ASEAN tos cooperate against terror<\/p>\n
Agencies, Singapore<\/p>\n
Southeast Asian nations pledged to step up cooperation against
\ndrug trafficking, piracy, money laundering and terrorism on
\nThursday at a one-day gathering of regional home and interior
\nministers.<\/p>\n
The ASEAN forum -- whose members include the predominantly
\nMuslim states of Brunei, Malaysia and Indonesia -- also announced
\nplans for a special meeting to discuss terrorism.<\/p>\n
\"We strongly condemned all acts of terrorism, in particular
\nthe terrorist attacks of September 11 on the U.S.,\" the ministers
\nsaid in a communique at the end of the 3rd ASEAN Ministerial
\nMeeting on Transnational Crime in Singapore.<\/p>\n
\"We acknowledged that transnational crime continues to
\nseriously threaten the socio-economic and moral fabric of all
\ncountries. We reiterated our deep concern that transnational
\ncrime is becoming more organized, diversified and pervasive,\" the
\ncommunique stated.<\/p>\n
\"We agreed to work closely with the international community to
\nstrengthen cooperation in preventing and combating terrorism. We
\nare committed to enhancing cooperation among our law enforcement
\nagencies to combat terrorism.\"<\/p>\n
Singapore Deputy Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in his keynote
\naddress said the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the United States
\n\"have added a new dimension to transnational crime.\"<\/p>\n
In the communique, the ministers condemned \"all acts of
\nterrorism\" and in particular the terror attacks in New York and
\nWashington which they noted killed not only Americans but also
\npeople of various nationalities.<\/p>\n
However, the statement was silent on the ongoing U.S.-led
\nbombardment of suspected terrorist targets in Afghanistan, which
\nhave admitted sheltering as a \"guest\" Osama bin Laden, believed
\nto have masterminded the suicide attacks in the U.S.<\/p>\n
Analysts said differences in the 10-member regional block have
\nbeen hampering efforts to forge a common stand in support of the
\nU.S.-led war against terrorism.<\/p>\n
Officials in the Philippines have already said that efforts by
\nPresident Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to have next month's ASEAN
\nleaders summit in Brunei issue a strong statement on terrorism
\nwould probably be abandoned because of conflicting views among
\nmembers.<\/p>\n
Singapore and the Philippines have given their full support to
\nthe missile and bombing strikes on Afghanistan. But Prime
\nMinister Mahathir Mohamad of Malaysia -- another ASEAN member --
\nhas unequivocally opposed the U.S.-led action.<\/p>\n
In Indonesia, another ASEAN member and the world's largest
\nMuslim nation, there have been violent anti-US protests against
\nthe military strikes.<\/p>\n
Next month's ASEAN summit will be held in Brunei another
\nstaunch Muslim nation. ASEAN also includes Cambodia, Laos,
\nMyanmar, Thailand and Vietnam.<\/p>",
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