Empowering ASEAN's grassroots<\/p>\n
Christine Susanna Tjhin, Centre for Strategic and International Studies
\n(CSIS), Jakarta<\/p>\n
Around 200 participants representing the grassroots throughout
\nSoutheast Asia gathered at the third ASEAN People's Assembly
\n(APA) from Sept. 24 to 27 in Manila. A diverse representation of
\nnon-governmental organizations (NGOs), including think tanks and
\nadvocacy NGOs and officials, assembled to discuss a multitude of
\nissues pertaining to the region.<\/p>\n
The APA endeavors to nurture a sense of ownership of ASEAN
\namong the region's peoples, a sense that has almost been non-
\nexistent, given that civil society has virtually been left out of
\npolicy formulation under the ASEAN mechanism. The Assembly
\nencourages participation by providing the space and networking to
\ngenerate policy inputs from the region's grassroots.<\/p>\n
One of APA's most important action plans is to have a regular
\npeople-initiated, concerted assessment of democratization in
\nSoutheast Asia. With a regional civil society watchdog equipped
\nwith a solid democratization assessment framework, Southeast
\nAsians would be better able to address issues of democratization
\ncritically within the unique context of each country and the
\nregion.<\/p>\n
From there, the APA network would not only put greater
\npressure on Southeast Asian governments, but also propose
\nrelevant policy inputs to empower the grassroots level during the
\nperiod of democratic transition. These policy recommendations
\ncould then be submitted to government leaders at the annual ASEAN
\nSummit where, hopefully, they will not fall on deaf ears.<\/p>\n
For the NGO representatives, the APA is a fruitful sharing,
\nlearning and networking forum, considering the diverse capacities
\nof these representatives from different countries, especially in
\nterms of the gap between those with a more advanced democratic
\nculture, such as the Philippines, and those yet to develop one,
\nsuch as Burma.<\/p>\n
At this point, a draft framework for democratization
\nassessment has already been proposed. Its trial application, in
\nwhich Indonesia and the Philippines were case studies, has also
\nbeen presented.<\/p>\n
Besides the reluctance of APA country representatives to make
\nthe assessment, ASEAN governments' lack of political will remains
\nthe most regrettable nuisance. The question is, how long will it
\ntake for ASEAN leaders to start descending from their golden
\nthrones to face their people?<\/p>\n
This call is directed principally to the Indonesian
\ngovernment, which has recently been quite aggressive in
\nattempting to win back its title as the regional body's \"natural
\nleader\". Indonesia is hosting the ASEAN Summit from Oct. 7 to 8
\nin Bali this year, and flaunting the theme \"Towards an ASEAN
\neconomic and security community\".<\/p>\n
Is there actually any place for the people -- as in the real
\npeople -- in that \"community\"?<\/p>\n
What is often considered an important issue about the APA is
\nto what extent it could actually influence ASEAN policy-making
\nand the policy-making of its member states. Skeptics will
\ncontinue to demand tangible benefits from the APA, aside from the
\npiles of declarations produced at the ASEAN People's Assembly to
\nbe submitted to the Summit.<\/p>\n
The ASEAN People's Declaration produced this year at the
\nAssembly plainly sets out the need for people-oriented policies
\nand the extent to which these policies can successfully be
\nimplemented, particularly in regards ensuring empowerment as an
\nintegral part of the region's transition to democracy.<\/p>\n
If it is difficult for ASEAN leaders to face their peoples,
\nwhat good, indeed, are these so-called \"people's declarations\"?
\nOne should note that the original concept of an ASEAN Economic
\nand Security Community, the theme offered for this year's Summit,
\nactually emerged during a discourse among the APA network.<\/p>\n
More imperative to the APA's existence is the extent to which
\nparticipants make use of this space. The key purpose of the APA
\nis to bridge governments and their people, as the Assembly is
\nmore sensitized toward the practical realities of the region.
\nThis sensitivity can only be nurtured through grassroots
\nparticipation, as they share their experiences and contributions
\non a variety of regional issues and concerns.<\/p>\n
Despite ASEAN's apparent reluctance and the ignorance of
\nmember governments toward the need to involve and heed their
\npeople's inputs in policy-making, local NGOs in the region should
\nembrace the available opportunity within the space provided by
\nthe APA by taking the initiative through various activities.<\/p>\n
The greater their participation in the People's Assembly, the
\nlouder the Southeast Asian people's voice will ring.<\/p>\n
The writer is also a research associate at the Indonesian
\nPluralism Institute (IPI).<\/p>",
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