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MALAYSIA :
SINGAPORE :
BRUNEI :
INDONESIA :
PHILLIPINES :
MYANMAR :
LAOS :
THAILAND :
CAMBODIA :
VIETNAM :
Vietnam -
The five points of the star stand for the farmers, workers, intellectuals, youth and soldiers .
Thailand -
Central blue stripe represents the monarchy
The two white stripes are the Therevada Buddhist religion
The outer red stripes represent the land or the nation.
Singapore -
Red for brotherhood and equality
White for purity and virtue
The moon signified a young nation rising
Five stars stand for Singapore's ideals of democracy, peace, progress, justice and equality.
Phillipines -
Blue representing peace and justice
Red stripe represents courage and bravery
A white equilateral triangle based on the hoist side represents equality
The center of the triangle displays a yellow sun with eight primary rays, each representing one of the first eight provinces that sought independence from Spain;
Small, yellow, five-pointed star representing the three major geographical divisions of the country: Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao
Myanmar -
Red signifies courage and decisiveness
White signifies purity and virtue
Dark blue signifies peace and integrity
The fourteen stars are for 14 states
The cog wheel and rice are for industry and agriculture
Malaysia -
The 14 stripes on the Malaysian flag represent the 14 states of Malaysia that are Perlis, Kedah, Perak, Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang, Johore, Malacca, Negeri Sembilan, Selangor, Penang, Sabah, Sarawak and the Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur and Labuan.
The red and white stripes stand for equal status in the federation of the member states and the federal government.
The union or canton of dark blue represents the unity of the peoples of Malaysia.
The union contains the crescent that is the symbol of Islam, which are the official religion and the star, the 14 points of which symbolize the unity of the 13 states of the federation with the federal government.
The yellow is the colors of Their Highnesses the Rulers of the Malay States.
Laos -
Red: the blood shed in the fight for freedom
Blue: wealth
White: represents the full moon over the Mekong River as well as unity under the communist government
Indonesia -
Red represents the human blood, standing for the corporeal or concrete
White represents the spiritual.
Together they are a pair, like the life on earth: day and night; man and wife; creation and individual.
Cambodia -
The Blue, surrounding the whole, symbolizing the Royalty.
The Red, the Nation
The White, the Religion
The central emblem represents the towers of Angkor Wat - Angkor being the only popular pronunciation of Norkor, Wat signifying Temple - seen from the front view
Brunei -
Bendera: the flag
Payung Ubor-Ubor: the Royal Umbrella
The Bendera and Payung Ubor-Ubor have been Royal regalia's since the creation of the crest.
Sayap: the wing of four feathers
Symbolizes the protection of justice, tranquility, prosperity and peace.
Tangan or Kimhap: the hand
Signifies the Government's pledge to promote welfare, peace and prosperity.
Bulan: the crescent
The symbol of Islam, the national religion of Brunei Darussalam. The characters inscribed on the crescent (...) in yellow Arabic script is the state motto, which can be roughly translated: "Always Render Service with God's Guidance".(...)
The scroll beneath the crest reads "Brunei Darussalam" which means "Brunei, the abode of peace
BRUNEI DARUSSALAM
Name: Brunei Darussalam
Head of State : His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah
Independence Day : January 1, 1984
Head of Government :Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah
Capital : Bandar Seri Begawan
Land area : 5,765 sq. km
Population : 370.1 thousand (2005)
Language(s) : Malay (official), English, Chinese
Type of Government : Constitutional Sultanate
Natural Resource : Petroleum, natural gas & timber
Religion : Muslim (official) - 67%, Buddhist - 13%, Christian - 10%, Others - 10%
GDP : (PPP) 2005 estimate - Total $9.009 billion (138th
GNP : US$7.75bn. 2005 estimateTotal$9.009 billionPer capita$24,826
Major import :machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, food, chemicals
Major export : crude oil, natural gas, refined products, clothing
Trade partners:
Import partners :Singapore 30.7%, Malaysia 18.4%, UK 7.8%, Japan 5.4%, China 5.3%, Thailand 4.4%, South Korea 4.1%
Export Partners :Japan 31.2%, Indonesia 20.3%, South Korea 13.3%, Australia 11.7%, US 7.9%
MALAYSIA
Name: Malaysia
Head of State : DYMM Al Wathiqu Billah Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin Ibni Almarhum Al-Sultan Mahmud Al-Muktafi Billah Shah
Independence Day : 31st August 1957
Head of Government : Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi
Capital : Kuala-Lumpur
Land area : 330,257 sq. km
Population : 26,127.7 thousand
Language(s) : Melayu, English, Chinese, Tamil
Type of Government : Parliamentary Democracy / Constitutional Monarchy
Religion : Islam (Official),Muslim 60.4%, Buddhist 19.2%, Christian 9.1%, Hindu 6.3%, Confucianism, Taoism, other traditional Chinese religions 2.6%, other or unknown 1.5%, none 0.8%
Natural Resource : Tin, Petroleum, Timber, Copper, Iron Ore, Natural Gas, Bauxite
GDP : 30%,$103.737 million
GNP :
Major import : Electronic equipment, petroleum and liquefied natural gas, wood and wood products, palm oil, rubber, textiles, chemicals.
