Page 16 - Rights beautiful : collection of Professor Saneh Chamarik

Rights Beautiful Collection of Professor Saneh Chamarik

which is not far apart from those of our Southeast Asian neighbours.
Hopefully, again, it could help clarify our position in response to Tan Sri
Dato Harun has just raised the doubt as to “who we are and in what
direction to go”.
To begin with, on the point of unity in diversity, repeatedly cited
in Prof. Vitit’s presentation. So, to the phrase “human rights variations” as
raised by our Working Group’s Co-Chairperson, Mr. Marzuki Darusman,
as well as Dr. Hafid Abbas’s concern about the region’s vast diversifying
elements, I would beg to draw your attention to our common ground in
both geographical and historical terms. One does not have to elaborate
on this point of reality among knowledgeable friends here. All this
clearly constitutes quite a natural basis upon which unity, and for that
matter cooperation and even regional institution, whatever to be called,
could be created. Too often, we keep referring to “political will”. That is
just the jargon of the old-fashioned kind of elitist politics. Of course, it
still counts a great deal. But then shall we allow the dialogues of human
rights and dignity to go down into the state of stagnation just for reason
of outdated conservatism? Or worse still, with what is lately emerging
in the form of neo-conservatives’ conspiracy bent on the unilateral and
preemptive politico-military solution to the 9/11 incident and perceived
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terrorism. On our part as human defenders and promoters, be that as it
may, shall we think of human rights merely as something antagonistic
to the power-that-be? I strongly believe that, with positive thinking, we
can do a lot of service not only to the people we naturally have in mind,
but significantly also to contribute to the governments themselves in

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Joshua Muravchik, “The neoconservatives unmasked”, International Herald Tribune, May 7,
2003, p. 8. R. C. Longworth, “Pushing democracy down world’s throat”, Bangkok Post,
April 28, 2003, p. 7. Bill Clinton, “Agree with us or go to hell, that’s not the way…”,
Agence France- Presse, as reproduced in The Nation, April 17, 2003, p.14A. Paul Krugman,
“Presidential credibility: the rest of the world does not trust Bush”, International Herald
Tribune, February, 26, 2003, p. 8.

10 OFFICE OF THE NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION OF THAILAND