ASEAN conflict resolution mechanisms needed: RI

ASEAN conflict resolution mechanisms needed: RI

Adianto P. Simamora, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Indonesia, the current chairman of the Association of Southeast
Asian Nations (ASEAN), said there was a "crying need" for ASEAN
countries to strengthen their conflict resolution mechanisms,
including a regional peacekeeping force, given the unique array
of security challenges they faced.

"Most conflicts in the world today are not between states but
within states, and internal strife has a way of spilling over
from the embattled country to the rest of the region," Minister
of Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirayuda told the participants of the
4th UN-ASEAN Conference on Tuesday in Jakarta.

To deal with these conflicts, ASEAN's response must be
comprehensive, Hassan said.

"We have to begin developing regional peacekeeping
arrangements and exploring the establishment of supporting
institutions to facilitate efforts to settle conflict," he said.

The main theme of the two-day conference -- attended by
representatives from the 10 ASEAN member countries, United
Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and experts from the Centre
for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) -- was "Conflict
Prevention, Conflict Resolution and Peacebuilding in Southeast
Asia: ASEAN Security Community and the UN".

The ASEAN Security Community (ASC) concept was first proposed
by Indonesia last October at the ninth ASEAN Summit in Bali. The
ASC is one of the three pillars of the ASEAN Community, along
with the ASEAN Economic Community and the ASEAN Sociocultural
Community.

The delegates to the conference may submit suggestions and
inputs for Indonesian officials to finalize the ASC draft and the
establishment of a regional peacekeeping arrangement.

The other ASEAN members have not yet endorsed the peacekeeping
force proposal, which is expected to be discussed formally in June at the
ASEAN Ministerial Meeting in Jakarta.

Hassan also said that a regional peacekeeping arrangement
would not exclude the possibility of participation from other
international bodies such as the UN.

"We can benefit greatly from the UN's vast experience in
conflict prevention, conflict resolution and peacebuilding," he
said.

The cooperation between ASEAN and the UN, said Hassan, could
and would mutually strengthen the organizations and would be the
beginning of a long and fruitful partnership.

Meanwhile, Hadi Soesastro of the CSIS hailed the ASEAN
peacekeeping force plan, saying it would be more effective in
resolving intra-regional conflicts.

Currently, ASEAN member countries discuss security concerns on
a bilateral or a trilateral basis.

ASEAN's members are Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos,
Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and
Vietnam.