APEC told to secure transportation systems<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Nusa Dua, Bali<\/p>\n
Visiting U.S. Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta warned on
\nTuesday that transportation networks remained the main targets of
\nterrorists and that countries had to work hard to protect them.<\/p>\n
\"Our transportation systems are a target of choice for
\nterrorists who wish to disrupt our commerce and cripple our
\nprosperity,\" Mineta was quoted as saying by The Associated Press
\nat the start of the fourth Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation
\n(APEC) transportation ministerial meeting.<\/p>\n
Held at the Westin Resort here, the three-day meeting started
\non Tuesday and will run until Thursday.<\/p>\n
During the meeting, talks are expected to focus on bolstering
\nmaritime and aviation security as well as boosting investment.<\/p>\n
\"We must use our leadership to see that APEC applies the same
\ndetermination to securing our transportation network as it has
\ndone to successfully promoting trade and investment,\" added
\nMineta.<\/p>\n
President Megawati Soekarnoputri, who opened the meeting,
\nasserted that considerations should also be made to limit the
\nimpact on economies, but without ignoring heightened security.<\/p>\n
\"The tightening of security measures at transportation means
\nhas made traveling less uncomfortable. The island of Bali and our
\npeople who make a living from tourism were the first witnesses of
\nthe negative effects of the decline in transportation
\nactivities,\" she said.<\/p>\n
Tourism in the country was shattered following the devastating
\nbomb explosions on Oct. 12, 2002 in Bali, which killed 202 people
\nand injured hundreds of others.<\/p>\n
As a result, travel warnings have been issued by Western
\ngovernments for their citizens who wish to travel to Indonesia --
\nacts that have drawn complaints by the government and business
\nplayers for scaring off visitors.<\/p>\n
Some exporters have also complained at rising costs resulting
\nfrom heightened security measures in the transportation sector.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Malaysia and Singapore vowed to continue with
\nefforts to thwart the threat of piracy and terrorism in the
\nMalacca Strait following the recent launch of coordinated patrols
\nof the two countries together with Indonesia.<\/p>\n
The vital shipping lane between peninsular Malaysia and
\nIndonesia's Sumatra island has been plagued by rampant piracy.<\/p>\n
It is also feared that terrorists could hijack any one of the
\n50,000 vessels that enter the strait every year and use it as a
\nfloating bomb to attack a port.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/apec-told-to-secure-transportation-systems-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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