Part 2 of 2: How to make Asia-Pacific peaceful

Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Coordinating Minister for Politics and Security, Jakarta

How do we develop mechanisms for peace which cater to the unique conditions of the Asia-Pacific region?

This question will continue to be relevant, precisely because we continue to have flashpoints in the Asia Pacific region: In the South China Sea, in the Korean Peninsula, across the Taiwan straits, in Kashmir. Each of these conflict situations is unique and require its own remedy for resolution.

On the Korean Peninsula, for instance, we all have a stake in a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula. The introduction of nuclear weapons by any party will severely upset the strategic equation, and would set off a chain reaction of security measures by others, which will be a nightmare for the region. We all welcome the fresh initiative to hold the 6-party talks in Beijing. We hope that the 6-party mechanism will be a continuing process, and the indications is that it will. It is necessary to avoid any brinkmanship which can destabilize the situation any further.

Indeed, we have plenty of tools to achieve a more peaceful and stable environment in the Asia-Pacific. ASEAN, ASEAN Regional Forum, ASEAN plus 3, APEC, Shanghai Cooperation Organization, coupled with a rich network of bilateral and trilateral cooperation and a number of conflict management mechanisms, have become important building blocks for regional security. Significantly, this year in Bali, ASEAN leaders expressed their commitment to establish an ASEAN community by 2020 which comprises a Security Community, Economic Community and Socio- Cultural Community.

The question is: How do we evolve all these mechanisms for peace and networks of cooperation in ways that can lead us one day to a viable "security community" in the larger Asia-Pacific region. Given the political landscape and flashpoints in our region, this will be no easy feat, and will require a great deal of political will, diplomatic finesse and, above all, patience.

Finally, how do we contain the virus of extremism, ethnic conflict and ethno-nationalism ?

The security -- and in certain cases, survival -- of many states in our region depends on their ability to ward off the threats posed by extremism, ethnic conflicts and ethno- nationalism. And do not underestimate the problem. Remember: The mighty Soviet Union and Yugoslavia crumbled not because an invading foreign army but because of the weight of its own ethno- nationalism.

We must prevent these viruses from growing, and from attaining a trans-national character. In one of our communal conflicts in Poso, for example, we have seen evidence of the involvement of foreign terrorist groups, who also established training camps in that area; while in Aceh, the separatist rebels have been engaged in cross-border arms smuggling for quite some time.

Governments around the region must find ways to work together and to support one another's efforts to contain these viruses from growing, spreading and harming us.

Ultimately, the stability of our region will hinge on the forces of moderation and tolerance, the politics inclusion, the habit of cooperation and the preservation of national unity.

So these are some strategic issues that, in my view, will define our strategic outlook. They are hardly exhaustive, and as we respond to these issues we will find that they tend to overlap with one another. The degree to which they are relevant to each country of the region may vary, but one way or another, they will affect our regional stability and national security.

These issues particularly matter for Indonesia. We, in Indonesia, are always mindful of the fact that our national security is intimately linked to international security. But we are also convinced that our national security must also promote human security. Indeed, as we moved on from the static and rigid Cold War environment, to the post-Cold War era marked by the expansion of the zones of democracies and open markets, and now to the turbulent and vulnerable world of the post-9/11 era, our security thinking has been increasingly preoccupied with how to promote national security, human security and international security in ways which are mutually reinforcing.

In keeping with our democratic reforms, the Indonesian Government has made structural adjustments to our security framework, and military reforms have become a key feature of our democratic transition. In line with spirit of reformasi, the military is disengaging from the political arena. There will be no more military faction in the legislature that will be installed after the 2004 elections. The military and police are now under separate commands. The military is responsible for external defense, and the police for internal defense. Only in certain specific cases can the military be asked to assist the police in internal security. I am confident that Indonesia's changing security framework will solidify Indonesia's security, which, in turn, will strengthen regional stability.

In the current volatile international environment, there are those who say that what is needed is the deepening of alliances. Well, that is one view. I would submit that what we need more urgently, is the deepening of confidence-building, community- building and conflict resolution. In the long-run, these are the true pillars of our region's security and stability.

The article is an abridged version of the minister's keynote speech at the General Conference of the Council for Security Cooperation in the Asia Pacific (CSCAP) in Jakarta on Dec. 7.