ASEAN Social Culture Community

A bloody border conflict between Thailand and Cambodia looks set to dominate an ASEAN summit in Indonesia this weekend, casting doubt on the bloc's rhetoric about regional integration by 2015.

Analysts and diplomats said the fighting, which has left at least 18 people dead since April 22, is expected to be a key topic at the two-day summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Jakarta from Saturday.

Current ASEAN chair Indonesia has been leading mediation efforts, but although the fighting has eased the situation remains tense and deadly firefights break out almost daily.

"The Thai-Cambodia border dispute poses a definite challenge to ASEAN's credibility and its objective of creating an ASEAN Community by 2015," said Professor Carl Thayer of the University of New South Wales in Australia.

"ASEAN's failure to broker a political solution will have a very negative impact on ASEAN's credibility as a viable regional organisation," he told AFP.

But Thayer said Indonesia can use the opportunity to play a "continuing proactive diplomatic role" while other ASEAN states can pressure Bangkok and Phnom Penh to negotiate a settlement.

A diplomatic source said ASEAN leaders would call on Bangkok and Phnom Penh to resolve the conflict, which has displaced 85,000 civilians on both sides.

The warring neighbours agreed at a special ASEAN ministerial meeting in Jakarta in February to accept Indonesian military observers at the border.

At the time, ASEAN Secretary General Surin Pitsuwan hailed the agreement as a "historic day" for the 10-nation bloc, but more than two months and a lot more fighting later, the observers remain in Jakarta.

"You must give credit to what ASEAN is trying to do," Surin told AFP on Wednesday, adding that February's meeting of foreign ministers and his personal mediation efforts were unprecedented for the trade-focused grouping.

"We are, I think, turning a page. We are making a giant leap forward by taking those steps. It's not going to be easy, it's not going to be resolved tomorrow."

A diplomatic briefing paper for one summit participant said ASEAN risked putting its "community-building efforts in jeopardy" if it fails to respond adequately to such bilateral disputes.

The paper said intra-regional clashes would not go well for "ASEAN's peace and stability or its credibility". How it responds is a "litmus test" for ASEAN's "ability to contribute to international peace and security", it added.

US-based Southeast Asia specialist Ernest Bower said the Thailand-Cambodia conflict "undercuts the ASEAN leaders' vision for regional integration by 2015".

ASEAN, which groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, is aiming for an integrated community by 2015 covering economic, cultural, political and security ties.

Bower cautioned the bloc against using the Thai-Cambodia spat as an excuse for slow progress on "hard issues key to real economic integration".

"The conflict also belies ASEAN's hope of projecting a cohesive region to potential international investors," said Bower, director of the Southeast Asia Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington.

ASEAN members are bound by a Treaty of Amity and Cooperation, which forbids the threat or the actual use of force in intra-regional disputes.

The bloc's first charter, or constitution, which came into force with much fanfare in 2008, has provisions for settling rows which are being sorely tested by the ongoing border spat.

"What ASEAN does now will impact on its role in dispute settlement among its members for a long time to come," Thayer said.

ASEAN's hands are often tied by its core principle of non-interference in members' domestic affairs, which means the group can only intervene with the consent of the involved parties.

In the Thai-Cambodia dispute, "ASEAN has to walk on eggshells" so as not to be seen as interfering, Thayer said. --- Source

At its Ninth Summit in October 2003 the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) announced its intention to create an ASEAN Community based upon three pillars: ASEAN Security Community, ASEAN Economic Community and an ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community. A year later ASEAN established the Vientiane Action Programme to realise this goal.

The process of ASEAN community building is a result of the considerable change in the association’s mission in the recent two decades. The end of the Cold War, the advance of globalisation, the rise of China and India in economic size and political influence as well as the Asian financial crisis have forced ASEAN to shift from its original preventive diplomacy of maintaining peace and harmony among its members and in the region to the constructive diplomacy of community building to cope with increasing political and economic competition in a globalised world.

In more details, one of the most notable threats to ASEAN members is China, whose robust economy is in direct competition with those of its Southeast Asian neighbours, especially in trade and foreign direct investment. Meanwhile, in recent years, the sleeping dragon has also tried to enhance its economic and political influence and presence in the region, particularly in Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia. This important change has increasingly drawn ASEAN states, which share the common fear of intrusive outside powers, into the long-term strategic competition between the United States and China in Asia Pacific. In order to cope with China and avoid external intervention, Southeast Asian countries feel the need to act collectively and to lean on each other, so that they can have combined strengths as well as better bargaining power in both economic and political issues. The same will work when dealing with an amalgamated or regional community such as the United States and the European Union, or with international organisations such as the United Nations and the World Trade Organisation.

