ASEAN wise in deferring Cambodia's entry

ASEAN wise in deferring Cambodia's entry

JAKARTA (JP): On July 24, 1997, Cambodia was to become a
member of ASEAN. Just two weeks before that date ASEAN foreign
ministers decided to defer Cambodia's membership because the
political disputes between the two co-prime ministers and their
parties were being solved by the use of force.

ASEAN's decision reflects the apprehensions on the part of
ASEAN's public opinion and the concern on the part of its
officials that unless a peaceful resolution is reached,
Cambodia's membership would create major problems for ASEAN. A
new time frame is given for Cambodia's admission. Internal peace
must be established first and ASEAN governments have made the
offer to assist the conflicting parties to resolve the problem.

A commission consisting of three ASEAN foreign ministers has
been established and is being tasked to meet with King Norodom
Sihanouk and the two co-prime ministers. ASEAN continues to
recognize Prince Ranaridh as Cambodia's first co-prime minister.

What are the prospects for a peaceful outcome of this internal
dispute?. It should be borne in mind that Cambodia has always
been a "problem nation" for its neighbors. At times this had been
caused by external factors such as during the Vietnam War and the
American invasion of Cambodia in 1970 which had dragged this
country unwillingly into the war. At other times, the problem
originated from within such as created by the rise of the Khmer
Rouge into power in 1975 and the subsequent genocide.

ASEAN, or at least some of its members, has been actively
involved since the early 1970 in efforts to help Cambodia
establish an internal peace, but these have been largely
unsuccessful. ASEAN stepped up its diplomatic efforts following
Vietnam's invasion of Cambodia in 1979. The first aim was to draw
the world community's attention to Cambodia's plight. The second
aim was to affect a Vietnamese withdrawal from Cambodia, and
lastly, to help resolve the internal conflict through a political
compromise between the parties involved.

Admittedly, it was only with the ending of the Cold War in
1989 and with the support of permanent members of the UN Security
Council and the international community at large that a
resolution to the internal conflict was possible, leading to the
Paris Agreement of 1991. On the basis of this Agreement a general
election was held in 1993 which resulted in the establishment of
a government headed by the two co-prime ministers. This
government emerged as a compromise that was based on the results
of the general election and the prevailing political situation in
the country. The Paris Agreement continues to provide the only
acceptable basis for reaching a political solution to the present
conflict.

It has been clearly recognized that ASEAN's enlargement to
include Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar would create new challenges
for ASEAN. Deferring Cambodia's membership does not make life
easier for ASEAN. ASEAN has to continue to get involved in
restoring internal peace in Cambodia, and Cambodia's internal
developments affect the region's stability and security because
it is in the heart of Southeast Asia.

The outbreak of internal conflict and the postponement of
Cambodia's membership of ASEAN constitute a setback for the
implementation of the ideals of ASEAN's founding fathers. This
was to create one Southeast Asia in which all 10 countries in the
region live in peace and jointly decide their own future,
withstand pressure from without, and contribute to the
strengthening of a regional order in the Asia-Pacific.

However, ASEAN's decision to defer the membership of Cambodia
is a correct and wise decision. It does not make sense to have
Cambodia as a member if it is not ready to adopt ASEAN's spirit,
principles, customs and tradition based on deliberations and
consensus building. The use of force by one party toward the
other is an implicit and explicit violation of that spirit.

ASEAN's decision has opened up the question of whether that
decision entails an interference in Cambodia's internal affairs.
In their statement, the foreign ministers stated that ASEAN
upholds the principle of non-interference in the domestic affairs
of its members. However, ASEAN cannot ignore developments in its
members which could destabilize the region. The clear precedent
for this was during the last days of the Marcos regime in the
Philippines. The likelihood of a civil war that could destabilize
the region has led the ASEAN foreign ministers, for the first
time, to make a public a statement to appeal to the parties
involved to restrain themselves.

It is clear that ASEAN's involvement in Cambodia's internal
affairs should be based on the principles of the Paris Agreement,
which include the support for the coalition government and
parliament that resulted from the 1993 elections. ASEAN and the
international community have invested a lot in helping Cambodia
rebuild a viable national and in promoting its national
development. Neither should give up hope.

But most important is Cambodia's own understanding and
appreciation that the world has changed and the strategic
environment in Southeast Asia has also changed. If they opt for
being left out, they will only bring deprivation, misery and
poverty to themselves and risk being marginalized all together.

The writer is Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the
Jakarta-based Centre for Strategic and International Studies