Issues:
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NTS VIEWPOINT
Enhancing GCC-ASEAN relations via non-traditional security
The past decade has seen economic links between the Gulf Arab region and Southeast Asia increase considerably – from just USD20 billion in 2002 to about USD100 billion in 2010. Notable factors driving this trend include increased Middle East interest in East Asian markets after the 2001 Sept 11 attacks and the 2008 global food crisis. The latter, in particular, was significant in highlighting the interdependence of the two regions. The Gulf Arab states look to Southeast Asian farmlands for food, and Southeast Asia to the Gulf Arab states for fuel.
Such developments have led to several high-level meetings between ASEAN and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) on trade opportunities and economic cooperation. While these are commendable first steps, the GCC and ASEAN must consider areas beyond those related to economic value if they wish for relations to mature.
Specifically, ASEAN could share with the GCC its experience in addressing some of Southeast Asia’s non-traditional security (NTS) issues. First, ASEAN has recognised that countries must be sensitised to the importance of security for individuals and communities, rather than just for the state. A positive result of this is the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR). While some may highlight the toothless nature of such a body, its establishment has nevertheless enshrined the principle of the need for action in the event of gross abuse of human rights.
Second, a regional body must be prepared to account for varying levels of capacity among its member states; failure to do so may impede the implementation of any framework to tackle NTS issues. ASEAN’s experience in this area would be particularly relevant in view of the GCC seeking to expand its membership to include countries that are less developed than the six founding member states.
For GCC-ASEAN relations to deepen, it would be necessary to cultivate inter-regional people-to-people contact that goes beyond economic interactions. Enhancing such ties could also open up an avenue for approaching sensitive NTS issues such as the rights of Southeast Asian migrant workers in the Gulf Arab region.
With GCC-ASEAN relations still in its infancy, it is likely that it will take some time before the two bodies engage on such NTS-related points. Even so, these are important issues for the GCC to consider if it is serious in ensuring security for its states and societies.
Contributed by Sofiah Jamil.
Additional Info:
- ASEAN Secretariat, ‘Joint press statement: The first GCC-ASEAN Ministerial Meeting’, 30 June 2009.
- Imelda Saad, ‘ASEAN, GCC ministers adopt action plan to enhance ties', Channel NewsAsia, 1 June 2010.
- Linda Yulisman, ‘ASEAN to improve cooperation with GCC’, The Jakarta Post, 25 July 2011.
- ‘Total reform is needed to make AICHR independent, effective and relevant to the ASEAN peoples’, Asian Tribune, 27 April 2012.
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CLIMATE CHANGE, ENVIRONMENTAL SECURITY AND NATURAL DISASTERS
News & Commentaries
- Fogarty, David, ‘Indonesia quake a record, risks for Aceh grow’, Reuters, 12 April 2012.
- Goh, Melissa, ‘Lynas on impact of rare earth plant delay in Malaysia’, Channel NewsAsia, 20 April 2012.
- ‘Tokyo’s disaster management plans need urgent upgrade’, The Yomiuri Shimbun, 20 April 2012.
- Jose-Castillo, Leslie Ann, ‘Earth Day 2012: Mobilize the earth’, Business Mirror, 21 April 2012.
- Ardiansyah, Fitrian and Thomas Barano, ‘Saving Sumatra’s forests: World heritage in danger’, The Jakarta Post, 22 April 2012.
- Vincent, Alice, ‘Proposal for a High Commissioner / Ombudsperson for future generations: Reflections on the negotiation process’, Sustainable Development Policy and Practice, 23 April 2012.
- Titthara, May and David Boyle, ‘Environmental activist Chut Wutty shot dead’, The Phnom Penh Post, 26 April 2012.
Selected Publications
Unlike previous IPCC reports, this integrates the findings and views of experts on disaster risk management with that of scientific experts from the IPCC’s Working Groups 1 and 2. As such, there is greater emphasis on adaptation and disaster risk management, thereby providing policymakers with better information on the appropriate steps for immediate action.
This paper demonstrates the implementation of a quick, cost-effective method for identifying potentially suitable areas for oil palm cultivation. The method is designed in accordance with established standards for sustainable palm oil production and relevant Indonesian laws and policies, and is consistent with proposed national Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation Plus (REDD+) strategies to support palm oil production on low-carbon degraded land.
