ASEAN not a tool for RI to exert regional supremacy
JAKARTA (JP): A prominent political scientist brushed aside the notion that Indonesia's participation in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) was a means of exerting its supremacy in the region.
"There is no proof of that," said Dewi Fortuna Anwar here yesterday during the launching of her book Indonesia in ASEAN: Foreign Policy and Regionalism.
Dewi revealed that the main impetus for membership was the restoration of Indonesia's regional credibility.
"It is an exercise in PR (public relations)," she said, adding that ASEAN was also a symbol for the new order and their desire for economic development.
In a discussion following the official release of the book, noted social scientists and political figures including Gen. (ret.) Soemitro, former head of the Internal Security Agency, and Sociologist Melly G. Tan, examined the role of Indonesia in the organization.
ASEAN groups six countries -- Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, the Philippines and Indonesia. It was established in 1967, just one year after the end of Indonesia's "confrontation" with Malaysia.
Given the regional circumstances and keeping in mind the domestic political upheaval, Indonesia at the time was more concerned about economic development.
Dewi argued against the likelihood of Indonesia asserting supremacy since it would only diminish the cooperative climate needed for Indonesia's development.
"The moment Indonesia asserts itself, the others will get worried," remarked Dewi who is head of the Regional and International Affairs Division at the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI).
Soedjati Djiwandono from the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) concurred with Dewi's argument saying that failure to assuage ASEAN neighbors would prompt their entrance into the region.
Despite having altruistic motives, Melly Tan cautioned, Indonesia will still be suspected of questionable intentions, because "we're the biggest."
Lagging
Further examining Indonesia's role in ASEAN, Dewi admitted that to some extent the lagging pace of economic cooperation was directly attributable to Jakarta.
"The raison d'etre of Indonesia's participation in ASEAN has very little to do with economy," she said.
"The very existence of ASEAN for Indonesia is more important than its output," she explained while adding that only recently has Jakarta been more willing to pursue daring economic initiatives such as the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA).
Clearly ASEAN as an organization is overloaded with countless meetings reaching well over 200 each year.
Soedjati said ASEAN is not meant to accomplish something factual.
When queried on the role of ASEAN as a counter to communist expansion into Southeast Asia, Soedjati was adamant that such a role was no longer viable and neither was it a real consideration in the organization's conception.
He sneered at statements questioning Vietnam's impending membership in ASEAN contesting that communism had lost its credibility. "Even though Vietnam is communist it is becoming increasingly market oriented," he said.
Similarly Dewi also asserted that "cold war consideration is not paramount to Indonesia."
Thus despite all previous assumptions of supremacy or dominance, Dewi was persistent in her belief that political stability and security in the region is the core significance of ASEAN for Indonesia. (mds)