ASEAN not a tool for RI to exert regional supremacy

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)