The Association of Southeast Asian Nations
was established in 1967 with five member countries: Indonesia, Malaysia, the
Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. Myanmar became the eighth Asean member in
1997.
Seventeen
years later, the fundamental principle of Asean remains non-interference in
internal affairs among member countries.
Consequently,
member countries rarely voice strong opinions against other member countries.
As a
result, Asean rarely influences member countries.
For
example, the grouping has never issued an effective statement on human rights
abuses and the political situation in Myanmar, which until recently was a
dictatorship.
It
still shies away from issuing strong warnings against authoritarian member
countries or oppression. As a result, there is lack of trust in Asean.
Myanmar
took the rotating chair of Asean this year for the first time.
After
taking the chairmanship, it became responsible for solving Asean regional
issues and maintaining a balance between Asean's position and the world's most
powerful countries.
However,
Myanmar has thousands of issues to solve.
The
duties of Asean chairmanship are a huge responsibility for a country that is
the poorest in the region and with the lowest individual income, high levels of
corruption and mismanagement.
The
country has not been able to put an end to riots, and the signing of a national
ceasefire agreement with ethnic armed groups is still delayed.
Asean
has not found a path to solve the development and income gap between member
countries, which is the main hindrance for establishing the Asean community.
Myanmar
is also viewed as a country influenced by China, and it did not stand firmly on
the side of Asean countries in the South China Sea dispute.
The
Philippines and Vietnam have expressed their disappointment with Myanmar over
this issue.
Myanmar
must solve internal issues like civil wars, communal violence, and high levels
of corruption.
If not,
questions may be raised about its ability to solve bigger international issues
as an Asean chair.
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