Besides, in the time of economic globalisation and after it was hit hard by the Asian financial crisis, forming an economic community will help Southeast Asia boost its economic competitiveness and attractiveness to investors inside and outside the region (Almonte, 2006). In a 2003 study done for the ASEAN economic ministers by McKinsey & Company warned that “The region is falling behind its rivals. Turning it into a true single market would... help restore its economic luster”.

In terms of political and security issues, internal ethnic and religious tensions (most dangerously in Myanmar, Southern Thailand, Eastern Indonesia and Southern Philippines) have led to cross-border instability, terrorism, illegal migration and drug-trafficking. These and other problems such as air pollution, avian flu, AIDS all require regional concerted and coordinated actions.

Against this backdrop, the future of the region and of ASEAN will be, to a considerable extent, contingent on the degree of success of community building.

The ASEAN Community is based on three intertwined and mutually reinforcing pillars: ASEAN Security Community (ASC), ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) and ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC). The ASC is expected to maintain and strengthen peace, security and stability and enhance ASEAN’s capacity for self-management of regional security. It includes maritime cooperation and fight against terrorism, but no plan for a regional military bloc or defence pact. Besides, member countries are free to pursue their own foreign policies and defence arrangements. Meanwhile, the mission of the AEC is to develop a single market and production base that is stable, prosperous, highly competitive and economically integrated with effective facilitation for trade and investment in which there is free flow of goods, services investment, skilled labours, and freer flow of capital. But it will not adopt a common currency like the European Union. And last but not least, the ASCC is for a Southeast Asia bonded together in partnership as “a community of caring and sharing societies”. The ASCC Plan of Action contains four core elements: Building a community of caring societies, Managing the social impact of economic integration, Enhancing environmental sustainability, and Strengthening the foundations of regional social cohesion towards an ASEAN Community. In 2005, member countries agreed to establish an ASEAN Charter, which would serve as the legal and institutional framework for the regional organisation and the ASEAN Community. Although it will not take on any supranational functions, with its ambitious goals, the ASEAN Community is believed to have far-reaching and important impacts on the lives of the people in Southeast Asia. --- Source

Young artists, including university and graduate students of ASEAN Member States and the Republic of Korea are welcomed to participate in the 2011 ASEAN-Korea Multimedia Competition.

Organised by the ASEAN-Korea Centre, the annual competition aims to provide a channel of exchanges to enhance mutual understanding between the young generation of ASEAN and Korea through new media. Themed ‘Future Image,’ this year’s competition will focus on ASEAN’s contemporary image and suggest a new conformity of its art and culture in this global society.

The ASEAN-Korea Multimedia Competition was launched in 2009 as part of the ASEAN-Korea Centre’s efforts to foster friendship among youths in ASEAN Member States and the Republic of Korea. Last year’s competition received 600 entries. Eleven winners from ASEAN Member States were invited to Seoul for a five-day trip. --- Read More

Indonesia’s ASEAN 2011 Logo is framed within a mountainous-styled symbol, which is usually used in the art performance of Javanese traditional puppet of Wayang Kulit, that picture out the mountainous area. The use of this symbol aimed at revealing Indonesian traditional culture that is happened to be very specific. 

The mountainous-styled symbol describes the hilly landscape. A mountain also symbolizes something solid – a place that is higher above than us, a place where we can breathe in the fresh air and on where the land cultivates trees around the slope right down below. Mountainous areas deliver us with relaxing soul and beautiful scene that seemed to be natural; and be able to bring up the very deepest part of human’s inner senses. Up from above the mountain, people can see breathtaking sceneries that lie below. The higher we climb, the widen universe that our eyes can shape. This is the kind of personification that recalls people once they achieve certain level in their point of life, that they are required to be able to settle down problems and addressing solution towards every troublesome times of life.

The mountainous-styled symbol also embodies Indonesia as a shelter where all elements are lying within, from various resources and various groups, to various interests; and now, as Chairman of ASEAN, Indonesia is demanded to provide shelter that accommodates and bridging differences of interests of each member state. By this mean, Indonesia should be able to sheltering ASEAN’s three main pillars and promotes cooperation among the members who are living under the shelter.

Leaves: the main elements framing the Logo

Leaves have become the figure that frames the Logo in which every single leave having its part being attached to others’ pieces. The attachment of one leave to another has given synergic impression. Leave is also a symbol of human’s basic need as it impersonates welfare state and prosperous life. The chain of leaves symbolizes spirit among ASEAN members in giving promotion towards the welfare and prosperity, which shall be built up, so that every ASEAN member can eventually be on the top.

The chain of the leaves recalls to the form of fire, which symbolizes the spirit that brings up ASEAN members in the togetherness.

