9. Dilema Hak Asasi Manusia Di Asia Tenggara: Ketiadaan Peran Asean dalam Kasus Perekrutan Tentara Anak di Myanmar dalam Perspektif English School

Abstract

ASEAN as a regional organization of Southeast Asia is considered absent and did not
contribute in the case of child soldiers’ recruitment in Myanmar. ASEAN, which has
human rights commission such as the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human
Rights (AICHR) and the ASEAN Commission on the Promotion and Protection of the
Rights of Women and Children (ACWC), has failed in promoting the protection of human
rights and child rights in the case of child soldiers in Myanmar. The absence of ASEAN is
contradictory to the actions taken by UN, Human Rights Watch (HRW), Child Soldier
International (CSI) and neighboring countries in preventing and stopping the recruitment
of child soldiers in Myanmar. This research is aimed to analyze the reason behind such
situation. Based on the view of pluralist international society, the absence of ASEAN in
child soldiers’ case in Myanmar is caused by two main reasons. First, non-interference
principle which is upheld by ASEAN to respect the sovereignty of Myanmar. Second,
inability to reach consensus within ASEAN, while consensus itself is decision making
principle in ASEAN aimed to avoid any action which may compromise the sovereignty of
other member states. On the other hand, the opposite responses given by UN, NGOs and
neighboring country of Myanmar can be viewed by solidarist international society, which
argued that such actions are forms of protection of the values of individual freedom and
human rights.