Sameera Casmod | sameerac@radioislam.co.za
12 November 2026 | 11:40 CAT
2-minute read

Civil society groups are calling for the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) to balance national sovereignty with human rights and civil society principles, particularly because its non-interference policy has failed to address the crisis in Myanmar.

During this week’s Asia Pacific Report, activist and civil society leader Raquel Castillo advised advocates to be cautious when navigating the delicate balancing act, particularly because the objectives could neutralise each other.

Castillo said civil society groups have been calling for a more people-centred approach to regional cooperation for the past two decades. She explained that ASEAN’s intergovernmental structure meant member states often pursue different priorities, particularly amid growing geopolitical tensions, leaving little space for civil society to influence policies in the region and ensure they reflect people’s needs.

“Civil society advocates must be very aware that it could be counter-posing and contradicting each other for those two objectives,” Castillo said.

The objective, Castillo noted, is to increase sovereignty and independence in ASEAN countries in a way that prioritises citizens’ best interests.

Analysts point out that this is particularly important in the context of the US-China rivalry, where a state-centric model allows ruling elites and oligarchies to align with either Washington or Beijing for regime survival rather than public welfare.

Castillo said the 1955 Bandung Conference, which brought Asian and African countries together during the Cold War, offered important lessons for regional cooperation today.

She described the gathering as an anti-colonial movement that sought to challenge the remaining structures of colonialism and advance an independent foreign policy that served developing countries and their people.

The call for increased independence is also important for Myanmar, where ASEAN’s non-interference policy has failed to address its post-2021 military crisis. While the non-interference principle was originally designed to prevent external powers from dividing and ruling the region, it also means that Myanmar’s neighbours are unable to stop the Myanmar military junta’s violent crackdown on civilians.

While people in Myanmar suffer, ASEAN remains stuck because of its rules to protect the junta’s ‘sovereignty’ over the human rights of Myanmar’s citizens, including the Rohingya.

The consequences of this continued inaction are reflected in the scale of the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Myanmar. UN reports in October indicated over 8 300 civilian deaths, 100 000 conflict casualties and 5,1 million displaced citizens since the coup. The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is set to deliver its final judgment on November 19 in the landmark genocide case brought by The Gambia.

Listen to the Asia Pacific Report with Raquel Castillo on Sabaahul Muslim, presented by Moulana Sulaimaan Ravat.