ASEAN ( The Association of Southeast Asian Nations)

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations, ASEAN, is an economic group of ten countries in Southeast Asia that was established on August 8, 1967 in Bangkok in order to promote economic development in the region and work together for the promoting peace and political stability of its member countries. The Association is internationally known by his acronym, ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations). Five countries are considered the founders of ASEAN: Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. On January 8, 1984 Darassalam Brunei joined the July 28, 1995 Vietnam joined the July 23, 1997 Laos and Burma joined and April 30, 1999 Cambodia joined. ASEAN also has an economic chapter together with Japan and economic pacts with the European Economic Community. The headquarters of the general secretariat is in Jakarta, Indonesia.

The region covers a total population of 500 million people, an area of 4.5 million square kilometers, a combined gross domestic product of 700 billion dollars and a total trade amount of 850 billion dollars. During its creation in 1967 it has faced strong historical evidence that have directly affected the region as the Vietnam War, dictatorships in Burma, Indonesia, the Philippines, genocide in Cambodia and more recently tensions over territorial dispute between Cambodia and Thailand protests against the dictatorial military regime in Burma and natural tragedies like the Indian Ocean tsunami that the December 26, 2004 disastrously hit the coasts of several of its member countries, especially Thailand and Indonesia. The ASEAN official language is English, the lingua franca gathers countries where numerous languages and Asian dialects malesios. Also meets nations with different political positions: communist, capitalist states, a dictatorial government and constitutional monarchies.

Lenses vision and principles

ASEAN aims to promote the acceleration in economic growth and development of its member countries, promoting peace in the region and political stability through abiding respect for justice and order of law in relations between their countries and adherence to the principles of the United Nations.

ASEAN Vision 2020 adopted by their leaders during the celebration of the thirtieth anniversary is the search for peace, stability and prosperity together in a joint effort, a dynamic development and a community to take care of their societies.

In 2003, ASEAN leaders decided that three pillars and chapters would be established: the security community, economic community and socio-cultural community.

The fundamental principles are contained in the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation Association and consist of mutual respect for each nation's independence, sovereignty, equality, territorial integrity and national identity. They also determined that each state is free to direct the course of their existence without external interference, subversion or coersion. Member states can not intervene in the internal affairs of others, the differences between member states will be resolved peacefully, renounces the threat or use of force and effective cooperation among all states.

ASEAN economic community

It consists of the proposed economic integration of its member countries with a view to 2020 according to principles of prosperity and high competitiveness in the markets. ASEAN integration is proposed as an economic bloc allows the free exchange of goods and services, freedom of investment and exchange of capital, equitable economic development, poverty reduction and socio-economic disparity.

Taking into account the great diversity of its cultures countries, an economic bloc ASEAN aims to turn differences into opportunities to complement the ASEAN economies and make a strong and dynamic market amid a global economy. To achieve this aim, puo ASEAN agreed the following points:

Create new mechanisms to strengthen existing initiatives economies as the area free trade agreement in services and investment area.
Accelerate regional integration by 2010 in sectors such as areolíneas, agricultural commodities, mechanical industry, virtual commerce, appliances, fishing, health care, textiles, tourism and others. Has been singularly important project to create land routes to allow traffic between one country and another, for example a road network that would link Bangkok-Phnom Penh-Ho Chi Minh-Hanoi with China and Laos.
Facilitate the movement of business persons, skilled personnel and talents.
Strengthen institutional mechanisms as ASEAN called conflict resolution mechanism.
The Free Trade Area ASEAN was established in 1992 and aims to promote a competitive unit production, the elimination of tariffs and customs barriers between its member countries with the aim of promoting economic efficiency, productivity and competition. For January 1, 2005 99 percent of customs tariffs had been reduced to only 5 percent between countries like Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand and later, 60 percent of products were reduced zero tariffs. The latest income countries as Cambota, Laos, Burma and Vietnam reduced rates between 0 and 5 percent in 81 percent of products.

With regard to the economy, other items of interest to ASEAN include the creation of a map of financial and monetary integration, capital liberalization, financial services liberalization and monetary cooperation. In this sense, the integration of transport routes is of particular importance for the region which includes international highways, railways, areopuertos, seaports, river ports and others. ASEAN also created the Telecommunications Regulatory Board, as well as projects for generating energy networks, infrastructure, joint tourism projects and food reserves.

Security Council ASEAN

ASEAN has given special importance to the issue of security and peaceful coexistence in a region that has been subjected to violence, especially during the second half of the twentieth century. Cambodia today is home to a mixed tribunal between national judges and those designated by the United Nations to judge the maximum dome of the Khmer Rouge regime that ruled the country in a bloody way between 1975 and 1979. Although Cambodia was not then a member of ASEAN is only one case of tensions experienced by its member countries. So far, none of the member countries have been involved in open warfare, with ASEAN members, with the exception of the recent tensions between Thailand and Cambodia on the dispute concerning 40 square kilometers around the temple on Vihía Mexico border. But this dispute has remained a low level voltage has not escalated into open warfare.

