Indonesia ratifies ASEAN Charter

Abdul Khalik and Dian Kuswandini ,  The Jakarta Post ,  Jakarta   |  Wed, 10/22/2008 10:44 AM  |  Headlines

The House of Representatives has formally adopted the ASEAN Charter into the country's law, making Indonesia the last ASEAN member state to ratify the charter.

The House passed a bill Tuesday to ratify the document at a plenary session, ending months of heated debate among its factions and between detractors and supporters of the charter.

Critics accuse the charter of being toothless in dealing with several members, including military-ruled Myanmar, while proponents claim it sets out rules for members and transforms ASEAN into a legal entity.

The ratification comes just ahead of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's meeting Thursday with ASEAN leaders on the sidelines of the ASEAN-Europe Meeting (ASEM) in Beijing.

The move will also save Indonesia face at an ASEAN Summit in Bangkok in December, where the charter will be formally adopted by all 10 member states.

"The ratification shows Indonesia is committed to turning ASEAN into a more democratic grouping fully respecting of human rights principles," said Marzuki Darusman, chairman of the House committee preparing the charter's ratification.

Foreign Minister Hassan Wirayuda welcomed the ratification, saying Indonesia had contributed to making the charter embrace democratic and human rights values.

Indonesia also played a role in pushing ASEAN to become a legal entity with clearer rules of conduct and to create a single free-trade area by 2015.

ASEAN Secretary-General Surin Pitsuwan welcomed the ratification, saying the decision ensured the entry into force of the charter before the end of 2008.

"ASEAN will be a rules-based, people-oriented and more integrated entity. Given the current financial turmoil around the world, a real prospect of a more integrated and solid ASEAN will be welcomed by the international community," he said in a statement.

Observers, however, warn Indonesia and other ASEAN members face challenges on how to implement the articles of the charter, and how it can help solve lingering regional problems, including bilateral conflicts, such as between Thailand and Cambodia, and border disputes, as between Indonesia and Malaysia over the Ambalat islands.

"The problem is the implementation engagement among members. But we should consider the charter a starting point and a guide to creating a more democratic ASEAN," said University of Indonesia international relations expert Hariyadi Wirawan.

Rafendi Jamin of International Human Rights Watch said Indonesia should now help create a strong human rights body envisaged by the charter to dismiss accusations the body was mere "lip service".

Rizal Sukma of the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) also urged Indonesia to seek charter amendments to benefit the country and other ASEAN member states.

The foreign minister acknowledged the criticism of the bill to ratify the charter and promised the government would look closer into it.

"We should not counter such criticism. In fact, such criticism helps support the government's efforts to improve the charter in future. After all, the charter is not a perfect document. It's always open to amendment," Hassan said.

On the Myanmar issue, he said, "Now that we've already recognized the charter, we have reasons to ask Myanmar to fulfill its promises on democracy."

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