Major export : Electronics, machinery, petroleum products, plastics, vehicles, iron and steel products, chemicals
Trade partners:
Export partners: US 18.8%, Singapore 15.4%, Japan 8.9%, China 7.2%, Thailand 5.3%, Hong Kong 4.9%
Import partners: Japan 13.3%, US 12.6%, China 12.2%, Singapore 11.7%, Thailand 5.5%, Taiwan 5.5%, South Korea 5.4%, Germany 4.4%
INDONESIA
Name: Republic of Indonesia
Head of State : President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (since 20 October 2004)
Independence Day : 17th August 1945
Head of Government : President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono
Capital : Jakarta
Land area : 1,890,754 sq. km
Population : 219,205.0 thousand
Language(s) : Bahasa Indonesia (Official), English, Dutch, Local Dialects (i.e Javanese)
Type of Government : Republic System
Religion : Muslim
Natural Resource : Petroleum, Tin, Natural Gas, Nickle, Timber, Bauxite, Copper, Fertile soils, Gold, Silver
GDP :5.5%,$208.625 million
GNP :
Major import :machinery and equipment, chemicals, fuels, foodstuffs
Major export :oil and gas, electrical appliances, plywood, textiles, rubber
Trade partners:
Import partners :Singapore 30.3%, China 11.5%, Japan 9%, Malaysia 5%, Thailand 4.1%, Australia 4% (2006)
Export Partners : Japan 19.3%, Singapore 11.8%, US 11.5%, South Korea 7.8%, China 7.7%
THAILAND
Name: Kingdom of Thailand
Head of State : His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej
Independence Day : 1238 (traditional founding date; never colonized)
Head of Government : Prime Minister General Surayud Chulanont (Ret.)
Capital : Bangkok
Land area : 513,254 sq. km
Population : 64,763.0 thousands
Language(s) : Thai, English (secondary language for the elite), ethnic and regional dialects
Type of Government : Constitutional monarchy
Religion : Buddhist - 94.6%, Muslim - 4.6%, Christian - 0.7%, Other - 0.1%
Natural Resource : Rice, Mines, Textile,Tin, Rubber, Natural Gas, Tungsten, Tantalum, Lead, Timber, Fish, Gypsum, Lignite, Fluorite
GDP :2006 estimate-Total$585.9 billion (21st)-Per capita:$9,100 (69th)
GNP :
Major import :capital goods, intermediate goods and raw materials, consumer goods, fuels
Major export :textiles and footwear, fishery products, rice, rubber, jewelry, automobiles, computers and electrical appliances
Trade partners:
Import partners :Japan 20.1%, China 10.6%, US 6.7%, Malaysia 6.6%, UAE 5.6%, Singapore 4.5%
Export Partners : US 15%, Japan 12.7%, China 9%, Singapore 6.4%, Hong Kong 5.5%, Malaysia 5.1% (2006)
SINGAPORE
Name: Republic of Singapore
Head of State : President S R Nathan
Independence Day : 9 August 1965
Head of Government : Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong
Capital : Singapore
Land area : 697 sq.km
Population : 4.198 million (2004)
Language(s) : : Mandarin 35%, English 23%, Malay 14.1%, Hokkien 11.4%, Cantonese 5.7%, Teochew 4.9%, Tamil 3.2%, other Chinese dialects 1.8%, other 0.9%
Type of Government : Parliamentary republic
Religion : Buddhist 42.5%, Muslim 14.9%, Taoist 8.5%, Hindu 4%, Catholic 4.8%, other Christian 9.8%, other 0.7%, none 14.8%
Natural Resource : Industrial products,Fish, Deep Water Ports
GDP :2006 estimateTotal$145.183 billion (54th)-Per capita$32,866.67
GNP :
Major import : Machinery and equipment, mineral fuels, chemicals, foodstuffs
Major export : Machinery and equipment (including electronics), consumer goods, chemicals, mineral fuels
Trade partners:
Export partners: Malaysia 13.1%, US 10.2%, Hong Kong 10.1%, China 9.7%, Indonesia 9.2%, Japan 5.5%, Thailand 4.2%
Import partners: Malaysia 13%, US 12.7%, China 11.4%, Japan 8.3%, Taiwan 6.4%, Indonesia 6.2%, South Korea 4.4%
VIETNAM
Name: Socialist Republic of Vietnam
Capital: Hanoi
Independence Date: 2 September 1945
Type of Government: Communist state
Head of State: President Nguyen Minh TRIET
Head of Government: Prime Minister Nguyen Tan DUNG
Size of Country: 329,560 sq km
Current population: 85,262,356
Language: Vietnamese (official), English (increasingly favored as a second language), some French, Chinese, and Khmer; mountain area languages (Mon-Khmer and Malayo-Polynesian)
Religion: Buddhist 9.3%, Catholic 6.7%, Hoa Hao 1.5%, Cao Dai 1.1%, Protestant 0.5%, Muslim 0.1%, none 80.8%
Natural Resources: Phosphates, coal, manganese, bauxite, chromate, offshore oil and gas deposits, forests, hydropower
