Rights Beautiful Collection of Professor Saneh Chamarik ambivalence and controversy should by now be put to rest concerning both cultural essentialism and relativism. The former claiming monopoly of the definition on human rights, while the latter denying the universality of human aspirations for freedom. The two, thus far, can only indulge in selfstyled futile polemics, and actually get us nowhere. Worse still, it all brings about retrogressive and destructive politics of human rights the world over, East and West, North and South. We are witnessing today, in particular, the abuse and distortion of the cherished ideal of individual liberties and property rights on the one hand, and on the other hand, the authoritarian claim of development priorities over freedom and democracy. Both turn against humanity and nature.3 As we are all well aware, human society has gone through the process of economic development and globalization for so long under such adverse conditions and at great human and social costs. And then abruptly came along the self-proclaimed war on terrorism and, along with it, the threat and potential loss to the cause of human rights.4 It is indeed high time to earnestly and collectively put things right, conceptually and practically. One only hopes that these considerations would get a reasonable hearing in international forum such as this. It is certainly relevant and should serve as a background to our mutual interest and purposeful dialogue with the firm conviction that people’s rights and liberties indeed hold the key to the future. This is what we should have in mind in coping with the status and role of national human rights commissions as well as the prospect for regional mechanism in Southeast Asia and elsewhere. 3 4 For example, Edward Herman, “Immiseration & Human Rights”, Third World Resurgence, Issue No. 58, June 1995, p. 41; Vandana Shiva, “The Enclosure of the Commons”, Third World Resurgence, Issue No. 84, 1997, p. 6; Lee Kuan Yew’ s address to an annual conference organized by the Philippines Business Council in Manila, and President Fidel Ramos’ response, The Nation, Bangkok, 21 November, 1992. In Mary Robinson ‘s view, “If human rights are respected ... conflict, terrorism and war can be prevented.” Boston Globe, September 3, 2002. OFFICE OF THE NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION OF THAILAND 69