The Nation - EDITORIAL: Asean's cre

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Subject: The Nation - EDITORIAL: Asean's credibility rests on Burma

The Nation - July 22, 1999.
EDITORIAL: Asean's credibility rests on Burma

WHEN Asean foreign ministers meet again tomorrow in Singapore, awaiting them
will be a myriad of issues -- from the grouping's unity and cooperation to
its relations with the major powers.

But by far the most important issue is the restoration of Asean's
credibility in the eyes of the international community.

Asean's success since its establishment in 1967, be it political or
economic, has largely depended on its internal solidarity when dealing with
non-Asean members, especially the Western countries. The organisation was
not well known outside the region until it emerged to play a pivotal role in
the resolution of the 14-year-old Cambodian conflict.

Cambodia's never-ending woes prompted Asean members to think and work as a
team, especially when engaging the major powers and the United Nations. The
outcome was impressive. Since then, Asean has been hailed as the most
successful regional organisation in the world, after the European Union.
When Asean speaks, it makes a difference.

However, when Asean embraced Burma two years ago, its credibility took a
severe battering. The admission of Burma as member clearly went against the
wishes of Asean's best friends -- its dialogue partners who have been so
generous in providing assistance to the region over the past two decades.
That decision also came at the most trying period, a time when the region is
facing an unprecedented economic crisis.

Burma's membership in Asean has so far proved to be a huge liability.
Asean's overall relationship with its dialogue partners has since
deteriorated to its lowest ebb. In the last few weeks, Asean and the EU, its
biggest aid donor, have tried to reconcile their long-standing dispute over
Burma. Both realise they have so much to lose if their relations remained
frozen as they are today. Without any remarkable improvement in their ties,
the broader cooperation under the framework of Asia-Europe Meeting will
surely be a casualty, if it is not already, and this will put a damper on
the next summit meeting in Seoul next year.

The onus now rests on Asean. The grouping has to show that changes in Burma
are forthcoming and that it can help establish a dialogue between the

military junta and the opposition. Asean leaders often boast that they are
the ones who understand their region best and thus know how to deal with
crises as they arise. So far, though, they have been unable to prove this
wisdom.

It is ironic that Burma's pariah status and its increased global isolation
now provide Asean with the raison d'etre to stay united. One wonders how
long can Asean maintain its solidarity on Burma and at what cost! There is,
however, a limit to Asean's support of Burma. It is notable that Asean today
no longer has the cohesiveness it had a few years ago.

When Asean stood firm against Vietnam's occupation of Cambodia, the whole
world was behind the organisation. It was then the right thing to do. Now
Asean stands up for Burma. It has earned the grouping much consternation, if
not condemnation. Most importantly, it has tainted the reputation of Asean.
This is indeed not the right thing to do.

Burma is a serious issue which the Asean foreign ministers must address. If
the political situation in Burma remains deadlocked, Asean's image will be
further eroded, and that's something the grouping can ill afford. Asean
wants to regain the confidence of the international community -- especially
that of investors -- in its economy. It can only do so if it restores the
credibility it once enjoyed.

The Nation