EU hypocrisy<\/p>\n
The dialog between ASEAN and the European Union (EU) began in
\nSingapore Thursday. On many issues, particularly those relating
\nto economy and trade, the discussions proceeded smoothly. On the
\npolitical plane, however, two obstacles stood out in this year's
\nroutine meeting: Myanmar and East Timor.<\/p>\n
Regarding Myanmar, the difference between ASEAN and the
\nEuropean Union concerned the question of what attitude to take
\ntowards Yangon. ASEAN believes it is best to persuade Myanmar to
\ncontinue to increase its contacts with the outside world,
\nparticularly through ASEAN. The European Union wants the
\ninternational community to isolate Myanmar and its 50 million
\ninhabitants to exert pressure on the government and force it to
\nadopt a more democratic posture.<\/p>\n
We believe the ASEAN stance is the right one since this
\nSoutheast Asian regional organization was founded on the
\nprinciple of non-interference in each other's internal affairs.
\nThis principle has proven to be a solid foundation on which the
\nassociation has been able to grow into a successful regional
\norganization.<\/p>\n
On the other hand, there is proof that isolation as a means to
\npressure a totalitarian government into adopting a more
\ndemocratic demeanor has never been successful. One example is the
\nattempted isolation of Cuba by the United States, a process which
\nhas been going on for several decades. If the world's only
\nsuperpower has not been able to pressure a small country of just
\nover ten million people such as Cuba into becoming more
\ndemocratic, what could ASEAN -- or even the European Union for
\nthat matter -- do against a country such as Myanmar, whose
\npopulation is five times that of Cuba?<\/p>\n
We consider the EU's framework of thinking to be hypocritical.
\nIt seems the EU is more inclined to do things that make it feel
\ngood, rather than to do good. Clearly, we in ASEAN aspire for
\ndemocracy to grow in this region with the passage of time.
\nHowever, we also realize that democracy must grow from the
\ngrassroots and cannot be forced on anyone. Similarly, the EU's
\npressure on ASEAN to raise the East Timor issue is insincerely
\nmotivated. In other words, it is intended to make the EU feel
\ngood rather to do what is good for the people of East Timor.<\/p>\n
We are not closing our eyes to the fact that human rights
\nviolations do still occur in East Timor, or elsewhere in this
\ncountry, for that matter. However, if the EU is sincere in its
\nintention to minimize human rights violations in the world, there
\nare many other more effective things that could be done, such as
\nassisting the National Commission on Human Rights, or opening
\nopportunities for Indonesian civilian and military authorities to
\nundertake comparative studies regarding the practice of human
\nrights in some of the more advanced countries.<\/p>\n
-- Media Indonesia, Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/eu-hypocrisy-1447899208", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }