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)