Thailand to challenge ASEAN policy taboo<\/p>\n
BANGKOK (Reuters): Thailand is likely to ruffle a few feathers
\nat next week's ASEAN foreign ministers meeting by pushing for
\nregional action on cross-border crime and trafficking in drugs
\nand people.<\/p>\n
Bangkok wants to flesh out a proposal it made two years ago to
\nmove the bloc from a policy of mutual \"non-interference\" to more
\nactive cooperation, Thai and regional officials say.<\/p>\n
The ASEAN meetings begin on July 24 and end on July 29.<\/p>\n
Thailand says it will promote its so-called \"troika\" plan for
\nreform of the 10-member Association of South East Asian Nations,
\nsomething it hopes might speed the bloc's response to crises such
\nas the region's financial meltdown in 1997.<\/p>\n
The \"troika\" proposal is inspired by the European Union's
\npractice of having the current EU president head a three-way,
\ndecision-making group to lead on ad hoc issues.<\/p>\n
The move challenges one of ASEAN's most treasured tenets --
\nthat members do not meddle in the affairs of their neighbors.
\n\"Our initiative on 'flexible engagement', which has evolved into
\n'enhanced interaction', is part of our effort to ensure that
\nASEAN is more effective, cohesive and relevant to the changing
\nworld situation,\" Thai Foreign Minister Surin Pitsuwan wrote in
\nSunday's Bangkok Post newspaper.<\/p>\n
\"This will allow us to be alerted to potential problems before
\nthey arise and enable us to cooperate to address such issues
\nconstructively as partners and neighbors,\" he added.<\/p>\n
Simon Tay, chairman Singapore's Institute of International
\nAffairs, said Thailand's initiative would challenge some
\nprejudices: \"They want to see a much more active ASEAN. I think
\nthat's ambitious by ASEAN standards but it's also very relevant.\"<\/p>\n
TROIKA PLAN HINGES ON COMPROMISE<\/p>\n
\"A lot depends on what compromises they can offer to the most
\nstatist regimes who are concerned about the troika becoming a
\nforum for activism and interference,\" he told Reuters.<\/p>\n
ASEAN groups liberal, elected governments such as in Thailand
\nand the Philippines with more tightly controlled regimes such as
\nthose in Laos, Vietnam and Myanmar. The other ASEAN members are
\nBrunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore.<\/p>\n
Tay said the troika proposal risked being watered down to
\nnothing at the meeting.<\/p>\n
More immediately relevant, he said, would be real action to
\ncombat cross-border drugs trade, crime and human trafficking.
\n\"If we could see some substantive progress on trafficking in
\nwomen and children, that would be much more important,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Drugs have long plagued Thailand, which borders Malaysia,
\nMyanmar, Laos and Cambodia and has an extensive coastline.<\/p>\n
Myanmar is the world's second largest producer of opium and
\nits derivative heroin, as well as a major source of amphetamines.<\/p>",
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