Asean caught on the horns of a dile

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Subject: Asean caught on the horns of a dilemma  

Editorial & Opinion 

      Asean caught on the
      horns of a dilemma

      When it comes to 'constructive
      engagement' or 'flexible engagement',
      Asean is caught in a dilemma on the issue
      of one of its members' troubles. Marisa
      Chimprabha writes. 

      As the saying goes, action speaks louder
      than words. Has Thailand's proposed
      change in the Asean's cardinal principle of
      non-interference put this to the test? 

      So far the proposal of ''flexible
      engagement'' that was roundly criticised by
      other Asean members in July has not been
      translated into action, as is obvious in the
      case of the sacking and detaining of
      Malaysian deputy prime minister Anwar
      Ibrahim. 

      By flexible engagement, a country which is
      affected by a neighbouring country's
      internal problems should have the rights to
      express its views. 

      This is in direct contradistinction to Asean's
      non-intervention policy, which bars other
      countries from making any comment on
      other countries' internal affairs. 

      That has been criticised for being an
      excuse on the part of Asean states for not
      involving themselves in each other's affairs.
      Observers say each Asean member has its
      own internal problems and the best way to
      prevent others from intervening is not to
      meddle in others' affairs. 

      Foreign Minister Surin Pitsuwan says that it
      does not matter if other Asean members
      are not willing to adopt the Thai
      flexible-engagement policy. ''Thailand will
      certainly apply it,'' he says. 

      Surin reiterated in the Asean annual
      meeting in Manila this year that present
      problems had crossed borders and harmed
      countries nearby, citing cross-border traffic
      in narcotics, workers and prostitution. 

      His proposal was initially thought to be
      aimed at Burma, whose internal fighting
      and political division forces thousands of
      people to take shelter on Thai soil. The
      series of cross-border conflicts have nearly
      escalated into international war. 

      Observers are now doubt if there is any
      difference between the old and the new
      policies as there is no change at all in the
      reaction of the Foreign Ministry on regional
      issues. 

      They charge that Thailand's reaction to
      Malaysia's political feuds should be smarter
      and express more worry on the fate of a
      sacked deputy premier who faces ten
      counts of corruption and sexual misconduct.

      The Foreign Ministry should, they say have
      reacted to the issue more aggressively
      rather than spouting diplomatic cliches to
      the effect that Thailand wants a peaceful
      settlement to the problem as soon as
      possible. 

      It is disappointing that the Chuan
      government has done little if anything in
      support of Anwar, who was cruelly treated
      during his detention, and this despite the
      fact that this government had won world
      acclaim as a champion of democracy and
      human rights. 

      Under this government a national
      committee to draw up national master plan
      on human rights was set up to prepare the
      country for the effective implementation of
      the UN Convention on Human Rights. 

      However, in Anwar's case the Chuan
      government has failed to show the world
      community that it is a protector of human
      rights. Anwar was beaten unconscious in
      jail after he was arrested under the Internal
      Security Act. 

      Sadly, the government blindly urged
      negotiation among conflicting parties to
      settle the row despite the scope of the
      problem. 

      Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai showed no
      hesitation in saying that his schedule to
      attend Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation
      in Malaysia was still on. 

      Chuan's position on Malaysia's internal row
      is different from those of his Indonesian and
      Philippine counterparts. Philippine
      President Joseph Estrada and Indonesian
      President Jusuf Habibie recently hinted that
      they were considering boycotting the Apec
      meeting in Manila as they believed that
      Anwar had received unfair and bad
      treatment. 

      Maybe that is why Anwar's daughter
      sneaked from Malaysia to meet Estrada
      and Habibie but has not yet come to see
      Chuan. 

      Estrada and Habibie considered Anwar
      their friend. Surin, who pushed for the
      review of Asean constructive engagement
      said that the idea was originally Anwar's,
      who floated it at a seminar at the Institution
      of Strategy and International Studies. 

      Deputy Foreign Minister Sukhumbhand
      Paribatra should be praised for standing by
      Anwar. He said he had telephoned Anwar's
      wife to express his concern and let her
      know that as a friend he was ready to help
      her family. 

      ''As a deputy foreign minister I could do
      nothing, because the government considers
      the ongoing Malaysian political problems
      should be tackled internally,'' Sukhumbhand
      said recently. 

      Both Sukhumbhand and Anwar have been
      seen as in the next generation of leaders of
      this region. It was Sukhumbhand, once an
      outspoken lecturer, who said he personally
      regretted that Anwar had been dismissed.
      He described Anwar as a link between
      Western and Eastern civilisation. 

      Yet Thailand's reluctance to adopt flexible
      engagement on Malaysian issues could
      possibly be a case of too close for comfort
      in that Malaysia is one of Thailand's major
      economic partners compared to other
      neighbouring countries. 

      Malaysia and Thailand have for years jointly
      fought to crack down on Thai-Muslim
      separatists led by the Pattani United
      Liberation Organisation, which threatened
      both countries' development plans. 

      The problem has not yet been fully
      eradicated, so any reaction from Thailand
      which Malaysia believes too aggressive
      would certainly affect cooperation on
      border security. 

      Moreover Malaysia has a claim for
      consideration as a staunch trading partner,
      a rare thing amidst the economic downturn
      spreading through the region and beyond. 

      Politically the southern provinces are a
      strong base of the Democrat Party, which is
      the core of this nine-month-old coalition
      government. The party has excellent
      connections with the Malaysian
      government, and many Democrat MPs are
      known to be close to Prime Minister
      Mahathir Mohamad's Umno party. 

      The Nation