ASEAN and Cambodia

ASEAN and Cambodia

It appears that ASEAN has lost its patience with (Cambodian
co-Premier) Hun Sen. By unanimous vote, the association delayed
Cambodia's admission until the ongoing conflict is resolved.
ASEAN delivered yet another snub to Hun Sen by continuing to
recognize Ranariddh as that country's first co-prime minister.
This position taken by ASEAN is of course diametrically opposed
to Hun Sen's wish to have the world stop treating Ranariddh as
his co-premier. But for Ranariddh, who was in Jakarta yesterday
(Wednesday), ASEAN's stance represents the sweet fruit of his
diplomatic efforts.

Before the Paris Agreement, which marked the end of a
protracted war in Cambodia, was signed in 1993, the country posed
a tiring diplomatic problem for ASEAN. Now, the association is
again being tested by Cambodia. Although the problem does not
seem as grave this time, the same old players -- or at least the
same old factors -- are involved, representing the forces of
integration on the one hand and those of disintegration on the
other.

It is ASEAN's ambition to see all the countries of this
Southeast Asian region united under one roof. This ambition,
however, has had to be shelved and, as for the present, only an
"ASEAN-9" has been achieved. Cambodia, which had been considered
the region's good boy, has turned out to be the pebble in the
shoe that irritates ASEAN. We hope that ASEAN will not become
weary of diplomacy. Myanmar and Cambodia will both be testing the
association's policy of constructive engagement.

-- Media Indonesia, Jakarta