GDP: $39.021 million
GNP:
Major export: Crude oil, marine products, rice, coffee, rubber, tea, garments, shoes
Major Import: Machinery and equipment, petroleum products, fertilizer, steel products, raw cotton, grain, cement, motorcycles
Export partners: US 20.7%, Japan 12%, Australia 9.2%, China 5.6%, Germany 4.4%
Import partners: China 17.2%, Singapore 12.6%, Taiwan 11.2%, Japan 9.5%, South Korea 9.3%, Thailand 7.1%, Malaysia 4%
MYANMAR
Name: Myanmar
Capital: Rangoon (Yangon)
Independence Date: 4 January 1948
Type of Government: Military junta
Head of State: Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) Sr. Gen. THAN SHWE
Head of Government: Acting Prime Minister, Gen THEIN SEIN
Size of Country: 678,500 sq km
Current population: 47,373,958
Language: Burmese, minority ethnic groups have their own languages.
Religion: Buddhist 89%, Christian 4% (Baptist 3%, Roman Catholic 1%), Muslim 4%, animist 1%, other 2%
Natural Resources: Petroleum, timber, tin, antimony, zinc, copper, tungsten, lead, coal, some marble, limestone, precious stones, natural gas, hydropower
GDP: $9.605 million
GNP:
Major export: Gas, wood products, pulses, beans, fish, rice, clothing, jade and gems
Major Import: Fabric, petroleum products, fertilizer, plastics, machinery, transport equipment; cement, construction materials, crude oil; food products, edible oil
Export partners: Thailand 48.4%, India 12.6%, China 5.2%, Japan 5.1%
Import partners: China 33.6%, Thailand 21.2%, Singapore 15.7%, Malaysia 4.6%, South Korea 4.1%
CAMBODIA
Name: Kingdom of Cambodia
Capital: Phnom Penh
Independence Date: 9 November 1953
Type of Government: Multiparty democracy under a constitutional monarchy
Head of State: King Norodom SIHAMONI
Head of Government: Prime Minister HUN SEN
Size of Country: 181,040 sq km
Current population: 13,995,904
Language: Khmer (official) 95%, French, English
Religion: Theravada Buddhist 95%, other 5%
Natural Resources: Oil and gas, timber, gemstones, some iron ore, manganese, phosphates, hydropower potential
GDP: $4.215 million
GNP:
Major export: Clothing, timber, rubber, rice, fish, tobacco, footwear
Major Import: Petroleum products, cigarettes, gold, construction materials, machinery, motor vehicles, pharmaceutical products
Export partners: US 63%, Germany 10%, UK 4.6%
Import partners: Thailand 32.3%, China 18%, Hong Kong 14.3%, Singapore 11.8%
LAOS
Name: Lao People's Democratic Republic (Laos)
Capital: Vientiane
Independence Date: 19 July 1949
Type of Government: Communist state
Head of State: President Lt. Gen. CHOUMMALI Saignason
Head of Government: Prime Minister BOUASONE Bouphavanh
Size of Country: 236,800 sq km
Current population: 6,521,998
Language: Lao (official), French, English, and various ethnic languages
Religion: Buddhist 65%, Animist 32.9%, Christian 1.3%, other and unspecified 0.8%
Natural Resources: Timber, hydropower, gypsum, tin, gold, gemstones
GDP: $12.043 million
GNP:
Major export: Garments, wood products, coffee, electricity, tin
Major Import: Machinery and equipment, vehicles, fuel, consumer goods
Export partners: Thailand 42.4%, Vietnam 10%, China 4.2%, Malaysia 4.2%
Import partners: Thailand 69%, China 11.4%, Vietnam 5.6%
PHILIPPINES
Head of State : Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
Independence Day : 12 JuneJune 12, 1898
Head of Government : Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
Capital : Manila
Land area : 300 000 km² 115,831 sq mi
Population : 88,706,3002
Language(s) : Filipino (Official based on Tagalog) and English (Official)
Type of Government : Republic System
Religion : Roman Catholic - 80.9%, Muslim - 5%, Evangelical - 2.8%, Iglesia ni Kristo - 2.3%, Hiligaynon Aglipayan - 7.5%, Bikol - 6%, Waray - 3.4%, Others 25.3%
Natural Resource :Timber, Petroleum, Nickle, Cobalt, Silver, Gold, Salt, Copper
GDP : 2006 estimate-Total$508 billion-Per capita$5,714
GNP :
Major import : electronic products, mineral fuels, machinery and transport equipment, iron and steel, textile fabrics, grains, chemicals, plastic
Major export :semiconductors and electronic products, transport equipment, garments, copper products, petroleum products, coconut oil, fruits
Trade partners:
Import partners :Japan 15.9%, US 13.7%, China 10.1%, Singapore 8.9%, Taiwan 7.2%, Saudi Arabia 4.8%, South Korea 4.7%, Hong Kong 4.6%, Thailand 4.6%
