An ASEAN quandary

Within the next 100 days, the seven foreign ministers of the ASEAN members will decide whether to enlarge their group to 10. The current belief is that they will vote in late July to admit Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos. At its 30th anniversary later in the year, the Association would be complete, with all 10 nations of Southeast Asia holding full membership. This has a neat sound to it.

Unfortunately, ASEAN is not really ready to accept the three new applicants. And the three Thai neighbors are far from ready to join.

Come July, ASEAN should keep Myanmar in the purgatory of its observer status. Admitting the country to the Association will cause a lowering of respect for ASEAN. It has taken 30 years of effort for ASEAN to become a highly esteemed group in world economic and political circles. Embracing the dictators of Yangon will lower that admiration, as well as the overall admiration of the group.

But ASEAN ministers should also have severe second thoughts about rushing Cambodia and Laos into the group. Such action carries great risks, of the kind ASEAN has always and prudently avoided. None of the three new applicants has displayed the economic professionalism or respect for ASEAN rules which membership is supposed to demand.

It is all very well for ASEAN ministers to claim they cannot get involved in internal political affairs of members. The fact is they have little choice. ASEAN delegations with Myanmarese representatives will be shunned in Europe, barred from America, and draw demonstrators and protests elsewhere.

Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia are not prepared for the trials of full ASEAN membership, either politically or economically. Their applications should be held until they are ready.

-- The Bangkok Post