Asean at 50: Thailand must do more

[webfact]

Asean at 50: Thailand must do more 
By Kavi Chongkittavorn 
The Nation

 

BANGKOK: -- As one of the founding countries of Asean five decades ago, Thailand has a responsibility to ensure that the group is running well and moving towards full implementation of the Asean Community (AC), which is now entering its second year.

 

Unfortunately, despite repeated promises by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and related government agencies over the past 30 months to turn Thailand into the hub of Asean, it remains elusive. It is sad really that so much effort, not to mention tonnes of money, have been invested to achieve this noble objective – and the outcome has been unsatisfactory.  

 

First of all, Thai people still do not have a strong sense of belonging to Asean. They continue to wonder what concrete benefits or opportunities they would get from their integration with neighbouring countries. Worse still, Thai policy-makers often come out with conflicting reports on the pros and cons of community-building in Asean. So, there is a high sense of ambivalence. 

 

Full story: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/news/opinion/kavi/30303277

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-01-02

[alant]

Have to wonder what ASEAN is about myself and the economic community.

I can find nothing that helps me understand it nor any evidence it effects daily life.

[Fookhaht]

Most of the ASEAN countries are too busy protecting their individual turfs, to dedicate any serious assets to creating a viable cultural/political/economic community.

Thailand and Cambodia's intermittent scuffling over territory (complete with mortar shelling of villages such as at Khao Phra Vihan), is a case in point.

Before the Two-Junta-Bromance, Thailand and Myanmar nearly came to blows over the Rohingya refugee mess.

Last July, I sat in on a sort of "State of the Union" speech by one of ASEAN's officials. He was pretty glum about ASEAN's accomplishments to date, and its future.

50 years on, with little to show and little promise.


Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect

[yellowboat]

None the ASEAN countries get along all that well.  The more neutral being Singapore, but they are not that well liked either. There is just way too much difference between the populations for any sort of cohesion to take place.  There is not a universally well liked actor in the region.   

[fruitman]

The Asean countries even can't communicate to eachother without translators...Can mr Prayuth sapea inlit?? Never seen him do so.

[ChakaKhan]

10 minutes ago, fruitman said:

The Asean countries even can't communicate to eachother without translators...Can mr Prayuth sapea inlit?? Never seen him do so.

Solly..solly no hab no hab....u no understand thai people 

[Sphere]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

First of all, Thai people still do not have a strong sense of belonging to Asean.

 

Maybe, Thailand could start their own club with China, Uganda and North Korea.

[Grubster]

Different languages + much the same products and resources = big lack of interest.

[Srikcir]

8 hours ago, webfact said:

Thailand has a responsibility to ensure that the group is running well and moving towards full implementation of the Asean Community

TRANSLATION ERROR:

Thailand has a responsibility to ensure that THAILAND is running well and moving towards full implementation of the Asean Community.

No ASEAN nation has conceded overall control of ASEAN to Thailand no matter how often Prayut believes that Thailand should be the Hub of ASEAN. Instead ASEAN members are EQUAL PARTNERS in a cooperative trade community and currently Thailand is failing its responsibility.

[Eric Loh]

I think most posters have failed to understand the reason and effort ASEAN was formed in1967 by 5 founding members. At that period, SEA was in turmoil. Indonesia relationship with Malaysia and Singapore was acrimonious after the "confrontation" undeclared war. Philippines was agreesive towards re-claiming Sabah from Malaysia and Thailand was caught up with the Vietnam war. 

 

The effort to bring these 5 countries together was itself commendable. The reason was security at that time to insulate against Indo-China turmoil.

 

It was only much later that the economic integration of 500 million people for an expanded 10 ASEAN countries were included as the countries enjoy peace and economic vibrancy.

 

A lot of challenges ahead and ASEAN has its fair share of success and failures. 

[trainman34014]

Pah....The Thai's need to make sure their own country is 'running well' before trying to become the hub of anything...ever.   Fat chance of that happening, so same,same, just different day !

[ramrod711]

9 hours ago, webfact said:

First of all, Thai people still do not have a strong sense of belonging to Asean. They continue to wonder what concrete benefits or opportunities they would get from their integration with neighbouring countries

 

Apparently there is not an understanding that competition breeds efficiency.

[toenail]

This may have nothing to do with ASEAN, but if the association ever reaches the point of skilled citizens of ASEAN countries being able to work within these countries (such as Europeans in the EU countries) I think Thailand will be the loser. Why? After traveling around to most of the ASEAN countries, it seems the outdated educational system in Thailand is not producing the "product" to meet the needs of the 21st century (unless you are fortunate to attend a private expensive school). Some of Thai's "sanook" and "saving face" culture seems to prohibit good quality production and improvements. Technology-wise, Thai's youth may be one of ASEAN leaders in using social media, but certainly not for research or being informed or keeping up with the changing computer technology skills (again, this has to do with public education and lack of training). True, Cambodians, Burmese or Vietnamese are not as "up to standards" as Thailand, but the people seem to be more motivated-  Does this  have to do with being colonized a long time ago? In Thailand's big cities where English is the international language to know, very few Thais can speak good English... I just came back from  Phonm Penh, Cambodia and Saigon,  Vietnam and the people working in the tourist/ business areas could speak decent English.(and you do not see them looking at their cellphones or slurping down a bowl of Ma Ma noodles behind the cashier counter). I hope the best for Thailand but  I see some cloudy day ahead.