Indonesia Vice President Boediono said Tuesday that governments in Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member states needed civil society groups in the region to connect governments with their people in order to solidly integrate ASEAN in politics, economy and culture.

"To achieve ASEAN integration, we have to continue to interact regularly with the people, and this is where the important role of civil society groups comes in because they actually can do it faster and cheaper," Boediono said during the opening of the ASEAN Civil Society Conference/ASEAN Peoples Forum 2011 in Jakarta.

Boediono promised that during the country’s leadership, Indonesia would try to connect civil society with ASEAN leaders so voices could be heard.

United Nations Ambassador for Millenium Development Goals in Indonesia Erna Witoelar said that civil society groups can be the "rescue team" for poor people in ASEAN countries so their rights would be protected amid economic globalization.

"Economic rights are human rights too, and every economic and trade agreement should consider the basic human rights of adequate food, proper shelter, clean water and education," Erna said.

The ASEAN Civil Society Forum/ASEAN Peoples Forum is the annual meeting of ASEAN civil society groups, held every year before the ASEAN Summit

 

Source: Jakarta Post