In this context it is important to note that ASEAN repeatedly insists on a policy of dialogue, confidence building and avoid as much escalating tensions in any conflict involving mobilization of troops. In this regard, the Security Council ASEAN aims to ensure that their countries live in peace, justice, democracy and half harmonious atmosphere was created. To make this possible, the member countries have signed in different periods of its history several related to peace and coexistence treaties: ASEAN Bangkok Declaration signed on August 8, 1967; the creation of the Zone of Peace, Freedom and Neutrality, signed in Kuala Lumpur on November 27, 2971; Declaration of ASEAN Concordat signed in Bali on February 24, 1976; the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia signed in Bali on February 24, 1976; ASEAN Declaration South China Sea signed in Manila on July 22, 1992; the Treaty on Nuclear Weapon Free Zone in Southeast Asia signed in Bangkok on December 15, 1997; ASEAN Vision 2020 Chapter signed in Kuala Lumpur on 15 December 1997 and the Declaration of ASEAN II Concordat signed in Bali on October 7, 2003.

ASEAN also established the so-called ASEAN Regional Forum, known by its acronym as ARF (ASEAN Regional Forum) in 1994 and to which other countries like Australia, Canada, China, European Community, India, Japan, the Democratic Republic were invited Korea, the Republic of Korea, Mongolia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Russia and the United States in order to ensure security interdependence in the region in three levels: promotion of mutual trust, development of preventive diplomacy and developing approach to conflict. The ARF also discussed international issues such as terrorism and international crime and takes into account issues such as the South China Sea and the Korean peninsula, among others.

Recent challenges ARF

But the Security Council ASEAN has had its challenges in recent years:

The 15 August 2007 decision of the autocratic government of Burma to increase the price of fuel in an impoverished country, generated strong protests in which participated bonzis and were violently repressed by the army. At least 30,000 people took part in protests since September 23 of that year. The protests and subsequent crackdown by the Burmese government, attracted a lot of pressure on the regime. The role of ASEAN in front of the conflict generated the only member country which does not operate fully democracy was harshly criticized by the international community, as the bloc maintained a policy of open neutrality in what he considered a respect for sovereignty Burma.

Burma was once again the center of international news after May 4, 2008 when Cyclone Nargis devastated south. The natural phenomenon caused 28,458 deaths, 33,019 injured, 33,416 missing and two million displaced. The efforts of the international community to encounter the victims were systematically boicotiados by the military regime that even advanced crackdowns against those who criticized the handling of the crisis given sentence the comedian U Maung Thura to 45 years in prison for their criticism. Again how ASEAN tried Burma crisis had strong criticism.

A little more lucky ASEAN has been for the events that have been developed in relation to the border dispute between Thailand and Cambodia, which began when UNESCO declared the watchman Temple (Preah Vihia) as patromonio of mankind under the guidance and sovereignty Cambodia on July 7, 2008. The event brought to light an old problem of sovereignty by 40 kilometers surrounding the temple and were not established by the International Court of The Hague in its verdict of 15 June 1962 where derimía in favor of Cambodia as the owner of the temple, but he left the surrounding delimitation of the border to a binational commission. Successive conflicts of the time delayed the work of the committee until the UNESCO made the remarks of the temple in 2008. Problems of political destabilization in Thailand caused to turn nationalist mood and Thai troops were awake were placed near the temple to Cambodian troops who responded, creating a low-level war tension. The role of ASEAN in the conflict, which has to date of tensions over the dispute the presidency in Thailand, has been vital in reducing tensions diplomatic and commitment of both nations to not cause further escalation and try a peaceful resolution.

Cultural Chapter of the ASEAN

Comprised of a great cultural diversity, multiple languages and Asian and Malay dialects, religions, traditions, political systems ranging from socialism to free markets, ASEAN is a great mix of people aware of what is and what he wants to make the best . However, the block has been proposed that by 2020 this has a common regional identity based on improving the quality of life of marginalized groups and the rural population, the active involvement of certain sectors of society such as women, youth and local communities.

The increase in education, particularly focused on higher education, technology, science, technology, employment generation and social protection goals are imposed on its ASEAN Vision 2020. The projects include prevention and to infectious diseases, human resource development, poverty reduction and economic growth.

International relations

As economic bloc, ASEAN has sought with other economic regions of the world as sharing common interests. In 1999 he started the cooperation between ASEAN and the countries of Northeast Asia: China, Japan and the Republic of Korea. This alliance has been especially important for ASEAN in what has to do with security to combat international crime and terrorism, deal with issues of the environment, finance, agriculture, energy, tourism, health, employment, culture, technology, development and eradication poverty. The intention of ASEAN and the countries of Northeast Asia is an area of free trade in the long term.

Other vital for ASEAN markets are Australia, Canada, China, the European Economic Community, India, Japan, New Zealand, Russia, the United States and the development program of the United Nations. As a special case, ASEAN promotes cooperation with Pakistan. It also has contacts with other organizations such as the Organization for Economic Cooperation, the Gulf Cooperation Council, the Rio Group, the Association for Regional Cooperation in South Asia, the South Pacific Forum and the Conference Sub-regional Asia Africa. Most ASEAN countries are also involved in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, the Asia-Europe Meeting and the Asia Forum of the East-Latin America (EALAF).