From: trin@tlaeng.enet.dec.com (Trin Tantsetthi)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.asean
Subject: Repost: ASEAN History 101 (Harish Pillay)
Date: 19 Nov 92 18:55:08 GMT
Organization: Digital Equipment (Thailand), Ltd.

This is the first soc.culture.asean article as observed on my news server at
that time.

From: harish@guille.ece.orst.edu (Harish Pillay)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.asean
Subject: ASEAN History 101
Date: 29 Nov 89 06:31:22 GMT
Reply-To: harish@guille.ECE.ORST.EDU (Harish Pillay)
Organization: Electr & Compt Engr, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR
Posted: Tue Nov 28 22:31:22 1989
 
 
                       ASEAN History 101
 
  ASEAN (Association of South East Asian Nations) was formed in 1967 as a 
regional grouping to help the nations of South East Asia climb the economic 
ladder and to foster regional peace and stability through cultural, social
and economic cooperation.  
 
  There were 5 original countries - Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, 
Singapore and Thailand.  In 1984, when Brunei Darulsalaam gained her 
independence, ASEAN admitted her as the 6th nation.  Currently, Papua New 
Guniea has an observer status in the organization.
 
  It is perhaps worthwhile to point out that when the previous president of
Sri Lanka, Julius Jayawardena, came into power (late 70's I believe), he was 
lobbied hard for Sri Lanka to be admitted to ASEAN.  But, geographical 
location proved to be THE stumbling block.
 
  Any ASEAN citizen can travel to and fro any other ASEAN nation without any
need for a visa.  Unfortunaely, there is still a need for passports which I
hope will be done away with in the near future.  There is considerable and
growing numbers exchanges of cultural troupes, television programs and such.  
 
  There is also the SEA Games (South East Asian Games) held once every 2 years.
This year's games (the 15th I believe) was held in Kuala Lumpur in June or
so.  These games see participants from Burma, Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia 
occasionally.
 
  ASEAN has been instrumental in disproving the "domino effect theory" popular
among many political commentators of the Vietnam war/Nixon era.  The turmoil 
and strife seen in Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos pretty much ended there after 
the Vietnam War.  The nations of ASEAN continued on the path of economic 
progress with the result of Singapore emerging as a Newly Industrialized 
Economy with Malaysia and Thailand on the brink of becoming a NIE.
 
  The last 10 years have seen the problem of the Vietnamese occupation of 
Cambodia become a concern of ASEAN.  The interesting thing is that, other than
this, there has been little by way of political oneness expressed by the 
member countries.  
 
  Apart from this, ASEAN is viewed as the most dynamic regional economic 
grouping with approximately 300 million people (almost the size of Europe 92)
and exceeding the USA.  The vast endowment of natural resources and dynamic 
and pragmatic peoples of ASEAN have attracted large investments in industry 
by Aussie, Kiwi, US, Canadian, European and Japanese companies.
 
  Lately there have been some concerns being expressed with regards to the
Philippine "Marshall Plan" and the proposal by Singapore to offer naval 
facilities to the US Navy.  This offer is seen as a blow to ASEAN's concept
of ZOPFAN (Zone of Peace, Freedom And Neutrality).
 
  The peoples that can lay claim to the ASEAN citizenship range from Hmong 
tribes in northern Thailand to the Kadazans of Sabah to the "stone-age" tribes 
of West Irian.  Sandwiched between them are Malays, Chinese, Indians, Eurasians,
Javanese, Sumatrans, Filipinos of Spanish descent and a whole lot more - thanks
to the European quest for spices from the "East Indies".
 
  Historically, these peoples have been sujected to various religious 
traditions and customs.  Hence, you'll find in the middle of 90% Muslim 
Indonesia, an all-Hindu island of Bali.
 
  This newsgroup will serve as a discussion forum for the issues of culture,
customs or whatever else that face the citizens of ASEAN.  
 
  It can also serve as a place where free and frank discussion of so-called 
"sensitive" issues can be made.  By removing the perceived fear of speaking 
up and discussing issues that matter without the "government-led" "responsible"
journalism so pervasive in some of the ASEAN countries, it is hoped that this 
newsgroup will help foster ASEAN solidarity and understanding.
 
  The newsgroup can be a channel where specific country related issues to be
discussed.  If in the future, the traffic for a specific country becomes
dominating in this group, a newsgroup for that country can be spawned off
off this group, for example, soc.culture.asean-singapore or whatever.
Newsgroups: soc.culture.asean