Constructive intervention?<\/p>\n
Given our traditional respect for convention, it seems almost
\nlike blasphemy to be even talking about the possibility of the
\nAssociation of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) intervening in
\nCambodia. Nonintervention in the domestic affairs of others,
\nafter all, is a principle of international politics and diplomacy
\nwhich is honored not only by the nations of this region, but the
\nworld over.<\/p>\n
And yet, it is precisely this particular aspect, more than any
\nother, that has attracted the attention of outsiders in the
\nrelationship between ASEAN and Cambodia in the wake of what has
\nhappened in that country in the past few weeks. Most of us in
\nthis region hesitate to call the ousting of Cambodia's First
\nPrime Minister Norodom Ranariddh by Second Prime Minister Hun
\nSen, a coup d'etat. Here again, our traditional respect for the
\nsensitivities of others is apparent.<\/p>\n
But the inescapable point is that, coup or no coup, Hun Sen's
\nmove has in one single stroke replunged Cambodia into turmoil by
\ndemolishing whatever progress had been achieved through much
\npainstaking effort by the United Nations and individual
\ncountries, including Indonesia and other ASEAN members.<\/p>\n
It took a good deal of time and tireless diplomatic effort on
\nthe part of those countries concerned to persuade Cambodia's
\nwarring factions to lay down their arms and sit down at the
\nnegotiating table to work out a peace agreement that would end
\ntwo decades of bloody internal strife and enable the country to
\nmobilize its resources for the more charitable purpose of
\ndevelopment.<\/p>\n
Little wonder that the latest turn of events has appalled the
\nworld, particularly Cambodia's neighbors. Not only does all the
\ntime, effort and money that has been spent seem to have been in
\nvain, the renewed turmoil in Cambodia threatens to upset the
\nregion's stability and progress and spillover into neighboring
\ncountries.<\/p>\n
The concern which the world has shown over Cambodia in the
\npast decade was, after all, not merely born of compassion. In
\ntoday's increasingly interdependent world, no country can afford
\nto assume the role of an unconcerned spectator while war is
\nconsuming another. The risks are all the more apparent when the
\nturmoil threatens one of the world's most dynamic regions:
\nSoutheast Asia.<\/p>\n
In light of all this, ASEAN's grave concern over the situation
\nin Cambodia is wholly understandable. Equally understandable is
\nits decision to defer the country's admission into the grouping
\nwhile keeping the door open pending a solution of the country's
\nproblems. So, too, is its offer to mediate a solution.<\/p>\n
But that, of course, is looking at the problem from our own
\npoint of view. Others may disagree. Hun Sen, for one, is not too
\nhappy with ASEAN's concern over his actions. He has warned ASEAN
\nin no uncertain words not to meddle, and to stay out of what he
\nconsiders to be Cambodia's internal affairs.<\/p>\n
But is this intervention? Opinions may differ. ASEAN, after
\nall, has not actually interceded in the conflict between Hun Sen
\nand Ranariddh. But when one considers the fact that many people
\nin this region regard sanctions, or even vocal criticism of the
\nsituation in Myanmar, as intervention, then it would be hard to
\nescape the impression that our own actions toward Cambodia can,
\nindeed, be regarded as a form of intervention.<\/p>\n
In any case, the time may have come for this region to take
\nthe bull by the horns and consider both the possibilities and the
\nimplications of what the Malaysians call \"constructive
\nintervention\". In some cases a well-intentioned departure from
\nthe time-honored principle of strict nonintervention may be
\nwarranted.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/constructive-intervention-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}