HUMAN RIGHTS IN ASEAN NATION

Objective and Task

The objective in this assessment task is to provide a concise and credible (but hypothetical) briefing to a relevant supervisor — minister, UN official, director, CEO etc — on a particular issue relevant to each weekly topic. Your task is to identify the key issues, debates, and facts involved in the scenario; present a short set of the most credible options for the supervisor to consider, along with a brief analysis of the implications of each option; and make a recommendation of the best option or options.

SOLUTION

Title: ‘EU and ASEAN towards a new horizon: Dealing with Myanmar issue’

Background

European Union- ASEAN (EU–ASEAN) is the dual foreign relationship between European nations and Association of Southeastern Asian Nation. They had a long standing history of cooperation and harmony. There first cooperation agreement for trade an economic policies was signed in 1980. Till 2006, EU was the second largest trading partners of ASEAN nations. It represented almost 5% of total world trade in year 2006. There are annual meetings between EU and ASEAN. In September 1994, 11^th ASEAN-EU ministerial meeting was held in Karlsruhe, Germany. It was a landmark meeting as both parties discussed freely and openly.  This was the time when relation between EU-ASEAN intensified.[1] Both sides agreed for the creation of an ad hoc Eminent Persons Group to develop an absolute approach for political security and cultural relation throughout the relationship. EU has adopted flexible approach towards the issue and for better implementing corporation agreement. Changes have been made time to time to deal with growth and progress of ASEAN. The political cooperation has been put into halt with the entrance of Myanmar into ASEAN in 1997 before Cambodia. Gross human rights violation by the military dictatorship in Myanmar was the main issue which soured the relationship. Asian nations also defended this by considering Myanmar political stable, naming it ‘ASIAN WAY’.[2] It was strongly opposed by European Union and they decided not to take part in any meeting in which Myanmar will be participating. With the treaty of Amsterdam, Human Rights and freedom have become the core objective of the Union. Myanmar is still an issue for EU as a member of ASEAN. EU is planning to put the matter in front of the member nations in its 19^th meeting which is going to be held in Brunei Darussalam in 2012 to chart a new chapter in their relationship.

Options for consideration

Trade relations

After decolonization EU lost its interest on Asian nations for a while. First approach towards building relationships again was the bilateral trade treaties. It is true that it is bit difficult for EU to expand its economic and commercial presence in south eastern Asian countries than its competitors, like Japan and US but there still exist wide scope for more interactions. The thing which is to be considered is to go beyond the geographical limits and focus on the economic perspectives.  EU’s ability to make its presence more powerful in these areas does not depend upon the opportunities offered by them but EU’s own conduct in trade and willingness to invest there. EU can provide supportive atmosphere for setting up more institutional framework for management of complex economic and industrial cooperation. It will increase intra territorial relations. After the crisis of 1997-98 ASEAN economy was going in its bad phase, in that scenario also EU had provided a wide import economy to the ASEAN. There is still a need of more diverse trading arrangement with an extended list of trade partners in that region.[3]

Human Rights issues

Continuous Human rights abuses and imprisonment of political dissents made Myanmar a thorn in the relations of EU and ASEAN. There is a strong need to empower the regional institutions that is working on human rights and case related to human rights violation. After Amsterdam treaty, protections of human rights and democratic freedom have become the central objective of EU. Since then EU is being working for it but there are still many such examples where clear violations of these norms can be seen. Myanmar is a member of ASEAN plus three and is a big issue for the harmony between the two groups.[4] It’s very important to discuss the matter with other members of ASEAN group freely on this issue without putting pressure on them. EU has a good record on human rights protection matter. EU should put human rights matter into forefront while dealing with agreement with non European countries.  Recently, a human rights dialogue has been maintained by EU with nations like Russia, China and Iran. Sanctions had been imposed on countries specially Myanmar, Zimbabwe etc.

