Duterte proposes new 3 C’s for ASEAN

President Duterte has proposed a new set of three C’s – community, centrality, and connectivity – in strengthening the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) community and advancing cooperation with several dialogue partners.

At the same time, ASEAN leaders reaffirmed their commitment to a “drugfree” community as they welcomed the progress in the implementation of the “Work Plan on Securing Communities Against Illicit Drugs 2016-2025.”

President made the proposal at the start of the ASEAN plenary session on Monday after observing that the regional bloc has been governed by the three C’s of “consultation, consensus and cooperation” for the past five decades.

ASEAN leaders are in Manila for two days of talks on deepening efforts towards a rules-based and people-centered community and intensifying cooperation with other allies on fighting terrorism, sea piracy, and illegal drugs.

Dialogue partners such as the United States, Russia, China, Japan, South Korea, and New Zealand are also attending the summit talks.

“Over the course of the ASEAN 50 years of existence, we have proved time and again the three C’s of consultation, consensus, and cooperation have been integral to our collective success,” the President said.

Three C’s “Moving forward to ensure the ASEAN’s viability, a new set of three C’s– community, centrality, and connectivity – will define the work and effort needed to ensure the success of our communitybuilding process and our interaction with external partners,” he added.

The President said this year’s summit would continue the dialogue from last April’s “productive and fruitful” discussions on strengthening the ASEAN Community towards the realization of the ASEAN-Vision 2025.

With the theme “Partnering for Change, Engaging the World,” he also cited the

ASEAN work to fully and effectively implement the ASEAN Political Security Community, ASEAN Economic Community, and the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community Blueprints for 2025.

“Today, we continue our discussions on how to further consolidate our efforts and our shared aspirations toward an ASEAN Community that is truly rulesbased, people-oriented, and peoplecentered,” he said.

“It is also an opportunity for us to discuss the kind of cooperation needed to respond to the rapid regional and global developments and threats posed by non-traditional security issues in the peace and stability and prosperity of our regions,” he added.

Earlier, the President put terrorism, illegal drugs and other security threats high on the agenda of the ASEAN Summit due to dangers posed to the security and growth of the region.

He said deliverables of the ASEAN Summit include those concerning health, women and the youth, terrorism, radicalization and violent extremism, trafficking, poverty alleviation, food security, coastal and marine environment, and the pursuit of innovation for economies.

Drug-free ASEAN The ASEAN leaders on Monday reaffirmed their commitment to a “drug-free” community as they welcomed the progress in the implementation of the “Work Plan on Securing Communities Against Illicit Drugs 2016-2025.”

In a draft Chairman’s Statement to be released after the 31st ASEAN summit being held in Manila, the leaders said they recognize the effect of the illicitdrug problem not only in some ASEAN member states, but also in other countries outside the region.

The work plan calls for a successful and effective approach to address illicit drug activities and mitigate its negative consequences to society through significant and sustainable reduction in illicit crop cultivation, illicit manufacture and trafficking of drugs, drug-related crimes, and prevalence of its use.

The ASEAN also welcomed the assistance of Dialogue Partners and other external parties “through capacitybuilding, intelligence information sharing, and other forms of cooperation consistent with relevant international laws and all the while preserving the sovereign right of countries in deciding the most appropriate approaches to address their national drug situations.”

At the opening session of the Summit, President Duterte included the issue of illegal drugs as among the most pressing topics and high on the agenda of the ASEAN.

“The menace of illegal drug trade continues to endanger the very fabric of our societies,” Duterte said.

ASEAN leaders also welcomed the adoption of the ASEAN Cooperation Plan to Tackle Illicit Drug Production and Trafficking in the Golden Triangle 2017-2019 that aims to chart the region’s action for the next two years in combating the drug problem in that area.

Rohingya crisis The draft statement, however, makes no mention of the exodus of Rohingya Muslims from Myanmar’s Rakhine state following a military crackdown that has been described by the United Nations as ethnic cleansing.

One paragraph of the communique, seen by Reuters on Monday, mentions the importance of humanitarian relief provided for victims of natural disasters in Vietnam and a recent urban battle with Islamist militants in the Philippines, as well as “affected communities” in northern Rakhine state.

The statement was drawn up by the Philippines, current chair of the 10member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) – which includes Myanmar – whose leaders met for a plenary session in Manila on Monday.

The draft did not give any details of the situation in northern Rakhine or use the term Rohingya for the persecuted Muslim minority, which Myanmar leader Aung San SuuKyi has asked foreign leaders to avoid.

SuuKyi has reportedly promised to facilitate the safe repatriation of Rohingya people who fled the strife-torn state to Bangladesh.

SuuKyi made the assurance after “concern” for the welfare of the displaced Rohingyas was raised during the 31st ASEAN plenary summit.

According to Presidential spokesman Harry Roque Jr., the return of the Rohingyas to their homeland will reportedly be made three weeks following Myanmar’s agreement with Bangladesh on the matter.

When the Rohingya refugee situation was tackled at the ASEAN summit, Roque told Palace reporters: “Myanmar responded: Kofi Annan report being addressed.”

“Humanitarian assistance is welcomed; and repatriation of IDPs (internally displaced persons) within three weeks after MoU (memorandum of understanding) signing with Bangladesh,” Roque added.

Roque said the Philippines acknowledged the need for relief assistance not only to the displaced families of Marawi City but also the Rohingya refugees.

SuuKyi, who did not mention the crisis in a speech after arriving in Manila on Sunday, criticized ASEAN’s principle of non-interference herself in 1999 when she was fighting for democracy in a country then ruled by a military junta.

“This policy of non-interference is just an excuse for not helping,” she wrote in an opinion column in the Thai daily the Nation at the time. “In this day and age, you cannot avoid interference in the matters of other countries.”

Other issues

On the nuclear issue involving North Korea, Roque said the ASEAN leaders have expressed concern about the tension in the area. They also urged North Korea “to comply with international obligations and the United Nations Security Council resolutions.”

He said the non-interference and pursuit of national interests free from external interference was also discussed during the ASEAN plenary. (With Reuters)