ASEAN urged to form common security system
ASEAN urged to form common security system
JAKARTA (JP): A prominent former army general has called for
the establishment of a common regional security system in
southeast Asia to diffuse potential problems in the rapidly
growing region.
"Political, social and cultural cooperation alone cannot
automatically resolve the problems of defense and security," said
Gen. (ret) Soemitro here yesterday.
Addressing the regional security of the Association of South
East Asian Nations (ASEAN) in the new world order, Soemitro said
that matters concerning security were the most sensitive issues
among neighboring countries.
The former commander of the Internal Security Agency was
addressing a two-day seminar organized by the Indonesian Students
Association for International Studies.
ASEAN Secretary General, Ajit Singh, in his opening address
said that to enhance regional security ASEAN states created an
innovative mechanism called the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF).
"The ARF is a reflection of ASEAN's desire to preserve the
peace and stability in the region and to ensure that potential
threats and tensions are diffused," Ajit Singh said.
ASEAN was founded by Thailand, Singapore, the Philippines,
Malaysia and Indonesia and, since its formation in 1967, has
succeeded in subduing tensions in a previously fractured region.
The group expanded to include Brunei 11-years ago and next
year may also move to include Vietnam.
"How else would we have had these 27 years of uninterrupted
peace?" Ajit Singh asked in reference to ASEAN's existence.
Suspicion
Despite ASEAN's accomplishments, Soemitro was more critical in
his approach when stating that diplomacy alone would not settle
the issue.
"Suspicion cannot be eliminated by declarations," he said.
Just in the past three days, Malaysia's exhibition of its
newly formed Rapid Deployment Force at the Langkawi island has
reportedly upset its three closest neighbors.
ASEAN members at present do not have a common defense pact
except for those established bilaterally.
According to Soemitro the preliminary steps in any regional
security framework would be a measure of confidence building.
"Mistrust is a residual concoction of the Superpowers from the
Cold War era and must be eliminated immediately," he said.
Once the groundwork of trust has been set, the nations then
need to establish a rapport between the armed forces of the
individual countries.
This can be achieved through exchange of intelligence and
officer training followed by joint military exercises, he said.
Soemitro also stressed the importance of developing a common
military doctrine among regional armed forces.
"When security and defense along with political, economic and
cultural cooperation have been firmly established, there won't be
any room for suspicion. We will then have a firm basis for
resolving any problems that arise," Soemitro said.
Though Soemitro strongly advocates the creation of a common
regional security system, he rejects any notion it may be a
military pact/alliance.
"The essential difference is that it does not include foreign
powers," he noted, adding that it is not directed at against any
one country in or outside the region.
Comprehensive
Ninok Leksono, whose doctoral thesis at the University of
Indonesia examined the regional arms race in south east Asia,
presented a similar argument yesterday that he called
"comprehensive security."
He explained that the concept meant consolidating national
development in a spectrum of areas ranging from ideology and
politics to economics and defense.
"It works under the premise that the primary threat in south
east Asia is not external, but internal," he said.(mds)