An end to coups in Southeast Asia?

Meidyatama Suryodiningrat, The Jakarta Post, Vientiane

Coup d'etats and military takeovers could be a thing of the past if leaders of the 10 southeast Asian nations are truly committed in their pledge to ending unconstitutional changes in the region.

For a region which has which experienced repeated domestic overthrows over the past three decades, the move marks a departure and an apparent commitment to democratic processes, in contrast to the often militaristic manner in which these same countries have sometimes been governed.

These commitments are contained within the ASEAN Security Community Plan of Action that, along with the Vientiane ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community Plan of Action and the Vientiane Action Program, is one of three major documents adopted by leaders at their summit in the Laotian capital on Monday.

"ASEAN countries shall not condone unconstitutional and undemocratic changes of government," read the document. Most of the 10 members of ASEAN - Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam - have been susceptible to forced or unconstitutional changes in government.

Cambodia, Laos, the Philippines, Thailand and Indonesia have all experienced unconstitutional political takeovers.

Despite the seemingly benevolent nature of this political statement, the leaders neglected to give any assurance of respect for democratic norms and processes within the boundaries of their respective states, the lack of which has often been the cause of political uprisings in the first place.

It is also convenient that these leaders should adopt a principle which effectively perpetuates their own regimes, many of which were not installed through popular elections.

Oblivious to the political extremes existing in several ASEAN states, the Summit's official spokesman, Laos' Yong Chanthalangsy, in his conclusion of the summit said that ASEAN leaders had "affirmed the region as the world's most rapidly democratizing region".

In reality, at least three ASEAN member states maintain one party systems, one is a monarchy which has never held elections, while several others severely stifle political expression.

Even more incredulous is that issues such as the suppression of democracy activists in Myanmar, and the deaths of dozens of civilians in a political rally in south Thailand, were conveniently skirted by the leaders.

When asked if Myanmar was raised at all by the leaders, the spokesman simply replied "no!"

Much of the impetus for this new turn in political rhetoric was spurred by Indonesia who were the initial drafters of the ASEAN Security Community document.

Starting out as a daring document which included a call for elections in all member states, over the past year the draft plan of action has been watered down to its current text.

Indonesia's much lauded elections, along with that of the Philippines and Malaysia, also became a focal point in raising the political banner of ASEAN.

"The leaders agreed that the democratic elections held recently in some ASEAN countries conveyed a positive message that the region was committed to democracy," Chanthalangsy remarked.

A more coherent product of the conference was the Security Community Plan of Action, with its elaboration of security concepts aimed at maintaining peace in the region.

With the objective of creating a peaceful region free from foreign military interference, the ASEAN leaders adopted a set of norms adhering to the fundamental principles of non-alignment; fostering peaceful attitudes towards fellow members; non-violent means of conflict resolution; renunciation of nuclear weapons, weapons of mass destruction, and the use and threat of force.

Cognizant that the Security Community could be misunderstood as a defense pact or military alliance, it was stipulated that member states would still have "the sovereign right to pursue individual foreign policies and defense arrangements".

Results of 10th ASEAN Summit:

- Vientiane Action Program

- Security Community Plan of Action

- Socio-Cultural Community Plan of Action

- Declaration Against Trafficking in Persons Particularly Women and Children

- Framework Agreement for the Integration of Priority Sectors

- Establishment of an ASEAN Development Fund

- Convening of an ASEAN-Russia Summit, and an East Asia Summit in Kuala Lumpur in 2005

- Endorsed a forum for ASEAN defense ministers

- Proposed a network of ASEAN law enforcement agencies