S'pore confident RI will remain committed to ASEAN

By Endy Bayuni

SINGAPORE (JP): Singapore is confident that Indonesia remains committed to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) even as it struggles to overcome its domestic problems.

Foreign Minister S. Jayakumar believes that Indonesia, under President Abdurrahman Wahid, still plays a pivotal, key role in the organization, the way it did in the past under president Soeharto.

"The styles are different, but, whether you like it or not, and whoever is in charge in Indonesia, the rest of ASEAN will see Indonesia as a big and important player.

"It's not easy for ASEAN to take the view that because of the change of leadership, Indonesia has a lesser role in ASEAN," Jayakumar told visiting Indonesian journalists on Saturday.

"I have not seen in ASEAN meetings, a diminishing role played by officials or the minister. They continue to be active and continue to contribute to the discussions in the various forums."

He praised the new Indonesian foreign minister, Alwi Shihab, for quickly adapting to his role in ASEAN.

The minister warned that ASEAN was undergoing a period of transition after the regional economic crisis and some political upheavals among member countries.

"Because of these difficulties, ASEAN's ability to maintain its image as a very successful regional grouping might be affected," he said.

The absence of past personalities, such as Soeharto and former foreign minister Ali Alatas, at ASEAN gatherings should not affect the workings of ASEAN as long as Jakarta remains committed.

"We must distinguish the organization from the impact of personalities. Personalities will come and go.

"Pak Ali Alatas' style is different from Alwi Shihab's style. At ASEAN foreign ministerial level, we're used to Pak Ali's contribution and he has a particular style," he said.

While styles mattered, they were not as important as the commitment and importance one attached to ASEAN, he said.

Jayakumar said he believed that in spite of changes in the recent leaders and foreign ministers in ASEAN, members remained committed to the ASEAN process. "If we don't have the commitment, then ASEAN will just drift, drift in the sea."

The biggest challenge facing ASEAN today was in overcoming the impression that many countries outside the region felt that the organization was now in disarray, he said.

With ASEAN's recent expansion from six to 10 members, the group also faced a challenge in its ability to reach decisions through consensus, he said, adding: "When you're bigger, the decision making gets slower."

He cautioned against the development towards a two-tier ASEAN, one comprising the original six members, and the second of the new members, particularly the Indochinese states, which have had different histories and levels of economic development.

Jayakumar said that while ASEAN countries remained committed to the principles of noninterference in the domestic affairs of other members, they had become increasingly comfortable in discussing their local affairs in the ASEAN forum.

"The ASEAN spirit of cooperation is still there. Like all organizations, it evolves and develops. But is it evolving and developing in a constructive way? I think it is."

He recalled that at the last ASEAN foreign ministerial meeting in Manila, the ASEAN ministers came out with a statement supporting Indonesia's territorial integrity as it faced separatist demands in Aceh and other provinces.

"If you take a very strict approach, you can say is this interference in the internal affairs of another country. But I prefer to look at it in another way. It was a statement intended to be helpful to Indonesia," he said.

Many ASEAN ministers also took part in a meeting on the sidelines of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) talks in Auckland in October to discuss the question of East Timor, then still a part of Indonesia.

The meeting concluded with a call on the United Nations secretary-general to discuss with Indonesia the possibility of sending an international force to East Timor.

"That was not an ASEAN meeting, but some ASEAN countries participated in it. Is that good or bad?".

"These kinds of developments are not in themselves bad because we're slowly developing in ASEAN where there's a greater willingness to frankly discuss issues of common concern, but they are still respecting the principle of noninterference."

Jayakumar, a professor of law, said ASEAN must respond to international pressures on human rights questions.

"ASEAN will have to come to terms that there is this trend in international law where countries have to observe human rights. There is no escaping that," he said.

He said that while countries must have accountability in respect of basic human rights, one major issue that had not been resolved was the debate about which rights come under international law, and which do not.

He cited as an example the use of capital punishment, a practice abolished in Europe, but still used in Singapore.

"We have the death penalty, but we don't say that other countries must have it. Likewise, if European countries have abolished the death penalty, we respect their view, but they cannot impose it on other countries.

"Some human rights can be agreed as universally binding in all countries. For example, you cannot commit genocide, you cannot commit war crimes, large scale atrocities.

Jayakumar said bilateral relations with Indonesia since President Abdurrahman Wahid was elected had improved significantly.

"At the top leadership level there's a good meeting of minds between President Abdurrahman and Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong," he said, adding that a similar rapport had been established between the ministers, including himself and Alwi.

Singapore was the first stop in President Abdurrahman's list of foreign visits since he was elected in late October. Prime Minister Goh reciprocated the visit in January, taking a large delegation of business people. He capped the visit with an economic package designed to encourage foreign investors and tourists to come to Indonesia.

"The basis of the relationship is underscored by what the Prime Minister said, that we consider the present team as the best one for Indonesia under the circumstances. Singapore's main objective is to show support and confidence for this team, because you have tremendous challenges ahead."

The economic package was a gesture to indicate Singapore's support of Indonesia, he said.

"Singapore alone cannot solve the problems. We can play the role of a catalyst and that's what we did when we went there with a group of businessmen during the visit of the Prime Minister, a cross section, not just Singapore companies, but also businesses from other countries located here. Americans, Japanese and so on.

"We will play the role of a catalyst to spark off confidence," he said.

Jayakumar described the relationship with Indonesia under president Habibie as "correct" but "not intense".

"It's no secret that he referred to Singapore as a little red dot. Those kinds of statements don't really make for harmonious or close relations. But we cooperated and we discussed issues."

"Indonesia is not only our next-door neighbor. Indonesia is an important and strategic player in ASEAN. When we look at events in Indonesia, we consider it important for bilateral reasons, and for reasons of stability in ASEAN and Southeast Asia, that Indonesia succeeds in its objectives of restoring investors' confidence and the objective of bringing about stability throughout Indonesia."

The writer is a journalist.