The world was appalled at the violence surrounding the military coup in Myanmar that took place on February 1, right after the national election. The army has taken full control of the nation, claiming that Aung San Suu Kyi and her party, National League for Democracy (NLD), have rigged the election for their victory. Suu Kyi has been detained and the coup protesters ruthlessly killed. Amid the disturbing terror in Myanmar, the international community is calling for the swift intervention of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), a regional organization that Myanmar is part of. To the world’s dismay, ASEAN surprisingly refused, stating that such intervention goes against its long-held principle of non-interference in its member states’ affairs.

Since its foundation in 1967, ASEAN has been considered one of the most prominent and prosperous international organizations. It has met its original foundation purpose of being a trusted shelter for member states and an efficient institution to gather support on international agendas when needed. The “ASEAN-Only” principle—always prioritizing the organization’s goals over other values— has been deemed the key to this successfully functional organization and its principle of non-interference has been at its core. Originally implemented as a means of retaining democratic order among the member states, the principle is now under attack from the outside world. The dissent is on the grounds that it stops the organization from interfering when doing so is required for the sake of preserving dignity and human rights in Myanmar.

ASEAN has been strongly requested to make an exception to its principle in this current Myanmar case. However, it must be noted that every principle has its reason for existence. ASEAN is not an exception; the principle is more than a mere tradition that has been kept for no reason. ASEAN well perceives the geopolitical threats lurking around the member states to dismantle the order by causing friction from within. In its protection of internal integrity, its principle of non-interference has played a key role by assuring each member state that its government will have full sovereignty inside the organization. An exception has never been made to the policy yet, and the democratic order within the member states has been well maintained and no state has derailed from the ASEAN’s central goal towards prosperity.

When a principle needs to be breached, the situation requires that bending the principle is the final option. However, in the case of Myanmar, there remains the possibility of “enhanced interaction” that enables the ASEAN body to alleviate tension not by enforcing the solutions and the interventions on Myanmar but by making a few suggestions on easing domestic conflict.

It is very distressing to witness the brutality towards the civilians in Myanmar, yet it is in the best interests of ASEAN and their member states’ affluence not to interfere. One exception can cause a breach in the entire system that it has so enduringly cherished for more than half a century. When one exception is acquiesced without rationally weighing out the costs and benefits, it does not take long until another exception is made. The absoluteness of the regulations is what seems to have put together all the divergent member states and induced them to move towards the road of economic development. Now, the eyes of the whole world are upon ASEAN on its ability to cope with a crisis this grave while staying true to itself.