ASEAN's helpful work needs notice

ASEAN's helpful work needs notice

By L. Amrih Jinangkung

JAKARTA (JP): Are people really aware of the role of
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in maintaining
peace and security in the region, and do they have the sense of
belonging to the association? Or are people even aware there is
an association of 10 Southeast Asian countries?

Of course, most people know of its existence. Yet it is
equally certain that most do not understand what the association
has done for them so far.

There is no doubt that ASEAN has done much in maintaining
peace and enhancing prosperity in the region. At the time the
agreement to set up the association was reached, Indonesia and
Malaysia had only recently ended their confrontation, Singapore
and Malaysia undergone their traumatic separation and Malaysia
and the Philippines remained in conflict over Sabah.

There was a war in Indochina involving the then Eastern and
Western superpowers. Thailand felt threatened by the spillover
effect of the war. Up to the present, issues such as the Spratlys
and border disputes among several countries remain contentious.

When ASEAN was established by the five original members --
Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand --
it seemed that peace and security were luxuries. Conflicts
existed that could have triggered war among them.

But there have been no wars among ASEAN countries. They have
enjoyed peace and stability since the association was established
three decades ago. People also enjoyed better lives. Some
demographic data, such as life expectancy, mortality and literacy
rates, show significant improvements in social conditions. People
also are economically better off. Before the crisis, the region
enjoyed 8 percent annual economic growth for many years.
In sum, the region has been relatively stable politically and
economically dynamic for the last three decades.

Were the political and economic gains due to ASEAN?

It should be realized that in maintaining the region's
political stability, ASEAN is not the only actor. It has to work
with countries outside the region, its dialog partners,
particularly China, Japan, the United States and Russia (other
dialog partners are Australia, Canada, the European Union, India,
Republic of Korea and New Zealand). It also has to cooperate with
other countries and economic groupings such as Japan, the U.S.,
the EU to develop its economy. In this regard, ASEAN has
successfully facilitated its neighbors' positive involvement in
ASEAN's business.

It is not easy to measure the exact percentage of those
neighbors' contribution to the peace, stability and prosperity of
Southeast Asia. However, ASEAN plays the most significant role in
developing the region. Since the establishment of the
association, member countries have shown their strong political
will to work together despite respective national interest. This
was clearly reflected in the Bangkok Declaration, as the
objectives of the association included promotion of regional
peace and stability and the acceleration of economic growth and
social progress in the region.

Again, the question is do the people recognize the important
success of ASEAN, or do they realize the key role played by
ASEAN?

It is not that important to answer the question merely for the
sake of knowing the people's opinion. ASEAN needs no medals for
what it has done so far. However, for future development, such as
for realizing the ASEAN Free Trade Area in which more people's
involvement in the ASEAN programs and activities is required,
ASEAN awareness among its people should be enhanced in order to
have greater people-to-people interactions.

ASEAN leaders in their informal summit held in Kuala Lumpur on
Dec. 15, 1997, charted a vision for ASEAN in facing the third
millennium. The vision charts directions of ASEAN toward the year
2020, called ASEAN Vision 2020. It is a vision of ASEAN as a
concert of Southeast Asian nations, outward looking, living in
peace, stability and prosperity, bonded together in partnership
in dynamic development and in a community of caring societies.

The goal outlined in the vision clearly needs the support of
society. Participation of the people is pivotal to establish such
a community of caring societies.

The vision was set up when ASEAN was experiencing an economic
boom. The subsequent crisis that hit the region not only resulted
in the economic downturn but also affected the social lives of
the people. It has been a setback for ASEAN. It will take years
to get the economy back in order, and even longer time is needed
to restore the social impact of the crisis. More importantly, it
makes it even harder to make the vision a reality.

The crisis has proven, as far as Indonesia is concerned, that
the people should be empowered, economically and politically.
They should be involved in the development process of the region.
The people's involvement should not be finished when the crisis
is over, but it should be supported to move forward in realizing
the ASEAN Vision 2020.

Without knowing what ASEAN is, what it is doing and what it is
established for, it would be difficult for the people to take
part in ASEAN's activities. So far, dozens of agreements have
been signed, hundreds of books published and hundreds of meetings
held. But the public knows very little about this as news about
ASEAN rarely makes it into the media and few students study the
organizations. It seems that promoting ASEAN awareness among its
people is not an easy task.

As the international community's involvement in ASEAN's
activities is conducive to the organization's success story,
promoting awareness in the international community also is a
must.

The Sixth ASEAN Summit held in Hanoi on Dec. 15, 1998,
adopted the Hanoi Plan of Action (HPA), the first in a series of
plans intended to implement the long-term Vision 2020. It is the
first "road map" to build up to the realization of the goals of
the vision. It directs how to strengthen macroeconomics and
financial cooperation; enhance greater economic integration;
promote science and technology development and develop
information technology infrastructure; and promote social
development and address the social impact of the financial and
economic crisis.

It also gives direction on promoting human resource
development, protecting the environment and promoting sustainable
development and strengthening regional peace and security. There
also are provisions on enhancing ASEAN's role as an effective
force for peace, justice and moderation in the Asia-Pacific
region and in the world, and on promoting ASEAN awareness and its
standing in the international community.

The ASEAN Vision 2020, together with the HPA, are among the
most important documents that should be known by the public. They
give directions on where ASEAN is heading. ASEAN is a G-to-G
cooperation in nature but the guidelines embodied in the Vision
2020 and the HPA require that people should be involved in the
development process. ASEAN awareness, in this regard, is not only
needed but a prerequisite.

The writer is an alumnus of Cornell University and currently
works at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The opinion expressed
in this article is his own.