Reflections on the first APA<\/p>\n
By Meidyatama Soeryodiningrat<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Nov. 24, 2000 could go down as a historic date
\nin the annals of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations
\n(ASEAN).<\/p>\n
For three days close to 300 representatives, almost all of
\nwhom were non-government, from communities of the 10 members of
\nthe regional grouping convened for the inaugural ASEAN People's
\nAssembly (APA) in Batam, Riau.<\/p>\n
The idea of having a people's forum has long been in the
\nwings.<\/p>\n
Unfortunately ASEAN government's in the past have been less
\nthan warm to the idea. The Batam meeting did not even receive the
\nblessing of the Myanmar regime, thus forcing organizers to only
\ninvite exiled dissidents from that country.<\/p>\n
However with the patience and persistence of the network of
\nASEAN Institute of Strategic and International Studies (ASEAN-
\nISIS) over the last six years, the dream of an APA finally came
\nto fruition.<\/p>\n
Despite its 30-year history and the growing democratic climate
\nin the region, ASEAN remains a polarized governments' club.<\/p>\n
Caroline G. Hernandez, founder of the Institute for Strategic
\nand Development Studies in the Philippines, points out that ASEAN
\nis limited in its reach because it has more of a top down
\napproach.<\/p>\n
\"The people were marginalized in decision making which was the
\nexclusive right of a few elite leaders,\" she said.<\/p>\n
Thus while the organization in its ASEAN Vision 2020 envisages
\na community bound by a regional identity and caring societies, it
\nis questionable given the long episode of neglect whether these
\nsocieties care about ASEAN.<\/p>\n
No one can argue that despite the list of economic and
\npolitical agreements, ASEAN has failed to create a moral
\ncommitment and personal sense of unity amongst its peoples.<\/p>\n
ASEAN has not been able to relate to its citizens and remains
\nirrelevant to the daily life of its people.<\/p>\n
But such a situation should not come as a surprise as most
\nASEAN governments religiously guard their monopoly on such
\nprocesses while often considering popular participation as a
\ndetriment rather than a contribution.<\/p>\n
The only non-government forum which has been able to garner
\nthe formal respect and regular attention of the \"track one\" ASEAN
\ngovernments' work is ASEAN-ISIS, referred to as \"track two\".<\/p>\n
But even track two is limited in its reach as it consists of
\nan exclusive circle of well-intentioned intellectuals with
\noccasional passing participation from other sectors of society.<\/p>\n
It was with this backdrop that Indonesia's Centre for
\nStrategic and International Studies (CSIS) as a member of ASEAN-
\nISIS hosted APA 2000 in Batam.<\/p>\n
Why Batam?<\/p>\n
One reason was the APA was initially designed to be parallel
\nin some way to the ASEAN informal summit in neighboring
\nSingapore.<\/p>\n
CSIS executive director Hadi Soesastro described the meeting
\nas \"an experiment to search for the participation of the people\".<\/p>\n
Simon Tay, the presiding ASEAN-ISIS chair, noted at the
\nopening that it was potentially an historic moment while further
\nconceding that \"APA is a bit of an adventure\".<\/p>\n
Learning from the lessons of the 1997 APEC Summit in Vancouver
\nand the WTO conference in Seattle earlier this year, APA's
\norganizers seemed to consciously design the gathering to avoid an
\neruption of commotion which has signified similar parallel non-
\ngovernment meetings.<\/p>\n
Simon referred to the \"lessons of Seattle\" on how to build a
\nconversation.<\/p>\n
A conversation that is loud enough that it is heard but
\nmeasured enough not to become deafening, while avoiding too many
\nvoices which leads to a cacophony rather than a conversation.<\/p>\n
But one participant who was active both in Vancouver and
\nSeattle was somewhat bemused when examining the agenda: \"We're
\nnot used to this. This is more talk than action\".<\/p>\n
The list of participants came from a wide spectrum including
\nactivists, former political detainees, businessmen, scientists,
\nresearchers and journalists, thus probably justifying the
\nseminar-like format as not everyone would have been comfortable
\nwith the kind of \"activism\" prescribed by some.<\/p>\n
Many views were put forward during the meeting. Panels were
\nestablished to discuss a variety of subjects which included
\nglobalization, human security, women's empowerment, poverty,
\nhuman rights, good governance and the environment.<\/p>\n
Altogether no less than 65 speakers delivered presentations
\nover three days. On top of that organizers pulled off a minor
