U.S. pledges not to impose its values on ASEAN
JAKARTA (JP): The United States will not measure southeast Asian countries against America's own standards of human rights, a senior State Department official says.
"We would never engage in either a naive nor arrogant crusade with respect to preaching American prescriptions on other cultures," Winston Lord, Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, said yesterday.
Speaking at a Worldnet dialog from Washington D.C. to a live panel in Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta and Bandar Seri Begawan, Winston tried to ease concerns on U.S. interference in domestic matters.
Yesterday's dialog was a preview of the forthcoming two-day dialog on U.S.-ASEAN ties in Washington D.C. on May 9.
There has been a severe misunderstanding with regards to the United States' perception of human rights, Winston said, adding that his country in no way wants to dictate American democracy to the world.
He acknowledged the distinctiveness of the Asian tradition and history which has been the backdrop of political and social development.
However Winston stressed that there are basic principles of human rights that ignore geographic and cultural boundaries.
"The yearning for freedom is not an American or Western export ... It is a universal instinct," he said.
A member of the panel, Indonesia's former ambassador to Germany Hasjim Djalal, warned that despite the altruistic intentions, support and encouragement of labor issues may in the end be detrimental to the peoples Washington is trying to help.
He pointed to the link of labor issues with the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) as having the potential to ruin a country's stable environment for development.
"Quite often the U.S. judges the speed of development and change in one region on the basis of the U.S. ability to endure such a change," he said.
Winston maintained the durable pace of the host country was always a dominant consideration of the Clinton administration.
Highlighting Indonesia as an example, he pointed to the U.S. affirmation of the progressive steps taken in the past year by Indonesia to improve the treatment of labor and responded by providing additional time for those changes to take effect.
"In the case of Indonesia, we have been sensitive to the question of peace and stability," he said.
The U.S. last February postponed its decision on whether or not to continue extending its incentivized trading privileges under the GSP.
ASEAN
When asked to comment on the likelihood of Vietnam's entrance into the six-nation association, Winston said it is ASEAN's complete prerogative.
However he indicated Washington' acceptance saying, "we would look forward to a Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos being more integrated into southeast Asia.
ASEAN groups Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines, Singapore and Brunei.
Nevertheless when the matter of Myanmar came up, Winston did signal discontent with ASEAN's policies.
In contrast to U.S. and European stance of isolation, ASEAN members have pursued a strategy of constructive engagements towards the Yangon regime.
Winston said each side's own approach towards the situation could bring about fruitful results. "We respect ASEAN's approach...as friends we have agreed to disagree on the approaches," he said.
He added despite the different perceptions he assured the panel that Washington would not hesitate to continue to consult and share views with ASEAN on this matter in the future. (07)