An ASEAN quandary<\/p>\n
Within the next 100 days, the seven foreign ministers of the
\nASEAN members will decide whether to enlarge their group to 10.
\nThe current belief is that they will vote in late July to admit
\nMyanmar, Cambodia and Laos. At its 30th anniversary later in the
\nyear, the Association would be complete, with all 10 nations of
\nSoutheast Asia holding full membership. This has a neat sound to
\nit.<\/p>\n
Unfortunately, ASEAN is not really ready to accept the three
\nnew applicants. And the three Thai neighbors are far from ready
\nto join.<\/p>\n
Come July, ASEAN should keep Myanmar in the purgatory of its
\nobserver status. Admitting the country to the Association will
\ncause a lowering of respect for ASEAN. It has taken 30 years of
\neffort for ASEAN to become a highly esteemed group in world
\neconomic and political circles. Embracing the dictators of Yangon
\nwill lower that admiration, as well as the overall admiration of
\nthe group.<\/p>\n
But ASEAN ministers should also have severe second thoughts
\nabout rushing Cambodia and Laos into the group. Such action
\ncarries great risks, of the kind ASEAN has always and prudently
\navoided. None of the three new applicants has displayed the
\neconomic professionalism or respect for ASEAN rules which
\nmembership is supposed to demand.<\/p>\n
It is all very well for ASEAN ministers to claim they cannot
\nget involved in internal political affairs of members. The fact
\nis they have little choice. ASEAN delegations with Myanmarese
\nrepresentatives will be shunned in Europe, barred from America,
\nand draw demonstrators and protests elsewhere.<\/p>\n
Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia are not prepared for the trials of
\nfull ASEAN membership, either politically or economically. Their
\napplications should be held until they are ready.<\/p>\n
-- The Bangkok Post<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/an-asean-quandary-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }