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Mahathir-Cook spat may hit ASEM exp



Mahathir-Cook spat may hit ASEM expansion

The Hindu (New Delhi), 4/9/97.

By F.J. Khergamvala

TOKYO, Sept. 3.
The Asia Europe Economic Ministers' meeting in Tokyo later this month
could become a battle ground to decide the expansion of the new forum
called the Asia Europe Meeting (ASEM).  Britain's and perhaps the
European Union's preconditions and a split within the main South East
Asian grouping over new members could overshadow a promising beginning.

On Tuesday, the Malaysian Prime Minister, Dr. Mahathir Mohammad reacted
rather harshly to a remark by the British Foreign Secretary, Mr. Robin
Cook about the admission of Myanmar to the ASEM. "If there is
discrimination against Myanmar, it is a discrimination against ASEAN.
You may find other countries in ASEAN also deciding not to attend,"
added the Malaysian leader. ASEAN is the Association of South East Asian
Nations comprising Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, the
Philippines, Brunei, Vietnam and Myanmar and Laos.

Mr. Cook had commented quite conclusively in Singapore on Monday that
the EU's decision to deny visas to figures in the military junta ruling
Myanmar made its attendance or inclusion "Impossible" at the next ASEM
summit, expected to be held in London next April. ASEM is a forum that
held its first ever summit in March 1996 in Bangkok and comprises, 25
governments -- 15 from the EU and 10 from East Asia -- as well as the
European Union. It does not include the ASEAN as a member on par with he
EU and all its Asian components are represented in their individual
capacity, not as members of ASEAN. The Asian members are Japan, China,
South Korea plus seven ASEAN nations or ASASEAN minus Vietnam, Laos and
Myanmar. The ASEM is on the threshold of expanding its membership and
from Asia, India, Pakistan, Australia and New Zealand are spoken of as
prime candidates, Dr. Mahathir permitting, From Europe, Poland, the
Czech Republic are among those keen to be admitted.

There are several implications of Mr. Cook's vehement rejection of
Myanmar's admission as well as Mr. Mahathir's current mood. It appears
unnecessary for Mr. Cook to have come to Asia and made such comments in
public, apparently intended for consumption back home to look strong on
human rights.

Dr. Mahathir may have felt that the remarks of the British Foreign
Secretary are a replay of the public acrimony that took place between
Malaysia and the U.S., during the Bush administration after Dr. Mahathir
promoted the idea of an East Asia Economic Caucus (EAEC) that intended
to bring together exactly the same 10 Asian members included today in
the ASEM. He may feel that Britain is now the Trojan horse in the ASEM
for the U.S. which has opposed any fora in the Asia Pacific that seeks
to split Asia from the Pacific components. His suspicions may have been
heightened after the ASEAN ignored U.S. entreaties not to admit Myanmar
into the ASEAN into its ranks last July.

On the other hand, Dr. Mahathir's brinkmanship in threatening a boycott
of ASEM by "other countries in ASEAN" seems to reflect not only his
present combative mood but an intent to divert attention from the
serious setback to the Malaysian economy over the past few weeks.  In
this period he has practically abused internationally well known figures
as "morons," "Wild beasts," etc, epithets he applied particularly to Mr.
George Sores, the financier philanthropist whom he accused of
speculating in the markets to avenge the ASEAN's decision to admit
Myanmar.

Dr. Mahathir's and the EAEC's overt supporters tend to view the Asian
component of the
ASEM as a behind the mirror reflection of his concept of the EAEC, in
other words, a non Caucasian, non Indian sub Continent but the dynamic
Confucian ethic assisted East Asian part of Asia, It is possible that by
reacting in the manner he has to an unnecessarily provocative stand by
Britain, Dr. Mahathir is trying to sow further divisions within the
ASEM, not to destroy it nor to have Myanmar included but to prevent its
expansion and thereby preserve that EAEC look, because the EAEC as a
concrete forum is a non starter,

Dr. Mahathir as present nominal head of the ASEAN seems to have taken
upon himself the role of the defender of the Myanmar military junta,
whose own international credibility is low. However, his remarks are
clearly made on his own, not ASEAN's behalf. First, admission to the
ASEM is as an Asian nation not linked at all to ASEAN membership. All
the seven ASEAN members of ASEM are participating in their individual
capacity.

Next, the ASEAN itself is divided as was too obvious from the statement
to Jakarta Post on July 29 this year in Petaling jaya, Malaysia by the
newly elected ASEAN Secretary-General, Mr. Rodolfo Severino who takes
over from Malaysia's Mr Ajit Singh at the end of this year. "ASEAN is
not represented in ASEM," he confirmed, adding "obviously ASEAN would
like its members to be part of any association where the rest 'are but
"you cannot say there is one ASEAN position although the Asian members
of ASEM do consult each other." Mr. Severino concluded "the question of
Myanmar and Laos memberships were brought up (in ASEAN meetings) but we
do not have a common view on the membership Question." This stand is in
contrast to the  entire ASEAN's support for Vietnam's membership in the
APEC (Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation) forum where too economics are
admitted and participate as individual entities.

By the same yardstick, as Myanmar's membership would be considered on
its own, not as a member of ASEAN, Mr. Cook need not have been so
outspoken until Myanmar had applied or made soundings, In fact, in
response to the EU decision to deny, visas to Myanmar official, the
Indonesian Foreign Minister, Mr. Ali  Alatas already said in early, June
to Media Indonesia on the Internet, "indeed it would be erroneous of
them (EU) to think that Myanmar would automatically attend ASEM when the
country joins ASEAN."

Malaysia has much to lose and little gain by upping the ante through
boycotts. The appointed Malaysia to handle the world's largest electric
rail system from Singapore-China- Europe -- the trans Asian railway
network. Moreover, the ASEM is a Singapore initiative and the latter
would not take kindly to injury to it.