Alatas opposes ASEAN plan on interference

Alatas opposes ASEAN plan on interference

JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas has urged
his counterparts not to be too hasty in deserting long-
established tenets of noninterference among members of the
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and has stated
that Indonesia would certainly oppose it.

"Indonesia clearly does not agree with it," he replied when
asked by reporters about suggestions that the noninterference
principle be modified.

"Let's look at what we really want to achieve in ASEAN. Look
at the essence of what we want to accomplish, don't play with
words," he added.

ASEAN was formed in 1967 as a regional socioeconomic grouping
of countries and currently comprises Brunei, Indonesia, Laos,
Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and
Vietnam.

The association has so far adhered to a strict policy of
nonintervention, which basically stresses that each member state
should not meddle in another's domestic affairs.

Thailand, however, has vocally challenged this axiom and has
proposed that a policy of "flexible engagement", in which member
states can freely comment on another's domestic matters.

The Philippines has spoken favorably of the plan, but other
member states have remained cool to the idea.

Last year Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim
suggested a similar idea under the term "constructive
intervention".

Indonesia has remained a steadfast supporter of the
nonintervention principle.

Speaking after the inauguration of the ASEAN Foundation here
yesterday, Alatas maintained that the principle of
nonintervention had often been misunderstood.

He pointed out that on issues which greatly affect others in
the region, fellow members had always engaged in dialog. One case
in point was the recent forest fires in Sumatra and Kalimantan
which severely affected neighboring countries.

"The essence is that ASEAN members can engage in an honest
exchange of thoughts if there are issues in one country which
affects another... The point is not to just remain quiet when
there is an issue in one country which affects another just
because of the principle of noninterference.

"But why now does the principle of noninterference have to be
changed? There's no relation, and this (commenting and dialog on
various issues) has been a normal practice within ASEAN," Alatas
said.

"I implore my colleagues in ASEAN to not be hasty... don't be
rash in changing words and changing the principle, it will only
create controversy among us because Indonesia is not willing to
change this principle," Alatas asserted, adding that such a
principle was not ASEAN's alone but also part of the United
Nations.

On Monday, the main advocate of the new principle, Thai
foreign minister Surin Pitsuwan, stepped up his campaign for
"flexible engagement".

Speaking in Sydney, Australia, Surin argued that as a result
of the economic downturn, ASEAN's influence and contribution to
regional affairs had been diminished and thus a new outlook was
needed.

"Constructive engagement has been seen as a negative approach,
a passive policy. Thailand is now suggesting flexible engagement
on issues that have a negative impact on others in the region, be
it economic or political," he said as quoted by Reuters.

Surin argued that as the "heart of Southeast Asia", Thailand
was vulnerable to various problems in the region.

"We need to be able to discuss these issues more openly and
frankly between ourselves, within the family," he added.

During the ceremony formally inaugurating the establishment of
the ASEAN Foundation, Alatas expressed hope that it would promote
greater people-to-people contact.

"Through the foundation, we hope to energize a lot of
projects. Of the ASEAN Foundation, much can be expected and a
great deal will be demanded," he said, adding that the foundation
will promote human resources development, education, skills
training, health care and culture.

ASEAN secretary-general Rodolfo C. Severino in his address
said the foundation could promote ASEAN awareness as well as
social cohesiveness.

ASEAN member states had pledged donations to the foundation
amounting to US$4.4 million, while the Japanese government has
also pledged a fresh contribution of $20 million through a
"solidarity fund" to be established for this purpose.

The Indonesian government has nominated its ambassador to
Japan, Wisber Loeis, to be the executive director for the first
three-year term. (mds/byg)