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The author found four reasons for this too slow integration: 1. Nationalism; 2. Economic Imbalance; and 3. Political Issues.

I. Nationalism

ASEAN member states are well-known in its rich culture and the attachment to such the culture, no matter in which environment they are living in. In ASEAN’s people’s nature, nationalism is endowed with high value and nationalist is vastly respected by the people of the same nationals. For ASEAN people, Adolf Hitler is conferred with high appreciation and even taken as a model.

There is no law or doctrine stating that nationalism is wrong or unacceptable or undesirable; however, nationalism becomes a grave problem when ASEAN nationalist leaders come to a discussion table; to be short and precise, slow progress and unfruitful.

II. Economic Imbalance

The economic circumstances of the ten ASEAN member states are vastly imbalanced. Indonesia’s GDP isUS$1,038 (2007 estimate), Myanmar US$93.77 (2005 estimate), Thailand US$585.9 billion (2006 estimate), Lao US$12.547 billion (2005 estimate) and Singapore US$145.183 billion (2006 estimate). This vast economic imbalance is an excessive impediment for trade/economic/diplomatic discussion and other implementations of rights and obligations of being an ASEAN member states.

This economic imbalance results in other imbalances; just to mention a few, human resources, diplomacy, international relations and national defense.

IV. Political Issues

Until today, Myanmar is still the most notorious member state in term of human rights violation and other gravely undemocratic actions against its own citizens.

Despite being named a newly industrialized country, with rapid economic growth, strong state institutions, and world famous academic institutions, Thailand has undergone uncivilized political act: coup d’etat, and is now returning to be a martial state.

Human rights, according to the Asian Human Rights Commission based in Hong Kong, Cambodia, the Philippines, Indonesia, Myanmar, Thailand are still facing classical human rights abuse. As a patron to the Asian Human Rights Commission’s human rights information, everyday I receive news about human rights abuse in any one of these countries.

ASEAN needs to polish these perils before stepping further.

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[i]Association of Southeast Asian Nations was established by ASEAN Declaration, signed on August 8, 1967 by five leaders - the Foreign Ministers of Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand, in Bangkok. The ASEAN region has a population of about 500 million, a total area of 4.5 million square kilometers, a combined gross domestic product of almost US$ 700 billion, and a total trade of about US$ 850 billion. It now has ten members: Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

[ii]Actually the European Unionwas born the European Economic Community in 1957 by the Treaty of Rome and has been subject to a number of institutional amendments, particularly in 1992 by the Maastricht Treaty. Since 1957 new accessions have raised the number of member states, and powers have expanded. EU is now enjoying the world’s largest GDP and the world’s most successful inter-governmental organization.

Vicheka Lay is the Translator and Legal Information Officer for DFDL Mekong Law Group, Freelance Translator for Asian Human Rights Commission, Hong Kong, and LL.M Candidate. He is also a member of the Legal Writing Institute, a legal analysis institution, based in Mercer University, the United States of America. Any question about Cambodian laws, business, politics, and state of affairs? Email me: vichekalay@yahoo.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Vicheka_Lay