Now Counting: ASEAN Charter Ratification

Calvin Michel Sidjaja on January 11th, 2008

January 7th 2008 marks the new step on Southeast Asia Integration, as� Singapore has ratified ASEAN Charter. This makes Singapore becomes the first country who ratified the newly established charter which was produced last year.

I have read the Charter partially (could be read here). I’m surprised with the inclusion of some articles which could discourage other countries to ratify it. Look at the article 1, point 7, don’t think anyone wouldn’t fret about it.

To strengthen democracy, enhance good governance and
the rule of law, and to promote and protect human rights and
fundamental freedoms, with due regard to the rights and
responsibilities of the Member States of ASEAN;

Go lol. We all know ASEAN countries are vaguely democratic, oh, at least the system is. Too bad this article might eventually become problematic if we must wait Myanmar again Expect some repetitive cheesy drama of ASEAN countries trying to make constructive engagement toward this country in the future. It will eventually happen, considering how undemocratic Myanmar is at the moment.

Also, this charter is noticeably contradicting with the purpose of establishing new framework. I thought this charter is supposed to be a first step toward a supranational organization, but why is non-interference policy still included in article 2, point 2e?

non-interference in the internal affairs of ASEAN
Member States

My best guess, this is safety measure to ensure ASEAN countries ratify it. As we know, ASEAN countries are quite allergic about the term of “humanitarian intervention”. Though I doubt an ASEAN country would intervene its neighbour though. We all have bad track of human right violation, we also rarely hear an ASEAN country condemn or cursing a human right violation occured in their neighbourhood.

And the most interesting is probably how they keep the consensus approach toward the decision making process in ASEAN, as included in article 7, point 20. Another safety measure?

As a basic principle, decision-making in ASEAN shall be
based on consultation and consensus

Well. We still have a year to wait. If no more countries ratify this charter, perhaps it’s sign that ASEAN is not to be integrated, and will forever be just an “association”. Perhaps it’s also sign that we are not European. We need alternative framework for consolidating this region.

Update (11/3/08):

There has been dispute in Indonesia’s Legislative regarding ASEAN Charter ratification.

First Comission of Legislative mentioned that there has been serious flaw of overall substance of ASEAN Charter. The Legislative is concerned and worried that ASEAN might become elitist club, the substance doesn’t reflect anything that could contribute and buildling civil society in ASEAN.

They also concerned with the conservatice decision-making mechanism, the ~~cursed~~ consensus ASEAN-way.

So far, there is still no sign Indonesia will ratify soon, but let’s hope it won’t be too long.

Countries That Ratified so Far:

Singapore - 7 January 2008
Malaysia - 18 February
Brunei Darussalam - 15 February 2008
Laos - 20 February 2008 (Official news from ASEAN available here)
Vietnam - 14 March 2008
Cambodia - 2 April 2008
Myanmar -18 July 2008

References
Charter of ASEAN
List of ratified treaties

_________

Pada 7 Januari 2008 dikabarkan bahwa Singapura telah meratifikasi piagam ASEAN, hal ini menjadikan Singapura sebagai negara pertama yang meratifikasi piagam tersebut.

Saya sendiri telah membaca sekilas dari charter tersebut, (bisa dilihat disini). Salah satu “pasal setan” yang bisa membuat beberapa negara enggan meratikasinya mungkin terdapat pada pasal 1 ayat 7:

To strengthen democracy, enhance good governance and
the rule of law, and to promote and protect human rights and
fundamental freedoms, with due regard to the rights and
responsibilities of the Member States of ASEAN;

Kita semua tahu negara-negara di ASEAN kebanyakan hanya tampak dari sistem, namun ada yang tidak terjadi demokrasi sama sekali. Myanmar adalah satu negara yang menjadi sorotan karena hal ini.

Di piagam ini, ada juga beberapa pasal yang tampaknya kontradiktif dengan tujuan piagam ASEAN tersebut. Bukankah piagam ini merupakan langkah awal ASEAN menuju sebuah organisasi supranasional? Walau demikian, kenapa non-interference policy masih ada dalam pasal 2 ayat 2e?

non-interference in the internal affairs of ASEAN
Member States

Dugaan saya, inklusi ayat ini adalah “pengaman” agar neara-negara ASEAN segera meratifikasi piagam ini. Negara-negara di ASEAN, seperti yang kita tahu, memiliki banyak masalah dengan pelanggaran Hak Asasi Dalam negeri. Namun kekhawatiran tersebut saya rasa kurang beralasan karena sepanjang sejarah ASEAN terbentuk, tampaknya tidak pernah terdengar kasus negara-negara ASEAN mengutuk tetangganya karena pelanggaran HAM (yang paling jauh juga menyatakan keprihatinan).

Yang lebih menarik lagi, sistem pengambilan keputusan dengan konsensus masih dipertahankan, seperti terlihat di pasal 7 ayat 20, pengaman lain?

As a basic principle, decision-making in ASEAN shall be
based on consultation and consensus

Kita lihat saja nanti apakah piagam ini segera ditandangani oleh sisa 9 negara lain. Jika sampai tahun depan piagam ini tidak berhasil diratifikasi oleh negara-negara ASEAN, mungkin ini merupakan pesan bahwa ASEAN memang tidak bisa berintegrasi, dan selamanya akan menjadi “asosiasi”.

Referensi
Singapura Meratifikasi Piagam ASEAN
Isi Piagam ASEAN

Popularity: 22% [?]