Dr. Surin Pitsuwan, Secretary-General of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), called on Southeast Asian journalists to promote the rights of the region's people--including their rights to know and to be heard-and in so doing help build a more open, more progressive regional community.

Speaking during the 10th anniversary celebration of the Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA) in Bangkok on Saturday, 8 November, Surin stressed the role journalists can play in supporting the ASEAN Charter.

"Go to the people of ASEAN, tell them of their rights under [its] Charter," he said, adding that among these rights are access to information and free expression. "The right to know is fundamental to the ASEAN people."

Surin was referring to the full ratification of the ASEAN Charter next month in Thailand. Even as three of the 13 member countries are still deliberating on their decision whether to vote for the Charter or not, he said the media can help bring out the truth
about the Charter and persuade the majority to work together to enable its passage.

Stressing ASEAN's potential to contribute to the political, economic and socio-cultural improvements in the region, he added that the media has a big role to play in ensuring that these objectives would be achieved. "Who can guarantee that except the journalists?"

According to Surin, he envisions ASEAN to be transparent and participatory in its interactions with the countries in the region. "This would not be possible without the help of the media," he said. "Your skepticism makes open society possible."

SEAPA is a coalition of press freedom advocacy groups from Indonesia, the Philippines and Thailand. Established in November 1998, it is the only regional network with the specific mandate of promoting and protecting press freedom throughout Southeast Asia. SEAPA is composed of the Alliance of Independent Journalists (Indonesia), the Jakarta-based Institute for the Study of the Free Flow of Information (ISAI), the Manila-based Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility, the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism, and the Thai Journalists Association. SEAPA also has partners in Malaysia, Cambodia, and East Timor, and undertakes projects and programs for press freedom throughout the region.