ASEAN watches Cambodia
By Santi WE Soekanto
PETALING JAYA (JP): ASEAN signaled yesterday that Monday's meeting of the Cambodian National Assembly in Phnom Penh could be a benchmark for reconsidering the timing of Cambodia's entry into the grouping.
Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said after the opening of yesterday's ASEAN Ministerial Meeting that the grouping would watch Monday's development closely.
"We are watching to see the credibility of the process... As soon as we're satisfied and if they continue to wish to join ASEAN, then of course will give serious consideration," he said.
Asked whether it could happen this year, Mahathir said: "It's possible."
Cambodia's entry into ASEAN Wednesday, unlike Laos and Myanmar's, was postponed due to the political takeover by Second Prime Minister Hun Sen from First Prime Minister Norodom Ranariddh.
A last minute request by Cambodia to be admitted Wednesday was rejected.
Singaporean Foreign Minister S. Jayakumar said in his opening speech that: "ASEAN had no choice but to delay Cambodia's admission. Any other decision would have diminished ASEAN's reputation and standing."
Jayakumar said "the use of force to overthrow the established government is a legitimate concern of the international community because it can also pose a threat to regional stability.
"While ASEAN cannot in principle forcibly intervene to right any wrong, it can express its stand and undertake quiet, constructive diplomacy," he said.
Fear
Mahathir stressed it was important that members of the Cambodian National Assembly who went abroad after the political turmoil should be allowed to return and take part in the meeting without fear of persecution.
Indonesian Foreign Minister Ali Alatas said Hun Sen must provide guarantees for the return of National Assembly FUNCINPEC members loyal to Prince Ranariddh.
"There should be an arrangement for their safe return and a guarantee they will not be persecuted once they're there," he said.
The ministers also expressed eagerness to help resolve the crisis in Cambodia. They agreed the conflicting parties would need to work together.
Alatas had earlier said the ministers could not yet describe the exact nature of help it was going to extend to Cambodia. He also reiterated the need for the coalition government to work together.
As for the possibility of a "drastic change in government", namely the replacement of the ousted Ranariddh during the National Assembly, Alatas said: "It is not yet certain that a premier election would take place because the assembly would also discuss other matters such as the bill on the general elections."
"There's time to monitor the process... We'll see how the assembly proceeds and then we'll reassess the implications of what happens that day," he told the press. He said he has yet to learn the collective stance of ASEAN on the matter.
"We thought it would be conducive to the restoration of political stability, the lessening of tension and mutual mistrust and even hostility, if a credible if not mutually acceptable coalition government would take place."
Malaysian Foreign Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said the decision to postpone Cambodia's admission had not been taken lightly. The association was pondering on how best to resolve the problem "given the principle of noninterference that ASEAN has prescribed for itself".
Badawi said that whatever steps may be taken regarding the association's contribution to help resolve the dispute, "uppermost in our minds should be ASEAN's own interest and the role it should play in promoting that interest".
Cambodia's Foreign Minister Ung Huot promised in his speech to "maintain political stability, bring about peace, democracy, the respect of human rights and the freedom of expression".
He said the situation in his country was neither a fight between the two political parties or between the prime ministers, nor was it a coup as many have alleged. "It was a legitimate action to prevent Cambodia from slipping into anarchy and a possible second genocide," he said.
Hun Sen -- Page 6