Winds of change seen in ASEAN under new leadership

Winds of change seen in ASEAN under new leadership

P. Parameswaran, Agence France-Presse, Manila

Faced with terrorism threats, embarrassed by Myanmar and locked
in bilateral disputes, ASEAN states are expected to give priority
to political and security issues after Indonesia takes over the
group's leadership this month.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), which
operates by consensus and adheres to non-interference in
political and security affairs of its 10 member nations, had been
preoccupied by economic issues in recent years, especially moves
to set up a free trade area.

Political issues in member nations even with regional
implications were mostly relegated to the sidelines. There was
little if any collective response to global political
developments, like the Iraq War.

Also, regional security was not given due attention despite
the threat posed by militant Islamic groups linked to Osama bin
Laden's al-Qaeda terror network allegedly behind the Bali carnage
last year.

But ASEAN's outlook could change when Indonesia takes over the
chairmanship of the grouping's standing committee, the policy-
making mechanism, at the grouping's annual meeting in Phnom Penh
next week.

Indonesia, Southeast Asia's largest and most populous nation
as well the region's biggest democracy, is to propose a forum to
tackle raging political and security issues, ASEAN officials say.

Jakarta wants to set up a so-called "ASEAN Security
Community," a framework agreement that contains "principles and
mechanisms to promote regional security and political dialog and
cooperation," an official told AFP.

No operational details of Indonesia's proposal are available
but officials expect it to be keenly debated among ASEAN members
Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the
Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

"It is not just a defense pact or security cooperation pact
but an agreement that covers all aspects of politics and
security," Indonesian Foreign Minister Hassan Wirayuda was quoted
saying recently.

"The failure of conflict resolution among us (ASEAN), provides
loopholes for other countries to interfere. It is important
therefore to build ASEAN's political power," Wirayuda said.

"In the past five years we have been concentrating more on
economic cooperation, while to have a strong ASEAN we need to
balance that with political cooperation," he added.

The Iraq War was cited as an example of political disarray in
ASEAN, with some countries, like the Philippines and Singapore,
supporting the U.S.-led attack while others, including Indonesia
and Malaysia, opposing it as it lacked UN authorization.

The question of Myanmar, where opposition leader Aung San Suu
Kyi has been detained after violent clashes in the latest twist
to efforts to restore democratic reforms, has also dogged ASEAN
for years.

While Western nations imposed political and economic sanctions
on Myanmar for its reluctance to restore democracy, ASEAN
preferred to adopt a policy of "constructive engagement," which
has failed to change the political landscape of the landlocked
state.

In the security arena, ASEAN has forged various agreements to
combat terrorism but analysts say it still lacks a cohesive
regional strategy to face the threat posed by the Jamaah
Islamiyah, the Southeast Asian chapter of al-Qaeda blamed for the
Bali bomb attacks that killed more than 200 people.

ASEAN watchers warn that the grouping has to confront head-on
political and security challenges in its backyard if it wants to
earn the respect of its key Western dialog and trading partners,
the United States and Europe, as well as Asian giants China and
Japan.

Indonesia's proposal "is a very serious policy direction for
ASEAN to take," ASEAN spokesman M.C. Abad told AFP.

"The consideration of a security community for Southeast Asia
is a qualitative leap in the evolution of ASEAN's security and
political dialog and cooperation," he said.

But Abad pointed out that the move would "enhance ASEAN's
political identity, which could have implications on intra-ASEAN
conflict management on one hand and on ASEAN's political role
beyond its borders on the other."

"If you are part of a community and if a problem emerges in
any country in the region, that problem is no more my or your
problem, it is our problem," noted a Southeast Asian diplomat.

"Similarly, the Myanmar issue will become an ASEAN issue in
need of an ASEAN solution," the diplomat said, speaking on
condition of anonymity.

Indonesia's proposal comes at a time when there is apparently
a vacuum in the leadership of the 36-year-old ASEAN grouping.

With regional strongman Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir
Mohamad set to step down in October after more than two decades
at the helm, Jakarta is trying to reassert its influence as the
de facto leader of the region, some analysts say.

But Dewi Fortuna Anwar, a noted Jakarta-based political
commentator, said despite its size, Indonesia had always regarded
itself as a "first among equals" in ASEAN.

"What is important is Southeast Asian nations are masters of
their own destiny and their decisions are not dictated by
external powers," she said. Cheerleader -- Page 6