Page 116 - The Ethics of ASEAN

The Ethics of ASEAN

and points out that AICHR is especially committed to supporting young people who are
concerned about human rights in the region.
Dr Surachanee Hammerli Sriyai of the School of Public Policy at Chiang Mai University
explains how social media in the early 2000s were seen as an instrument of hope for
promoting freedom of speech and liberal society. Now these platforms are not only
channels but echo chambers of misinformation, strengthening the beliefs of like-minded
groups while excluding opposing opinions. The ethical lines between what should or should
not be permissible have been blurred. As a university lecturer, she sees her role as helping
youth to develop their digital literacy and navigate through media without being trapped by
their own pre-existing biases. She encourages all media users to understand how social
media can dissociate people from reality.
Vincent Carlo Legara describes the political background of the youth growing up in
the 21st century. Concepts like human rights, free speech, and democracy are taught as
principles that must be upheld in a free and functioning society but youth also see the
contrast with their social reality where state power and repression clash with these ideas.
For Vincent, the youth of today are disillusioned with patronage politics, entrenchment
of politicians in nondemocratic government and the unchanging political climate.
This disconnect has led to student movements in universities and conflicts with state
institutions. Youth see the older generation as less keen on protecting these ideals.
Takeways from this dialogue on ethics of freedom in ASEAN are, first, freedom has
its champions but also its challenges. What was called by several panellists the rollback of
democracy and freedoms in ASEAN is proof that the region is not moving in a direct line
towards an agreed goal. Nor do all ASEAN Members agree when challenged by violations
of their own ethics as the Myanmar crisis shows. A year after this dialogue took place,
our panellists would be no more optimistic in their observations on the contemporary
situation.

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