Racial prejudice and discrimination has been an integral part of the
history of multicultural societies.
With increasing globalisation and
rapid expansion of the Internet and social networks the news about economic,
social and political crises reaches every corner of the world within seconds.
How integrated and united has Asean been, based on what is happening to
minorities in the region.
Today every member of Asean
claims to be a free and just society, but where do these countries stand
vis-a-vis the rights of ethnic minorities? Although there is lot of discussion
about rights within the region, there is no coherent legal framework or strong
laws to fight against systemic prejudice, blatant discrimination and the
undermining of the rights of minorities. Caste, religion, language, ethnicity
and gender - all these are divisive forces. Asean diversity, instead of
becoming an asset and enriching factor, has become a weakness. It is
unfortunate that politicians in the region lose no opportunity to divide people
for their votes. The irony is, every political party accuses its opponents of
creating vote banks. Each political party is doing whatever it can for the sake
of its vote bank.
Hundreds of innocent people have
been killed in the Philippines, Cambodia and Myanmar right under the nose of
governments. There are reports of job discrimination against ethnic and
religious minorities in the whole region. The plight of maids from the
Philippines and Indonesia working in Malaysia and Singapore is well known. Religious
minorities persecuted in Malaysia and Indonesia are not just Hindus, Sikhs or
Christians but also aboriginals.
In the last few months thousands
of people have come out to protest against the ill treatment of Rohingya
Muslims in Myanmar. In 2011, similar protests were squashed by the Malaysian
government when issues of discrimination against Hindus, Christians and other
minorities were raised.
In the deep South of Thailand
thousands of people have been killed because of the Maly-Muslim insurgency there.
Although there have been deaths on all sides, the Muslim majority continues to
suffer from prejudice and discrimination. In other words, the southern region
is going through a severe crisis of confidence in pluralistic Thai society.
In addition, dual pricing and
discrimination against foreigners is on the increase. In Thailand, foreigners
are either seen as cash cows or an unnecessary burden, not as a valuable asset
in an increasingly globalised economy. Foreign talent is lost in the whirlpool
of cronyism, nepotism and corruption.
Where do we find ourselves nearly
three years after politicians and civil servants committed themselves to rights
and secular principles in Asean? The Asean Charter says that in each member
nation, people are free to go to their mosque, temple, church or other place of
worship, as it is a personal matter. Still, the logic of communalism is
built-in and is gripping the whole region.
Politicians in the region make
speeches on human rights but the social base remains feudal in nature. Large
sections of society in Asean are victims of religious intolerance, prejudice
and discrimination, and this is clearly reflected in their social and economic
status.
There are two major handicaps to
reducing prejudice and discrimination in Asean. First, while constitutions in
most countries are secular in nature, the society is in the grip of religious
intolerance, which is a big obstacle to full implementation of secular
policies. The second handicap concerns political parties, which are now
infiltrated by extreme communal elements. In this new century, many politicians
and priests are indistinguishable from communal elements forcing some countries
in the direction of ethnic and religious nationalism.
The health of democracy in any
country has to be gauged by security, equity and status of minorities. The
influence of communal elements has risen exponentially during the last two
decades and the trajectory of violence in the region has been very different
for each nation. While in Thailand, there was always the possibility of
communalism creeping in, the nature of communal politics in Malaysia and
Indonesia became more prominent after the events of 9/11 in the US.
In Thailand, the opportunism and
fallacy of colour-coded political division, rising anxiety about economic
fragmentation, the successful efforts of the elite and military to project fear
of a mass uprising by red shirts, the politics around emotive issues like
reconciliation and possible return of Thaksin Shinawatra, and the ongoing
border spat with Cambodia provide a picture of an unstable society.
Asean has a despicable record on
the rights of women, who continue to remain disfranchised, oppressed and
exploited. Mere talk of rights in the region is not enough. The value of a legal
framework and affirmative action policies for weaker sections of society, going
the extra mile to protect them and lift them socially and economically, are
needed.
Forty-five years after its
inception, it is time that Asean fostered the values of liberty, equality and
justice - principles that can lead to the better integration of minorities. In
most countries in the region there is an urgent need to reform the electoral
system to reflect new social, economic and political realities. Communal
violence and discrimination against minorities and women is an immense loss to
the regional ethos and humanism. As 2015 approaches, it is time to check and
reaffirm in practice all those values that became the foundation of Asean. A
harmonious integration of the region requires the creation of a strong legal
framework to protect and support all minorities and women.
Where will all this lead us?
Despite setbacks, secular democratic values remain the foundation of Asean,
though they have been much compromised in recent decades. In Cambodia, Laos,
Vietnam and Myanmar, democracy has been of marginal value; there are efforts to
root it in but the obstacles are immense.
If the education systems in Asean
can mould themselves to stress the diversity of people and a shared destiny, it
will result in wonders. Until the new generations cultivate a greater
appreciation for a secular society, the problems of communalism, racial
prejudice and discrimination will remain.
Dr Kuldeep Nagi
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