Political and Security Trends in the Asean States

E ach state in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has been experiencing a reasonable period of peace and stability since the last major political crisis in its history. The states of ASEAN-Brunei since the rebellion of December 1962, Singapore since its separation from Malaysia in August 1965, Indonesia since the Indonesian Communist Party's abortive coup in September of the same year, the Philippines since the declaration of martial law in September 1972, and Thailand since the military coup of October 1976-have not encountered any serious threat to their peace and stability. However, there were various political incidents that caused tension in the states. But none of them (except for those in the Philippines) had any drastic impact on the peace and stability of the state concerned in terms of effecting a change in either the power structure or the character of the political system. The governing parties in the ASEAN states have been in power for many years and-with the exception of President Marcos and the Kilusang Bagong Lipunan (KBL), or New Society Party, in the Philippines-they are likely to have the popular support and authority to continue in power. In Brunei the young ruler, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, the twenty-ninth ruler of the royal line, will reign for many more years. After that he is likely to be succeeded by another royal member of the Islamic sultanate. President Suharto of Indonesia and General Prem Tinsulanonda of Thailand are firmly in control, and both will eventually hand over leadership to the foremost army general in their respective countries. In Malaysia and Singapore, Prime Ministers (Dr.) Mahathir Mohamad of Malaysia and Lee Kuan Yew

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