Southeast Asia: ASEAN Summit must address deteriorating crisis in Myanmar and ongoing scam compound activity
ASEAN member states must put human rights at the centre of regional discussions and decision-making, Amnesty International said as Southeast Asian leaders gather for the bloc’s 47th Summit in Malaysia this weekend.
“It is long past time for member states to act decisively to address the continually deteriorating crisis in Myanmar. Nearly five years since Myanmar’s military seized power, the situation in the country is an ever-worsening human rights nightmare,” said Montse Ferrer, Amnesty International’s Regional Research Director.
“People in Myanmar face multiple threats, including the armed conflict fueling internal displacement, and the junta’s ongoing campaign of repression, including unlawful air strikes on civilians. The military, and in some cases armed groups fighting against it, have carried out forced recruitment, arbitrary detention, torture and extrajudicial executions. Crumbling economic standards are also affecting rights to health, education and livelihoods.
“Though the vast majority of human rights violations are committed by the military, Amnesty International and others have also documented abuses by armed groups, such as the Arakan Army that has taken control of large parts of Rakhine State, leaving civilians, including Rakhine, Rohingya and other ethnic minorities trapped in a seemingly endless cycle of suffering.
“ASEAN’s approach to the situation in Myanmar has failed to prevent grave human rights violations let alone hold perpetrators accountable, with the humanitarian crisis in the country worse than ever, compounded by a devastating earthquake in March that killed thousands. ASEAN must urgently intensify efforts to exert maximum influence on the military and other armed groups to comply with international humanitarian law and free all arbitrarily detained prisoners.
“As the Myanmar junta prepares to hold elections, it is increasingly relying on repressive tactics and arresting anyone critical of the poll. ASEAN must take a clearer stand against these abuses or they will only increase. It must also revisit the failed five-point consensus that among other aims was intended to stop the violence in the country but has clearly fallen short.”
Amnesty International also remains deeply concerned about the ongoing scamming compound crisis in Southeast Asia – especially Cambodia, where thousands have been victims of human trafficking, forced labour and torture. Although organized criminal groups are running these compounds, the Cambodian state has failed to take adequate steps to stop the widespread human rights abuses despite being made aware of them for years.
“While ASEAN governments have previously acknowledged the seriousness of scamming compounds, they must put words into action by working to dismantle these criminal networks, protect victims, prosecute those responsible and ensure that host states like Cambodia take decisive action,” Montse Ferrer said.
In Indonesia and the Philippines, excessive use of force and arbitrary arrests by police to quell recent protests must also be effectively investigated.
“ASEAN governments should not rely on authoritarian tactics to silence dissent. They must instead respect the rights to freedom of expression and assembly, as well as international standards on the use of force.
“Failing to address serious human rights violations undermines regional stability and weakens ASEAN’s reputation. If it wishes to have any credibility on the international stage, ASEAN must put people before politics, take decisive action to address crises in the region and strengthen the regional bloc’s system of promotion and protection of human rights,” Montse Ferrer said.
Background
The ASEAN Summit is a semi-annual meeting of the leaders of the 10 member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, to discuss issues of mutual interest.
The 47th ASEAN summit will take place in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from 26 to 28 of October. Timor-Leste will join as the 11th member state of ASEAN on 26 October.
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Guatemala: Six months of injustice and criminalization against Indigenous representatives from Totonicapán
In light of the prolonged arbitrary detention of Luis Pacheco and Héctor Chaclán, Indigenous representatives of the 48 cantons of Totonicapán, who will today have been deprived of their liberty for six months, Ana Piquer, Americas Director at Amnesty International, said:
“Today marks six months since Luis Pacheco and Héctor Chaclán were unjustly deprived of their liberty. For six months, the justice system has repeatedly violated their rights. Their detention is arbitrary, and they must therefore be released immediately. We will insist as many times as is necessary: organizing a peaceful protest is a right, not a crime. The misuse of terrorism charges to silence dissenting voices does, however, violate human rights and puts the entire Guatemalan society at risk.”
Today marks six months since Luis Pacheco and Héctor Chaclán were unjustly deprived of their liberty. For six months, the justice system has repeatedly violated their rights.
Ana Piquer, Americas Director at Amnesty International
Both men were detained on 23 April 2025 and subsequently charged with crimes of terrorism and obstruction of justice, with a judge ordering their pre-trial detention. Amnesty International believes that these criminal proceedings are unfounded and that they are part of a pattern of politically motivated persecution previously reported by the organization, the UN and the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights.
Information compiled by Amnesty International shows that the authorities are seeking to punish Luis Pacheco and Hector Chaclán for participating in the peaceful protests of October 2023 in defence of the rule of law. At the time, they were president and treasurer, respectively, of the Maya K’iche Council of Community Mayors of the 48 cantons of Totonicapán.
The proceedings have been marked by irregularities and delays on the part of the authorities, which have directly impacted the defendants’ right to a fair trial. Legal proceedings have been stalled since 25 June due to the absence of a judge to preside over them. The judiciary still needs to appoint a judge to conduct an intermediate hearing. Furthermore, the Public Prosecutor’s Office has kept the proceedings under reserve for several months, hindering their right to a defence and to be tried without unreasonable delay.
“These delays unjustifiably prolong the arbitrary detention of Luis Pacheco and Héctor Chaclán and add to the long list of human rights violations committed against them. We demand an immediate end to the criminalization of human rights defenders by the Public Prosecutor’s Office and the judiciary,” added Ana Piquer.
These delays unjustifiably prolong the arbitrary detention of Luis Pacheco and Héctor Chaclán and add to the long list of human rights violations committed against them. We demand an immediate end to the criminalization of human rights defenders by the Public Prosecutor’s Office and the judiciary.
Ana Piquer, Americas Director at Amnesty International
Amnesty International reiterates that using antiterrorism laws to punish peaceful assembly is contrary to international human rights law, and once again calls on the Guatemalan authorities to guarantee the right to peaceful protest and to put an end to the criminal prosecution of human rights defenders.
For further information or to arrange an interview, please contact press@amnesty.org
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