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(First Draft)
The
International Conference 2004 Report*
on
"Japan’s
Policy and Contributions to Human Security in
Southeast
Asia"
January
13-14 ,2005
At
Seminar 3 Room,
Japanese
Studies Center, Institute of East Asian Studies,
Thammasat
University, Rangsit Campus, Pathum Thani,Thailand.
The
International Conference 2004 entitled on "
Japan’s
Policy and Contributions to Human Security in
Southeast
Asia"
was held at Seminar 3 Room,
Japanese
Studies Center, Institute of East Asian Studies,Thammasat
University, Rangsit Campus, Pathum Thani,Thailand on 13 - 14
January 2005. The meeting was organized by the Institute of
East Asian Studies, Thammasat University. Japan Foundation and
Thammasat University are main sponsors.The cooperating
institution and major speakers are as the follows:
Cooperating institutions and major speakers
Japan :
Assoc. Prof. Takahashi Masaki
Niigata
University of International and Information Studies
PRC :
Prof. Zhu Zhenming
Yunnan
Academy of Social Science
Korea :
Dr. Myon Woo Lee
The Sejong Institute
Cambodia
: Dr. Chhinh Sitha
Royal
University of Phanom Penh
Indonesia
: Mr. Begi Hersutanto
Center
for Strategic and International Studies
Malaysia
: Dr. Zarina Binti Othman
University of Malaysia
Myanmar :
Prof. Kan Zaw
Yangon
Institute of Economics
Philippines : Dr. Dennis D. Trinidad
De La
Salle University
Singapore
: Dr. Ngiam Tee Liang
National
University of Singapore
Thailand
: Dr. Decha Sangkawan
Dr.
Soparattana Jarusombat
Dr.
Titiporn Siriphat Puntasen
Thammasat
University
Vietnam :
Dr. Ngo Xuan Binh
Center
for Japanese Studies,
National
Center for Social Science
&
Humanities
The
opening meeting started at 9.00 a.m., and reported by
Associate Professor Yupha Klangsuwan, Director of Institute
of East Asia Studies, Thammasat University.
Associate.Prof.Taweep Chaisompop, Vice Rector in charge of
Academic Affairs,Thammasat University gave the Opening Speech.
H.E. Mr. Atsushi Tokinoya, Japanese Ambassador,The Embassy of
Japan, dilivered the Welcome Speech and Keynoted Speech by
Mrs. Kanda Vajrabhaya, Inspector General, Ministry of Social
Development and Humanity (On behalf of Minister).
There were four sessions in the conference. The moderator
and discussant of first session was Asst. Prof.Dr. Chalidaporn
Songsamphan from Thammasat University. The topics and paper
writers were as follows;
NO 1. The
topic was entitled "
Human
Security and Japan’s
Foreign Policy toward SOUTHEAST ASIA
" by Assoc. Prof.
TAKAHASHI
Masaki
from Niigata University of International and Information
Studies (NUIS), Niigata Japan.
A
brief topic on the conference was the followings;
The paper
writer talked about
Japan’s
human security policy in the context of its foreign policy
toward East Asia. First of all, the paper defines the concept
of human security which is divided into three aspects. Then,
Japan’s
human security policy and its definition of the concept are
investigated. Third, the Japan-US alliance is analyzed through
changes in the Japan-US security treaty and Prime Minister
Koizumi’s
foreign policy, which seems to regard the Japan-US alliance as
more vital than any other relation including East Asia
regional cooperation. However, the newly defined security
treaty may lead Japanese Self Defense Forces (SDF) anywhere in
the world. Fourth, regional cooperation, regionalism, in East
Asia is considered in contrast to the Japan-US relations which
tend to compromise Japan’s
non-military diplomacy and to obstruct regional cooperation.
As a conclusion, human security and regionalism are proposed
as an alternative policy.
