THIMUN Singapore X 2015
Advisory Panel on the
Question of the
Association of South
East Asian Nations
PARTICIPANT GUIDE
THIMUN 2015
APQASEAN Participant Guide | Page 1 of 9
THIMUN Singapore X 2015
PRESIDENT
Advisory Panel
Sanjana Sivakumar
DEPUTY PRESIDENT
Advisory Panel
Chea-Mun Tan
DEPUTY PRESIDENT
Advisory Panel
Kaushal Alate
ADVISOR
Advisory Panel
Alain MEIDINGER
ADVISOR
Advisory Panel
Fokke de JONG
ADVISOR
Advisory Panel
Irène CRÉPIN
The Guide for Panelists
Agenda of the Week
Issues
List of Panelists
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THIMUN Singapore X 2015
Advisory Panel on the Question
of the Association of South East
Asian Nations
THIMUN Singapore XI
November 17th – November 20th, 2015
Singapore, Singapore
Student Officers: Sanjana Sivakumar, Chea-Mun Tan, Kaushal Alate
Advisors: Alain Meidinger, Fokke de Jong, Irène Crépin
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THIMUN Singapore X 2015
Advisory Panel on the Question of the
Association of South East Asian Nations
THIMUN Singapore XI
November 16th – November 20th , 2015
The Guide for Panelists (or Panelists)
National/Opening Statements
Duration: 2-3 minutes

All Panelists deliver their national/opening statements on either the briefing day or the first day of the
conference.

National/Opening statements should address points including:
-
The stance of the delegation on each of the issues,
-
The background of the panelist’s delegation,
-
The importance of the representation of the panelist’s delegation in the APQASEAN.
Lobbying
Duration: First Round, 6 hours; Second Round, 2 hours; Third Round, 1 hour.

Prior to lobbying, the president presents a draft joint communiqué, which is to be modified by the panelists.

The draft joint communiqué will include a concise preambulatory section, and several operative clauses
(grouped under four headings) that serve as the basis of discussion for the forum.

The goal of lobbying is to “reach a consensus on a set of clauses as a forum”.

Since the aim of the APQASEAN is to adopt a joint communiqué by consensus, effective lobbying is
crucial.
Procedures for Lobbying:

Although the debate on the joint communiqué proceeds issue by issue, panelists lobby on the joint
communiqué as a whole. Accordingly, clauses on any issue can be submitted during lobbying.

There will be three rounds of talks on the communiqué as a whole. Every round will consist of a lobbying
and plenary session. After each plenary session, further lobbying time will be allowed to enable parties to
reach consensus.

Panelists merge clauses in small groups, but there are no “merging groups” that may potentially oppose
one another during debate; hence, there is no “co-submitter signature form.” However, the formation of
informal sub-groups consisting of states with similar views to accelerate the process of lobbying is
encouraged.

There is no “main-submitter” in the APQASEAN. However, there is a “submitter of a clause,” who is the
panelist submitting the clause to the Presidency.

The “submitter of a clause” is the first speaker during the debate of the particular clause during sessions.

Panelists do not go through the Approval Panel, but submit the clauses directly to the Chairs. The Chairs
approve the clauses after checking for grammar mistakes, formatting errors and plagiarism. Panelists’
clauses must receive a Chair’s approval in order for them to be debated during sessions.
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THIMUN Singapore X 2015

Chairs may grant lobbying time before the Plenary Session on the entire recommendation if it is necessary.
NOTE:
-
Before coming to the conference, Panelists prepare a number of clauses. These clauses then get
merged and debated into a recommendation.
-
Panelists are encouraged to actively lobby and merge their clauses with other Panelists
-
Operative verbs that a panelist can use (bolded) and cannot use (italicized) are as follows:
Accepts
Advises
Affirms
Approves
Asks
Authorizes
Calls for
Calls upon
Congratulates
Confirms
Declares accordingly
Deplores
Designates
Encourages
Endorses
Expresses its satisfaction
Expresses its hope
Further recommends
Hopes
Invites
Proclaims
Proposes
Recommends
Regrets
Requests
Resolves
Seeks
Strongly affirms
Strongly urges
Suggests
Supports
Trusts
Transmits
Urges
Joint communiqué

A joint communiqué is the final document produced by the APQASEAN, which is presented to the Security
Council and the Secretary General as an advisory declaration outlining the shared perspectives and
methods of the APQASEAN members for combating issues in the Asia Pacific region.

The aim of the APQASEAN is to adopt a joint communiqué by consensus.

The APQASEAN produces only one final joint communiqué by the end of the conference, which consists
of a preamble, operative clauses grouped under four headings (one for each issue) and a closing section
about the future of the APQASEAN that serves as the basis of the next meeting. Complete sentences may
be used in the communiqué text.

Once a final joint communiqué is produced through debates, the “main-proposes/spokesman of a
proposal” is selected through nominations from the house, who presents the entire joint communiqué to
the APQASEAN during the final session for its adoption.

The Chairs are responsible for editing the final draft of the joint communiqué in such a fashion that it is
presentable for the THIMUN Singapore Reports Book.
Rules of Procedure
Plenary Sessions
Duration

First Round, 7.5 hours; Second Round, 2.5 hours; Third Round, 1 hour.
Procedures for Debate

Debate is conducted in clause-by-clause format and in a closed debate format.

After taking the floor, a speaker must choose among:

Yielding the floor back to the chair,

Yielding the floor to another panelist,

Answering points of information from the House.
NOTE:


This means that Panelists are not allowed to yield the floor to another panelist after having
answered points of information from the House.
Follow-ups are allowed in the APQASEAN, but they are to be granted at the Chairs’ discretion.
Procedures for Amendments:
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THIMUN Singapore X 2015

Amendments are conducted in a closed debate format.

