Indonesia Parliament Tries to Prevent Ratification of ASEAN Charter |History: The Roadmap to the Future--Asia

The Indonesian House of Representatives is attempting to prevent ratification of the ASEAN Charter. The Charter, which critics argue has been watered down to the point of ineffectiveness, is designed to increase unity in the ten member state Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Notable in the Charter is a provision for majority voting, and mandatory application of ASEAN rulings, in some areas. Currently, ASEAN rules by consensus, and member states are not obligated to apply ASEAN ruling, a large reason for ASEAN being seen as little more than a talking shop.

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The governments of: Brunei, Burma, Cambodia, Malaysia, Singapore, and Vietnam have completed ratification of the ASEAN Charter. Indonesia, the Philippines, and Thailand have yet to ratify the treaty. The goal is for all ASEAN states to have the ASEAN Charter ratified before a group meeting in the Thai capital, Bangkok, in December.

The location is symbolic. ASEAN traces the association's roots to the ASEAN Declaration, often called the 'Bangkok Declaration', in Bangkok, the capital of Thailand, the only country in Southeast Asia which was not made a colony by a foreign power. By having the ASEAN Charter ratified before the meeting in Bangkok, ASEAN will be making another statement about the evolution of the association.

Fortunately, Burma has already ratified the Charter. Although this is a sign that the ASEAN Charter indeed was watered down in the area of human rights, at least Burma won't hold up this further integration of Southeast Asia. That holdup could be up to the Philippines, which has threatened to not ratify the Charter depending on Burma's actions. Now, apparently Indonesia has also become a potential obstacle to the ASEAN Charter coming into force.

Hopefully, the Philippines and Indonesia ratify the ASEAN Charter so that ASEAN can become more unified and form a stronger economic and military rival to China.