Tuesday 3 August 2010

ASEAN

The ASEAN (Association of South East Asian Nations), is a geo-political and economic organisation formed of 10 countries, one of which is Burma. Despite 8 of the 10 countries being what you might describe as regimes of varying degrees of fascism and therefore already of dubious credibility, Burma (a '10' on the fascism scale) was allowed to join because Indonesia and Malaysia felt it would 'boost their numbers'. Okayyyyy.

ASEAN has a charter that was drafted by the member countries in 2008 in which all member countries agreed to abide by the following guidleines, summarised thus - 'We won't act like horrible genocidal maniacs':


a) respect for the independence, sovereignty, equality, territorial integrity and national identity of all ASEAN Member States; b) shared commitment and collective responsibility in enhancing regional peace, security and prosperity; c) renunciation of aggression and of the threat or use of force or other actions in any manner inconsistent with international law; d) reliance on peaceful settlement of disputes; e) non-interference in the internal affairs of ASEAN Member States; f) respect for the right of every Member State to lead its national existence free from external interference, subversion and coercion; g) enhanced consultations on matters seriously affecting the common interest of ASEAN; h) adherence to the rule of law, good governance, the principles of democracy and constitutional government; i) respect for fundamental freedoms, the promotion and protection of human rights, and the promotion of social justice; j) upholding the United Nations Charter and international law, including international humanitarian law, subscribed to by ASEAN Member States; k) abstention from participation in any policy or activity, including the use of its territory, pursued by and ASEAN Member State or non-ASEAN State or any non-State actor, which threatens the sovereignty, territorial integrity or political and economic stability of ASEAN Member States; l) respect for the different cultures, languages and religions of the peoples of ASEAN, while emphasising their common values in the spirit of unity in diversity; m) the centrality of ASEAN in external political, economic, social and cultural relations while remaining actively engaged, outward-looking, inclusive and non-discriminatory; and n) adherence to multilateral trade rules and ASEAN's rules-based regimes for effective implementation of economic commitments and progressive reduction towards elimination of all barriers to regional economic integration, in a market-driven economy".


Now, let's examine those guiding principles as they relate to the philosophy of Burma's peaceful endeavours. Or rather, don't. At least that's what a very bright, articulate and argumentative American lawyer tried to do in this morning's debate when she put it to the speaker that the charter is at best, flawed and at worst totally useless due to its failure to adequately deal with Burma's continued flagrant human rights abuses.

Ahhh, but you see it's not the fault or responsibility of the charter because it specifically says that no member countries are allowed to interfere with the running of other member countries, explained the guy on the panel. So hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil is actually the best policy. Also it doesn't matter anyway because nowhere in the charter does it deal with the issue of non-compliance - i.e: it's not considered a binding document!! So really, it's just for fun. I guess it makes them feel important or something.

Also, everything agreed on the ASEAN agenda must be done by consensus. If one member country doesn't want something to happen, it doesn't happen; even if the 9 other countries do. Yes, that's right, amongst this collective of governments with sketchy human rights track records, minority actually rules! What a brilliant system. So wide open to abuse that it just takes one malevolent faction with an ulterior agenda to squash policy before it's even got off the ground.

In summary, the ASEAN have written a charter that is not binding upon anybody; and have designed a decision making process that could only possibly be made more obstructive to decision making if it dictated that no one was allowed to make any decisions at all. Ever.

In the meantime, these busy fools with their feet under the UN General Assembly's table are happy to ignore the genocide and terrorisation of ethnic people that continues in Burma.

Hesng Keoh Fah, English editor for the Burmese news agency based in Chiang Mai, says, "The more I hear about the politics of it all, the more I just want to run away". "The international community doesn't seem to care that the biggest problem in Burma is the displacement of the ethnic people. That needs to be sorted out first. The people wouldn't even mind even if the junta just stole their land, but they hurt them too; that's why they're scared and that's why they run to Thailand. Because even if they give up their land to the junta without a fight, they still get raped and murdered."

Then she told me how she'd read a report the other day that told how a 6 year old girl from one of the ethnic regions in Shan State had been raped by one of Burma's military. And I wondered where in the charter it said that that was ok.