Need for change

Despite of being not so strong to affect global economy and democracy, Myanmar is still very important for the ASEAN-EU relations. There is a need of powerful yet democratic government in Myanmar. Other ASEAN nations such as Malaysia and others decided not to defend Myanmar in any international conference if any question on it has been raised. The quasi civilian government in Myanmar has to be replaced by the democratic government as recently the nation has decided to hold elections for the new peoples Government. Things are changing and people are realizing this fact.[5]

Recommendations

Recently it’s been observed by all of us that remarkable changes are under way in Myanmar and it will further benefit the relations of EU and ASEAN. EU should focus now on Myanmar, if it has to expand its horizon into Asian nations because the entire south eastern region of Asia is going to be influenced by the current democratic changes in Myanmar. It’s been highly recommended to lift the sanctions on trade and economic policies of Myanmar, by EU as a reward and look for new economic perspectives. EU’s high representatives should visit Myanmar after this Brunei meet and focus on its policies related to Myanmar. There has been a lot of development but still a need for an office to be opened in Myanmar and it should work as watchdog for Human Right abuses through out Myanmar. For option 1, ministers of EU should discuss in detail in Brunei meeting to find out the possibilities of two way trade between these two groups, it has reached 167 billion Euros in 2011.[6]  It’s also recommended to EU work on FTA as it failed earlier and to negotiate on FTA with every individual ASEAN member they can become a bridge in region to region deal in this. All ASEAN nations are vital for EU economy, they are much important for EU. Through these recommendations EU could turn a new chapter in trade and commercial relations with ASEAN.

References

1. Association of Southeast Asian Nation, ASEAN-European Dialogue, 2009, http://www.aseansec.org/5612.htm
2. Magnus Peterson, Myanmar in EU-ASEAN relations, 30^th September 2006, viewed on 8^th May 2012 from http://www.springerlink.com.ezproxy.cdu.edu.au/content/rl021373l7073tl2/fulltext.pdf
3. W.A Kerr, N Perdikis and M. Yeoung, Towards a new era in EU-ASEAN relations, 1999, p-187, Viewed on 8^th May 2012 from http://tn3tv8rl4l.search.serialssolutions.com/?ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&ctx_enc=info%3Aofi%2Fenc%3AUTF-8&rfr_id=info:sid/summon.serialssolutions.com&rft_val_fmt=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:journal&rft.genre=article&rft.atitle=Towards+a+new+era+in+EU-ASEAN+relations&rft.jtitle=European+Business+Journal&rft.au=W+A+Kerr&rft.au=N+Perdikis&rft.au=M+Yeung&rft.date=1999-03-01&rft.issn=0955-808X&rft.volume=11&rft.issue=4&rft.spage=187&rft.externalDBID=EUB&rft.externalDocID=50553336
4. Mathew Doige, Inter-regionalism and regional actors: EU-AESAN example, International Institute for South Asian studies, P-40.
5. ST : Big story, Myanmar changes bring new chapter to EU- ASEAN, 2012, viewed on 8^th May 2012 from http://www.straitstimes.com/The-Big-Story/The-Big-Story-2/Story/STIStory_793162.html
6. Wim Stokolf, Eurasian space far more than two continents, 2004, International Institute of south Asian studies, p-40

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[1] Association of Southeast Asian Nation, ASEAN-European Dialogue, 2009.

[2] Magnus Peterson, Myanmar in EU-ASEAN relations, 30^th September 2006, Nanyang Technological University.

[3] W.A Kerr, N Perdikis and M. Yeoung, Towards a new era in EU-ASEAN relations, 1999, p-187.

[4] Mathew Doige, Inter-regionalism and regional actors: EU-AESAN example, International Institute for South Asian studies, P-40.

[5] ST : Big story, Myanmar changes bring new chapter to EU- ASEAN, 2012.

[6] Wim Stokolf, Eurasian space far more than two continents, 2004, International Institute of south Asian studies, P-87.

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