Myanmar objects to monitoring powers of new ASEAN human rights body News
Myanmar objects to monitoring powers of new ASEAN human rights body

[JURIST] Myanmar Foreign Minister Nyan Win has called for the newly-established Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) [official website] to refrain from interfering in the internal affairs of ASEAN member nations. The comments, made during a Monday meeting to organize the new ASEAN human rights committee, indicate that Myanmar [JURIST news archive] may block attempts to give the new body any authority to investigate alleged human rights violations. Other member states reportedly objected to the restrictions on the committee, which critics note already lacks authority [JURIST report] to issue sanctions against member states which violate human rights. AP has more.

Myanmar signed on [ceremony speech; JURIST report] to a new ASEAN charter Monday, despite other ASEAN members' criticism [statement text] of the country's human rights record and continued detention of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi [BBC profile; JURIST news archive]. The charter [PDF text] was designed to create stronger economic and security ties within the region, and Article 14 establishes a body to monitor human rights in member countries. Myanmar's inclusion in the in charter has long been controversial [JURIST report] because of its human rights record..

THIS DAY @ LAW

UN Security Council called for Israeli withdrawal from territories occupied in Six Days' War

On November 22, 1967, the UN Security Council called for Israeli withdrawal from territories occupied during the Six Days' War, and for respect of the right of all States in the area to "live in peace within secure and recognized boundaries." Read Resolution 242, which remains a cornerstone of efforts to achieve peace in the Middle East.

President Kennedy assassinated, VP Lyndon Johnson sworn inin

On November 22, 1963, President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, Texas. Later that day, Vice-President Lyndon Johnson was sworn in as the 36th President of the United States. Earl Warren, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, was later tasked with leading a commission to investigate the assassination. President Johnson received the final report of the Warren Commission on September 24, 1964. Read the Warren Commission Report.