Indonesia, ASEAN and non-intervention: Sovereignty, decentralization and regional leadership issues in the management of the Southeast Asia haze

• Main Author: Muhamad Varkkey, H.
• Format: Conference or Workshop Item
• Language: English
• Published: 2008
• Subjects: DS Asia
• Online Access: http://eprints.um.edu.my/9228/1/All.pdf; http://eprints.um.edu.my/9228/
• Institution: Universiti Malaya

This paper examines the reactions of Indonesia towards regional efforts in haze management between October 2006 and September 2007. Two significant developments occurred during this time. Firstly, Indonesia, which seemed to be moving towards ratification of the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution, decided to set up a special committee to study the treaty, effectively halting the parliamentary ratification process indefinitely. Secondly, after asking for regional help by inviting ASEAN member countries to assist provinces, regencies or districts of their choosing, Indonesia later refused to approve the proposals of assistance. Indonesia's response can be seen as part of its larger regional position as a strong proponent of the ASEAN norm of non-intervention, for reasons of its own internal security and regional stability. Indonesia is generally loathe to give up control over its sovereignty in the shadow of a bloody colonial history, ongoing internal conflicts, bitter foreign interventionist experiences and territorial disputes with its neighbours. To add to this, external non-intervention is especially important to Indonesia now, while it is in the process of decentralizing and dealing with the arising internal complications, especially those involving its forest resources. Therefore these developments can be seen as part of a bigger attempt by Indonesia to regain its past glory as the de facto leader of ASEAN, enabling to use its influence to strengthen the non-interference principle within ASEAN to protect its sovereignty during the delicate decentralization process.