A betrayal of ASEAN?

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