An end to coups in Southeast Asia?

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