By Chandra Muzaffar
The Malaysian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dato Seri Anifah Aman, has adopted the right stance at the meeting of the ASEAN Ministers of Foreign Affairs in conjunction with the ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur by emphasizing the importance of continuing with ASEAN’s non-confrontational approach in dealing with maritime disputes in the South China Sea between certain ASEAN states and China. A confrontational approach which forces ASEAN as a collective entity into an antagonistic mode in its relations with China will be detrimental to both sides. It will undermine on-going efforts to formulate a Code of Conduct governing ASEAN-China relations especially in the context of the South China Sea.
One hopes that the ASEAN Summit this time will also facilitate the opening up of yet another channel of communication between ASEAN and China through think tanks, research institutes and universities which will explore in depth the many facets in the interaction between the two sides. Since the geopolitical and geo-economic dimensions of this relationship will undoubtedly figure prominently in an exploration of this sort, the entities concerned should also interface with US think tanks and universities. A three way interaction among ASEAN, China and the US through this channel may make it a little easier to surmount some of the challenges that confront the three actors today. ASEAN researchers and scholars should view this interaction as an opportunity to strengthen the cohesiveness and solidarity of ASEAN as a distinct political community of sovereign states that is determined to protect its independence in the face of escalating Sino-US rivalry.
The ASEAN Summit should also address yet another challenge to its cohesiveness and solidarity. The frayed relations between segments of the Buddhist and Muslim communities in Myanmar and Thailand call for an earnest effort to address some of the underlying causes of friction between the two communities. While attempts to overcome some immediate concerns should continue through the government in both states, civil society groups should also hold substantive dialogues between Buddhists and Muslims. It is significant that civil society groups have been doing this for decades below the radar screen. A platform has now been created for Buddhist-Muslim relations — the Buddhist-Muslim Forum established in August 2013 — which seeks to promote their shared values through action programmes. The International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), the International Movement for a Just World (JUST), Muhammadiyah and Religions for Peace are among the partners in this endeavour. We have reached out to the ASEAN Secretari
at in Jakarta. The ASEAN Summit should give a boost to this ASEAN citizens’ effort by recognizing the importance of inter-faith dialogue and action that goes beyond Muslim and Buddhist communities and embraces all the religions in the region.
Appreciating the role of civil society groups in building bridges among communities should be part of the larger goal of transforming ASEAN into a people-centred entity. Though some ASEAN governments have long spoken of this aspiration, very little concrete action has been taken — outside business circles — to translate it into reality. There are at least three areas where this can be done. A pioneer programme which brings together a hundred upper secondary school students between the ages of 15 and 17, ten from each ASEAN country, should be launched as soon as feasible with the eventual aim of nurturing tens of thousands of young people with genuine understanding of, and real-life exposure to, ASEAN. Each student selected for this programme should immerse herself in a month long study course on the various dimensions of ASEAN, including its geography, history and myriad cultures before she spends a month staying in each of the other nine ASEAN states, over a nine month period. After she returns home, hop
efully armed with an ASEAN outlook, she would be required to write a monograph or produce a video on her nine month tour of ASEAN. She should then be invited to visit secondary schools throughout her own country to disseminate information and knowledge about ASEAN based upon her own experience and her learning. Finally, student participants and educationists in all ten ASEAN states should do an assessment of this pioneer programme to determine its future.
An equally powerful arena for fostering an ASEAN outlook and an ASEAN spirit would be culture and entertainment. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to popularize ASEAN cuisines within ASEAN itself? Over time, ASEAN citizens should be able to empathize with ASEAN cuisines other than their own. Could we also organize ASEAN cultural exhibitions and shows in not only the cities but also in the small towns that dot the ASEAN landscape which will bring bits of ASEAN to the remotest corners of this region? Would it be possible to sponsor an ASEAN –wide song contest which would require each contestant to sing a song in the language of her land? What about increasing the screening of films and documentaries from other ASEAN countries in each and every ASEAN state? Since the radio is still an influential medium of communication in much of rural ASEAN, could we expand broadcast hours allotted to news and entertainment from our ASEAN neighbours?
If culture and entertainment impact upon people, so does sports. It is somewhat surprising that ASEAN has not established an ASEAN badminton team, given the presence of so many world-class badminton players in individual ASEAN states. Such a badminton team which could take on a Chinese or Japanese or Danish team would help in fostering an ASEAN identity. The same could be done in table-tennis or hockey or football or basketball or netball. Even an ASEAN athletics contingent which could compete at the international level would bring ASEAN citizens together.
When people are able to see ASEAN perform as ASEAN, whether in the sports field or the entertainment arena, they will begin to identify with ASEAN. Similarly, when an ASEAN consciousness seeps into the minds of school students, it is quite conceivable that future generations will feel and think ASEAN. It is at that point that ASEAN would have become a people centred entity, not a state based outfit.
Dr. Chandra Muzaffar is the President of the international Movement for a Just World (JUST).
Malaysia.
26 April 2015.