Export Partners : China 24.5%, US 15.2%, Japan 12.2%, Singapore 8.3%, Hong Kong 7.6%, Malaysia 4.4%, Netherlands 4%
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is now suffering to the matters pertaining to Myanmar issues. This is because, the state is now still been controlled by junta, led by Military General. There are many wars and conflicts created by the authocratic rulers who hold the position not because they are elected by the people but through coercive power. the citizens nowadays live under poverty, lack of life facilities and fear of death. Basically, the rules that ASEAN will follow the democratic peace is not fully implemented. That's why, many bloc around the world neglected the idea to have strong cooperation with ASEAN.
To me, ASEAN need to create a Charter quickly, so that each members are bound to follow it and if they refuse, they can be judge under the International Law like UN has examplified.
Clearly to me, ASEAN is an important entity to this region and its establishment vividly give benefits to its members. That's why, the disputes on this issues should be comprehended quickly or else its objectives will come to a dead end.
ASEAN was preceded by an organization called the Association of Southeast Asia (ASA), an alliance consisting of the Philippines, Malaysia, and Thailand that was formed in 1961.
The bloc itself, however, was established on August 8, 1967, when foreign ministers of five countries—Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand—met at the Thai Department of Foreign Affairs building in Bangkok and signed the ASEAN Declaration, more commonly known as the Bangkok Declaration. The five foreign ministers—Adam Malik of Indonesia, Narciso R. Ramos of the Philippines, Tun Abdul Razak of Malaysia, S. Rajaratnam of Singapore, and Thanat Khoman of Thailand—are considered as the organization's Founding Fathers.In the 1970s, the organization embarked on a program of economic cooperation, following the Bali Summit of 1976. This floundered in the mid-1980s and was only revived around 1991 due to a Thai proposal for a regional free trade area. The bloc then grew when Brunei Darussalam became the sixth member after it joined on January 8, 1984, barely a week after the country became independent on January 1.
During the 1990s, the bloc experienced an increase in both membership as well as in the drive for further integration. In 1990, Malaysia proposed the creation of an East Asia Economic Caucus composing the then-members of ASEAN as well as the People's Republic of China, Japan, and South Korea, with the intention of counterbalancing the growing influence of the United States in the APEC as well as in the Asian region as a whole.This proposal, however, failed since it faced heavy opposition from Japan and the United States.
Despite this failure, member states continued to work for further integration. In 1992, the Common Effective Preferential Tariff (CEPT) scheme was signed as a schedule for phasing tarrifs and as a goal to increase the region’s competitive advantage as a production base geared for the world market. This law would act as the framework for the ASEAN Free Trade Area.
On July 28, 1995, Vietnam became the seventh member, Laos and Myanmar joined two years later in July 23, 1997. Cambodia was to have joined together with Laos and Myanmar, but was deferred due to the country's internal political struggle. The country later joined on April 30, 1999, following the stabilization of its government. This allowed the bloc to include all countries within Southeast Asia.
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations, commonly referred to as ASEAN, is a geo-political and economic organization of 10 countries located in Southeast Asia, which was formed on August 8, 1967 by Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand as a display of solidarity against communist expansion in Vietnam and insurgency within their own borders. Since then the role of the organization has changed drastically, and today Vietnam itself is a member, its aims include the acceleration of economic growth, social progress, cultural development among its members, and the promotion of regional peace.
ASEAN MAP & FLAG :
