ASEAN noninterference needs reconsidering<\/p>\n
The ASEAN policy of noninterference has long afforded members
\nof our little community the opportunity to misbehave in the
\ncertain knowledge that if the neighbors saw something, they would
\ninsist that they had not. The policy enabled us to sit by as
\nwrongs were committed but left us speechless with rage and
\nfrustration when the consequences were visited upon us.<\/p>\n
The brand of noninterference that prevails in the Association
\nof Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has been a handy one for the
\nmore politically backward members of the club. It said blankly
\nthat what goes on within the borders of a country is a matter for
\nthat country alone, and the neighbors had better respect that. It
\nfollowed that solidarity was a good thing because a united ASEAN
\ncould tell Western critics of humans rights abuses and the like
\nto keep their long noses out of affairs that do not even interest
\nthe locals.<\/p>\n
Human rights is a difficult issue for ASEAN, particularly for
\nits conferral of membership on the junta in Rangoon (Yangon), as
\nopposed to Burma (Myanmar) and its people. That awfully backward
\nstep can be attributed to an ASEAN led by people who preferred
\nnot to notice that the regime abuses its people and exports
\nproblems, such as drugs. Such blindness is not universal: The
\ninternational community will not talk to the junta no matter how
\noften ASEAN tries to play matchmaker.<\/p>\n
The international community is unlikely to look any more
\nfondly upon the junta until it changes its ways and ceases to be
\na regional embarrassment.<\/p>\n
-- The Bangkok Post<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/asean-noninterference-needs-reconsidering-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }