ASEAN to review 'cherished' noninterference policy

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec. 13 Kyodo

An ASEAN experts' group said Tuesday it will review the group's ''sacred'' principle of noninterference and its policy of decision-making by consensus.

The experts, the Eminent Persons Group, is 10 mostly former politicians and diplomats from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations who have been tasked to formulate an ASEAN Charter, a legal instrument that binds the now loosely organized group into a rules-based legal regime.

At a press conference held on the sidelines of the ASEAN leaders' meetings, former Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Musa Hitam who chairs the EPG admitted the noninterference policy had hampered progress of the group.

''We do also agree that the system of consensus has been problematical to the association itself,'' Musa said as he referred to conclusions he drew from consultations of the EPG over the last two days.

He said the EPG discussed the issue of sovereignty and noninterference and understood they need to find a new mechanism to cope with problems occurring within the border of a member country that might have negative effects on ASEAN's collective interests.

''Where anything that is happening within the borders of a sovereign nation is perceived to have any negative effect on the collective interest of the community...then it would be -- it seems to be the consensus now -- it would be, and should be, made a concern of this community,'' he said.

Although Musa did not specify the problems related to the noninterference principle, ASEAN has recently admitted the lack of democratic reform in military-ruled Myanmar, one of its members, has tarnished the reputation of the group and harmed its international relations.

The Myanmar generals have once again come under the spotlight as ASEAN gathers in Kuala Lumpur for its annual summit.

Myanmar Prime Minister Soe Win, who also attended the meeting, has been repeatedly queried about the slow pace of the national reconciliation process and the continued detention of pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

The ASEAN leaders issued a statement Monday calling on Myanmar to expedite democratic reforms and release all political detainees.

The EPG will also look into issues relating to ''conflict resolution'' for the group, Musa indicated.

For years, ASEAN has set up a high-level dispute settlement mechanism called the High Council of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia to resolve conflicts among the regional members or between its members and external states.

But ASEAN has never invoked the mechanism.

Musa said the EPG would also examine ''legal enforcement'' of existing agreements and treaties of the group.

''Past, and even current, experience show that where agreement has been signed, where declaration has been made, when a country chooses to ignore it or just to leave it aside, there's nothing that can be done,'' he said.

The EPG plans to engage civil society in the region as well as to converse with previous ASEAN Secretariat chiefs before formulating recommendations for the ASEAN leaders in December next year in the Philippines, Musa added.

''We are very open in the process. That's why we are engaging civil society, we are engaging anybody who is interested so that we could get a proper feedback, hopefully to come up with this Charter that really goes beyond 2020 to create this ASEAN Community that the governments, and I believe the people, of ASEAN will feel a sense of belonging,'' he said.

In addition to Musa, the EPG members are Brunei's Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister Lim Jock Seng; Cambodia's Adviser to the Prime Minister Aun Porn Moniroth; Indonesia's former Foreign Minister Ali Alatas; Laos' former Deputy Minister Khamphanh Simmalavong; Myanmar's Chairman of the Civil Service Selection and Training Board Than Nyun; former Philippine President Fidel Ramos; Singapore's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Law S. Jayakumar; Thailand's former Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Kasemsamosorn Kasemsri; and Vietnam's former Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Nguyen Manh Cam.

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