Singapore: Singapore Environment Council Presents NGOs Concerns about Southeast Asian Fires to ASEAN Senior Officials (IFFN No. 19 – September 1998)
Singapore Environment Council Presents NGOs Concerns about Southeast Asian Fires to ASEAN Senior Officials
(IFFN No. 19 – September 1998, p. 7)
The Singapore Environment Council (SEC) organised its first non-government International Policy Dialogue on Southeast Asian Fires on 4 and 5 June 1998. The two-day Dialogue brought together 45 representatives from 31 international and regional non-government organisations and private corporations. The Policy Dialogue made 30 suggestions for action to deal with the fires and the haze. The Singapore Environment Council has since taken up the call for action and has begun implementing some of the Policy Dialogue’s recommendations. One of the key recommendations that arose from the Policy Dialogue was a need to have a dialogue session with ASEAN. Mr. Simon Tay, Nominated Member of Parliament and Director of the Singapore Environment Council was granted an opportunity to present recommendations from the non-government International Policy Dialogue today (18 June 1998) to ASEAN Senior Officials at their Regional Task Force Meeting held in Singapore. This was one of the first occasions that NGOs have addressed the ASEAN Senior Officials. In his address, Mr Simon Tay appealed to ASEAN Senior Officials to continually review the compliance of member countries as laid down in the Haze Action Plan and explore how NGOs might work with and supplement official efforts. The ASEAN Senior Officials welcomed SEC´s presentation and noted the recommendations made. SEC will work with the ASEAN Secretariat and the Asian Development Bank to establish a regular dialogue between NGOs and ASEAN Officials to improve coordination of efforts against the fires. Details of further suggestions are outlined in the attached statement (see following pages).
For more information, please contact:
Ms. Penelope Phoon-Cohen
Executive Director, Singapore Environment Council
21 Lewin Terrace, Fort Canning Park,
Singapore 179290
Fax: ++65-337-6035
Tel: ++65-337-6062
e-mail: secnet@singnet.com.sg
IFFN No. 19
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