South East Asia - an ASEAN perspective.

On the 14th May, the History Department of Innova Junior College organised a seminar which aimed to educate people about ASEAN and its development as an influential organisation in the global community. “Through the Looking Glass: ASEAN Perspectives” was attended by representatives from numerous junior colleges such as Temasek Junior College and Catholic Junior College as well as students from a handful of Integrated Programme schools.

The invited speakers were Mr Rodolfo Severino and Mr Ong Keng Yong, both former Secretary-Generals of ASEAN, as well as His Excellency Mr Nopadol Gunavibool, the ambassador of Thailand to Singapore. All three individuals have held various prestigious positions relating to ASEAN and were thus well-qualified to share their experience.

Mr Severino outlined some of the early challenges ASEAN had to face right at the start of its formation, such as the Malaysia-Singapore separation, the policy of Konfrontasi made by Indonesia and the effects of the Cold War upon the South East Asian nations. He also touched on some of the regional problems that ASEAN had to deal with, which include transnational crimes like drug smuggling and terrorism as well as environmental issues.

Mr Ong Keng Yong then followed up with a brief description of the bureaucratic system employed in ASEAN. Most of the audience present were surprised to know that the ASEAN institutional structure consisted of 13 ministerial departments and 16 political sectors, among other important sections as well as sub-departments. Through this explanation, Mr Ong brought to light a problem ASEAN has yet to overcome, that a monumental effort is needed to fully mobilise ASEAN's collective resources in the face of obstacles or challenges that stand in the way of any South East Asian country.

Mr Nopadol Gunavibool finished up the talk by making clear his opinion that ASEAN could be more united and listing out reasons for why the respective South East Asian countries have not managed to be a congenial organisation. He explained that some circumstances, such as uncertain political security in several countries and rising energy prices that led to increased competition among member countries, are beyond ASEAN's control but it aims to alleviate such problems and have already taken steps such as forming an ASEAN human rights body to facilitate consultation between civil society organisations and ASEAN organs.

The seminar ended with a Questions and Answer session where students raised interesting and thought-inducing questions for the speakers. The 3 speakers did their best to make clear several issues, which included the possibility of forming a common currency for all ASEAN countries. Unlike the European Union, the problem of a national identity possibly conflicting with a regional one and thus compromising ASEAN's efficiency, as well as their thoughts on Thailand taking over the chairmanship of ASEAN from Singapore in August this year.

Ultimately it was a fruitful experience for all who attended the seminar and many went away with a better understanding of the regional organisation that represents the power and sovereignty of all South East Asian countries.

Tan Hao Yi