An ASEAN quandary

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