NO 2. The
topic was entitled " Southeast Asian Human Security: A
Regional Citizenship Approach " by Assoc.Prof. Dr. Decha
Sungkawan from
Thammasat
University,Thailand.
The details of the topic was the followings;
The paper
writer talked about
the economic growth that impact on the Southeast Asian region
reflects only one side of the whole picture of the region.
The period of globalization that allows the capital and labor
force to move around freely within and outside the region has
also introduced income disparity and poverty among the
population in most of the countries. Numbers of the regional
population do not equally share the products of growth and
most of them has been left behind without the opportunities
to catch up with the main stream. Inequality that leads to
poverty among certain social groups within the region. The
expansion of global capitalism and the problems of poverty had
tricked a massive labor migrations at both internal and
external levels. Threats of global and regional migrations,
and the transnationalism of the degradation of the natural
environment requires the shift in international policy on
security matter. The issue of individual and human security
through the development of social rights that entitle the
individual citizen for basic human needs demands more
recognition and concern among the country members of the
Southeast Asian community. The globalization and
regionalization of social welfare policy practices and the
socialization of regional politics on welfare matter are also
to be initiated among the country members so that the well
being of the Southeast Asian area population who are the
potential contributors for both the economic as well as the
social developments is well preserved.
The
second session was paper presentations and discussion. The
moderator was Dr. Kitti Prasirtsuk and the discussant was
Assoc.Prof. Dr.Chaiwat Satha-anan. Both of them were from
Thamamsat
University.
The topics were as follows:
NO 3. The
topic was entitled " Towards Human Security: Lesson in
Indonesia " By Mr. Begi Hersutanto ,Center for Strategic and
International Studies, Indonesia.
The paper writer informed The assumption of
security regarded as the security in traditional perspective,
which covers the security of the state threatening the
territory and the integrity of the state. Apparently, along
with the dynamic of the threat the nature of security is not
only in the realm of traditional security but also covers the
realm of non-traditional threat. In this regard, threat to
human security is in the realm of non-traditional security in
which has the potential to threaten the security of the people
and individuals in the day-to-day aspect of life. In some
cases in which Indonesia is one of them, the state also
possesses threat against its own people, meanwhile state is
the entity, which has the responsibility and the authorization
to protect and to implement Human Security.The key
elements to the success in promoting Human Security lies on
two factors, namely, the practice of democracy and good
governance. These two elements enable the people to empower
themselves and to avoid the potential for being abused the
government. On the other hand the responsibility to protect
Human Security is in the hand of the state. The only way to
succeed the promotion and the implementation of Human Security
is through promoting democracy and good governance. However,
these principles also need to be supported by the
implementation and the effectiveness of legal instrument to
guarantee the commitment for Human Security in one hand, and
to govern the duty, and responsibility of the government to
protect.
It is too
early for Indonesia to be satisfied with the latest
achievement in the progress towards democracy. However,
although democracy and the practice of good governance in
Indonesia is still in progress towards better practices, the
indication of the transition for Indonesia to becoming a more
democratic state showed a strong platform for the significant
progress in the future. As the result maintaining what have
been achieved and having commitment to the best practice of
democracy and the practice of good governance the better
implementation for Human Security will be achieved.
NO 4. The
topic was entitled " Human Security in Malaysia and the Role
of Japan " by Dr. Zarina Othman ,Strategic Studies and
International Relations Program, Scool of History, politics
and Strategy, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences,Malaysia.
This paper presents an overview of Malaysia’s situation as one
of the nations hit hard by the economic crisis and also one
that is reportedly linked to international terrorist
activities. Highlighting the increasing interdependence among
nations in the region, the paper explores how Japan might use
its greater economic power to hasten the development of human
security policies, thereby contributing to peace and security
in Malaysia and in the Southeast Asia region as a whole.
Emphasis is on the urgent need for nations to cooperate, to
ensure survival of all our peoples.