The Panelists may submit new clauses as amendments after all clauses submitted during lobbying are
debated.

When an amendment fails, the submitter does not retain the floor.

The APQASEAN adopts amendments by consensus. Voting procedures for amendments is the same with
that of clauses. The only exception is that panelists may not abstain when voting on an amendment; they
must either vote for or against. See “Procedures for Voting.”
Procedures for Voting:

When voting on clauses, Panelists may vote for, against or abstain; no panelist holds the veto power.

The APQASEAN adopts clauses by consensus. If a panelist is going to vote against or abstain, the panelist
must object to moving into the voting procedures.

If a panelist votes against or abstains, the clause under consideration will be tabled by the chair. Panelists
may move a motion to reconsider a tabled clause at any point in the debate. Panelists may withdraw
clauses at any time except during voting procedures.

Prior to voting procedures, the chairs may declare that the clause under consideration may be adopted
with simple majority if they see this to be essential for the debate.
NOTE: Voting procedures for motions follow the rules outlined in the THIMUN Rules of Procedure.
Miscellaneous
Note-passing

Note passing between Panelists is allowed during the group and plenary sessions.

Note passing is done through a member of administrative staff; all notes from panelists are screened.
However, notes from/to the Chairs will not be screened.

The Chairs may suspend note passing if they feel that it detracts from debate.

Note passing is also suspended during any form of voting.
Other

Mobile phones must be switched off during sessions.

Active Laptops are permitted during debate. However, the administrative staff will be screening laptop
screen to ensure Panelists remain focused.

Singing, informal jokes, clowning, knocking on tables, interrupting speakers etc. are out of order.

Eating and drinking during debate is out of order. Water is an exception.
Dress Code:

All male Panelists should wear their ties and blazers at all times; female Panelists may use their discretion
to dress appropriately, formally and professionally.
Plagiarism:

Chairs check clauses for plagiarism after they have been submitted. The restatement and/or copying of
previous MUN and UN resolutions are considered plagiarism. Operative clauses found to be plagiarized
will not be debated.
Agenda of the Week
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THIMUN Singapore X 2015
Day 1
Tuesday,
2015
November
17th 09:00-11:00
11:00-Lunch
13:00-14:00
Lunch-16:00
16:00-17:00
Reading of the Letter from the Secretary General
Begin preliminary meeting:
- Purpose of APQASEAN
- Rules of procedure
- Agenda of the week
- Dress code and rules
- Opening speeches
First Round of Lobbying on the joint communiqué as a whole
Lunch Available (time to be confirmed)
First Round of Lobbying on the joint communiqué as a whole
Official Opening Ceremony
Day 2
Wednesday, November 18th 09:00-11:00
2015
11:00-Lunch
First Round of Debating on “Question of the One Market Economy
(the ASEAN Integration 2015)”
First Round of Debating on “Question of the choice between the
Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and the
Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) ”
13:00-14:00
Lunch Available (time to be confirmed)
First Round of Debating on “Question of reducing domestic
(social, political) tensions within the ASEAN countries”
Lunch-15:30
15:30-17:00
First Round of Debating on “Question of sovereignty of the islands
in the South China Sea”
19th 09:00-10:30
10:30-12:00
Second Round of Lobbying on the joint communiqué as a whole
Second Round of Debating on “Question of the One Market
Economy (the ASEAN Integration 2015)”
Second Round of Debating on “Question of the choice between
the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and
the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP)”
Day 3
Thursday,
2015
November
12:00-13:00
13:00-14:00
Lunch Available
14:00-14:30
Resume Second Round of Debating on “Question of the choice
between the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership
(RCEP) and the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP)”
Second Round of Debating on “Question of the choice between
the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and
the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP)”
Second Round of Debating on “Question of sovereignty of the
islands in the South China Sea”
14:30-15:45
15:45-17:00
Day 4
Friday, November 21st 2015
09:00-10:30
10:30-11:00
11:00-12:00
Third Round of Debating on the joint communiqué as a whole
Indoor Recess
Third Round of Debating on the joint communiqué as a whole
12:00-13:00
13:00-16:00
16:30-
Lunch Available (time to be confirmed)
Presentation of the Recommendation to the Security Council
Closing Ceremonies
Schedule may be subjected to change without prior notice.
Issues
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THIMUN Singapore X 2015




Question of the One Market Economy (the ASEAN Integration 2015)
Question of the choice between the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP)
and the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP)
Question of reducing domestic (social, political) tensions within the ASEAN countries
Question of sovereignty of the islands in the South China Sea
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THIMUN Singapore X 2015
List of Panelists
BRUNEI
Wilson LI
International School of Beijing
CAMBODIA
Samuel NG JIAN XUAN
Mont'Kiara International School
CHINA
Jungeun "Jessica" YEO
Taipei American School
ESCAP
Thung Xuan LIM
Australian International School
INDONESIA
Dashveen JOSE
Australian International School
LAO PDR
Maresiy IVANSHCHENKO
Australian International School
MALAYSIA
Sarah HUANG
Taipei American School
MYANMAR
Niralee SHAH
Taipei American School
PHILIPPINES
Kenny Lee WEN XUAN
Australian International School
SINGAPORE
Saumitra TRIPATHI
Jerudong International School
THAILAND
Jose Andres RUIZ
Australian International School
UNITED STATES
Han Sung LIM
Hankuk Academy of Foreign Studies
VIETNAM
Steven TSAY
Pacific American School
WORLD BANK
Madeleine TEH
British School Manila
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