Jakarta - Indonesia's parliament on Tuesday ratified a regional charter committing South-East Asian nations to the principles of democracy and human rights, and envisaging a single free-trade area by 2015.

The ratification bill was approved by all 10 factions in the House of Representatives. It will take effect after it is signed by the president.

Indonesia was the last member of the 10-nation Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to ratify the charter after the Philippines signed up earlier this month, clearing the way for its formal adoption at a summit in Bangkok in December.

The charter commits the group to promote human rights and democracy, sets out rules for members and transforms ASEAN into a legal entity.

ASEAN consists of Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

Lawmaker Marzuki Darusman said that by ratifying the charter, "Indonesia is showing solidarity in this matter and we have maintained the spirit of ASEAN."

"There is no other choice for ASEAN than to be more solid and cohesive in order to become a community. We are about to enter a new regional order on our way to the new world order," said Indonesian Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda.

The charter will give the bloc, much maligned as a pointless talking shop, greater clout in international negotiations, but critics argue black sheep like Myanmar will continue to get away with gross human rights abuses.

ASEAN Secretary-General Surin Pitsuwan welcomed Indonesia's ratification of the charter, saying that this decision of the Indonesian House of Representatives on Tuesday assures the entry into force of the historic ASEAN agreement before the end of 2008.

"History was made when the ASEAN leaders signed the charter on the 20th of November, 2007. When they next meet at the 14th ASEAN Summit in Bangkok in December 2008, the leaders will be able to toast to a new ASEAN era," Surin said in a statement.

"ASEAN will be a rules-based, people-oriented and more integrated entity. After the formal entry into force of the charter, our community-building will shift to a higher gear with full steam forward," he said.

"Given the current financial turmoil around the world, a real prospect of a more integrated and solid ASEAN will be welcomed by the international community," he added. (dpa)