ASEAN spotlight turns to Bangkok<\/p>\n
BANGKOK: When the heads of government from the ASEAN countries
\nmeet in Bangkok from Dec. 14 to 15, it will be a milestone in the
\nhistory of Thailand's foreign relations -- the first top-level
\ngathering Thailand has hosted for ASEAN leaders.<\/p>\n
The fifth summit also provides the rare opportunity for the
\nleaders of Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar to meet their ASEAN
\ncounterparts at one sitting. It is a godsend for Thailand -- as
\nthe host and with its location in the heart of Southeast Asia --
\nto be able to organize this meeting at this time.<\/p>\n
Apart from the diplomatic pleasantries and fanfare, the fifth
\nsummit will seek to demonstrate the active role Thailand is
\nplaying in promoting cooperation and setting the future direction
\nof ASEAN.<\/p>\n
Domestically, it will also boost the image of the beleaguered
\nBanharn government. Prime Minister Banharn Silapaarcha will be
\nable to discuss and rub shoulders with other veteran ASEAN
\nleaders.<\/p>\n
Of all the ASEAN leaders, Banharn is the least exposed to and
\nhas very little experience in regional politics. He will be
\nattending his first summit while all the others have attended at
\nleast two. Indonesian President Soeharto is the only ASEAN leader
\nwho has attended all the previous four summits.<\/p>\n
For the Thai public, it will also be an opportunity for them
\nto show their hospitality and, most of all, maturity. Everybody
\ncan play a role in the summit.<\/p>\n
Trying to comprehend what the country is seeking to achieve is
\nthe first step. Thais must also show the ASEAN leaders their
\nvitality and dynamism in a society which is striving to become
\ndemocratic.<\/p>\n
Moreover, despite the usual headaches associated with the
\ntraffic jams and other social problems, Thais live in a country
\nthat respects freedom of speech and transparency.<\/p>\n
With such wide-ranging objective in mind, it is not surprising
\nthat the host is working hard to advance its agenda. As in
\nprevious ASEAN summits, the hosts will play an influential role
\nin shaping the form and substance of these high level meetings.<\/p>\n
Both Indonesia and Malaysia, as hosts of the first and second
\nASEAN summits in 1976 and 1977 respectively, were able to promote
\npolitical solidarity among ASEAN countries in responding to
\nchanges in regional politics. The Bali Concord and the Treaty of
\nAmity and Cooperation were signed.<\/p>\n
The Philippines used the third summit in 1987 to boost the
\nstability of the government of President Corazon Aquino and push
\nfor the realization of a Southeast Asia Nuclear-Weapons Free
\nZone. With the strong support of Singapore, the host of the
\nfourth summit in 1992, the ASEAN Free Trade Area was launched
\nwith gusto.<\/p>\n
Without exception, Thailand has already made clear that the
\nhighlight of the fifth summit will be the meeting of the leaders
\nof Southeast Asian countries on Dec. 15, 1995. Thailand wishes to
\nsee the informal meeting between the leaders of ASEAN and Laos,
\nCambodia and Myanmar as being the first towards the realization
\nof one Southeast Asia.<\/p>\n
When the founding fathers of ASEAN signed the Bangkok
\nDeclaration on Aug. 8, 1967, they hoped that other Southeast
\nAsian countries might one day join ASEAN. Therefore, it is a
\ndream come true that this historic meeting will take place on the
\nbanks of the Chao Praya river.<\/p>\n
At the sixth ASEAN Ministerial Meeting in Pattaya in April
\n1973. Gen. Chatichai Choonhavan, who was serving as deputy
\nforeign minister, proposed a conference of all Southeast Asian
\nnations. He said that informal gathering could afford
\nopportunities for the leaders of all the countries in this region
\nto have close consultations for the common benefit of all.<\/p>\n
Throughout the preparations for the summit, Thailand
\nvigorously defended the idea of integrating Laos, Cambodia and
\nMyanmar into the mainstream of ASEAN. Thailand has officially
\ntabled an ASEAN Development Cooperation Program for the
\nconsideration of ASEAN.<\/p>\n
The program is designed to help lesser developed countries in
\nSoutheast Asia in areas of human resources development. Together
\nwith this proposal, Thailand has put forward the idea of creating
\nan ASEAN Volunteer Corps, fashioned along the lines of the U.S.
