News from India (r)

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                     TEST FOR ASEAN
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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

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