ASEAN's major faux pas and how the

[moe@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]

ASEAN's major faux pas and how the regional group can regain its influence

When ASEAN was first formed, its major purpose was solo economic cooperation
among the member states and its principle of non-interference has been
upheld until the debate yesterday. ASEAN is also reckoned to be a gang of
dictators as most  leaders from those countries are self-appointed
politicians, not democratically elected by the people which is against rules
and norms of democracy.


The Association of Southeast Asian Nation (ASEAN) was established on 8
August 1967 in Bangkok, Thailand,  with  the  signing of the Bangkok
Declaration. The  members of ASEAN are Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia,   Laos,
Malaysia,  Myanmar,  Philippines,  Singapore,
Thailand  and  Vietnam.  The  Secretariat of  the  Association is located
in  Jakarta, Indonesia.

After the admission of Myanmar into the group, ASEAN has been harshly
criticized by the United States and the EU for its disregard of human rights
in Burma. ASEAN acted dumb because ASEAN seemed to be aware of the fact that
it has made  a major blunder by  the membership of the Myanma government. As
for the Myanma government , ASEAN has become a shield  against the criticism
from the West. ASEAN might have believed that the group could be able to
persuade  the Myanma generals into a dialogue with the opposition. It took
time for ASEAN to realize that the generals from the Myanma army are not
tractable military brasshats until yesterday when the Myanma authorities
warned the group about modification of  its long-standing practice of
non-intervention in each others' affairs. 

What ASEAN is up to next is its choice. If ASEAN criticises Myanmar for its
human rights violations, what Myanmar will do next is no mystery but ASEAN
is obviously procrastinating to act. Yet this is the only chance ASEAN can
restore its credibility and stand on the international stage. If ASEAN said
"No" to Myanmar, Japan might reconsider its policy toward Myanmar. And
tenacious Myanma generals might become tractable and modify their policy
toward the opposition. Sooner or later the opposition can have a more
audible voice which can influence the political process in Myanmar. ASEAN
should not forget the fact that the UNited States still has and will have
the same demands and policy toward Myanmar and ASEAN regarding its policy
toward Myanmar. Change is what is unequivocally ineluctable and ASEAN must
change its policy toward Myanmar for the long run if the group is
authentically far-sighted. So must Myanmar.

BY   Julien Moe