The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is a political association founded in 1967 in Bangkok, Thailand. It was originally comprised of Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand, but grew to include Brunei (1984), Vietnam (1995), Laos and Myanmar (1997), and Cambodia (1999). Its declared aims are the support of economic growth, cultural development, and “social progress” in its member states, the promotion of regional security and rule of law, the promotion of interstate economic, technical, and scientific collaboration, among other goals outlined in its charter. The ASEAN chair rotates annually, with Myanmar holding the 2014 chair.
The unprecedented selection of Myanmar represents a vote of confidence on the part of other member states that reflects positively on Burmese political reforms, but has also heightened tensions over the Rohingya crisis. While ASEAN has not taken a clear position on the situation, individual member states including Indonesia and Malaysia—both of which have a Muslim majority population—have expressed deep concern over human rights abuses. Other member state representatives fear that the stateless Rohingya will be pushed into radicalization, thus weakening the security of all the ASEAN nations.
Sources
Association of Southeast Asian Nations, “Overview,” ASEAN, 2012, accessed December 12, 2013.
Luke Hunt, “ASEAN Needs to Do a Rethink on Burma’s Rohingya Issue,” The Diplomat, May 10, 2013, accessed December 12, 2013.
James Pomfret, “Myanmar takes long-awaited ASEAN chair, but can it cope?” Reuters, October 10, 2013, accessed December 12, 2013.
Yohanna Ririhena, “ASEAN chief: Rohingya issue could destabilize the region,” The Jakarta Post, October 30, 2013, accessed December 12, 2013.