The dilemma of non-interference in Asean

Recently, the international community was shocked when boats filled with 2,000 ethnic Rohingya arrived in Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia. About 8,000 Rohingya are reportedly still adrift at sea following a crackdown on human trafficking syndicates.

The humanitarian crisis casts the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) in a negative light. The incident has also revealed the core of many problems in Asean itself, that is the immense pressure on the regional bloc to rethink its principle of non-interference in internal affairs of neighbouring states.

The non-interference principle is being increasingly questioned through its expanded influence, new challenges arising from globalisation processes, and most importantly, the increasing need to focus on human security. 

According to the Kuala Lumpur Declaration on a People-Oriented, People-Centred Asean adopted at the 26th Asean Summit in Kuala Lumpur on April 27, Asean leaders agreed to “continue establishing a people-oriented, people-centred and rules-based Asean community where all people, stakeholders and sectors of society can contribute to and enjoy the benefits from a more integrated and connected community encompassing enhanced cooperation in the political-security, economic and socio-cultural pillars for sustainable, equitable and inclusive development”.

Under the sub-topic on socio-cultural, the declaration stated: “Promote and protect the rights of women, children, youth and elderly persons as well as those of migrant workers, indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, ethnic minority groups, people in vulnerable situations and marginalised groups, and promote their interests and welfare in Asean’s future agenda including through the Asean community’s post-2015 vision and its attendant documents”.

Less than a month after the adoption of the declaration, the plight of the Rohingya blew up.

The Rohingya crisis is not a new problem in Asean. For decades, Asean has turned a blind eye to the fate of the Rohingya, one of the world’s most vulnerable minorities.

In my previous article entitled, “An Asean detached from its peoples” derived from my reflections after attending the Asean Civil Society Conference/Asean People’s Assembly (ACSC/ APF), I said that what is seriously lacking in Asean is not declarations or statements, but fundamental issues such as people’s access to land and resources as well as minority rights for those such as the Rohingya.

Critics have long voiced doubts over Asean’s ambition for closer integration, known as the Asean community, given the grouping’s sacred stance on sovereignty. The Rohingya crisis comes as a real test of the degree to which Asean member states take seriously their commitment to regional cooperation on protecting human rights as enshrined in the Asean Human Rights Declaration.

The reluctance of Myanmar to openly discuss the issue is a clear obstacle for Asean to further develop a joint position. However, on the other hand, it is a moral obligation of Asean member states to find ways for a sustainable solution to the long-standing Rohingya issue by ensuring it is on the agenda of Asean meetings.

The Rohingya crisis has raised the pragmatism of Asean’s non-interference principle. At this crucial year of 2015, the deadline for the three pillars under the Asean community, Asean is fully aware that the issue could imperil the group’s stability in the region.

Although Myanmar is primarily responsible for the influx of Rohingya refugees, Asean has no choice but to go beyond its non-interference principle in order to maintain peace and stability in the region. Otherwise, silence on the issue could undermine Asean’s goal of achieving peaceful economic development in the long term. – May 18, 2015.

* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insider.