In this report, the High-level Panel on Global Sustainability presents 56 recommendations on operationalising sustainable development and mainstreaming it into economic policy. The panel was established by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in August 2010 to formulate a new blueprint for sustainable development and low-carbon prosperity. The recommendations will be tabled for consideration at the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20 Conference) in June 2012.
Events & Announcements
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ENERGY AND HUMAN SECURITY
News & Commentaries
- Zaks, Dmitry, ‘Putin unveils $500 bn offshore energy drive’, AFP, 12 April 2012.
- ‘Insight – Myanmar’s power struggle endangers economic boom’, Reuters, 15 April 2012.
- Bagchi, Indrani, ‘We are not opposed to Kudankulam nuclear power plant: Sri Lanka’, The Times of India, 16 April 2012.
- McCurry, Justin, ‘Japan seeks to restart nuclear reactors after May stress tests’, Guardian, 16 April 2012.
- Arnsdorf, Isaac, ‘Record offshore oil drilling returns Dockwise to profit’, Bloomberg, 17 April 2012.
- ‘Cambodia warns Laos over Mekong dam’, Radio Free Asia, 19 April 2012.
- Harvey, Fiona and Damian Carrington, ‘Governments failing to avert catastrophic climate change, IEA warns’, Guardian, 25 April 2012.
- ‘IP project only solution to Pakistan’s energy woes: Analyst’, Islamic Republic News Agency, 26 April 2012.
- Woo, Sian Boon, ‘UN proposes integrated regional power grid’, Today, 26 April 2012.
Selected Publications
This paper examines the non-traditional insecurities arising from hydropower developments in the Mekong River Basin. It suggests that instead of an economic hydro-boom as anticipated by many, such projects could result in a non-traditional security disaster characterised by severe food shortages, destruction of livelihoods and large irregular movements of people.
This paper reviews the challenges facing Asian countries in meeting rising power demand as a result of the region’s rapid economic growth. It notes the wide range of potential sources of clean power, and suggests that providing sufficient power would require improvements in infrastructure and the mobilisation of various financing channels. Reforms in the power industry would also be necessary.
Events & Announcements
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FOOD AND HEALTH SECURITY
News & Commentaries
- Parulkar, Ashwin, ‘Starving in India: A fight for life in Bihar’, The Wall Street Journal, 10 April 2012.
- Shah, Rajiv, ‘Remarks by Dr. Rajiv Shah, USAID administrator, at the SAIS Year of Agriculture Conference’, USAID, 17 April 2012.
- Pelden, Sonam, ‘Self-sufficiency through commercialisation’, Kuensel Online, 18 April 2012.
- Elliott, Larry, ‘World Bank: High food prices block millennium development goals’, Guardian, 20 April 2012.
- ‘Philippines wastes half a million dollars in rice every day’, Oryza News, 20 April 2012.
- ‘“Rice imports used to embarrass me,” says Philippine President’, Oryza News, 23 April 2012.
- Fominyen, George Esunge, ‘Funding gap could leave millions hungry in W. Africa – Aid groups’, AlertNet, 23 April 2012.
- ‘Why nutrition matters’, The Economist, 24 April 2012.
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Hongzhou, Zhang, ‘Feeding the Asian: Agricultural R&D and food security’, RSIS Commentaries, 26 April 2012.
Selected Publications
This report seeks to highlight the implications of food insecurity beyond shortages, hunger and poverty, linking the issue to more traditional economic and national security concerns. In particular, it emphasises the impact of rising food prices on UK and global economic growth; the interrelationship between food insecurity, conflict and revolution; and the UK’s own food chain resilience.
This report is the first in an annual flagship series by the IFPRI which comprehensively covers food security policy issues. The report identifies major food and agricultural policy developments in 2011 and contains an overview of new and emerging key players in the global food system. Policy responses to the major food and agricultural challenges of 2011 are analysed and suggestions for addressing ongoing threats to food security at both the international and domestic levels are presented for consideration.
