[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index
][Thread Index
]
News from India (r)
===========================================================
TEST FOR ASEAN
===========================================================
THE ASSOCIATION OF South East Asian Nations faces an acute
existentialist challenge, perhaps the most serious in its
30 years of togetherness, with the developments in Cambodia
directly undermining the organization's much trumpeted
first principles. By opting to remain a group of nine
instead of the 10 envisaged for this August, the
association has delivered a clear and firm note of
disapproval to Cambodia's Mr. Hun Sen, a past master in
political intrigue. The initial response, mature and
welcome, was comparatively easy to formulate. The tougher
measures that need to be taken will be eagerly awaited, The
decision to keep Cambodia's entry pending, together with
the suspension of economic assistance by the U.S. and
Japan, has forced some backtracking by the usurper in Phnom
Penh who now claims he has not staged a coup d'etat and has
only rid the hapless country of his only surviving on the
ground rival. There starts the problems for Asean as it
ponders the next moves. For, the forces behind Mr, Hun Sen
are still powerful and he himself has demonstrated enviable
tenacity of purpose and the patience to wait for the
opportune moment to strike or switch allegiance. He can
prove an embarrassing client.
The decision. in effect, to keep its doors shut on Cambodia
till apparently the status quo ante is restored marks a
refreshing change for Asean, implying as it does a
readiness to break with its past of strict non-interference
in the internal affairs of another country, a prospective
member in this instance. After having helped to organize
elections in 1993 and assisted in the putting down of
democratic roots in Cambodia under U.N. sponsorship, Asean
must ensure that the verdict is respected and Mr. Hun Sen
is made to honour the power-sharing arrangement with Prince
Ranariddh. The seizure of power was a slap in the face of
Asean's big five, but it is a calculated gamble by Mr. Hun
Sen and the hidden hands behind him. The gambler can with
facile glee cite the case of the uncritical grant of entry
to Myanmar, where the military junta continues to trample
on democratic principles. If Myanmar can be admitted,
despite strong opposition from most of the rest of the
world, why not Mr. Hun Sen's Cambodia, since he cannot be
accused of a more sinister crime than annulling a
democratic verdict? If Asean can do business with the
murderous junta in Myanmar, it can do as well with Mr. Hun
Sen and his horde. Besides, has not South East Asia produced
in the past few decades as many varieties of guided
democracies as there are countries? Mr. Hun Sen can cite
the instances of Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, and till
lately Thailand and the Philippines.
Having given the gobye to the (convenient?) "convention of
decency," Asean must make bold to follow up and, in concert
with the U.N., force Mr. Hun Sen to realize the high cost
of intransigence. There is a qualitative difference in his
position now and in 1978 when Vietnam invaded Cambodia with
impunity and installed him in power after driving out the
Khmer Rouge. His benefactors in Hanoi are now partners in
Asean's prosperity and may not be eager to sacrifice those
benefits for the sake of a former ally. Which should make
it easier for Asean to act to restore justice in Cambodia,
whose resistance will collapse within one month after
external economic assistance dries up. It must, of course,
be asking for the moon to expect Asean to apply the same
yardstick to Myanmar and keep it out till the junta
restores the status of the Nobel Laureate, Ms. Aung San Suu
Kyi, acknowledging as other nations have done the failure
of the policy of constructive engagement. Doing this may
further set back the realisation of the founder's vision of
a grouping of all 10 South East Asian nations. That dream
can wait for the arrival of a time more propitious for
the people of the region, not just for the rulers.
The Hindu, Monday, July 14, 1997
News and Information Bureau, All Burma Student League
************************( End )****************************
+=====================================+
| A B S L |
+-------------------------------------+
| All Burma Students League |
| 3, Krishna Menon Marg |
| New Delhi - 110011 |
| Ph : 91-11-3017172/3016035 |
| Fx : 91-11-3793397 |
| Email : shar@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx |
+=====================================+