INTERVIEW
US finger on the pulse
By Charles McDermid
HUA HIN, Thailand - Lunch break has ended at Saturday's 14th summit meeting of
the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and United States ambassador of
ASEAN affairs Scot Marciel is struggling to pay his check.
Marciel rummaged through his pockets and pulled out five different currencies -
just one of the myriad complexities of being America's point man to a
fractious, 10-nation bloc that has some 570 million people and its fair share
of challenges.
Marciel joined the US State Department in 1985 and is now serving as deputy
secretary of state for East Asia and the Pacific. He was appointed as the
first-ever US ambassador to ASEAN in
2008, amid mounting regional criticism that Washington had neglected the
grouping.
Marciel spoke to Asia Times Online's Charles McDermid about the US's role in
Southeast Asia and Washington's latest views on military-run Myanmar.
Asia Times Online: What is the perception today of the United
States in Southeast Asia?
Scot Marciel: It's pretty good. In general, I think most nations
like us to be engaged and active in the region. They tell us the economic ties
are important and there is benefit from the US being present.
ATol: Do you encounter any residual animosity over the US
military's past role in Vietnam, Cambodia and the Philippines?
SM: Not really. I lived in Vietnam in the 1990s, and it was
striking to find that we didn't - we expected to - but didn't. There was some
animosity, but it wasn't based on the war.
ATol:: Did Secretary of State Hillary Clinton give you specific
directions for this visit?
SM: First and foremost, Secretary Clinton wants to intensify her
engagement in the entire region, including ASEAN. The theme of her trip [to
Asia] was that Asia is an indispensable partner, and we want to affirm and echo
that in ASEAN. We want to engage and be active; we're exchanging ideas and
looking for ideas on how to do that.
ATol: Do you have a message to ASEAN on Myanmar?
SM: That Myanmar is a problem for ASEAN and the region; and
that we understand it's a difficult situation because nobody has the influence
to bring about change; and we're willing to work with ASEAN to bring about
change.
ATol: Do you believe that ASEAN can pressure Myanmar to halt its
alleged human-rights abuses and continue on the so-called "roadmap for
democracy?"
SM: At this point, no. As I look at Myanmar, they have a military
leadership facing problems on the political front, with health care, education,
food security. When you have no input from society and your past policies
aren't good, realistically the only way to move forward - politically,
economically, socially - is to reach out to their own people and opposition.
ATol: There's been much positive spin at this summit about
Myanmar's national elections in 2010. Do you have faith that the elections will
bring about democracy or a change of government?
SM: At this point it's hard to have faith. Pretty much all the
opposition is in prison. If the government wants to make progress politically
it has to include the people - all the people. If no one else is involved, the
problems will continue. What's needed is a genuine political process that's
inclusive. We [the US] love elections, but not false elections. Those don't get
you anywhere.
ATol: How do you see the situation playing out in Myanmar?
SM: There are two scenarios and I don't know which to put the
most weight on. The first is that the regime continues on its path of
suppression and bad governance. As a result, the economy declines, there are
more severe health problems and more refugees and narcotics leave the country.
This path will only lead to more tragedy and injustice.
The second of what could be one thousand other possibilities is that they - the
leaders - recognize they're moving in the wrong direction and decide to turn
things around and some kind of dialogue begins with the opposition and ethnic
groups with the participation of the UN [United Nations]. The junta becomes
more willing to listen and realizes that all the jailed activists aren't a
threat - and they turn the boat around. This way won't be easy, or fast.
ATol: What scares you the most about the situation in Myanmar?
SM: That the suppression of liberties and bad policies over time
will create irreparable damage to the society and its people.
ATol: Do you think that Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu
Kyi will ever be released from house arrest?
SM: I hope so. I think so. It's certainly not easy to predict
when. I do think it would be an enormous positive step.
ATol: At this summit there's been a big push against
protectionism - and in some cases that call is clearly directed at the US. Is
the US being blamed for the global financial crisis?
SM: We haven't seen that at this meeting. But in the region there
are some people who have put the blame on us. By far, the preponderance of
opinion is not who started this but how we can work to get out of it.
ATol: What do you tell people - and there are many - who believe
Southeast Asia is caught in a US versus China battle for influence?
SM: We don't think so. Countries in this region wisely want good
relations with both the US and China. That's fine by us.
Charles McDermid is an Asia Times Online correspondent based in Thailand.
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