The shape of circle at the center of the Logo shows the epicenter of way-of-thoughts. The circle-shape recalls Indonesia, as chairman of ASEAN, to focus on giving proper responses towards ASEAN-related issues.

The mountainous-styled Logo impersonates Indonesia as the state, and the ASEAN-emblem at the inner-side of the Logo defines varied responsibilities of Indonesia ever since it has been mandated to chair the organization.

The genuine color of the Logo composed by the prime colors: blue, green, and yellow. The colors have composed the Logo in gradation-styled. They symbolize the integrity and the spirit of ASEAN members to be in united in strengthening cooperation among them, so that ASEAN can deliver better circumstances in all economic, politics, and security fields, especially for all of its members. --- Source

Asean leaders eye 'one community' by 2015 ; Leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations agreed yesterday to work on coordinated action on various global issues of common interest and concern, enhance cooperation against human trafficking in the region and establish an ASEAN institute for peace and reconciliation.

The joint statement on the ASEAN Community in a Global Community of Nations, also this year’s theme of the summit, endeavors ASEAN to have a common platform on various issues by 2022, separate from the goal to reach an ASEAN Community by 2015.

In a statement, leaders agreed to work together to accelerate the undertakings towards an ASEAN Community by 2015 and achieve a common platform for ASEAN beyond 2015 in Southeast Asia.

President Aquino and Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario said they were optimistic about the goal as they stressed the need for ASEAN to step up and expedite its work to reach its goal of promoting peace, stability and economic competitiveness in the region.

However, the border dispute between Thailand and Cambodia and the Myanmar issue raised doubts on whether the goal to have one ASEAN community could be achieved.

The Thailand-Cambodia border dispute occupied the most part of the ASEAN leaders’ plenary session on the first day, surprising the delegates as it put the other issues on the sidelines, according to Philippine officials at the meeting.

“As part of the wider community of nations, ASEAN is confronted with the dynamics of the 21st century challenges, where issues have become more complex, multi-faceted, transnational, increasingly interlinked and interdependent,” said the ASEAN leaders’ in a joint statement

They agreed to work on an enhanced capacity to contribute and respond to key global issues of common interest and concern, which would benefit all ASEAN member-countries. --- Source

Thai, Cambodian PMs agree to meet at ASEAN summit; Indonesia’s State Secretary Sudi Silalahi says President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono will host the meeting with prime ministers Hun Sen of Cambodia and Abhisit Vejjajiva of Thailand.

Officials say the prime ministers of Thailand and Cambodia have agreed to meet with Indonesia’s president to try to halt deadly clashes along their disputed border.

The planned three—way meeting on Sunday marks a step forward in resolving the recurring conflict. Thailand has previously rejected outside mediation, saying the matter must be settled between it and Cambodia.

The issue has threatened to dominate a summit of Southeast Asian leaders in Jakarta this weekend.

Indonesia’s State Secretary Sudi Silalahi says President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono will host the meeting with prime ministers Hun Sen of Cambodia and Abhisit Vejjajiva of Thailand.

The border clashes have killed more than a dozen in recent weeks and forced nearly 100,000 villagers to flee. --- Source

ASEAN to agree to give Myanmar chairmanship in 2014 ; Southeast Asian leaders on Sunday will agree on Sunday to allow Myanmar to chair the 10-member ASEAN group in 2014, a draft statement seen by Reuters said, a move likely to spur protests from Western nations and rights groups.

Myanmar held elections earlier this year to switch from military to civilian rule, leading the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) to push the United States and Europe to drop sanctions against it.

But many observers dismissed the election as a sham that has kept the generals in power behind the scenes.

"(We) consented to the proposal of Myanmar that it would host the ASEAN summits in 2014, in view of its firm commitment and dedication to implement the ASEAN community building as well as to ASEAN solidarity," said the draft statement to be released on Sunday.

The draft added that ASEAN leaders supported the "steady progress and political developments in Myanmar" after it held general elections and formed a new government in March, calling the ballot "successful".

ASEAN has in the past, along with Western nations, called on Myanmar to include pro-democracy opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi in any political solution, and so the decision appears to be a change of stance. --- Read More

1. The ASEAN Emblem shall be the official emblem of ASEAN.

2. The ASEAN Emblem represents a stable, peaceful, united and dynamic ASEAN. The colours of the Emblem -- blue, red, white and yellow -- represent the main colours of the state crests of all the ASEAN Member States.

3. The blue represents peace and stability. Red depicts courage and dynamism, white shows purity and yellow symbolises prosperity.

4. The stalks of padi in the centre of the Emblem represent the dream of ASEAN's Founding Fathers for an ASEAN comprising all the countries in Southeast Asia, bound together in friendship and solidarity.

5. The circle represents the unity of ASEAN. --- READ MORE