The 15th Asean Summit: A postscript

Bangkok: There is no question that the 15th ASEAN Summit held in Cha-am, Hua Hin, Thailand was a huge success not just for the ASEAN leaders, but also for Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva because there were no untoward incidents that happened last weekend. No doubt, the Abhisit government was better prepared to handle the security lapse that happened just last April when the Red Shirted supporters of ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra entered the main hall where the ASEAN Summit was underway and due to the security breach, the ASEAN Leaders were hustled out of the building in a huff and flown by helicopter in a nearby airbase.

One thing I learned during the ASEAN Summit is that Pres. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo (GMA) is already considered a senior ASEAN Leader, as there are now so many new faces in ASEAN aside from Thai Premier Abhisit. Japan now has Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama, Malaysia is now under Dato Sri Mohd Najib bin Tun Abdul Razak, and South Korea has Pres. Lee Myung-Bak. ASEAN’s partners, like Australia has also a new leader in Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, while New Zealand has the Right Honourable John Key. Of course, after the 2010 Presidential elections, GMA too will be exiting on June 30, 2010. But ASEAN will definitely move forward.

The adoption of the Cha-am Hua Hin Declaration and the inauguration of the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) is indeed a step forward as mandated by Article 14 of the ASEAN Charter to build a more “people-oriented” ASEAN Community. While I agree it is still a “toothless” organization, it is good beginning for ASEAN Leaders to build a framework for Regional Cooperation on Human Rights.

It is understandable that the civil society that attended the ASEAN Summit wanted more teeth or action against brutality of the Union of Myanmar led by General Thein Sein. Right now the operative word from ASEAN regarding Myanmar is to deal with it on a “continuing constructive engagement.” ASEAN members agree that as far as Myanmar is concern, it will not take drastic steps to sanction it for their human rights violation, as booting it out of ASEAN would be counterproductive and leave Myanmar out of its circle of influence.

During the Bilateral talks with Pres. Arroyo and Australian PM Kevin Rudd and Japanese Premier Yukio Hatoyama, she invited both of them to visit the Philippines and from the way things are moving, I doubt if these two would have the time to visit the country this year. Perhaps, it might be early part of next year or they just might wait for a new president to emerge in the May 2010 elections before they visit the Philippines.

After the final ceremonies at the Dusit Thani Hotel, the ASEAN Leaders started leaving the hotel, including Pres. Arroyo who immediately went to the Hua Hin Airport. I joined the rest of the Malacañang Press Corps for the three-hour long coaster ride to Bangkok on a freeway filled with vehicles leaving the Cha-am Hua Hin resort towns.

I learned that the Cha-am, Hua Hin area is the Summer Capital of Thailand as the king has a Summer Palace nestled just between the major five-star hotels that line up the white sandy beaches of these resort towns- with its own commercial airport. That we saw a lot of European tourist during our few days stay during the ASEAN Summit only shows that Tourism in Thailand has bounced back to normal since the Red Shirts of Thaksin shut the Suvarnabhumi International Airport down last year. 

Traffic was very heavy when we arrived in Bangkok last Sunday night- proof that the Thai economy is strong and vibrant. If there is anything very good I can say about Thailand, it is that they have great food, whether you’re eating in a high-priced hotel or restaurant or eating street food. For the first two nights in Hua Hin, we enjoyed eating along the sidewalk. No, they were not trying to scrimp on food following the so-called Le Cirque expose’, but when you’re in Thailand, it is best to have dinner where most of the Thais and tourist go for their sea food is fresh and very delicious.

My only beef with Thailand is, despite the theme of connectivity for the ASEAN Summit, they are not Wi-Fi friendly… meaning, if you want a Wi-Fi connection, you have to pay 150 Baht per hour using a pre-paid card. In Cebu, if you want a Wi-Fi connection, you can just go to SM City or at the Mactan Cebu International Airport where Wi-Fi is free!

It was a great opportunity for me to work with the Malacañang Press Corps because I didn’t only develop new friends like NBN Reporter Freddie Abando, Ben Rosario of Manila Bulletin, and Asst. Sec. Maribel Dario (she’s an original member of the Bayanihan Dance Troupe), I also got to know the team that worked under our good friend Press Secretary Cerge Remonde whom they admire as a good and compassionate boss.

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