Cambodia's ASEAN entry still hang in the balance

By Meidyatama Suryadiningrat

HANOI (JP): The question of Cambodia's admission into ASEAN hung like a dark cloud as ministers concluded their meetings on Sunday, with concerns growing that setting too many criteria for entry could undermine the grouping's revered principle of nonintervention.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen arrived in the Vietnamese capital on Sunday morning in what could be a last ditch attempt to lobby leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to accept his nation as a full member by the end of their two-day summit which opens on Tuesday.

Asked by reporters if Cambodia would gain entry at the summit, Hun Sen said: "Yes, I hope so... We want to join ASEAN soon but it is beyond my capacity."

Hun Sen, on a state visit to Vietnam, said he would stay on for the summit, which comes at a critical time for ASEAN's struggling economies.

Cambodia was set to join ASEAN last year, but the grouping deferred the entry after Hun Sen ousted co-premier Prince Norodom Ranariddh in July 1997.

However, following elections last July and the formation of a new coalition last month, Cambodia has expressed hope it could finally become part of the regional association comprising Brunei, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

ASEAN foreign ministers remained split on the timing of Cambodia's admission and decided to defer on the issue to their leaders.

Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines are calling for a delay of Cambodia's admission, fearing a renewed resurgence of hostilities.

According to officials, the question was not discussed further during Sunday's final round of meetings.

Intervention

Indonesian foreign minister Ali Alatas warned that placing too much weight on the state of domestic affairs could be construed as meddling in another country's internal policies.

"There are a number of countries who believe that by fulfilling the main criteria of forming a coalition government, then there should not be any further impediments to accepting Cambodia at this present juncture. But there are others who would like to wait and see," Alatas said during a briefing with Indonesian journalists late Saturday.

"Indonesia believes that being cautious is good, but if it is linked to the admission of a country as a member of ASEAN, if we are not careful, it could be construed as placing conditions which are really domestic affairs."

ASEAN has long held the principle of nonintervention as a guiding premise in its relations.

It defied strong international criticism by admitting Myanmar last year, saying such matters as human rights abuses were internal issues of the Yangon regime.

"We should be careful. It's as if now we are making an evaluation of a domestic situation (of another country) and it really shouldn't be like that," Alatas contended.

Among the arguments voiced by those who oppose immediate membership are the establishment of a senate and revision of the Cambodian constitution.

Alatas, who along with the Philippine and Thai foreign ministers was assigned last year as part of the ASEAN troika to engage Cambodia on its domestic turmoil, expressed objections to such preconditions for gaining membership.

"We have never placed as a criteria the formation of a senate. What we have always voiced is the establishment of a good coalition government, and this really has been fulfilled, so why should more criteria be added?"

Nevertheless, he remained hopeful that a consensus could be reached among the leaders.

"Maybe there is a different interaction between leaders that is different than the foreign ministers," Alatas remarked.

An ASEAN official warned on Sunday that another postponement of Cambodian's admission would be a stinging slap in the face to Hun Sen, especially since he had traveled to Hanoi to personally lobby for his country.

The official also foresaw irrevocable political consequences in damaged relations, especially since Cambodia's King Norodhom Sihanouk personally wrote to the leaders to back his country's admission at the summit.

Indonesian President B.J. Habibie is scheduled to arrive for the summit on Monday.