The Charter too, has retained the principle of 'non-inference'
in the internal affairs of ASEAN member states. Though the principle
has not posed any major problem to ASEAN in the past (given that the members
have been dealing with similar issues before), but the ascendancy of human rights
and other civil society issues in the region is likely to put pressure on the Charter.
Doubts have also been raised over the proposed ASEAN human rights body,
which critics argue, lack the powers of prosecution (Tony Hotland, 2008). The
issue is one area where ASEAN's success has been minimal due to the 'non-interference'
principle.