Piracy could weaken E. Asia's economic miracle<\/p>\n
KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): Rampant piracy in East Asian waters --
\noften organized by international syndicates -- could undermine
\nthe region's economic development, an expert warned on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Inter-Asian shipping is now busier than the transatlantic
\nroute, said Hiroshi Terashima, executive director of Japan's
\nNippon Foundation.<\/p>\n
\"However, the vital role played by marine transport is now
\nbeing threatened by international criminal syndicates, something
\nthat could undermine the basis for development in each country
\nand affect individual people all across Asia,\" he told an anti-
\npiracy conference.<\/p>\n
Some 40 experts from 13 countries began a two-day meeting to
\ndiscuss greater cooperation to combat piracy.<\/p>\n
The focus is on the Strait of Malacca between Malaysia and
\nIndonesia, one of the world's busiest shipping lanes with 600
\nvessels a day and also the world's most pirate-infested channel.<\/p>\n
The Kuala Lumpur-based Piracy Reporting Center has said the
\nnumber of attacks in the strait is at \"an all-time high\" this
\nyear due to political instability in Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Malaysian marine police have reported 52 actual or attempted
\nattacks in the strait in the first 10 months, up from only five
\nfor the whole of last year.<\/p>\n
The conference, which follows earlier meetings this year in
\nSingapore and Tokyo, is organized by the Malaysian government
\nwith support from the Nippon Foundation -- a non-profit group
\nwhich supports shipbuilding and funds maritime safety measures.<\/p>\n
Officials from Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia,
\nJapan, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, South Korea,
\nSingapore, Thailand and Vietnam are taking part.<\/p>\n
Debate will center on strengthening regional cooperation, the
\nfeasibility of setting up a regional focal point or intelligence
\nnetwork, and legal issues on maritime navigation.<\/p>\n
Malaysia's Deputy Home Minister Chor Chee Heung told reporters
\nhis government is committed to fighting piracy but needed help.
\n\"We require genuine cooperation with Indonesia and Singapore. We
\nneed a lot more political will from neighboring countries,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Japan's delegation chief said force alone would not end
\nattacks. \"We need a social and economic approach,\" Shogo Arai, a
\nCoast Guard commandant, told reporters on the sidelines of the
\nmeeting.<\/p>\n
Many pirates, he said, live in poor coastal villages in
\nIndonesia and face numerous social problems. Indonesia is the
\nworld's most pirate-prone nation.<\/p>\n
Abdul Rahim Hussin, director of Malaysia's Maritime Security
\nPolicy unit, agreed that economic assistance and job
\nopportunities could reduce the threat. \"If we can fill their
\nstomachs, they will not embark on piracy activities,\" he told
\nAFP.<\/p>\n
Japan, whose economic lifeline is the Malacca Strait, has
\nexpressed deep concern at mounting attacks.<\/p>\n
Arai said Japan would not mount its own patrols in the
\nwaterway but was willing to provide other assistance such as
\njoint training and exchange of intelligence.<\/p>\n
On Wednesday Malaysian marine police will hold a sea drill on
\nboard a Japanese coast guard vessel in the strait.<\/p>\n
Abdul Rahim suggested Japan pass on some of its older
\ncommunications equipment and other gear to other Asian nations to
\nstamp out piracy. \"We must not allow them to thrive. We must nip
\nthem in the bud,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The Piracy Reporting Center said in its latest report that
\npiracy worldwide is set to hit a 10-year high this year.
\nIt listed 294 actual or attempted attacks in the first nine
\nmonths compared to 300 for the whole of last year.<\/p>\n
The center, part of the International Maritime Bureau, said
\nseven areas shared more than two-thirds of the total -- Indonesia
\n(90), Bangladesh (32), the Strait of Malacca (32), India (23),
\nMalaysia (15), the Red Sea (8) and Ecuador (8).<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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