ASEAN leaders adopt human rights declaration

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PHNOM PENH, Nov 18 –  Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, along with the other nine leaders, signed the ASEAN Human Rights Declaration at the 21st ASEAN Summit in Cambodia.

The three-day summit kicked off Sunday in Cambodia’s capital of Phnom Penh.

Leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), adopted the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Right: AHRD to reflect ASEAN’s political commitment to the promotion and protection of human rights.

Thai prime minister said during the summit that ASEAN should focus on fighting transnational crimes and money laundering as well as expand cooperation in suppressing illegal drugs at the borders.

Regarding cooperation on disaster management, Ms Yingluck said Thailand is ready to co-host a disaster response drill with Korea.

Next year, Thailand will also host a meeting of the Greater Mekong Subregion and China to exchange views on water management.

As ASEAN Secretary-General Surin Pitsuwan’s five-year term will end in November, she said Thailand also supported the appointment of the new ASEAN secretary-general Le Luong Minh, the current vice-foreign minister of Vietnam to succeed Mr Surin.

ASEAN groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

Ms Yingluck returned to Bangkok Sunday evening to welcome visiting US president Barack Obama and will later return to the summit.