A betrayal of ASEAN?

For the past 30 years, the world has had nothing but praise if not admiration for the spirit of cooperation among countries united under the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), whose members include Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand and Myanmar.

ASEAN drew the world's attention because of its exemplary regional cooperation. With the existence of such a forum, it seemed any dispute could be settled amicably through negotiations.

The world's superpowers often courted ASEAN with bilateral agreements and the grouping has contributed significantly to international stability and world peace. Within the framework of the United Nations, too, the advice of ASEAN leaders was frequently sought and heeded to bring about compromises on delicate issues.

The ASEAN community has fared well as a result of such favorable peaceful international conditions even after the negative impact of the U.S. invasion of Iraq.

However, a few quick developments shattered this ASEAN accord. The border dispute between Indonesia and Malaysia escalated quickly, leading almost to armed confrontation between two close allies and senior ASEAN partners. Friends quickly became enemies. The Malaysian flag was burned in front of the Malaysian Embassy in Jakarta. Some Indonesians, meanwhile, demanded the severing of diplomatic ties with Malaysia and the recall of the Indonesian ambassador from Kuala Lumpur.

The atmosphere was indeed as if ASEAN had ceased to exist. The regional grouping's solidarity became a thing of the past and the laudable ASEAN spirit is now nowhere to be found, at least, when Malaysia and Indonesia are disputing the waters surrounding the Ambalat Block, a deep sea oil field that both claim ownership of.

This shows that the ASEAN spirit only existed as a formality and did not have deep roots. The dispute is tragic, absurd and, I dare say idiotic, if seen alongside ASEAN's original aspirations.

ASEAN leaders should be ashamed for allowing a dispute about a small affair, although with huge economic significance, to escalate.

The group's machinery should now be set in motion to bring an end to this foolish misbehavior. Perhaps it would be a good idea to set up an ASEAN-led cooperative venture with both countries together exploiting the potential of the waters bordering Indonesia and Malaysia.

At any rate, ASEAN must be willing to admit that its credibility is dented; that it is proverbially flying its flag at half mast. Starting a war over a small territorial dispute, would be a complete betrayal of the ASEAN spirit and aspirations.

GANDHI SUKARDI, Jakarta