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Asean has come a long way from Lam Taen, where it was founded, to Cha-am, where it dons a new legal personality. As the 10 leaders gather today at the popular resort town, it is a solid testimony of the organisation's resilience that has helped the member countries weather the storms that stretched through the Cold War.

Throughout its existence, Asean has had to brave critics and condescending views that it is, at best, a paper-tiger organisation. The leaders talk a lot and sign a lot of agreements, but when it comes to implementing and enforcing these agreements, the alliance is still found wanting. That helps explain why Asean, as an organisation, has not developed fully or maximised its potential. Doubtless, developed countries tend to look down on Asean because it lacks clear rules of compliance. The attitude that "anything goes" used to prevail among Asean bureaucrats; they thought no country could reprimand them for any action they did or did not choose to take. It has been this kind of laissez faire that has diminished the grouping's credibility and trustworthiness.

However, with the Asean Charter coming into force on December 15, the identity of the grouping will become more recognisable. Member countries have realised that their grouping is no longer the same. As a group, they have to work harder to bring to fruition all the agreements that they have signed and committed to. It is an open secret that only about 30 per cent of the Asean agreements have been ratified. In other words, most have simply been ignored.

From now, they have to be accountable for their actions as members. Full compliance will help accelerate the economic integration of Asean and, in the process, reduce the developmental gap, which has been the main obstacle of the grouping's progress.

At the Asean foreign ministerial meeting, the issues related to human rights and political openness continued to dominate the agenda. Apparently, they discussed these sensitive issues at length, knowing full well that the outside world was watching closely. The planned establishment of an Asean human-rights body is proceeding well, despite some dissension over the mandate related to the protection of human rights.

Human-rights protection is a highly touchy issue because it deals with the internal affairs of member countries alleged to be violating such rights. Asean would want to see this body first engage in programmes and activities that increase the awareness of Asean citizens on rights-related issues, without touching any sensitive nerves that would block member countries' engagement and openness.

Civil-society organisations have been succinct in saying that the ideal human-rights body should have the authority to sanction and carry transnational investigation. After all, we live in a connected world. However, this certainly would not happen in the foreseeable future. So, members of a high-level panel will have to continue working on its terms of reference and ensure that the Asean has a human-rights body that does not turn into a sham.

Again this year, the political situation inside Burma continues to be the major crux of debates among the foreign ministers ahead of the summit. The plight of the Rohingya boat people has highlighted the need for involved countries, namely Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and Burma, to find a solution. Furthermore, Asean must ensure that Burma continues to accept international humanitarian help. Survivors of Cyclone Nargis still need assistance to build up their lives. Indeed, Burma's behaviour and its reaction under the new Asean Charter would be scrutinised. Surely, this time it would not be able to get away scot-free.

Despite the region's gloomy economic outlook, Asean countries are confident that if they stick together and help each other in an integrated way, they will come out of the crisis stronger and more cohesive. Asean has gone through several crises previously and the grouping emerges stronger every time. The alliance can learn from its mistakes and, in the process, amend itself. It is hoped that with the charter in place, the Asean countries will be more accountable for their actions. Failure to do so will attract strong peer pressure and criticism.

Besides, the charter will give Asean citizens and civil-society organisations the power to challenge authorities. This way, they can contribute to issues that their governments have left out of their deliberation.