The
concept of human security
in
Malaysia is still underdeveloped. Malaysia has not
officially adopted the idea of human security. Nevertheless,
that does not means that Malaysia has neglected their people.
A closer review of its policies has revealed that Malaysia has
adopted many human development approaches in its state
developmental planning. Malaysia believes that “security
begins at home,” and thus it must strengthen its internal
stability and development. Such development policies
initiated by states do, in one way or another, empower and
provide a better quality of life for the people.
It would also be wise for the region to implement a “SE Asian
Regional Human Security Network” that would be made up of
state actors, NGOS and members of academia. Human security
requires that human beings not be isolated from each other;
acknowledges that the people’s insecurity always has the
potential to disrupt the stability of a state--and eventually
of a region; and sees that transnational threats demand
transnational cooperation. Likewise, a true state of peace
and security can exist only when “human security”is assured
NO 5. The
topic was entitled "
From Economic Diplomacy to Human Security: Pattern of
Allocation of Japan's Official Development Assistance to
Southeast Asia" by Dr. Dennis D.Trinidad, Vice-Chair,
International Studies Department,De La Salle University-Manila,
Philippines.
Development assistance or ODA is one of the few and effective
‘soft power’ instruments that Japan utilized in pursuing
foreign policy objectives since the post-war period. This
paper studies the pattern of allocation of Japanese ODA to
Southeast Asia. It investigates whether there were changes in
the criteria or pattern of allocation of ODA during the 1990s,
and whether or not the changes in the pattern of allocation
was directed towards human security solutions or remained as a
tool in promoting Japanese economic diplomacy. For instance,
if human security was the primary objective of grant
allocation, then the bulk of the ODA grants should have been
disbursed to the poorest economies of Southeast Asia.
The study
found that Japan’s foreign policy objectives affected the
pattern of ODA allocation. The most observable changes during
the 1990s were the increasing ODA flow to Vietnam and the
significant increase of ODA disbursements to Cambodia and Laos,
two of the poorest economies of Southeast Asia. However, also
notable was ODAs huge allocation to Indonesia, Thailand and
the Philippines, countries where Japan have the most trade,
investment and political ties. ODA allocation was positively
correlated with population, trade, and Japanese investment in
the recipient countries while grant aid was, interestingly,
positively correlated with GNP per capita of recipient
countries.
The paper
confirmed that ODA has been the primary instrument of Japan in
dealing with international problems and issues. In Southeast
Asia, the most notable changes in the pattern of allocation
were (1) the gradual rise of Vietnam as a major recipient of
Japanese aid, and (2) the enormous increase of ODA flows to
the region as a result of declining commitment of the United
States. The ODA that was supposed to
“rectify
economic disparities,”
extended to new ASEAN members did not completely take
place at least in the 1990s.
If efforts to address human security problems
would be seen in the context of ODA disbursement during the
1990s, Japan has made some progress. Economic related criteria
however remained at the center of its consideration when
allocating ODA in the Southeast Asian region. It was found
that the most important criteria for ODA allocation during the
ten-year period were population, and trade and investment
relations with the recipient countries.
The
afternoon session was also paper presentations and discussion.
The moderator was Mr. Okamoto Jiro from IDE and the
discussant was Dr. Decha Tangseepha from Thammasat University.
The topics were as follows
NO 6. The
topic was entitled " Building Sustainable and Social
Development in Cambodia: A Perspective from Environmental
Security " by Dr. Sitha Chhinh, from Program Coordinator,
Faculty of Development Studies, Royal University of Phnom Penh,
Cambodia.
This
paper discusses the Cambodian environmental situations and
explains how the environmental damages which led to resource
scarcity are a severe threat to social security and
development in the country and within the region. The paper
further discusses how the cooperation with international
community especially Japan through its executing agency such
as JICA has significantly helped the Cambodian government to
sustainably use the depleting natural resources in order to
ensure human and environmental security within the country and
region. The paper concludes that environmental impact
assessment research on local and transboundary issues should
be conducted prior to commencement of any environment-related
project under a common tie such as JICA loans in order to
ensure equal benefits of the concerned regions or countries.
