Alatas opposes ASEAN plan on interference<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas has urged
\nhis counterparts not to be too hasty in deserting long-
\nestablished tenets of noninterference among members of the
\nAssociation of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and has stated
\nthat Indonesia would certainly oppose it.<\/p>\n
\"Indonesia clearly does not agree with it,\" he replied when
\nasked by reporters about suggestions that the noninterference
\nprinciple be modified.<\/p>\n
\"Let's look at what we really want to achieve in ASEAN. Look
\nat the essence of what we want to accomplish, don't play with
\nwords,\" he added.<\/p>\n
ASEAN was formed in 1967 as a regional socioeconomic grouping
\nof countries and currently comprises Brunei, Indonesia, Laos,
\nMalaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and
\nVietnam.<\/p>\n
The association has so far adhered to a strict policy of
\nnonintervention, which basically stresses that each member state
\nshould not meddle in another's domestic affairs.<\/p>\n
Thailand, however, has vocally challenged this axiom and has
\nproposed that a policy of \"flexible engagement\", in which member
\nstates can freely comment on another's domestic matters.<\/p>\n
The Philippines has spoken favorably of the plan, but other
\nmember states have remained cool to the idea.<\/p>\n
Last year Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim
\nsuggested a similar idea under the term \"constructive
\nintervention\".<\/p>\n
Indonesia has remained a steadfast supporter of the
\nnonintervention principle.<\/p>\n
Speaking after the inauguration of the ASEAN Foundation here
\nyesterday, Alatas maintained that the principle of
\nnonintervention had often been misunderstood.<\/p>\n
He pointed out that on issues which greatly affect others in
\nthe region, fellow members had always engaged in dialog. One case
\nin point was the recent forest fires in Sumatra and Kalimantan
\nwhich severely affected neighboring countries.<\/p>\n
\"The essence is that ASEAN members can engage in an honest
\nexchange of thoughts if there are issues in one country which
\naffects another... The point is not to just remain quiet when
\nthere is an issue in one country which affects another just
\nbecause of the principle of noninterference.<\/p>\n
\"But why now does the principle of noninterference have to be
\nchanged? There's no relation, and this (commenting and dialog on
\nvarious issues) has been a normal practice within ASEAN,\" Alatas
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
\"I implore my colleagues in ASEAN to not be hasty... don't be
\nrash in changing words and changing the principle, it will only
\ncreate controversy among us because Indonesia is not willing to
\nchange this principle,\" Alatas asserted, adding that such a
\nprinciple was not ASEAN's alone but also part of the United
\nNations.<\/p>\n
On Monday, the main advocate of the new principle, Thai
\nforeign minister Surin Pitsuwan, stepped up his campaign for
\n\"flexible engagement\".<\/p>\n
Speaking in Sydney, Australia, Surin argued that as a result
\nof the economic downturn, ASEAN's influence and contribution to
\nregional affairs had been diminished and thus a new outlook was
\nneeded.<\/p>\n
\"Constructive engagement has been seen as a negative approach,
\na passive policy. Thailand is now suggesting flexible engagement
\non issues that have a negative impact on others in the region, be
\nit economic or political,\" he said as quoted by Reuters.<\/p>\n
Surin argued that as the \"heart of Southeast Asia\", Thailand
\nwas vulnerable to various problems in the region.<\/p>\n
\"We need to be able to discuss these issues more openly and
\nfrankly between ourselves, within the family,\" he added.<\/p>\n
During the ceremony formally inaugurating the establishment of
\nthe ASEAN Foundation, Alatas expressed hope that it would promote
\ngreater people-to-people contact.<\/p>\n
\"Through the foundation, we hope to energize a lot of
\nprojects. Of the ASEAN Foundation, much can be expected and a
\ngreat deal will be demanded,\" he said, adding that the foundation
\nwill promote human resources development, education, skills
\ntraining, health care and culture.<\/p>\n
ASEAN secretary-general Rodolfo C. Severino in his address
\nsaid the foundation could promote ASEAN awareness as well as
\nsocial cohesiveness.<\/p>\n
ASEAN member states had pledged donations to the foundation
\namounting to US$4.4 million, while the Japanese government has
\nalso pledged a fresh contribution of $20 million through a
\n\"solidarity fund\" to be established for this purpose.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian government has nominated its ambassador to
\nJapan, Wisber Loeis, to be the executive director for the first
\nthree-year term. (mds\/byg)<\/p>",
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