Manila ratifies Asean charter
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
THE Philippines ratified yesterday a charter for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to set up a political, economic and social bloc of half a billion people after dropping its reservations over Myanmar, one of its members.
Manila has been a strong critic of the Myanmar junta for its continued detention of democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi and had been pushing for a tougher Asean stance on the issue.
Senators comprising two-thirds of the upper house of Congress voted yesterday to ratify the constitution aimed at integrating the economy, political and social fabric of 10 member states by 2015.
"We wish it were a more perfect document," Miriam Santiago, head of the Senate's foreign relations panel and a staunch ally of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, told reporters.
All Asean members must approve the charter by December 2008. Reuters
Manila has been a strong critic of the Myanmar junta for its continued detention of democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi and had been pushing for a tougher Asean stance on the issue.
Senators comprising two-thirds of the upper house of Congress voted yesterday to ratify the constitution aimed at integrating the economy, political and social fabric of 10 member states by 2015.
"We wish it were a more perfect document," Miriam Santiago, head of the Senate's foreign relations panel and a staunch ally of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, told reporters.
All Asean members must approve the charter by December 2008. Reuters
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