Asian Human Rights Charter: Special Interview with Basil Fernando

[청라]

Dear Basil,

I just checked the video. Congratulations! It is an essential clip summarizing all the valuable efforts that gave birth to the Charter and suggesting the future direction to be followed. Such a friendly guidebook for the young and a stimulating invitation letter for the people with passion towards Human Rights of the Asian people.

I know it’s too much to ask, but I’d like you and AHRC to make a serious of the video clips regarding the Charter. Especially, I’d like to see you having an in-depth conversation over how the interpretation and implementation of the concept of Human Rights can seriously vary from the standpoint of the developed countries and that of the underdeveloped countries. While watching the video, I happily imagined how amazing it will be if you share a conversation with someone from the academia, let’s say, MARTHA C. NUSSBAUM, to discuss over the existence of the invisible tollgate fee that you have to pay to get to the 'inner side' of the Human Rights whenever you try to move from a rich country to a poor one, or vice versa.

Moreover, I was thrilled to know the details of the supplement of the Charter. Among those three supplements, I believe, the 1st(Right to Justice) and 3^rd(Right to Culture) will have an immense influence not only on the Asian societies but on every single person who still believes in the goodness of the humankind.

Also, I was deeply moved by AHRC’s power of the documentation. The inspiring pictures and the footages from the ‘real’ corner of the Asian countries successfully added a rich texture to the video. Kindly send my applause to Amila.

If I were still working in May18, I must have been one step closer to what AHRC and you are trying to bring from the Charter. I regreted I couldn’t stand in the middle of the moment of meaningful change. However, I’m truly happy to be able to share and send my best wish for your work over the Charter.

Let us stay on the possibility of bettering the world as you have always been. As Professor Puett insists, the only thing we can hold on is the possibility and trust over ourselves in that “we can go into each situation resolved to be the best human being we can be, not because of what we’ll get out of it, but simply to affect others around us for the better, regardless of the outcome. We can cultivate our better side and face this unpredictable world, transforming it as we go.”

Again, congratulations on the great work. Can’t wait to see more to come!

Sincerely,

Ilshin

[청라]

아시아 인권헌장 20주년을 기념하여, 추가조항들이 발표될 예정이라는 소식은 예전에 들었지만, 그 내용에 대해서는 아는 바가 없었다. 며칠 전, b가 인권헌장에 대한 인터뷰 동영상을 전해주며 평을 부탁한다고 소식을 전해왔다. 내 주제에 감히 무슨 '평'이란 말인가. 훌륭한 작업에 대한 존경과 축하를 전해드렸다. 518재단에서 일하고 있었다면, '남의 일'이 아니라 '내 일'이었을 터인데. 나는 이제 구경꾼이되어 입에 발린 '좋은 말'이나 뒷방에서 하고 있구나.