Asean Contribution to Regional Security - Lessons for Saarc

ASEAN CONTRIBUTION TO REGIONAL SECURITY -

LESSONS FOR SAARC

INTRODUCTION

1. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is frequently cited as a shining example of third world co-operation. Established in 1967, its publicly stated primary objectives was to foster intra-ASEAN economic co-operation. But a closer examination of its performance over a past quarter of century indicats that ASEAN has been far more successful in the diplomatic and political arena than on the economic cooperation front. ASEAN has contributed politically to its members by building the self confidence of the states to assert their position in regional affairs and international politics.

2. The ASEAN process has contributed in a major way to the creation of a strong sense of mutual understanding, trust, confidence and good-will among the members. This has helped to minimize existing intra-ASEAN conflicts. The very creation of ASEAN was a landmark of political achievement, as it marked the end of confrontation between Indonesia and Malaysia and helped normalize relations between the two countries. It has even managed the disagreement between the philippines and Malaysia over the former's claim to Sabah. Thus - a region marked by ethnic, cultural and religions diversity, it is clear that ASEAN has served as an effective forum in bringing regional peace and stability.

3. The formation of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SARRC) in 1985 is an important milestone in the history of South Asia. The primary objective of this organization is to promote regional cooperation through step by step "collaboration and mutual assistance" in unanimously chosen programmes in the economic, technical, scientific, social and cultural fields. It is hoped that progress in these mutually beneficial areas may not only accelerate pace of national development of the individual member states but ultimately contribute to mutual trust, understanding and appreciation of one another's problem. In this way regional tensions may be replaced by an atmosphere of trust, enhancing South Asian security and stability.

4. Like SAARC, ASEAN evolved slowly and tentatively, with emphasis on economic, social and technical cooperation, and with repeated assertion that it would avoid controversial bilateral issues and would not be concerned with regional, political and security matters. But its members soon come to realize that political and security matters would inevitably discussed during high level ASEAN meetings, even through they would not appear on the formal agenda. The member states of SAARC, like those of ASEAN, are faced with security problems with which they are hard pressed to cope, problems arising from instabilities and tensions within each nation, among nations of the region. The experience of ASEAN suggests that such problems will inevitably be discussed when high level meeting of members of regional arrangements are held, but that it may be unwise to include these problems in the formal agenda. Among the regional groupings in the third world, ASEAN has been surprisingly active and successful in maintaining regional order and security in a rather unfavourable environment. This organization might provide the most relevant lessons for SAARC in achieving regional security, peace and stability.

AIM

5. The aim of this paper is to analyse ASEAN's contribution to regional security and derive lessons for SAARC.

SCOPE

6. The analysis of the paper is restrained within the purview of assessing different factors and policies that make ASEAN as an effective forum in maintaining regional order and security in Southeast Asia. Taking lessons from ASEAN on security, an attempt has been made in the paper to examine its efficacy in the context of SAARC.

EVOLUTION OF ASEAN AND SAARC

The Advent of ASEAN

7. The formation of ASEAN was the cumulation of a series of attempts. After the end of second World War some of the states of Southeast Asia had formed regional groupings to promote peace, social well-being and economic progress for members. The more commonly known before ASEAN were "Collective Defence Treaty or "Manila Pact for Southeast Asia, "South-east Asia Treaty Organization" (SEATO), and Anglo-Malayan Defence Agreement". Neither the Manila pact nor SEATO demonstrated either a viable political purpose or military function. In 1971 the Ango-Malayan Defence Agreement turned into a consultative "Five-Power Defence Agreements" with