ASEAN vision<\/p>\n
The informal summit marking the 30th anniversary of the
\nAssociation of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) which winds up in
\nKuala Lumpur today is a historic milestone for the regional
\ngroup. It is a time not only to look back at its achievements --
\nwhich are plenty -- but an opportunity to look to the future, to
\nset forth a new vision for the region.<\/p>\n
The absence of Indonesia's President Soeharto, the sole
\nsurvivor among the original five ASEAN leaders who put together
\ntheir vision for the region 30 years ago, while greatly lamented,
\nshould not dampen the festive mood. Neither should the currency
\ncontagion that has affected three of the nine ASEAN members.<\/p>\n
In the 30 years of its history, ASEAN has seen far worse
\npredicaments than the present economic crisis. If jointly
\nresolving crises is the raison d'etre of ASEAN, then there is no
\nreason to be pessimistic. Whatever crises ASEAN or its members
\nface, they can be resolved, sooner or later. Looking at how far
\nASEAN has come in the last three decades, the present economic
\ncrisis is simply an aberration, a temporary setback in the march
\ntoward a peaceful and prosperous Southeast Asia.<\/p>\n
ASEAN was founded in 1967 at the height of the Cold War. The
\nregion had become a primary theater for the ideological war waged
\nbetween the two superpowers at the time. Southeast Asia was
\nfilled with bloody conflicts, making it impossible for any
\ncountry to develop its economy -- a condition that the leaders
\nknew would keep their people in perpetual backwardness. Thus, the
\nleaders of Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and
\nThailand cast aside their mutual suspicions and sent their
\nforeign ministers to Bangkok to sign a declaration which founded
\nASEAN.<\/p>\n
By today's standards, their vision appears modest: peace in
\nthe region and prosperity for its people. But these were
\nambitious undertakings when set against the backdrop of a very
\nturbulent Southeast Asia. Their goal for ASEAN to encompass all
\ncountries in the region were put on hold, first by the escalation
\nof the Vietnam War, and later by the prolonged war in Cambodia.<\/p>\n
ASEAN expanded its membership as its existing members forged
\nahead with their cooperation programs and took the diplomatic
\nlead in resolving the conflicts in Cambodia. Brunei joined in
\n1984, Vietnam in 1995, and Laos and Myanmar this year. Cambodia,
\nstill mired in civil war, is the lone Southeast Asian country
\noutside the ASEAN fold. Its membership, expected next year, would
\nmake ASEAN an organization worthy of its name.<\/p>\n
Even as they strived toward resolving the various regional
\nconflicts, the existing ASEAN members continued to work, jointly
\nand individually, to strengthen their economies. Along with
\neconomic strength then came political strength. ASEAN as a group
\nhas gained greater recognition in international diplomacy.<\/p>\n
Its annual foreign ministers' meeting is now attended by the
\nmajor powers and the world's economic powerhouses. More recently,
\nit founded the ASEAN Regional Forum where Asian security issues,
\nincluding real and potential conflicts, are addressed in a forum
\ninvolving ASEAN members, the major Asian countries and all the
\nworld's major powers. The fact that the leaders of China, Japan
\nand South Korea are attending this week's summit in Kuala Lumpur
\nunderscores ASEAN's importance -- politically and economically.<\/p>\n
Looking back at the achievements of ASEAN, the leaders who are
\nmeeting in Kuala Lumpur this week have every right to pat
\nthemselves on the back. They also have rightly paid tribute to
\ntheir visionary leaders who founded ASEAN 30 years ago.<\/p>\n
But more than a feel-good summit, the leaders should also
\nreview, fine tune or renew the vision that was put forth by their
\npredecessors 30 years ago. Not only does ASEAN encompass more
\nmembers, the conditions have greatly changed since 1967.<\/p>\n
As the current economic crisis shows, the challenges facing
\nASEAN, individually or collectively, are not getting any easier.
\nBut if ASEAN members show the same spirit, commitment and resolve
\nthat they have shown these past three decades, then they should
\nbe able to sail past even the roughest seas ahead of them.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/asean-vision-1447899208",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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