Should Turkey be allowed to join the European Union?
Tony Blair believes Turkey EU’s answer for the future. Austria and a few others on the other hand don’t quite relish the prospect of Turkey as Euroland’s 26th member. I wish Turkey the best but halfway around the world, how would ASEAN member states react to East Timor as the grouping’s 11th member?
Currently, ASEAN has ten members with Papua New Guinea as an observer. In 2002, East Timor expressed its intention of gaining an observer status in ASEAN. The country proves its seriousness by informing ASEAN of its willingness to sign a non-aggression pact with the grouping.
In my opinion, the country’s greatest obstacle of gaining membership is Indonesia. Indonesia is like father of the bride. If the father hates you, you’re practically screwed. Maybe not father. Maybe just the older brother.
Reason is, the more influential ASEAN members – namely Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines – have traditionally stood by the Indonesian side whenever East Timor hit the headlines in the recent past. Though Indonesian atrocity was deplorable, the four nations had to refrain themselves from criticizing Indonesia in the name of solidarity.
Fortunately for East Timor, Indonesia doesn’t seem to hold any grunge against the tiny state despite the two countries’ turbulent past. Indonesia had previously annexed East Timor in 1975. East Timor later gained independence in 2002 via an United Nations-administered referendum in 1999. With Indonesia out of the way, East Timor can rest assured that the four members and the rest of ASEAN will not object save, maybe, Myanmar.
Myanmar currently disapproves the notion of East Timor as an observer – much less a membership – due to East Timor’s support for Aung San Suu Kyi. I do think however that if East Timor could somewhat water down its explicit support of Aung San Suu Kyi, then Myanmar might retract its objection.
Regardless, East Timor has a lot of catching up to do. With respect to that, I believe ASEAN has unique role to play in East Timor’s effort to build up itself. Yet, ASEAN has done little to aid East Timor. Instead, Australia is East Timor’s most active partner. ASEAN must play a greater role in East Timor if the 10-member group wishes to see a stronger ASEAN.
p/s – I saw this on BBC’s ticker last night. I thought it’s old news but heh, all hail to the greatest theocracy the world has ever known. LOL!
pp/s – cold feet?
Minnesota last defeated the Wolverines in 1986.
“You look at that whole series and it’s kind of lopsided,” Minnesota coach Glen Mason said. “If I had it my way, I wouldn’t play them anymore. Michigan has those types of series with a lot of teams.”
Let’s hope Michigan won’t do anything too interesting. Minnesota in the past few years is that kind of team which you think they gonna lose but somehow, due to final minutes miracles, we are the winner instead.
I hope Michigan will stop that trend and win outright. The best thing is, Michigan has the psychological advantage to do that.
Well, may the best team win. (BTW, the Little Brown Jug is ours).