U.S. pledges not to impose its values on ASEAN
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)