ASEAN attorney generals set for cooperation<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Attorney generals from the Association of
\nSoutheast Asian Nations (ASEAN) will sign a landmark cooperation
\nagreement on crime fighting this week.<\/p>\n
Indonesia's Attorney General Singgih said on Saturday that he
\nand his five ASEAN counterparts will issue a "Jakarta Consensus"
\nduring their two-day meeting here which begins today.<\/p>\n
Singgih told reporters that ASEAN has already forged strong
\ncooperation in the economic, trade and cultural fields, but not
\nin law enforcement.<\/p>\n
The consensus calls on the attorney generals of the ASEAN
\ncountries to maintain close contacts among themselves, so that
\nthey can resolve problems and misunderstandings that could arise
\nregarding law enforcement matters.<\/p>\n
This will be the first formal meeting between ASEAN attorney
\ngenerals. Previously, their meetings were informal in nature.<\/p>\n
The consensus is scheduled to be signed at the ASEAN
\nSecretariat in Jakarta tomorrow.<\/p>\n
There have been a series of misunderstandings among ASEAN
\ncountries regarding law enforcement in each member country
\nbecause each has a different legal system. These misunderstanding
\nhave often created friction among the six member countries.<\/p>\n
One instance of friction nearly flared into a full diplomatic
\nrow in March when Singapore hanged Flor Contemplacion, a Filipina
\nmaid working in the island nation, despite last minute requests
\nfrom Manila for a stay of execution.<\/p>\n
Indonesia has also had a series of complaints against Kuala
\nLumpur over the lack of legal protection for Indonesians who were
\nprosecuted for crimes committed in Malaysia. Many of them have
\nbeen sentenced to death and executed.<\/p>\n
Singgih traveled to Kuala Lumpur last month to discuss the
\nfate of Indonesians who were jailed in Malaysia, including those
\non death row, with his Malaysian counterpart.<\/p>\n
On Saturday, Singgih declined to give full details of the
\nconsensus, but stressed that it will be binding for all members.<\/p>\n
ASEAN attorney generals "will exchange information on crimes
\nand protect their citizens abroad without in any way decreasing
\nthe sovereignty and the integrity of the laws of the other
\ncountries," he said.<\/p>\n
He was speaking after leading a ceremony to mark the 50th
\nanniversary of the Attorney General's Office.<\/p>\n
Among the VIPs attending the ceremony was Vietnam's deputy
\nattorney general Pham Sy Chien. Pham will be taking part in the
\nASEAN attorney generals meeting as an observer. Vietnam will
\nformally join the regional grouping later this month.<\/p>\n
The other ASEAN countries are sending their number one
\nprosecutors. They are Pengiran Haji Bahrin bin Haji Abas
\n(Brunei), Datuk Mochtar Abdullah (Malaysia), Raul I Goco (the
\nPhilippines), Chang Sek Keong (Singapore) and Kanit Nanakorn
\n(Thailand).<\/p>\n
The attorney generals will meet with President Soeharto on
\nMonday at the State Palace.<\/p>\n
Singgih said on Saturday that as more and more Indonesians are
\ntraveling abroad or doing business with companies abroad, some of
\nthem may encounter legal problems in the country they are
\nvisiting and in their business relations.<\/p>\n
The cooperation agreement between ASEAN attorney generals, he
\nsaid, could help avoid misunderstandings in the future. (03)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/asean-attorney-generals-set-for-cooperation-1447893297",
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