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Depok, West Java  (ANTARA News) - Considerations of Indonesia`s position in ASEAN cannot justify the government`s soft stance towards Malaysia over the recent Bintan border incident, an international relations observer said.
 
"Indonesia should not consider its position in ASEAN in responding to Malaysia`s arrogance over the recent incident," Guspiabri Sumowigeno, director of the Center for Indonesian National Policy Studies (CINAPS), said here Monday.

Citing the actions or stances of other countries in border-related disputes, he said, Vietnam, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Brunei Darussalam also took military action to defend their positions in their disputes over parts of the Spratley Islands and none of their governments ever considered its position in ASEAN to adopt an attitude suited to their national interest.

In fact, the Indonesian government`s weak attitude toward Malaysia had caused a depreciation in Indonesia`s leadership in the ASEAN region. With that weak attitude, Indonesia had become a "sunset power" in the ASEAN region and not reaped any praise.

"Indonesia is a free and sovereign nation and therefore it should never be held hostage by any multilateral framework including ASEAN," he said.

Guspiabri said Malaysia had violated Indonesian sovereignty and should apologize. "There is no other alternative. No self-respecting country in the world should make its position in a multilateral framework an excuse to sacrifice its dignity."

He said, in the practice of international relations, countries always make their decision based on realistic calculations. The objective conditions of Indonesia, the fact that it is economically and socially making slower prograss than other ASEAN member countries had deprived this country of sufficent modality to control ASEAN.

" Every multilateral cooperation scheme requires the presence of a real leader," he said.

Furthermore, he said, a regional leader should have the capability to move the regional economy`s dynamics and provide safety a guarantee to solve any political and military conflict occurring in the region.

He said he European Union (EU) was able to grow because there were powers like Germany and France which became motivators to stabilize economic conditions. In another case, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) had the USA which was ready to give a safety guarantee for Turkey and Greece, two NATO members who often clashed.

"This requisite can not be fulfilled by Indonesia," he said.

Bugged by these unfavorable objective conditions. particularly in the economic and military fields, Indonesia was not regarded as a real leader in ASEAN.

According to Guspiabri the position of ASEAN chair Indonesia would assume in 2011 would just be ceremonial in nature and it would not in any way enhance Indonesia`s authority in the region.

"Is it worth for a great country to bet on a ceremonial position in ASEAN?" he asked.
(T.F006/Uu.KR-MDR/HAJM/A014/P003)

Editor: Priyambodo RH
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