Events & Announcements
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INTERNAL AND CROSS-BORDER CONFLICT
News & Commentaries
- Harvey, Rachel, ‘What now for Burma after election landslide?’, BBC, 4 April 2012.
- ‘Timor-Leste: As peace prevails, security forces plan departure’, IRIN, 13 April 2012.
- ‘Thailand’s Buddhists take up arms against insurgency’, Newsweek, 16 April 2012.
- Pitsuwan, Fuadi, ‘ASEAN peacekeepers for Myanmar?’, Bangkok Post, 17 April 2012.
- Kyaw, San Wai, ‘Encouraging Myanmar’s reforms: Engage beyond sanctions’, RSIS Commentaries, 19 April 2012.
- Boot, William, ‘Burmese workers at risk from Thai labor deal’, The Irrawaddy, 24 April 2012.
- Blanchard, Ben, ‘Analysis: Myanmar sanctions lifting a boon and a test for China firms’, Reuters, 25 April 2012.
- ‘Restrictions on NGOs worldwide undermining human rights, says UN senior official’, UN News Centre, 25 April 2012.
Selected Publications
This article reviews the evolution of the RtoP and highlights the confusion and contestations over the definition and scope of the concept. It examines the debate over the diffusion of the RtoP in Asia and points out the challenges. It also identifies the mechanisms at the state, regional and international level that could facilitate the operationalisation of the RtoP in the region.
This report maps the development trends and prospects for Asia’s economies. It highlights that the continued uncertainty over the sovereign debt problems in the Eurozone presents the greatest risk to the growth in developing Asia. Within the region, rising inequality constitutes a big challenge. The report identifies the drivers of inequality and provides recommendations for policymakers.
Events & Announcements
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TRANSNATIONAL CRIME AND OTHER NON-TRADITIONAL SECURITY ISSUES
News & Commentaries
- Weber, David, ‘AFP seeks to raise awareness of human trafficking’, ABC, 12 March 2012.
- ‘Int’l center ties cigarette smuggling to terrorism’, The Philippine Star, 30 March 2012.
- Ha, Anh, ‘Fuel, mineral smuggling harm national economy’, dtinews, 31 March 2012.
- ‘Indonesia: Missing children raise trafficking concerns’, IRIN, 9 April 2012.
- Faizal, Elly Burhaini, ‘Counterfeit drugs “a serious threat”’, The Jakarta Post, 12 April 2012.
- ‘Cops fret as Africa, Iran dealers push meth locally’, Bangkok Post, 16 April 2012.
- Lutz, Ashley, ‘Here’s proof that bribery is an effective business strategy’, Business Insider, 18 April 2012.
- Bhandari, Rajneesh, ‘The next drug war? Nepal becoming a haven for drug trafficking’, PolicyMic, 20 April 2012.
- Hammond, Ashley, ‘Activist: Greater awareness can curb player trafficking’, Gulf News, 23 April 2012.
Selected Publications
This report observes that, in recent years, there has been an explosive growth of ‘illicit white’ cigarettes that are made specifically for smuggling. Such growth in illicit trade poses security challenges as the profits are used to fund terrorism activities worldwide. The report therefore calls on countries to adopt comprehensive anti-illicit trade policies, strengthen intergovernmental as well as inter-agency cooperation, and exchange information.
This study analyses 166 bribery cases that occurred over the period 1971–2007. These cases involved 107 publicly listed firms from 20 stock markets. These firms were reported to have bribed government officials in 52 countries. It observes that companies increased their market value by an average of USD11 for every USD1 that they paid in bribes.
In recent years, destination countries such as Singapore have stepped up efforts to combat trafficking in persons (TIP). This article discusses the TIP phenomenon and the significant new developments in Singapore’s policies on the issue. In particular, it highlights the establishment of Singapore’s Inter-Agency Taskforce on TIP and the development of its National Plan of Action.
This article evaluates the responses of four Southeast Asian states – Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia and Singapore – to the recent International Labour Organization (ILO) Convention concerning Decent Work for Domestic Workers (Domestic Workers Convention 2011). It highlights differences between labour sending and labour receiving countries in terms of their responses, and suggests that ASEAN could play a significant role in bridging that gap and promoting the adoption of universal standards and practices.
Events & Announcements
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