No.8 The
topic was " STRENGTHEN JAPAN ENVIRONMENTAL COOPERATION : A
CHALLENGE TO THE BROADER CONTEXT OF HUMAN SECURITY." By
Assistant Professor Soparatana Jarusombat, Ph.D,
Initially,
human security was interpreted as meaning threats to the
physical security of the person. There are seven categories of
threats: Economic security; Food security; Health security;
Environmental security, Personal security; Community security;
and, Political security. As
environmental security issues, a Non-Traditional Security gain
increasing attention, there is a pressing needs for finding
the fruitful ways for mitigating environmental constraints.
Due to the environmental problems in the existing context of
globalization is very complex, it could be solved by the
active participation of all the countries of the world.
During
the past three decades, governments, international agencies,
and NGOs have also developed increasing effectively approaches
to environmental problems.
There
is a growing spirit of environmental cooperation. But the
destruction, or threats of destruction, of states or
communities does not derive from environmental factors. The
combination of political, structural, and institutional
variables is the primarily cause.
Japan is
particular important players influencing the regional and
global environment and the direction of international
environmental protection efforts. Japan is the largest
providers of official development assistance (ODA) in the
world. About 25% of this amount is targeted at environmental
initiatives.
Drawing
insights from the case of Japan cooperation, it can be said
that there is the development of the cooperation in the
environmental field. Still a challenge facing is how to
couple industrialization with environmental responsibility in
order to avoid the mistakes already committed by the developed
nations. Achieving such development linkages and synergies
requires attention to how the idea of “environmental
governance” is implemented. Most importantly environmental
security problems have to dealt with at the institutional
level, with fairness and pluralism.
No.9 The
topic named "Human security in adjustment of foreign policy of
Japan: overview from Vietnam " by Prof. Ngo Xuan Binh.
He
emphasized in adjusting foreign policy of Japan after the cold
war until now, especially after the terrorizing event on
11/9/2000 in US, of which there are human security and impacts
on Vietnam.
Prof. Ngo
Xuan Binh After more than a decade of economic stagnation and
political instabilities, Japan is striving to regain its
position in the international environment with many profound
changes. In the development history of this country, Japan has
ever surmounted many challenges due to the change in the
international environment. The World War II terminated, Japan
was defeated and collapsed economically, however, it has
adapted, and after that it achieved miraculous steps of
development. This is considered as typical example on the
adaptation of Japan before the change in the international
environment. However, this country has adapted with difficulty
to the changes in international situation after the cold war
and the world situation seething after the terrorizing event
on 11/9/2001 in US. While, the bubble economy broken left a
lot of consequences that haven't been overcome and delay in
changing of economic structure that made both Japanese and
foreign businessmen investing in this counting seriously
diminishing their belief.
Even if
adaptation level is different in each situation, this proves
that Japan has made attempt to adjust their foreign policy for
better conforming to the practical requirement. This paper
will concentrate on consideration of main angle (preferential
angles) in adjusting foreign policy of Japan after the cold
war until now, especially after the terrorizing event on
11/9/2000 in US, of which there are human security and impacts
on Vietnam.
The morning session on the second day were paper
presentations and panel discussion on "Future Cooperation on
Human Security". The moderator wa Asst. Prof. Dr. Siriporn
Wajjwalku from Thammasat University. The topics were as
follows:
No.10
The topic was "Poverty Reduction in the Mekong Subregion and
Japanese ." By Assistance Prof. Zhu Zhenming
He
proposed that the heart of concept of human security is
protecting people’s rights and makes them freedom from want,
freedom from fear. Human security increasingly becomes an
issue which international community pays attention after event
of September 11. Factors affecting human security are civil
conflict, violence, transnational organized crime,
refugee problems, illicit drugs, infectious diseases, poverty
and so on. The most serious threats to human security is
poverty. Poverty reduction is an important content of human
security.
