Testing time for East Timor: ASEAN's political perspective

Testing time for East Timor: ASEAN's political perspective

Kavi Chongkittavorn, The Nation, Asia News Network, Bangkok

As the world's youngest nation, East Timor's independence will be welcomed by the global community, although ASEAN is ambivalent whether to include the country as its eleventh member.

In February ASEAN foreign ministers decided to throw the ball into Dili's court, arguing that the East Timorese leaders had yet to make up their minds on their own geographical identity -- whether they are in Southeast Asia or the South Pacific. Without this decision, ASEAN cannot proceed with the future membership issue. Judging from strong ASEAN sentiment, East Timor's long- cherished hope that it could be a bridge between both regions remains a distant dream.

ASEAN has adroitly used the lack of consensus to delay admitting East Timor. Although Burma was hostile to Dili's observer status because of the East Timor leaders' sympathy with opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, it has always been Indonesia's deep psychological scare that defines ASEAN's stance. Jakarta has flip-flopped from fully backing full membership for East Timor under former president Abdurrahman Wahid to a more recalcitrant policy under President Megawati Soekarnoputri.

In the absence of Indonesian clarity, ASEAN muddles through as it does not want to upset Jakarta's delicate position. The grouping realizes the whole situation still hinges on Indonesia's domestic development linked to broader secessionist sentiments in several provinces. Of late Megawati has forged closer ties with the Indonesian armed forces in an effort to stabilize a fluid political situation and maintain security. Doubtless Jakarta's position on East Timor has been toughened.

Be that as it may, it is imperative for East Timor to announce clearly and early that it belongs to Southeast Asia and would like to become a member in the future. That way Dili can gauge Jakarta's real intention and ASEAN's as well. When East Timor was annexed in 1975 as the 27th province of Indonesia none questioned its geographical identity as part of Southeast Asia.

Brunei was admitted as an ASEAN member immediately after it gained independence in 1981 as a means to ensure its security against mammoth neighbors and its eventual integration with the region. The situation of East Timor is much more serious than was Brunei's. With fresh memories of atrocities committed by Indonesian troops, East Timor's accession to ASEAN may serve as a shield for its fragile security against its former ruler. In the long run this will discourage any tendency towards reinterference on the part of the Indonesian army. After all, the Indonesian army still suffers from the greatest humiliation for its actions in East Timor.

For the time being ASEAN contends that the East Timorese leaders, especially Foreign Minister Jose Ramos Horta, are not serious about joining ASEAN because of their continued hostile words about the grouping. Although Ramos Horta has recently mellowed in his comments, many ASEAN members are still offended. ASEAN also says that Dili does not show any enthusiasm to open missions in member countries beyond Indonesia, a criterion for membership.

Under these circumstances, several ASEAN members are wavering. They argue that ASEAN should consolidate the new members admitted since 1995 before considering East Timor's status. Thailand, for instance, which used to be very supportive of East Timor's integration, has adopted a low profile. Bangkok still wishes to see East Timor's future security protected as part of ASEAN as it deems it crucial to the region's peace and stability.

East Timor's best option seems to rest with Southeast Asia. Apart from security, it can benefit from the myriad forms of economic and social cooperation that ASEAN has with its dialogue partners. Certainly, as an emerging democratic country, East Timor must come to terms with the imperfect situation it encounters in ASEAN.

On the other hand, the South Pacific Forum has been enthusiastic in embracing East Timor. The forum views Dili as a natural partner, representing an important step in strengthening nation-building. Granted this goodwill, East Timor can always be part of the forum.

For the time being, Dili's association with the forum, especially with Australia and New Zealand, can be in the form of bilateral relations or a subregional arrangement. This way it can benefit from the assistance from these two rich neighbors.

East Timor can prevent ASEAN opacity and lack of consensus obstructing its long-term objective of benefiting from both worlds. Despite the ASEAN ethos and way of doing things, it is still the East Timorese who will decide what is good for them, and they should have that privilege with full ASEAN support.