INTERFACES (2005-2014): Civil Society and ASEAN Heads of State 12/05/2014 Prepared by Ms. Consuelo Katrina A Lopa, Regional Coordinator of South East Asian Committee for Advocacy (SEACA) and member of Regional Steering Committee of ACSC/APF 2014 Civil Society Engagement Activities with ASEAN Summits
Civil Society-led process
Other process (Track 2/Think Tanks/Government-Organized NGOs)
Years Prior to ACSC/APF 2005 There were interfaces between ASEAN Heads of State and the Chair of the ASEAN Peoples’ Assembly
APA /
(APA), i.e. 2005, 2006, 2007 ASEAN People’s Assembly processes Malaysia 2005 The 1st ACSC had an Interface between 10 ASEAN Leaders and 10 civil society representatives selected by ASEAN MoFAs 1st ACSC, Shah Alam, Malaysia 15 min) Philippines 2006
No Interface 2nd ACSC, Cebu, Philippines
nd
The 2
APA
ACSC had no 10-10 Interface. Instead, there was an interface between ASEAN Heads of state and
the Chair of the ASEAN Peoples’ Assembly, Carolina Hernandez Singapore 2007
ACSC 2007
The 3rd ACSC had no 10-10 Interface.
No Interface
Another process called ACSC 2007 had an interface between ASEAN Heads of state and the Chair of the
3rd ACSC, Singapore
ASEAN Peoples’ Assembly, Simon Tay
Thailand (1) March 2009 In March 2009, the ASEAN Peoples’ Forum (APF), within it the 4th ASEAN Civil Society Conference (Day 3), had a town hall meeting where the ASEAN SG Surin and ASEAN Chair/MoFA Kasit Piromya had a Town Hall Meeting with 1000 participants of the APF. APF (ACSC) Mar, Bkk Town Hall Meeting Thailand (1) March 2009 In addition to the Town Hall Meeting, Thailand had the Interface between 10 ASEAN Leaders and 10 civil society representatives for the first time selected by civil society, but 3 rejected by Cambodia, Myanmar
APF (ACSC) Mar, Bangkok
and Singapore governments. Pen Somony, (Cambodia), Khin Ohmar (Myanmar) and Sinapan Samydorai
(30 minute)
(Singapore) were rejected. Thailand (2) October 2009 Thailand had the Interface between 10 ASEAN Leaders and 10 civil society representatives, for the second time selected by civil society amongst delegates of the ASEAN Peoples’ Forum/ASEAN Civil Society Conference. Attendance of 10 ASEAN leaders was not compulsory. Interface duration was reduced from
APA/ACSC Nov Chaam
30 min to 15 min.
(15 min)
The Interface was marred by CS rejections of Cambodia, Myanmar, Singapore, and solidarity walk-outs. Vietnam 2010 After the ‘trauma’ of the Interface experiences of Thailand, Vietnam government decided that the ASEAN Peoples’ Forum was to have an Interface only between the ASEAN Chair/Vice-Premiere of Vietnam and 10 civil society members chosen from among the delegates of the ASEAN Peoples’ Forum. Indonesia 2011
APF 2010, Hanoi
Indonesia had the Interface between 10 ASEAN Leaders and 10 civil society representatives, for the third time selected by civil society from among the delegates of the ACSC/APF 2011. ASEAN governments also
ACSC/APF 2011, Jkt
attempted to appoint their chosen representatives. This was the first time that Interface topic was limited to a single issue, health. Cambodia (1) March 2012
No Interface ACSC/APF 2012, PP
Civil Society leaders of the ACSC/APF 2012 chose not to participate in the Interface organized by the Cambodia host/ASEAN Chair. ACSC/APF 2012 GONGO process Cambodia (2) November 2012
No Interface ACSC/APF 2012, PP
No Interface was organized by Cambodia government. Brunei 2013
No Interface ACSC/APF 2013
No Interface was organized by Brunei Government. Myanmar 2014 Myanmar had a planned Interface between 10 ASEAN Leaders and 10 civil society representatives. ACSC/APF on 24 March 2014 communicated its 4 principles on an Interface. On 8 and 30 April 2014, ACSC/APF SC and Myanmar MoFA met. Civil society through ACSC/APF was advised selection process within country delegations of ACSC/APF 2014 should begin. Names to be submitted to Myanmar MoFA . Also advised that chosen delegates should as much as possible have the approval of their own governments. Civil society request for 5 speakers instead of 1, to achieve a meaningful dialogue with ASEAN Leaders.
Days prior to the planned Interface, Myanmar MoFA communicated that Cambodia, Malaysia and Singapore Leaders rejected CS Interface Delegates of their countries, and substituted with their own choice. On 10 May 2014, Myanmar MoFA communicated that instead of 5 speakers, there will only be one speaker. Based on substitution action of 3 governments, ACSC/APF decided to withdraw from planned interface on the afternoon of 10 May 2014. On the evening of 10 May 2014, ASEAN through Myanmar MoFA announced the cancellation of the planned Interface.