Poverty
is main threat to the Mekong subregional countries. Japan’s
assistance to the region is helpful to poverty reduction. The
assistance accelerates economic and social development in the
region to a certain extent. Japan government provided a great
number of Yen loan to China by ODA. These Yen loan speed up
China’s
modernization process. Japan makes a major contribution to
China’s
development . However, Japan’s
assistance to the region is also beneficial to Japan. It is a
win-win relationship.
In order to promote economic cooperation
and friendship between Japan and the Mekong subregional
countries. 1. Japan should increase assistance the region for
poverty reduction. 2. Japan should increase proportion of
nonreimbursable assistance
in Japan’s
ODA. 3. Japan should increase assistance to development of
human resources besides providing material assistance.4. Japan
should introduce Japan’s
development experience such as
“One
village ,One product.”
5.
Japan should send more experienced technicians and managers to
rural areas in the region for helping poverty reduction. And,6,
Japan should not link up politics with assistance such as take
so-call
“promote
democratization
”as
one of assistance principle. It is not in keeping with the
national conditions in the region.
No. 11.
Human Security in Asia and the Role of Japan: Starting from
the North Korean Defectors Problem . By Lee, Myon Woo.
In considering Japan's Policy towards Human Security, Human
security occupies one of major fields in Japanese foreign
policy. Also, in considering Japan's role in the aspect of
human security in East Asia, we cannot disregard the
uniqueness this regional context produces. The variety
embedded in Asian cultures is well known, due to which some
argue it would be very hard or almost impossible to integrate
the region. It means that the Asian countries (1) have very
different types of governments and political systems, (2) have
their own cultures, mingled with different religions and
historical experiences, and (3) lack the common experiences of
cooperation under the name of Asia.
The concept of human security is a very good starting point.
The two categories of freedom from wants and freedom from fear
in human security are well noted. To eradicate poverty and
starvation out of Asia is the foremost thing that may be
easily agreed upon among the region, but it cannot be fully
addressed if we disregard the issue of human rights abuse for
some political reason in Asia, as we see in the North Korean
defectors problem. There may be various ways to conduct this
kind of leadership role, some of which may be already taken.
One suggestion here is to make and promote the civic funds
that can be channelled directly to the regional networks of
the NGOs and local governments. Recently Japan's MOFA has been
coordinating with the NGOs in managing the developing issue
and the ODA in the region. One major focus in proposing the
civic funds is to change the main actor from the central
governments to the citizens' movements and/or to the local
governments. On the other hand, the NGOs in particular can
penetrate and expand their activities while pursuing their
values more freely. The role of central government then would
suffice in promoting the funds and coordinating the
differences among nations and the mishaps of NGOs in the
international arena.
No.12
The suggestions of the topic
named " Japan's Role in Human Security and Asia" By Hiroshi
OE , Economic Minister Embassy of Japan in Thailand.
The concept of human security originally developed from the
recognition that traditional state security, focusing on
protecting the state, boundaries, territories and its people
from external attacks, has become obsolete in the era of
globalization and inter-dependence. It is known that the
danger of internal conflicts, in stead of interstate wars, as
the major threats to international peace and security. Even
the strongest military cannot defend transnational terrorism,
environmental pollution, massive refugee movements and such
infectious diseases as HIV/AIDS. The globalization process has
made available more information and essential social goods to
many people, but on the other hand, the gaps between rich and
poor countries have never been greater today.
The
excluded people naturally contribute to the increasing
tensions, hatred, violence and conflict within the same
country or even the same community. The Asian economic crisis
of 1997 made us acutely aware of the fact that even a
successful history of
“growth
with equity”
can provide very little protection to those who are thrown to
the wall when a sharp economic downturn suddenly occurs.
