Will RI commit ASEAN's sin?<\/p>\n
By Meidyatama Suryodiningrat<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): There had been much anticipation that the advent
\nof a new government and climate of reform here would also usher a
\nnew era of openness in Indonesia foreign policy.<\/p>\n
Such expectations are expected to come to the fore during the
\nannual ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Ministerial
\nMeeting which starts Monday in Bangkok.<\/p>\n
Indonesia, known in the past as a bastion of the association's
\ncardinal principle of non-intervention, was expected to bend
\nslightly in favor of a more open principle through flexible
\nengagement which has been touted for sometime by Thailand and the
\nPhilippines.<\/p>\n
As the "big brother" of ASEAN, Jakarta's acceptance, albeit
\nreticent, would go along way in influencing other members.<\/p>\n
However, in the past fortnight what has emerged is not a
\nsoftening but a hardening of Indonesia's advocacy towards non-
\nintervention.<\/p>\n
Both President Abdurrahman Wahid and Foreign Minister Alwi
\nShihab have stressed that under no circumstances would Indonesia
\ntolerate any form of intervention in the Maluku islands despite
\nthe inability of the government to quell 19-months of violence
\nthat has afflicted the province.<\/p>\n
In fact Alwi is expected to exploit the gathering in Bangkok
\nto enforce these views by going on the offensive and get an ASEAN
\nconsensus on the issue.<\/p>\n
Jakarta's position on the matter seems to hinge on two
\nunderlying motives: desperation and to a lesser extent loyalty to
\nformally pronounced principles.<\/p>\n
Desperation from the fact that any foreign presence to calm
\nthe Maluku situation would further wane Abdurrahman's battered
\ngovernment.<\/p>\n
At this critical juncture of his government, Abdurrahman
\ncannot be seen as giving away one of the few precious things the
\nnation still has -- its pride, its sovereignty.<\/p>\n
On the question of principle, it seems Jakarta's retractable
\nposition looks to be based merely on the sake of principle for
\nthe sake of principle itself without any real conviction.<\/p>\n
It lacks consistency and flies in the face of what many have
\nsaid Abdurrahman Wahid stands for -- a democrat who advocates
\npluralism and open societies.<\/p>\n
International affairs researcher Rizal Sukma of the Center for
\nStrategic and International Studies pointed out, however, that
\nthe President may himself have violated the principle of non-
\nintervention when he asked to meet with opposition leader Aung
\nSan Suu Kyi during a visit to Myanmar last year.<\/p>\n
Despite the formal stance that it would not tolerate a
\ndeviation of the non-intervention policy, diplomats have already
\nconceded that the process of democratization in the country has
\nprompted changes in the practice of diplomacy.<\/p>\n
"Indonesia is not completely closed," Adian Silalahi, Director
\nGeneral for ASEAN at the Indonesian Foreign Ministry, replied
\nwhen asked by The Jakarta Post about Indonesia's reaction if
\ndomestic issues are discussed during the Bangkok meeting.<\/p>\n
"We still adhere to those principles, but I believe that on
\nthis issue (non-intervention) we are more open now," he added.<\/p>\n
"It is no longer a principle which cannot be discussed.
\nIndonesia is more open, more flexible because of the
\ndemocratization process".<\/p>\n
He cited the question of Aceh as an example.<\/p>\n
"If it is brought up in ASEAN why not? Aceh is not like (our
\npast attitude) on East Timor," he said referring to Jakarta's
\nstern refusal for the issue to brought up in the past.<\/p>\n
"If there are some ideas about it that's all right, as long as
\nit is strengthening our integrity and national sovereignty.<\/p>\n
"We will not initiate (a discussion) on a domestic problem but
\nwe will certainly not be intractable," he explained while adding
\nthat Indonesia will not initiate discussions on other countries'
\ndomestic matters.<\/p>\n
Drawing on his own experience, Adian admits that the practice
\nof diplomacy now is less burdensome.<\/p>\n
"In international forums now we have less of a burden. In the
\npast there were always instructions. Don't do this, don't do
\nthat.<\/p>\n
"This is completely a new face, the burden's gone. So our
\nforeign policy is actually now more active and flexible," Adian
\nremarked.<\/p>\n
Researcher Rizal Sukma noted that Abdurrahman's government
\nfaces a dilemma on the issue of balancing a desire to calibrate
\nthe democratic reforms in the country with foreign policy while
\nnot upsetting ASEAN's traditional position.<\/p>\n
However, "if pressures for democratization grow and the role
\nof non-state actors increases, it is not unlikely that pressure
\nfor change will heighten," he said.<\/p>\n
Nevertheless, such a change is unlikely to occur in the near
\nfuture as domestic fears of foreign intervention, particularly
\nfrom "western" states will restrict such a shift.<\/p>\n
A sudden change in Indonesia's position on non-interference
\n"goes against the current feelings of domestic insecurity,
\ninternal vulnerability and susceptibility towards foreign
\nintervention," Rizal asserted.<\/p>\n
Nevertheless, he asserts that Indonesia still needs to engage
\nin discussions and begin the process of formulating its position
\non the matter in light of the increasing international trend for
\nhumanitarian intervention.<\/p>\n
Despite concerns, Rizal advocates an acceptance of "flexible
\nengagement" which would allow ASEAN members to raise domestic
\nissue which have a regional impact.<\/p>\n
By accepting such a concept, which is expected to be pushed
\nforward again by ASEAN Ministerial Meeting chair Thai Foreign
\nMinister Surin Pitsuwan, Indonesia can show that it can
\naccommodate the dilemma for "order and justice" in the region.<\/p>\n
"Indonesia should demonstrate that as a democratic state which
\nupholds human rights, it will not neglect rights violations,"
\nRizal argued.<\/p>\n
Similarly, political scientist J. Soedjati Djiwandono also
\nadvocates the need for Indonesia, as the primus inter pares in
\nASEAN, to take the lead in a review of the association's non-
\nintervention policy.<\/p>\n
He blasted ASEAN's watered-down rhetoric of "constructive
\nengagement" in dealing with rights violations such as those
\nallegedly occurring in Myanmar.<\/p>\n
"There needs to be a review of the politics of non-
\ninterference," Soedjati said adding that only through this can
\nsome "real meat" be given to constructive engagement.<\/p>\n
While ASEAN ministers may adopt a new acceptable buzzword to
\ndisguise their lack of progress on the issue during the two day
\nmeeting in Bangkok, ASEAN will increasingly be cornered to
\nacknowledge that the development of good governance, construction
\nof a civil society and respect for human rights in a democratic
\npluralistic society is the responsibility of all.<\/p>\n
Concrete actions to honor these ideals must be taken which in
\nsome form or another will compromise the sin of non-intervention.<\/p>\n
The author is a staff-writer at The Jakarta Post.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/will-ri-commit-aseans-sin-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }