ASEAN and terrorism<\/p>\n
ASEAN Foreign Ministers in their informal meeting last week in
\nPhuket, Thailand stressed the importance of working together to
\ncombat terrorism. Efforts to fight terrorism raise complicated
\nissues which can only be dealt with jointly.<\/p>\n
The Phuket meeting itself was specifically designed to respond
\nto strong reactions from the world community to the phenomenon of
\nregional terrorism in Southeast Asian countries. Badly needed in
\nthis regard are an awareness of, a commitment to and cooperation
\nin facing terrorism, which is sure to become a major threat to
\nstability in the future.<\/p>\n
The ASEAN governments and communities themselves actually wish
\nto crush the terrorist networks in the region. However, as ASEAN
\ncountries are not yet familiar with the culture of terrorism, it
\nis not easy for them to identify terrorists.<\/p>\n
They were taken by surprise when the international media
\nproduced ongoing reports that the Philippines, Malaysia and
\nIndonesia were part of the network of international terrorist
\norganizations.<\/p>\n
One gets the impression that the outside world knows more
\nabout terrorist movements in the region than the Southeast Asian
\nnations themselves. Singapore's Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew's
\ncontroversial statement about terrorists in Indonesia was
\nallegedly influenced by international media and intelligence
\nreports.<\/p>\n
Continuous reports on the danger of terrorism in Southeast
\nAsia are sure to tarnish the image of ASEAN countries. It is
\nfeared that tourists and investors will become reluctant to visit
\nASEAN countries. The impact of news stories at the economic level
\nis keenly felt.<\/p>\n
It is even more important, in fact, to convey the reality of
\nthe situation to all parties concerned. It is clarification that
\nis most needed and not an arbitrary or defensive attitude. In
\nthis way, the issue of terrorism in the Southeast Asian region
\nwill no longer be caught in a limbo between presumptions and
\nfacts.<\/p>\n
--Kompas, Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/asean-and-terrorism-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }