Hey there, everyone. Have you ever wonder about our sisters and brothers of ASEAN? I bet most of you are clueless about our fellow ASEAN members. The things what we know about them usually come from the media fed to us, and if we are any smarter, we know that you can’t rely too much on them. I’m sure there are a lot of misunderstanding and misconceptions.
You may think bad things on people of certain ASEAN countries, submitting to the stereotypes and things like that. But the same thing is happening at the same time, too. There are people from other ASEAN countries who judge you by the shallow knowledge they got from the media.
But the truth is, there is so much more of our region. It’s very rich in history, brimming with exciting art and culture. You would be very surprised to see the diversity, and maybe you will be just like me, when I realize how ignorant I was before about our brethren.
My good friend Nikkie from Cambodia had come up with a brilliant idea to set up a blog in which we can gather and talk about anything about ASEAN, our region and its people. The trend of foreign diplomacy nowadays is to put more focus on people-to-people relationship, and we can do that in our blog. We ask you to join us in our blog, so that we can get to know each other for who we really are, not for what people told us.
Singapore! We need representatives from your country.
So, how about it? Will you join us?
Full Version: Join our ASEAN blog!
May I nominate Aeroforce to represent us SG? Thai girlyboys draw all the crowd. 
So where do we hit on with the blog ?
I suggest since you guys interesting in this affair, we should discuss this plan in ASEAN Clan.
I have to sorry that, rite now, we are still at the beginning. My plan is, firstly, we got to gather people, especially from each of the ASEAN nations. Then, we'll decide on which blog-hosting site to be our page.
Here is the Clan link: http://www.asiafinest.com/forum/index.php?...p;#entry3219789
I have to sorry that, rite now, we are still at the beginning. My plan is, firstly, we got to gather people, especially from each of the ASEAN nations. Then, we'll decide on which blog-hosting site to be our page.
Here is the Clan link: http://www.asiafinest.com/forum/index.php?...p;#entry3219789
this sounds interesting..im gonna join, just make sure people there are friendly and i wouldnt have a problem....
QUOTE(Nikkie_nid @ Sep 19 2007, 10:08 PM) 
I suggest since you guys interesting in this affair, we should discuss this plan in ASEAN Clan.
I have to sorry that, rite now, we are still at the beginning. My plan is, firstly, we got to gather people, especially from each of the ASEAN nations. Then, we'll decide on which blog-hosting site to be our page.
Here is the Clan link: http://www.asiafinest.com/forum/index.php?...p;#entry3219789
I have to sorry that, rite now, we are still at the beginning. My plan is, firstly, we got to gather people, especially from each of the ASEAN nations. Then, we'll decide on which blog-hosting site to be our page.
Here is the Clan link: http://www.asiafinest.com/forum/index.php?...p;#entry3219789
well, look through the thread and it sure is pretty packed with people, something just need to have a start somewhere
i think it would not work..we dont share the same culture and history as the EU countries do..so integration does not matter..ASEAN is too diversed
Then it should be the reason for us to do it. Make our cultures become as one. WE CAN DO IT.
THE PEOPLE OF BURMA NEED ASEANS SUPPORT
Zaw-Gyi, I can say that most of the people in ASEAN countries support your cause, but our governments are helpless 
QUOTE(Zaw-Gyi @ Sep 24 2007, 10:18 PM)
THE PEOPLE OF BURMA NEED ASEANS SUPPORT
QUOTE(Bhaskara @ Sep 25 2007, 08:55 AM)
Zaw-Gyi, I can say that most of the people in ASEAN countries support your cause, but our governments are helpless
Bhaskara is correct, the current form of the ASEAN body is not similar to the EU, so votes can not be taken. That is what the ASEAN summits are for these years, to change ASEAN into a vote-based body and to establish the ASEAN Law(s), similar to the EU.
Right now, there is an agreement that all ASEAN members are not to enter another member's political problems. That includes implementing sanctions. In other words, ASEAN can not impose sanctions on its members and must not give any bias statements about another member country. That is the loophole of the current ASEAN form.
The ASEAN Citizens on the other hand are still few, in a sense that, only few people cares about their ASEAN brothers and sisters... in fact, they do not consider them brothers and sisters. We still lack an information drive and campaign to inform our respective fellow citizens of the ASEAN Community.
I can say I care. Many of us here will say 'we care', but that's just us, just you and me. For us to have a voice, we need to drive and inform more people about the ASEAN Community, and thus, in-turn, making them an ASEAN Citizen. Unless they understood what it is, they are still citizens of their own respective countries.
That's what I am writing right now... the question, "The ASEAN Identity (crisis?)" at the new "ASEAN Citizens" blog, check my signature. It is open for other contributors. It will serve as a haven for encouraging those ASEANs who are aware of the new "regional" body to inform their fellow people as well. On my part, I successfully convinced other companies and businessmen to start using ACT or the ASEAN Common Time... we need more than that, you and me must pool all our resources and brains together.
QUOTE(lactobacillus @ Sep 23 2007, 11:20 AM)
i think it would not work..we dont share the same culture and history as the EU countries do..so integration does not matter..ASEAN is too diversed
QUOTE(Nikkie_nid @ Sep 24 2007, 04:24 PM)
Then it should be the reason for us to do it. Make our cultures become as one. WE CAN DO IT.
I agree with Nikkie_nid, we can do it. It will work. ASEAN Community is slated to be implemented on 2015, and there are other projects and plans as well that leads to the ultimate goal. However, do remember that, ASEAN is not targetting to be "another EU". As you've said, lactobacillus, we do not share the same culture and history as the EU countries. With that, the ASEAN is approaching it differently.
It does look like we are going to become like EU or is targetting to, but the EU is just being "cited" as an example, it doesn't necesarrily mean that we want to be Asia's EU. Example, ASEAN is going to adopt the ASEAN Common Time or ACT, but the EU on the other-hand wants their member nations to implement DST (if in case you don't have DST).
ASEAN is not looking forward for an ASEAN Monetary, but we are looking forward to an ASEAN Basket, which will help each member countries to fight USD recession. These are only few of the targets of the ASEAN, and one reason why they call it the "ASEAN Community" rather than the "ASEAN Union". If we will ever become a Union, we will be a "United States" type of organization instead of a "European Union" type. Additionally, it will take generations before the people of each member countries to truly see themselves as "ASEANs".
The EU and the US also took time, the ASEAN will take time. It is not overnight. If you will look at it to happen overnight, then it will never happen. But if you will look at it in a good time-span, then it will happen.
We can do it! I strongly agree. To us who are aware of the "ASEAN Community", being ASEAN Citizens, it is our job and our initiative to spread this new concept, the regional bloc, being brothers and sisters, the "ASEAN Identity". It is up to us to define what it is to be an ASEAN, what is the "ASEAN Identity" (which I am writing currently). Our governments are too concentrated on high-level matters that they forgot about the "citizens" level. It now rests upon our shoulders to spread it and to explain it and to define it.
Are you with us?
QUOTE(Bhaskara @ Sep 18 2007, 12:08 AM)
Hey there, everyone. Have you ever wonder about our sisters and brothers of ASEAN? I bet most of you are clueless about our fellow ASEAN members. The things what we know about them usually come from the media fed to us, and if we are any smarter, we know that you can’t rely too much on them. I’m sure there are a lot of misunderstanding and misconceptions.
You may think bad things on people of certain ASEAN countries, submitting to the stereotypes and things like that. But the same thing is happening at the same time, too. There are people from other ASEAN countries who judge you by the shallow knowledge they got from the media.
But the truth is, there is so much more of our region. It’s very rich in history, brimming with exciting art and culture. You would be very surprised to see the diversity, and maybe you will be just like me, when I realize how ignorant I was before about our brethren.
My good friend Nikkie from Cambodia had come up with a brilliant idea to set up a blog in which we can gather and talk about anything about ASEAN, our region and its people. The trend of foreign diplomacy nowadays is to put more focus on people-to-people relationship, and we can do that in our blog. We ask you to join us in our blog, so that we can get to know each other for who we really are, not for what people told us.
Singapore! We need representatives from your country.
So, how about it? Will you join us?
Thanks Bhaskara! How do you get on the blog????You may think bad things on people of certain ASEAN countries, submitting to the stereotypes and things like that. But the same thing is happening at the same time, too. There are people from other ASEAN countries who judge you by the shallow knowledge they got from the media.
But the truth is, there is so much more of our region. It’s very rich in history, brimming with exciting art and culture. You would be very surprised to see the diversity, and maybe you will be just like me, when I realize how ignorant I was before about our brethren.
My good friend Nikkie from Cambodia had come up with a brilliant idea to set up a blog in which we can gather and talk about anything about ASEAN, our region and its people. The trend of foreign diplomacy nowadays is to put more focus on people-to-people relationship, and we can do that in our blog. We ask you to join us in our blog, so that we can get to know each other for who we really are, not for what people told us.
Singapore! We need representatives from your country.
So, how about it? Will you join us?
We have found a blog (that is already exists) with the same purpose of us. Rite now we are discussing which one to join, when we do, we will provide you all the link. Please, be patient.
Sisters and brothers of ASEAN! 
QUOTE
September 28, 2007 17:18 PM
Asean MPs Want Myanmar Expelled From Asean If Crackdown Continues
By D. Arul Rajoo
BANGKOK, Sept 28 (Bernama) -- The Asean Inter-Parliamentary Myanmar Caucus (AIPMC) wants Myanmar to be expelled from Asean if its military junta continues to use brutal force to break up peaceful protests in the country.
AIPMC president Datuk Zaid Ibrahim said it was not enough for Asean to merely issue statements as its credibility and integrity were at stake.
