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Despite the non binding character of the charter and the high criticism on Burma over its human rights violations, the leaders of the Asean countries have signed the first charter promoting human rights and democracy in the region.
Below is an article published by BBC News:
The document, agreed by the 10 member states at a summit in Singapore, sets out Asean's principles and rules for the first time in its 40-year history.
But the signing ceremony took place amid continued condemnation of the rights record of Asean member Burma.
Critics say the charter will not rein in Burma's military regime.
The generals sparked international outrage when they violently suppressed anti-government protests in September [2007] - killing at least 15 people and imprisoning thousands more.
The controversy continued at the summit, where host nation Singapore had invited the UN's special envoy to Burma, Ibrahim Gambari, to make a speech.
Burmese officials objected, and gained the support of the eight other member nations, blocking Mr Gambari's briefing.
Earlier, a senior US official had warned that Asean's credibility was at stake over its handling of the crisis in Burma.
One of the most significant pledges in the charter is to set up a regional human rights body.
But critics say it will have limited impact as it will not be able to punish governments that violate the human rights of their citizens.
Negotiators rejected some more radical plans for the charter - such as enabling sanctions and possible expulsions against member states which seriously breached agreements.
"Of course there has been some watering down," former Indonesian Foreign Minister Ali Alatas, who helped draft the charter, told the Associated Press.
But he said the document still represented a "momentous step forward".
After the signing ceremony, Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong was similarly upbeat, saying the charter would pave the way for closer ties between member states.
"To make Asean strong and relevant, we must accelerate and deepen regional integration," he said.
"The Asean charter is a crucial step in this process."
The Association of South East Asian Nations (Asean) is composed of Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Burma, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. |
