Indonesian Govt Urged to Stick to ‘Asean Way’ After Thai Military Coup

Jakarta Globe, Erwida Maulia & Dessy Sagita, May 23, 2014

Asean leaders, from left: Philippines President Benigno Aquino, Singapore Prime
 Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Thailand Deputy Prime Minister Phongthep Thepkanjana,
Vietnam Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, Brunei Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, Myanmar
 President Thein Sein, Malaysia Prime Minister Najib Razak, Cambodia Prime Minister
 Hun Sen, Indonesia President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Laos Prime Minister
 Thongsing Thammavong pose for the group photo after the opening ceremony of the
24th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in Naypyidaw, Myanmar
 on May 11, 2014. Myanmar hosts the ASEAN Summit in Naypyidaw for the first time
 since it joined the ASEAN community in 1997 and the theme for its Chairmanship of
 ASEAN is ‘Moving Forward in Unity to a Peaceful and Prosperous Community’. (EPA
Photo/Lynn Bo Bo)

Jakarta. Foreign affairs experts said Indonesia should stay out of Thailand’s domestic affairs despite the escalating situation in the country after that country’s military’s announcement on Thursday that it was taking power in a coup d’etat.

“We have made a commitment based on the Asean [Association of Southeast Asian Nations] charter that we will not intervene with other country’s domestic affairs unless we have been asked to by that country,” Hikmahanto Juwana of the University of Indonesia told the Jakarta Globe on Thursday evening. “Indonesia should also urge other Asean countries to practice self-restraint to not intervene, stay true to the Asean charter.”

He added that the situation in Thailand could be volatile depending on how the Thai people reacted to the coup.

“My concern is that if Thai people are not willing to accept the coup, a civil war might erupt and the stability of the whole region would be affected,” he said. “The most important thing right now for the Indonesian government is to ensure the safety of Indonesians living in Thailand, make sure they stay away from dangerous areas and they have what they need.”

Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa said Indonesia would keep a watchful eye on the situation.

“Without meaning to intervene in the domestic affairs of Thailand… the development of the situation [there] should be a concern of Indonesia, together with the Asean,” he said on Thursday night. “Indonesia is calling on the Thai armed forces and various civilian elements involved to work together in a reconciliatory atmosphere, in order to soon restore the political situation.”

He said that Indonesia would discuss the issue with Myanmar, the current chair Asean, so as to “consolidate the Asean contribution to creating conditions conducive to the restoration of political [stability].”

With the two conflicting parties in Thailand having been unable to resolve their differences for months and no solution in sight, the coup was nearly inevitable, according to Teuku Rezasyah, the executive director of the Indonesian Center for Democracy, Diplomacy and Defense.

The only figure who could have been able to unite the two sides, namely Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej, was already too old to successfully interview — which might explain his lack of action, unlike when he dealt with similar cases in the past, Rezasyah said.

“What I see is the military’s attempt to restore stability,” he said. “Theoretically, strong governments are still needed in Southeast Asia because civilian [governments] are not ready.”

“Too many civilian freedoms makes it very difficult for [some Southeast Asian states] to run their development programs effectively. In such conditions, the military feels the need to return to politics.”

Echoing Hikmahanto, Rezasyah said Indonesia could not do anything concerning the matter despite its regional leadership, citing the “Asean way,” in which member states handle their own domestic affairs.

The coup came shortly after the Thai army made the declaration of martial law earlier in the morning to prevent more violence between government supporters loyal to ousted former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, and anti-government protesters backed by the royalist establishment.

“Indonesia has consistently called for respect of constitutional process and democratic principles in order to promote national reconciliation and unity, reflecting the wishes of the Thai people,” Marty told AFP. “It is our hope that this latest development will not detract from such principles and normalcy can quickly be restored,” he said. But that was two days before Thai army chief Gen. Prayut Chan-Ocha announced the coup.

“In order for the country to return to normal quickly, the National Peacekeeping Committee comprised of the army, the Thai armed forces, the Royal Air Force and the police need to seize power as of May 22 at 4:30 p.m.,” Prayut announced in a televised address to the nation on Thursday, after months of deadly political turmoil.

The broadcast was sent out just after soldiers took the leader of anti-government protests, Suthep Thaugsuban, out of the meeting that was aimed at finding a solution to a drawn-out power struggle that has polarized the country and battered its economy.

Prayuth had called on the two sides in a first round of talks on Wednesday to agree on a compromise that would have hinged on the appointment of an interim prime minister, political reforms and the timing of an election.

Wednesday’s talks ended inconclusively with neither side backing down from their entrenched positions, participants said.

Additional reporting from AFP

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