\nPeace Corps, to provide assistance to ASEAN's neighbors.<\/p>\n
These two plans are now being considered by ASEAN. Although
\nASEAN has welcomed the Thai initiatives in principle, some of
\nthem have questioned Thailand's motives. Others argue that it
\nwould be difficult to implement the ideas effectively as ASEAN-
\nled projects because of member countries's limited funding. They
\nsaid ASEAN should not change its status from being a recipient to
\nbeing a donor group of countries.<\/p>\n
Almost all ASEAN countries have bilateral assistant programs
\nwith Laos, Cambodia and to a certain degree with Myanmar. ASEAN
\nhas yet to agree on a common program under the ASEAN banner to
\nassist these countries. Doubtless, it is incumbent on Thailand to
\nconvince the ASEAN countries that these proposals would benefit
\nthe region as a whole more than they benefit Thailand.<\/p>\n
While Thailand is pushing its agenda, other ASEAN countries,
\nhave chosen to move cautiously. Singapore, Brunei and Malaysia
\nhave indicated they want to see the Bangkok summit making further
\nprogress on intra-ASEAN economic cooperation. Their leaders have
\nexpressed support for the acceleration of the ASEAN Free Trade
\nArea (AFTA). The Sultan of Brunei expressed the hope in July of
\nthis year that ASEAN should try to complete the AFTA scheme by
\nthe year 2000. Indonesia, the Philippines and to some extent,
\nThailand, were less enthusiastic. They are more into development
\ncooperation.<\/p>\n
Nonetheless, as in the fourth summit, the Bangkok Summit will
\nattempt to speed up the implementation of AFTA and at the same
\ntime come up with new areas of cooperation. Two draft agreements
\non services and intellectual property rights are being finalized
\nby the ASEAN senior officials. The ASEAN leaders are expected to
\nsign the two agreements at their summit. At the summit, the ASEAN
\nleaders also plan to enhance cooperation in finance, banking,
\ninvestment and industrial policy.<\/p>\n
The fifth summit's agenda will not be confined to political
\nand economic issues. Other pertinent topics such as the
\nenvironment, education, AIDS and the role of non-governmental
\norganizations will also be taken up. Towards this end, Thailand
\nhas already proposed a plan to establish a grassroots advisory
\nforum, which will form a network of non-governmental
\norganizations, academic and other interested groups so that they
\ncan provide input to ASEAN.<\/p>\n
The idea was first mooted by Foreign Minister Kasem Kasemsri
\nat the annual ASEAN meeting in Brunei in July this year. ASEAN
\ncountries, such as Singapore and Brunei, which do not have non-
\ngovernmental organizations, think this proposal is premature.
\nIndonesia, which has over 10,000 government-sponsored NGOs, has
\nbeen equally reluctant. Only the Philippines is receptive to the
\nidea.<\/p>\n
Obviously, Thailand would like to promote this proposal as a
\ncommon endeavor to encourage the participation of grassroots
\norganizations in shaping the future of ASEAN. Thailand sees this
\nprocess as an essential part of the democratic process. For
\nothers, the plan might sound a bit too ideal and too political.<\/p>\n
In pursuing Thailand's objectives, the Thai leaders must not
\nlose sight of the common ASEAN interest in the fifth summit.
\nThere is an unhealthy tendency among concerned authorities to
\n"overdo" things during the so-called "big events". In the case of
\nthe summit, it could turn into a farce if the hosts become too
\nself-indulgent. Secondly, the summit must be free from political
\ninterferences. Remember, this is not a summit to promote the Chat
\nThai Party or the Nam Thai Party, or for that matter, its
\nleaders.<\/p>\n
In the end, Thailand and its people must make sure that the
\nfifth summit is a success as its outcome will have far-reaching
\nramifications for the future of Thailand and Southeast Asia. The
\nfirst brick must be laid firmly in Bangkok in order to move
\ntoward these ultimate objectives. If Thailand fails, it will have
\nto wait another 21 years for the opportunity to host another
\nASEAN summit.<\/p>\n
-- The Nation<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/asean-spotlight-turns-to-bangkok-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }