Asean's birthday heralds the start of its greatest venture

[Lite Beer]

EDITORIAL
Asean's birthday heralds the start of its greatest venture
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The imminent launch of the Asean Economic Community presents a daunting array of challenges and possibilities

Tomorrow is the 38th anniversary of the birth of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. The birthday celebration this year has added significance because the bloc - now up to 10 members from its original five - is set to embark on arguably its most crucial venture since it came into existence in 1967. The Asean Economic Community will be officially inaugurated in a few months following years of debate, painstaking preparations and a rough balance of scepticism and optimism.

The AEC means many things to many people. Businessmen see either opportunities or threats. Artists see faster and more fluid exchanges of culture and infusions of creativity. Students see a broader spectrum of knowledge and chances to interact with their counterparts in neighbouring countries. Job-seekers see the possibility of prosperity that was beyond their parents' and grandparents' reach. Professionals see the need to adapt and compete.

And policymakers will be seeing for the first time how their plans affect the masses, not just in their homelands but beyond their borders.

All of the above means that the AEC will be very much uncharted territory, utterly different from the original concept of Asean. The regional grouping was conceived in largely political terms. The Cold War was a factor. Mistrust among neighbours was prevalent. Diplomatic pacts were based on what policymakers feared rather than what citizens wanted.

The AEC promises to place Asean on the same level as the man in the street. What happens will be determined more by grassroots needs and less by the concerns of people in power. Of course governments and politicians will still guide the course of the AEC, but they are gradually recognising that modern-day complexities arise among "ordinary" citizens, not among people like them.

When political and ideological barriers fall, anything goes. Policymakers now realise, for example, that the much-vaunted "threat of communism" never deterred border trade, as feared. They see how the people of Myanmar suffered under the international sanctions that were intended to punish those who suppressed them. Economic corridors linking the AEC nations should be bustling soon, although their very existence would have made late-1960s policymakers cringe.

Ideas are being adapted and fused. Staid ideology should soon give way to answering genuine needs. Compromise and the acceptance of innate differences should become the hallmark of the new era. Nationalism is likely to soften through mutual understanding among both the policymakers and ordinary citizens.

The AEC is not just about passports or trade documents. When strangers interact they become acquaintances. It's as simple as that. Less fear and more understanding should be the focus of everyone involved.

The least that the policymakers can do is adhere to the noble path and prevent Asean from veering into the same international political gamesmanship that saw the world divided into "blocs" of clashing ideologies and ways of life.

In fact the trickiest part of the AEC evolution is how the grouping can avoid falling into that trap. If it becomes more economically influential, as expected, fresh conflict could ensue, not another Cold War but a financial war with equally evil potential. It's part of human nature to form alliances that foster the "us versus them" mentality. And we have seen enough in history to know how many alliances were born out of noble purposes only to end up far less noble.

How to sustain the noble intent of the AEC as Asean's influence grows is the new challenge. At least the policymakers will not have to face it alone, because the onus is now on everyone.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/opinion/Aseans-birthday-heralds-the-start-of-its-greatest--30266158.html

-- The Nation 2015-08-08

[alant]

Possibly the most important thing here is the statement " The AEC means many things to many people. " Which can be looked at as it means different things to different people so just what is it.

There have been all sorts of things said about the implications of this development but where can a set of clear policies be seen, preferably expressed in layman's terms?

Can anyone here give actual "this is what it means"?

[Nick167]

AEC can only be successful if Thailand is omitted out from the grouping. The way Thailand treats migrant workers from Myanmar, Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos and the xenophobic nature of the country towrads all migrant workers and foreigners plus that the fact that "Thailand is allowing China to have unnatural sexual relations with it", might to the anger to countries like Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam and Indonesia that does not like China. Also Thialnd is trying to impose its own Nationalistic and Protective rules in the AEC grouping and free trade, hence no reason to include Thailand which cannot even communicate in English into the grouping. Let them be with China.

[whiteman]

this is going to be a real joke when and if it happens I agree with Nick167

[MZurf]

For the last couple of years I've been hearing "Asean, Asean" being invoked like a magic charm that will magically transform Thailand into an economic power house and 1st world country virtually over night. Being ever the cynic I have a strong feeling these expectations are slightly exaggerated.

[soalbundy]

Adhere to the noble path

[dickyknee]

Came into existence in 1967? So that is the 38th birthday?

I'm guessing maths isn't the reporters forte.

[soalbundy]

Came into existence in 1967? So that is the 38th birthday?

I'm guessing maths isn't the reporters forte.

ASEAN will sort that out, calculators instead of fingers.

[Srikcir]

So long as the Thai government insists that Thailand be the Hub of Everything ASEAN, there will be no true ASEAN Community.

Given the Junta's lack of accountability, transparency, freedom of expression, indiscriminatory laws and edits, focus on THAI culture and Prayut's 12 Values, the Thai government presents insurrmountable barriers to free trade between Thailand and its ASEAN counterparts.

The good news is that Thailand's failed governance and economy will provide opportunity for the other ASEAN countries to expand their own economies. That in turn will begin a geopolitical shift in the region towards democratic institutions that will isolate Thailand's future in ASEAN.

[dickyknee]

So long as the Thai government insists that Thailand be the Hub of Everything ASEAN, there will be no true ASEAN Community.

Given the Junta's lack of accountability, transparency, freedom of expression, indiscriminatory laws and edits, focus on THAI culture and Prayut's 12 Values, the Thai government presents insurrmountable barriers to free trade between Thailand and its ASEAN counterparts.

The good news is that Thailand's failed governance and economy will provide opportunity for the other ASEAN countries to expand their own economies. That in turn will begin a geopolitical shift in the region towards democratic institutions that will isolate Thailand's future in ASEAN.

yep, Thailand's failings is going to lead the other ASEAN countries (Singapore, Myanmar, Vietnam, Cambodia, laosetc.) towards democracy.

Or probably not.

Edited August 8, 2015 by dickyknee

[jerojero]

Ah, blah blah, fluff. All will be well. Politicians will see to that. 555

[wabothai]

So long as the Thai government insists that Thailand be the Hub of Everything ASEAN, there will be no true ASEAN Community.

Given the Junta's lack of accountability, transparency, freedom of expression, indiscriminatory laws and edits, focus on THAI culture and Prayut's 12 Values, the Thai government presents insurrmountable barriers to free trade between Thailand and its ASEAN counterparts.

The good news is that Thailand's failed governance and economy will provide opportunity for the other ASEAN countries to expand their own economies. That in turn will begin a geopolitical shift in the region towards democratic institutions that will isolate Thailand's future in ASEAN.

To clear things up, have a look at the border crossing in Thali. A very costly (and who benefitted) project.about finished.

Access to the project to the north is a road full of potholes you don't want to be on. The southern access form Loei is just a small provincial raod. I have not seen the Laos side.