Timor-Leste ready for full ASEAN membership

Pushing for better recognition globally, Timor-Leste, which so far only has observer status, feels it is now more than ready to join ASEAN as a full-fledged member.

Having secured independence from Indonesia in 1976, the island-nation strongly believes that joining the Southeast Asian grouping, which has ambitious economic plans, will elevate its status in the global community of nations.

Vying to be part of ASEAN since 2010, the country is all geared up with the necessary infrastructure and economic development to be part of the 10 member bloc as it has been religiously participating in major ASEAN summits and meetings, annually, as an observer.

In 2002, East Timor was recognised as an observer of ASEAN and joined the ASEAN Regional Forum in 2005, which further reinforced its commitment to the grouping.

Besides, with a Gross Domestic Product of US$1.40 billion in 2014 coupled with economic progress and planning that significantly raised its regional standing, it feels full membership is timely, more so given the grouping’s prosper thy neighbour concept.

To be part of ASEAN, the nation with a young population, needed to get approval from all its member countries.

There were several member countries that objected on the grounds that East Timor is not yet developed enough to join the bandwagon.

But now, it feels otherwise.

Timor-Leste, used to be part of Indonesia and was declared Indonesia's 27th province in 1976, which after decades of long conflict between separatist groups and the Indonesian military, the latter relinquished control of the territory in 1999.

Decades after gaining independence from Indonesia, the country has been pushing for better recognition on the world map, and it believed that joining ASEAN would elevate its status.

To this end, Timor-Leste had convinced existing ASEAN member countries that it is prepared to join the grouping, while proving it has completed the obligations.

Timor Leste Former President and Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmao told Bernama that every country including those in the ASEAN group are very supportive of the country's integration regionally.

"I came here three years ago and they all said yes. Now, we are on a road map to prepare ourselves to be part of the grouping.

"We are now allowed to participate in meetings, not as a member or as an observer but in becoming a member of the ASEAN bloc," he added.

Gusmao, however, pointed out that the country is lacking in human resource and it needs to discuss the matter and solve the issue.

The country has set-up embassies in all the 10 member countries, which was one of the conditions to be formally accepted as a member.

ASEAN comprises Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

In November 2013, ASEAN Affairs Department Deputy Director U Aung Htoo said that Timor-Leste would not be ready to join in 2014 since they do not have an embassy in all 10 ASEAN member states.

That said, Timor-Leste improved its infrastructure and development to host ASEAN summits and meetings and established a diplomatic presence in all ASEAN capitals.

Its economy needs to engage with the regional economies, especially under the ASEAN Economic Community, that being said, Timor-Leste should not be left out.

While some countries have expressed doubts whether the country has the calibre to join under the ASEAN umbrella, but after accomplishing these obligations, it is a testament that the country is ready to join the region's largest economic and geo-political organisation.

Timor-Leste has done fairly well and the membership has been there for five years, and so the time has come for ASEAN members to engage with Timor-Leste.

As part of the region's community, member-states should also do more to help the country.

Remember in the early days, ASEAN had to track economic development. They had one under the ASEAN Free Trade Area, joined by more developed countries such as Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei, Thailand, Philippines.

And, they had CLMV countries comprising Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam, which were slower, in terms of growth, and were given fairly time to develop.

Likewise, under the same inspiration or same spirit, why don't the ASEAN secretariat also let Timor-Leste become a member, so it can partake in all the initiatives for economic development, geographical development and social economic development, so that it can develop faster?

Because Timor-Leste also needs transfer of technology, technological expertise, therefore becoming part of ASEAN will also accelerate its economic development.

It is time for the ASEAN secretariat to seriously admit Timor-Leste as a full member of the regional family.

To recap, in 2005, Timor-Leste said it wanted to be a member by 2010.

East Timor officially applied for membership in ASEAN on March 4, 2011. After the elections in 2012, the new government of Timor-Leste reaffirmed their commitment to join the association.