"Asean must go one step further to dissociate itself from Myanmar as previous actions to persuade the regime have not brought positive results," he told a news conference here Friday.
But Zaid admitted that Asean on its own could not achieve much as long as the big powers, including the United Nations Security Council members, continued to regard Myanmar as a non-security issue.
He said that unless the world took action now, the unrest in Myanmar could escalate into a humanitarian crisis and a repeat of the 1988 tragedy where more than 3,000 protestors were killed by the military junta.
At least nine people were killed in the past few days since security forces began a crackdown on street protests in Yangon and several cities where monks are spearheading the largest challenge to the junta since 1988.
Zaid said Asean should also coordinate moves to address the problem with the United Nations and European Union (EU), instead of everyone acting separately.
More pressure should be applied on China to bring changes in Myanmar, he added.
AIPMC vice-president and former Thai senator, Kraisak Choonhavan, said Myanmar could no longer be regarded as a non-security issue as continued unrest in the country could burden Thailand and Malaysia, with the prospect of a refugee situation looming in the background.
He said that between three to five million Myanmarese were currently in Thailand without proper documentation, basic amenities, health care or education for children.
"We have about 800 stateless tsunami orphans in Phuket where rape and abuse cases are common. The situation will become intolerable," he said.
Zaid agreed that Malaysia might face similar problems given that a large number of Rohingyas or Myanmar Muslim refugees were already in that country.
He said that if Asean could not take action as a grouping due to various restrictions, they could act individually to, for example, freeze the bank accounts of Myanmar leaders in their respective countries.
-- BERNAMA
Asean MPs Want Myanmar Expelled From Asean If Crackdown Continues
By D. Arul Rajoo
BANGKOK, Sept 28 (Bernama) -- The Asean Inter-Parliamentary Myanmar Caucus (AIPMC) wants Myanmar to be expelled from Asean if its military junta continues to use brutal force to break up peaceful protests in the country.
AIPMC president Datuk Zaid Ibrahim said it was not enough for Asean to merely issue statements as its credibility and integrity were at stake.
"Asean must go one step further to dissociate itself from Myanmar as previous actions to persuade the regime have not brought positive results," he told a news conference here Friday.
But Zaid admitted that Asean on its own could not achieve much as long as the big powers, including the United Nations Security Council members, continued to regard Myanmar as a non-security issue.
He said that unless the world took action now, the unrest in Myanmar could escalate into a humanitarian crisis and a repeat of the 1988 tragedy where more than 3,000 protestors were killed by the military junta.
At least nine people were killed in the past few days since security forces began a crackdown on street protests in Yangon and several cities where monks are spearheading the largest challenge to the junta since 1988.
Zaid said Asean should also coordinate moves to address the problem with the United Nations and European Union (EU), instead of everyone acting separately.
More pressure should be applied on China to bring changes in Myanmar, he added.
AIPMC vice-president and former Thai senator, Kraisak Choonhavan, said Myanmar could no longer be regarded as a non-security issue as continued unrest in the country could burden Thailand and Malaysia, with the prospect of a refugee situation looming in the background.
He said that between three to five million Myanmarese were currently in Thailand without proper documentation, basic amenities, health care or education for children.
"We have about 800 stateless tsunami orphans in Phuket where rape and abuse cases are common. The situation will become intolerable," he said.
Zaid agreed that Malaysia might face similar problems given that a large number of Rohingyas or Myanmar Muslim refugees were already in that country.
He said that if Asean could not take action as a grouping due to various restrictions, they could act individually to, for example, freeze the bank accounts of Myanmar leaders in their respective countries.
-- BERNAMA
Go ASEAN
Be careful of what ASEAN will acts, Myanmar is not at warring stat yet. We should try more diplomatic negotiation as well as domestic negotiation.
Sanctions just hurt more to the Myanmar people not the government.
Sanctions just hurt more to the Myanmar people not the government.
Hi everyone. We finally got our own blog! Join us, and feel free to contribute anything about ASEAN! Remember to post light-hearted topics such as arts and cultures and please refrain from posting potential disasters such as politics (IMG:style_emoticons/default/icon_smile.gif)
http://aseanclan.blogspot.com/
See you there!
http://aseanclan.blogspot.com/
See you there!
Do i have to have a blog account ebfore I can post my comments on that blog??????????
i feel better if i see khmer's ancient friend, the burmese on the picture of ASEAN - Asia's Perfect 10, no make it 11.
But burma or myanmar is there on the picture of ASEAN, can't u see???
I think he's confused.
Anyway, you have to have google account or that blog account to be there. But, you should contact Laibcoms about that. why don't you PM me your email? I'll invite you.
Anyway, you have to have google account or that blog account to be there. But, you should contact Laibcoms about that. why don't you PM me your email? I'll invite you.
awesome. burma popped out of nowhere. thank tangawizi. i was confused yeah.
Lol... so, is it time for Burmese Section in AF?
I think so, let's petition Ben!!
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