June 17, 2003	Tuesday	Rabi-us-Sani 16, 1424

NEW YORK, June 16: Asian regional security talks taking place in Cambodia this week may encourage human rights abuses in the name of fighting terrorism, Human Rights Watch warned on Monday in a letter to participating governments.

Human Rights Watch called on the ASEAN Regional Forum to ensure counter-terrorist measures were consistent with international human rights standards, and to include human rights experts in its working groups on this issue.

ARF members should also invite the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and other independent experts to monitor and analyse the human rights impact of security laws and policies in the region.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations Regional Forum (ARF) complements other ASEAN dialogues with discussions on regional security issues and transnational problems such as counter-terrorism.

The regional security forum has pledged support to the international campaign against terrorism.