ID :
47521
Wed, 02/25/2009 - 12:58
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/47521
The shortlink copeid
MAKE IT OR BREAK IT TIME FOR ASEAN
From D. Arul Rajoo and M. Saraswathi
HUA HIN (Thailand), Feb 25 (Bernama) -- When five Asean leaders gathered
at a seaside resort near Bangkok 42 years ago, little did they realise that
their dream and vision for an Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean)
will one day turn into a rules-based and integrated regional grouping.
Amidst all the scepticism and challenges over the last four decades, the
original five founders -- Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines and
Singapore, along with Brunei, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam and Myanmar have come a
long way.
The 14th Asean Summit -- finally being held at the seaside resort town of
Hua Hin, some 230km south of Bangkok, after anti-government protests in December
forced its postponement -- will mark a new chapter for the region following the
Asean Charter coming into force in December last year.
Asean foreign and economic ministers are to arrive here tomorrow while
the Head of States on Friday. The summit is on March 1.
"Back then, there was skepticism on how Asean will survive as it was
created in the midst of an atmosphere of tension and Confrontation. Even the
individual countries in our region were at risk. Forty years on, Asean has come
a long way and is on course to realise our visions and dreams," said Thailand
Prime Minister and Asean Chairman Abhisit Vejjajiva during his visit to the
Asean Secretariat in Jakarta last week.
Themed "Asean Charter For Asean People", the main agenda of the
summit is expected to be discussions on the transformation of Asean based on its
new charter and regional cooperation to cope with global recession.
The charter is an important component in the region's push for a more
people-centred organisation and achieving the Asean Community vision by 2015.
But it is definitely not going to be an easy passage.
Especially when it has to deal with newer and tougher issues while the
older ones remain unsolved, among others, is the long-drawn-out international
outcry on the release of Myanmar's pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi who has
been held under house arrest in Yangon since September 2003.
Even the summit is at risk of being overshadowed by Thailand's
protracted internal political crisis as thousands of anti-government protesters
have besieged the nation's administration seat in Bangkok.
While vetting the terms of reference for an Asean human rights body is
among the crucial agenda on the cards, the plight of the stateless Rohingyas
is certain to steal the thunder.
The summit is also taking place at a time when the global economy taking its
toll on the region, with reduced exports, rising unemployment and record high
food and energy prices.
"The world is excited about Asean but it is up to the 570 million of us to
make it work," Asean secretary-general Surin Pitsuwan was quoted as saying
recently.
Asean also boasts of a combined gross domestic product of over US$1.03
trillion.
Surin was referring to the fact that the European Union (EU) was sending a
representative to the Asean secretariat in Jakarta and likely to be
followed by the posting of ambassadors to Asean by each of the 27 EU member
states.
The Asean secretary-general has been for the first time invited to the
upcoming G20 Summit in London.
The Asean People's Forum, held a week before the summit, demands Asean
leaders to look at the plight of about 20 million migrant workers in the region
in the wake of the global economic slowdown, and not just devote time and
resources to help big corporations and financial institutions to weather the
crisis.
Asean already suffered a setback after India, pressed by the gloomy global
economic conditions, said it would not sign the proposed free trade agreement
(FTA) with the region as was scheduled in Hua Hin, but similar pacts with
Australia, New Zealand and South Korea are still on the cards.
The summit will be a good opportunity for Asean to show to the rest of the
world that Asean is still very much relevant and not merely a "talk shop" as
perceived by many.
Singapore Foreign Affairs Minister George Yeo sounded the bell when he
said the current global economic crisis has put Asean members to test as to
whether they will stick to their commitments to the 10-member regional grouping.
Last week, Asean finance ministers, together with their colleagues from
Japan, South Korea and China, expanded the Multilateralised Chiang Mai
Initiative from the initially agreed US$80 billion to US$120 billion as they
pooled together their resources to face the economic malaise.
-- BERNAMA
HUA HIN (Thailand), Feb 25 (Bernama) -- When five Asean leaders gathered
at a seaside resort near Bangkok 42 years ago, little did they realise that
their dream and vision for an Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean)
will one day turn into a rules-based and integrated regional grouping.
Amidst all the scepticism and challenges over the last four decades, the
original five founders -- Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines and
Singapore, along with Brunei, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam and Myanmar have come a
long way.
The 14th Asean Summit -- finally being held at the seaside resort town of
Hua Hin, some 230km south of Bangkok, after anti-government protests in December
forced its postponement -- will mark a new chapter for the region following the
Asean Charter coming into force in December last year.
Asean foreign and economic ministers are to arrive here tomorrow while
the Head of States on Friday. The summit is on March 1.
"Back then, there was skepticism on how Asean will survive as it was
created in the midst of an atmosphere of tension and Confrontation. Even the
individual countries in our region were at risk. Forty years on, Asean has come
a long way and is on course to realise our visions and dreams," said Thailand
Prime Minister and Asean Chairman Abhisit Vejjajiva during his visit to the
Asean Secretariat in Jakarta last week.
Themed "Asean Charter For Asean People", the main agenda of the
summit is expected to be discussions on the transformation of Asean based on its
new charter and regional cooperation to cope with global recession.
The charter is an important component in the region's push for a more
people-centred organisation and achieving the Asean Community vision by 2015.
But it is definitely not going to be an easy passage.
Especially when it has to deal with newer and tougher issues while the
older ones remain unsolved, among others, is the long-drawn-out international
outcry on the release of Myanmar's pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi who has
been held under house arrest in Yangon since September 2003.
Even the summit is at risk of being overshadowed by Thailand's
protracted internal political crisis as thousands of anti-government protesters
have besieged the nation's administration seat in Bangkok.
While vetting the terms of reference for an Asean human rights body is
among the crucial agenda on the cards, the plight of the stateless Rohingyas
is certain to steal the thunder.
The summit is also taking place at a time when the global economy taking its
toll on the region, with reduced exports, rising unemployment and record high
food and energy prices.
"The world is excited about Asean but it is up to the 570 million of us to
make it work," Asean secretary-general Surin Pitsuwan was quoted as saying
recently.
Asean also boasts of a combined gross domestic product of over US$1.03
trillion.
Surin was referring to the fact that the European Union (EU) was sending a
representative to the Asean secretariat in Jakarta and likely to be
followed by the posting of ambassadors to Asean by each of the 27 EU member
states.
The Asean secretary-general has been for the first time invited to the
upcoming G20 Summit in London.
The Asean People's Forum, held a week before the summit, demands Asean
leaders to look at the plight of about 20 million migrant workers in the region
in the wake of the global economic slowdown, and not just devote time and
resources to help big corporations and financial institutions to weather the
crisis.
Asean already suffered a setback after India, pressed by the gloomy global
economic conditions, said it would not sign the proposed free trade agreement
(FTA) with the region as was scheduled in Hua Hin, but similar pacts with
Australia, New Zealand and South Korea are still on the cards.
The summit will be a good opportunity for Asean to show to the rest of the
world that Asean is still very much relevant and not merely a "talk shop" as
perceived by many.
Singapore Foreign Affairs Minister George Yeo sounded the bell when he
said the current global economic crisis has put Asean members to test as to
whether they will stick to their commitments to the 10-member regional grouping.
Last week, Asean finance ministers, together with their colleagues from
Japan, South Korea and China, expanded the Multilateralised Chiang Mai
Initiative from the initially agreed US$80 billion to US$120 billion as they
pooled together their resources to face the economic malaise.
-- BERNAMA
