Reinventing ASEAN: Members need to request, or offer help

Reinventing ASEAN: Members need to request, or offer help

Kornelius Purba, Staff Writer, The Jakarta Post, Singapore

When Brunei Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah opens the informal two-day annual summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Bandar Sri Begawan on Monday, many of the leaders' minds will be occupied with problems at home.

Some may be seeking inspiration to resolve their problems, while others may hope to be able to give suggestions lest their neighbors' problems affect them. But how would that be possible given ASEAN's creed of "nonintervention"?

The summit itself has had increasingly little magnetism and will be even more overshadowed by the issue of terrorism and the presence of three prominent guests aside from the 10 leaders themselves.

Chinese President Jiang Zemin, Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and South Korean President Kim Dae-jung will most likely steal the show at Tuesday's summit session.

East Asian leaders have been invited to informal ASEAN summits since 1997, aiming for better regional cooperation.

Despite the exigency brought on by the terrorism issue, and the enthusiasm of Philippines President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in championing regional cooperation to combat terrorism, Megawati may choose to leave matters to Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirayuda. Megawati has recently attended the annual session of the People's Consultative Assembly and is scheduled to be in Brunei on Nov. 5 and 6.

Chia Siow Yue, director of the Singapore-based Institute of Southeast Asian Studies (ISEAS), remarked, "If I were the Indonesian president, I would be more concerned about the Indonesian community."

Speaking at the launching of a book, Reinventing ASEAN, published by ISEAS here, Chia pointed out that the leaders should use the summit to take major initiatives in enhancing regional cooperation, including assisting country members who need help in resolving their domestic difficulties.

"If they can't solve their problems on their own, they should cooperate regionally," Chia suggested.

With various problems affecting the region, such as Indonesia's forest fires and the economic crisis, more voices are calling for a relaxation of ASEAN's holy noninterventionist creed. In Reinventing ASEAN, Philippines expert Carolina G. Hernandez writes, "Clearly, any domestic problem that crosses national boundaries should be regarded as a regional problem and the affected neighbors should be entitled to represent their concerns to the source of the problem, as well as collaborate with them jointly to solve it."

ASEAN originally comprised Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines, Singapore and Brunei. Vietnam joined in 1995. Two days later, Myanmar and Laos also joined. Cambodia became the youngest and 10th member in 1999.

Once described as a model of regional cooperation and the major author of Asian miracles, ASEAN is now regarded a lame duck. The financial crisis that hit East Asia in 1997 severely affected member nations.

Many even say that ASEAN is nearing irrelevance unless it is able to readjust to the new global environment. "ASEAN has lost its magic," CSIS executive Hadi Soesastro said.

Since its establishment in 1967, ASEAN was proud of its "ASEAN way". Nonintervention is the principle relating to members' domestic affairs, consensus on decision making and the informality of its process and mechanism. The organization still sticks to the above principle despite drastic global changes and the emergence of young leaders in Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines.

The regional group practically did little to resolve Myanmar's political crisis, when the military junta refused to hand over its power to Aung San Suu Kyi despite her party's victory in the 1990 general elections.

Political upheavals and rampant security disturbances in Indonesia, including the tragic incidents following the self- determination referendum in East Timor in 1999, communal clashes in Maluku and rebellions in Aceh, were all regarded as Indonesia's internal matters. Yet instability in Indonesia has long been taken to mean instability in the region.

The haze which blanketed Singapore, Malaysia and even Thailand in 1997 and 1998, caused by forest fires in Sumatra and Kalimantan, was also far from a disaster only affecting Indonesia.

In July 1998, then Thai foreign minister Surin Pitsuwan proposed a relaxation of the nonintervention policy by adopting "constructive intervention" or "flexible engagement". Only the Philippines fully supported the idea.

At that time, foreign minister Ali Alatas commented, "If the preposition is to replace the principle of nonintervention or to tinker with it in any way, then Indonesia won't accept."

So will Megawati now be willing to share her problems with other leaders and ask for their advice? Or will other more senior figures, like Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad and Singapore's Goh Chok Tong, feel comfortable giving suggestions without fearing that their intentions will be taken as interference in Indonesia's domestic affairs?

The Brunei summit is expected to issue a joint communique on ASEAN's plan to combat terrorist roots in the region. Arroyo's leading role in the decision process of anti-terror attacks stems from her determination to eradicate the Abu Sayyaf's terror activities in the southern Philippines.

While Malaysia and Indonesia are also facing domestic extremist groups, their leaders are treading carefully, as too much enthusiasm would lead to accusations of being too pro-U.S.

But a mere exchange of information regarding terrorist networks and other sensitive issues, and even statements, will be of little significance unless leaders exchange views openly and frankly.

Despite being ASEAN's newest leader, as the president of the largest country member, Megawati can set an example by sharing domestic problems with other leaders and inviting suggestions.

Other leaders will feel freer to raise their opinions if the President shows that she is sincere about seeking assistance.

Expectations rest on ASEAN leaders, not only their foreign ministers, to initiate new traditions where needed. In the case of Indonesia, neighbors have long been reported as being nervous about how Indonesia's crisis and conflicts might affect their shores.

The first step for countries in need like Indonesia is the willingness to talk of internal problems with neighbors. Such a willingness will not only help the concerned country but also the region.

Beyond issuing statements, leaders would then eventually prove their commitment to sincere mutual assistance.