\ncoup by getting President Abdurrahman Wahid to address the
\nAssembly, adding significance and recognition to the project.<\/p>\n
Nevertheless there was a feeling that the meeting, despite its
\nnoble intentions, was descending into a black hole of seminars
\nwith the only distinction being its diverse participants.<\/p>\n
There was a lack of purpose as to where discussions were
\nheading, especially as discussants often struck the brick wall of
\nASEAN canons which were uncompromising.<\/p>\n
At the end of three days there was no conclusion, no
\ndeclaration and not even any real confirmation whether an APA
\n2001 could be convened.<\/p>\n
As an \"experiment\" the inaugural APA was sufficient enough to
\nwarrant hope that it could evolve to become a moral force able to
\nexert a benign influence on ASEAN governments.<\/p>\n
But every adventure must have a purpose. It cannot be one
\nthrilling ride after another, and thus the meeting at best has to
\nbe viewed as a process, a launch pad of an idea which paves the
\nway to allow ASEAN citizens to be heard.<\/p>\n
This inaugural session should not be regarded as an end but
\nthe beginnings of something to be improved upon.<\/p>\n
One way is to liberate the participants' interchanges from the
\nrigid and stoic norms of the ASEAN mechanism which after all have
\nbeen unable to accommodate the \"popular\" voice anyway.<\/p>\n
ASEAN people's representatives, no matter how parochial,
\nshould be free to say what they want and not be limited based on
\nthe ASEAN confines.<\/p>\n
In other words the APA should be a true \"Southeast Asian
\nPeople's Assembly\" which is free of the historical-political
\nbaggage that is ASEAN.<\/p>\n
Governments have never been good at community building, which
\nhas been the domain of civil society, so why rely on principles
\nwhich they have set out?<\/p>\n
ASEAN-ISIS can then assume the role of interlocutor between
\nthis \"third track\" and first track, by translating applicable
\nproposals of the Assembly into a neat theoretical, conceptual
\npackage which could be presented to ASEAN minister or leaders.<\/p>\n
Maybe at this juncture a cacophony is a good idea to arouse a
\ndeaf and regimented ASEAN.<\/p>\n
As suggested by some participants, ASEAN-ISIS could possibly
\ndeepen the reach of APA by holding consultations or hearings on
\ncertain subjects in individual countries which would then be
\nbrought to the Assembly.<\/p>\n
ASEAN itself as an organization must also show a genuine
\ncommitment to processes which raise ASEAN's sense of community.<\/p>\n
Avid ASEAN watcher Kavi Chongkittavorn, also pointed out that
\nAPA should convene without \"foreign money\", referring to the fact
\nthat the gathering was sponsored, among others, by the Canadian
\nInternational Development Agency, Japan Official Development
\nAssistance, the Open Society Institute and the Asia Foundation.<\/p>\n
\"ASEAN must put its money where its mouth is,\" said Kavi, who
\nis editor of Thai newspaper The Nation, while noting that the
\nASEAN Foundation has refused to contribute to the process.<\/p>\n
Wisber Loeis, executive director of the ASEAN Foundation,
\nargued that while he supports the convening of APA the final
\ndisbursement of funds was up to the board of trustees which has
\ngiven priority to projects concerning human resources development
\nand poverty.<\/p>\n
With the exception of the Philippines representative the ASEAN
\nFoundation's board of trustees consists of government officials.<\/p>\n
Initially these suggestions may be a bit of fantasy, but so
\nwas the idea of APA in 1994.<\/p>\n
The momentum of the inaugural APA must be sustained. It must
\nsucceed as a window display of alternative ideas from the
\ngrassroots for ASEAN officials to reflect upon, or at least be
\naware of, when formulating their grand declarations and policies.<\/p>\n
Given the fact that spontaneous grassroots participation has
\nlagged behind in the ASEAN processes, the pace of APA's genesis
\nshould not emulate that of ASEAN.<\/p>\n
APA must be more revolutionary than evolutionary otherwise
\npeople will lose patience.<\/p>\n
Government's will remain the main catalyst of ASEAN, but the
\ngrouping will slowly become irrelevant if its own people remain
\nshunned in the process.<\/p>\n
The Assembly may not be a flawless reflection of an ASEAN of
\nthe people, by the people and for the people, but it is better
\nthan, as a former foreign minister described, \"a fraternity of
\ngovernment officials\".<\/p>\n
The writer is a journalist of The Jakarta Post.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/reflections-on-the-first-apa-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }