Myanmar may embarrass ASEAN

By Meidyatama Suryodiningrat

JAKARTA (JP): While Myanmar's eventual admission into the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is a forgone conclusion, Malaysian Foreign Minister Abdullah Badawi's recent announcement that Yangon has formally applied for membership brings the reality closer to home.

This means that in less than a year Myanmar could be a full member of ASEAN. With that member states are faced with the immediate reality of having one of the world's most unsavory regimes in its ranks.

The questions are, will ASEAN adopt a care-free business-as- usual attitude, and who will truly benefit, at least in the short run, from Myanmar's entry.

Officials display an upbeat attitude to Myanmar's membership, saying it accomplishes the dream of an ASEAN 10. But academics have been more doubtful.

Analysts, both from inside and outside the region, have been counting the benefits and costs. Either way it is a close call.

British academic and Asian expert Michael Leifer in Jakarta recently expressed skepticism and concern.

"It is a matter that could cause ASEAN considerable international embarrassment," he told The Jakarta Post.

"I think the benefits of membership of Myanmar in ASEAN are much greater for Myanmar than they are for ASEAN," said Leifer, a professor at the London School of Economics and Political Science.

What are the gains for ASEAN? The first is of course symbolic -- realizing the 30-year-old dream of encompassing all 10 Southeast Asian states.

The second is of a strategic nature. ASEAN is worried that if Myanmar does not come into the fore soon it will become aligned with China.

Thus far the seven ASEAN members -- Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam -- have maintained a policy of "constructive engagement". They argue that engaging Myanmar will help promote a more open and democratic government.

While ASEAN's refusal to follow the West in isolating Myanmar is understandable, its continued refusal to criticize Yangon has left many exasperated and angry.

"They (ASEAN) may find themselves put into a position of justifying the unjustifiable," Leifer remarked, pointing to possible repetitions of the events in 1988 during which some 1,000 demonstrators were reportedly gunned down during pro- democracy rallies.

During a visit here to the ASEAN Secretariat in July, Myanmar Foreign Minister Ohn Gyaw rebutted questions from journalists and maintained that based on Myanmar's values, the definition human rights consisted merely of food, clothing and shelter.

Projecting a strong sense of self-confidence, Ohn Gyaw argued that a strong government was needed to satisfy these basic necessities.

Warning of the consequences, Leifer was scathing in his assessment of those who defended such self-serving values: "While it's possible to make arguments of Asian values and strong government, ASEAN I think will be embarrassed by a strong government with too much blood on its hands."

Indonesian political scientist Soedjati Djiwandono of the Jakarta-based Center for Strategic and International Studies argued that while the policy of non-interference has its merits, ASEAN should be more selective in its application.

"How long can we maintain that? We have to review what kind of domestic affairs we don't interfere in," he argued.

While admitting that Jakarta is probably "no better" in its human rights record, Soedjati expressed exasperation with ASEAN's habit of turning a blind eye to human rights abuses.

ASEAN values or the colloquial "ASEAN way" conceal and even justify human rights abuses and authoritarian regimes.

Supporters of the "constructive engagement" policy say that it may be part of a "carrot and stick" strategy.

As Western states wield the "stick", ASEAN is dangling the "carrot" by showing Yangon the benefits of opening up further.

Yet the question remains: How can ASEAN be constructive and improve democracy and human rights when it has never officially expressed any such concerns to Myanmar.

So can constructive engagement improve the situation in Myanmar?

"The simple answer is: No. I don't think constructive engagement will change it," Leifer replied.

The outcome may be the exact opposite. "There's a danger that membership of ASEAN will be used as an additional basis of legitimacy and perpetuation of a military regime," he warned.