Consultative Meeting to Establish the ASEAN Prosecutor Entity

Effective addressing of organized crime relies on both formal and informal exchanges among national designated authorities. To enhance collaboration and combat organized crime within the ASEAN framework the establishment of an ASEAN Prosecutor Entity would be most beneficial. This entity would serve as a significant tool and platform.
The Consultative Meeting to Establish the ASEAN Prosecutor Entity was hosted by the Office of the Attorney General of Thailand from August 17 to 18, 2023. This event took place at Lam Thaen House within the Thailand Military Center for Strategic Studies in Bang Saen, Chonburi, Thailand. Lam Thaen House is of historical importance as it is where the founding fathers of ASEAN convened in a spirit of goodwill and friendship, leading to the establishment of ASEAN in August 1967. Following this meeting, they moved to Bangkok and signed the ASEAN declaration on August 8, 1967, officially forming ASEAN.
Participating in the event were twenty delegates representing ten Prosecution Services from ASEAN countries. Additionally, various entities acted as observers, including the ASEAN Secretariat, UNODC Regional Office for Southeast Asia and the Pacific, EU Network of Prosecutors, ASEAN-Australia Counter Trafficking Program, Office of Overseas Prosecutorial Development, Assistance and Training of the United States, as well as diplomatic representatives from the embassies of Australia, France, Indonesia, and the USA in Bangkok.
The co-chairs of the meeting were Mr. Amnat Jedcharoenruk and Mr. Jumpon Phansumrit, both Deputy Attorneys General of Thailand. Guided by the “Spirit of Bang Saen,” participants engaged in discussions and shared perspectives on pathways to establish the ASEAN Prosecutor Entity. It was collectively agreed that the purpose of forming this entity extends beyond strengthening bonds among ASEAN prosecutors. It also aims to enhance cooperation in countering transnational crimes in the region. The entity’s role would encompass supporting and facilitating mutual legal assistance in criminal matters and extradition.
The outcome of the event was the formulation of the “Bang Saen Initiative 2023,” which expresses an intention to explore the feasibility of establishing the ASEAN Prosecutor Entity. Participants also emphasized the importance of further deliberating on the entity’s structure and functions at a later stage. The goal is to potentially establish the ASEAN Prosecutor Entity by August 2024.