussions with ASEAN leaders in Hua Hin Friday, but only about half were allowed to enter, and those who were admitted couldn't address ASEAN leaders, the Australian Broadcasting Corp. reported.

Reaction to ASEAN's new human rights agency, the Inter-governmental Commission on Human Rights, also has been negative, observers said. While the panel commits members to promote and protect human rights, it will be set up and run by the 10 ASEAN governments and won't be able to investigate abuses, critics said.

In his welcoming remarks, Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said the purpose of the summit was to continue to build a "people-centered ASEAN community" that is rules-based and more effective in meeting today's challenges, the Bangkok Post reported.

The prime minister also spoke of the organization's plan to evolve to a European Union-like entity by 2015. If ASEAN becomes a community of action, he said, the organization could act quickly to address internal and external challenges to the region.