Time for ASEAN to stop dithering

Time for ASEAN to stop dithering

Zaid Ibrahim, The Nation, Asia News Network/Bangkok

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has been
dithering on how to deal with its perpetual problem child,
Myanmar. Over the past eight years, ASEAN has tried to prod
Myanmar towards democratization and national reconciliation with
economic-led engagement, peer association by admitting it as a
member and at times by simply ignoring the problem so Myanmar
wouldn't feel pressured. ASEAN needs a new approach.

The time for accepting the bitter taste of Myanmar's empty
promises and excuses has expired. It is now time for ASEAN to
assert its self-respect and take a stand. Why should ASEAN
passively wait for Myanmar to make up its mind on the issue of
the ASEAN chair?

In recent months, there has been an unprecedented chorus of
disapproval at the notion of the Myanmarese regime chairing
ASEAN. From the memorable outburst of former Malaysian prime
minister Mahathir warning of possible expulsion from ASEAN to the
more carefully crafted messages of Singaporean foreign minister
George Yeo, Indonesian Foreign Ministry spokesman Marty
Natalegawa and others, senior voices in ASEAN are delivering a
message that they are not comfortable with a Myanmarese chair.

In the meantime, the Myanmarese authorities have done little
to convince us that it is capable of bearing the responsibilities
that go with the chair. The Myanmarese authorities, who have not
only obstructed ASEAN's progress, but also lack the barest shred
of credibility, are far from capable of living up to the burden
of chairmanship.

ASEAN needs a chair that is capable of forging ahead with the
complex agenda of this region. Many key issues that affect this
region, ranging from transnational crime, drug trafficking, mass
migration and sectarian conflicts to life-threatening epidemics,
need to be addressed adequately.

We need to be more concerned about these pressing issues
instead of worrying about how Senior-General Than Shwe feels
about us or how he will react to what we say.

Even now, as the Myanmarese authorities attempt to allay
regional concerns with this week's prisoner releases, we note
that they have still failed to fulfill their promise to commence
genuine political reform, including national reconciliation with
ethnic groups and the release of democracy leader Aung San Suu
Kyi.

ASEAN must have more self-respect than to accept leadership by
a regime that rules not by the voice of the people, but by the
barrel of a gun, by a regime that has consistently failed to
honor its promises.

ASEAN should no longer be a buffer for Myanmar, which has come
at the expense of ASEAN's reputation and productivity. No other
member in the 38-year history of ASEAN has garnered such negative
attention for the entire group, made its main "contribution" to
the region in the form of drug trafficking, refugees and HIV/Aids
or been the sole cause of multiple canceled meetings between the
group and key dialogue partners.

This has created a sense of exasperation and frustration
within ASEAN. However, this crisis also allows ASEAN to seize an
opportunity that lies at the heart of the debate on the
Myanmarese chairmanship and seize it.

The ASEAN Interparliamentary Myanmar Caucus (AIPMC) has
brought together legislators across national and party lines from
Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines and
Cambodia. The uniting principle of the AIPMC is review of the
methods for promoting democracy and reconciliation in Myanmar
within the context of ASEAN. While the chair is a key
opportunity, it is not the pinnacle of our common objective of
democratization in Myanmar.

ASEAN has an opportunity to safeguard its dignity, enhance its
relevance and make an unprecedented and meaningful contribution
to supporting democracy in Myanmar. The AIPMC's "new deal" is to
defer Myanmar's chairmanship for one year, to condition the
chairmanship on Myanmar's transition to democracy and national
reconciliation and to encourage this "home-grown" process within
ASEAN.

While the details are to be left up to the people of Myanmar,
ASEAN must safeguard such an overture by making it clear that it
will not be swindled by clever diversions and verbose rhetoric.
Nothing less than a detailed time frame that is fully inclusive
of all stakeholders, including Aung San Suu Kyi, imprisoned Shan
leader Hkun Htun Oo and other ethnic nationality leaders, will be
acceptable.

The orchestration of elaborate conventions, convened under
draconian principles and without the participation of key
stakeholders, is not an indicator of democratic reform, nor will
it be legitimate to serve as a prerequisite for so-called free
elections.

A mere facade of political reform will not lead to stability
and progress in Myanmar and will not alleviate the impact
throughout the region. ASEAN stands ready to assist Myanmar, but
ASEAN's goodwill must be met with the Myanmarese government's
political will.

ASEAN must realize that the issue of Myanmar cannot be shelved
again. Our new deal is essentially a plan of action; a form of
diplomacy ASEAN has effectively utilized on other situations.

Suggestions that supporting Myanmar's chairmanship will
maintain ASEAN's leverage with the Myanmarese government uses the
same mistaken logic as in 1997, when Myanmar was admitted into
ASEAN without any specific plan of action and timetable for
reform. Using the same reasoning with the chairmanship will only
deliver the same results: Nothing.

Allowing Myanmar to assume the chairmanship would essentially
be a validation of their tradition of broken promises and thus
reduce the leverage ASEAN has with Myanmar. ASEAN doesn't just
need a spotlight on Myanmar, it needs a plan of action. UN
Secretary-General Kofi Annan said that 2006 would be the year for
democracy in Myanmar.

The AIPMC's new deal rises to the call of the honorable
secretary-general.

Zaid Ibrahim is president of the ASEAN caucus on Myanmar.