Now that
the effort of building East Asia community is emerging with
optimism, it is nonetheless still based on the prospects of
economic integration through Free Trade Agreements. But the
rule of market economy is not sufficient to promote East Asia
community building. We need some conceptual framework which
combines the otherwise conflicting logics
–
the rule of market economy and the rule of community building.
That is where human security comes in. As Ambassador Tokinoya
indicated in his opening statement, Japan and ASEAN adopted
Tokyo Declaration in December 2003, in which human security is
referred to. Implementation of human security, however,
remains to be seen. He is hoping that human security enrich
the community building efforts in East Asia in such a way that
efficiency or market economy does not cost us empowerment and
protection of each individual.
No. 13
The topic was ”
Human
Security and Social Work Contribution: Prospects and
Possibilities for Japan and Southeast Asia". By Associate
Professor Ngiam Tee Liang, PhD,
Programme
Chairman (Social Work), Department of Social Work and
Psychology,
Faculty
of Arts and Social Sciences,
National
University of Singapore,
The world
is presently focusing on relief and reconstruction efforts in
countries badly hit by the earthquake and tsunami. The
efforts will have to be both immediate and long-term. Here is
a good example of how human security needs can be met in the
midst of rebuilding houses, physical infrastructures and
shattered economies. There are issues of political will,
resources, expertise, coordination, public health, religious
and cultural sensitivity and socio-psychological effects,
among other barriers, of course, that have to be overcome.
International cooperation and assistance from various quarters
thus have to dovetail well with the work of national and local
communities and organizations in order for meaningful and
sustainable re-building to occur. I am sure that our
predecessors in the past must have felt the same kinds of
emotions, fears and hopes that we now do when confronted with
natural or human-made crises and disasters. Somehow they
managed to survive the crises and disasters of the past and
could evolve human civilisation to its present state.
For
modern humans, we now have the advantage of more advanced and
sophisticated technology and material resources to deal with
widespread calamities. Consequently, we should be able to do
a better job. It is our collective responsibility to bring
about a human-centred 21st Century that will be our
best defense against threats to human security for all.
No.14
Future Cooperation on Human Security: An Integral Perspective,
By Titiporn Siriphant Puntasen, Ph.D. , Faculty of Social
Administration, Thammsat University.
Countries
in Southeast Asian region are encountering different kind of
threats to human security caused by internal conflicts among
ideological groups. Other threats include the national
political and economic policies which may be life-enhancing
for some, yet life-threatening to others.
Japan as
a leading nation in matter of human security has a major role
to play in the following area: (1) Japan can share the
knowledge and experience in creating sustainable livelihood,
particularly in the areas of environmentally-balanced
production, and clean technology through academic and
technical exchange programs. (2) Japan can facilitate the
learning process among countries in the region on the concept
of human security based on integral developement. (3) Japan
can join Souteast Asian nations in collectively study, analyze
in order to better understand the interlocking systems of
social, economic and political causes of injustices so that
proper actions can be taken to prevent such violations. (4) In
national and international policy making, efforts should be
made by all the nations to formulate social, political and
economic policies that respect and protect human lives and
livelihood of the marginalized under the premise of peaceful
coexistence between human and the natural habitats. (5) In
times of crises, knowledge and expertise of Japan and all
countries in the region in dealing with natural disasters and
the rehabilitative efforts are most valuable. And, (6) the
research in the area of integral development sciences to help
us better deal with challenges of human security should be
prioritized in allocation of research funds.
Japan has the capacity to assist Southeast Asian nations in
strenghetning academic disciplines via transformative research
in area of human security, with the final aim of empowering
people, particularly at the grassroots to do their own
research that will contribute to national policy formulation
that would help create or maintain the kinds of security
desired.
*International Conference 2004 Reported by Ms.Yoopin Claymone
and Mr. Sutin Saisangaun ,Researcher Team from Institue of
East Asian Studies,TU.
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