RI seeks united ASEAN action against terrorism<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia called on fellow members of the
\nAssociation of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on Tuesday to join
\nhands in fighting international terrorism.<\/p>\n
Speaking to reporters on her flight home from a whirlwind tour
\nof nine ASEAN capitals, Megawati said the region should forge
\ncooperation on ways to handle the threats of terrorism and
\nillegal arms trade across the region.<\/p>\n
\"We need to prevent the spread of terrorism,\" she said in a
\nmedia briefing on board a Garuda plane from Kuala Lumpur.<\/p>\n
She emphasized the need for all top intelligence officers of
\nthe 10 ASEAN governments to meet before the ASEAN leaders held
\ntheir summit in Bandar Sri Begawan in November.<\/p>\n
Megawati discussed the threat of international terrorism with
\nseveral leaders during her tour of ASEAN capitals.<\/p>\n
The head of Indonesia's National Intelligence Agency (BIN),
\nA.M. Hendropriyono, admitted last week that Indonesia had become
\nvulnerable to the activities of international terrorist groups,
\nalthough he did not name any particular organization.<\/p>\n
Hendropriyono said given that such organizations usually
\nworked with local groups, the government's counter-terrorist
\noperations should aim at these local terrorist organizations.<\/p>\n
The governments of the United States, Britain and Australia in
\ntheir travel warnings have cautioned their citizens living in or
\nvisiting Indonesia of the possibility of them being targeted by
\ninternational terrorist organizations.<\/p>\n
The Malaysian Police this month arrested one of its citizens
\nin Kuala Lumpur on accusations that he planted the explosives
\nthat went off at Atrium Plaza, a busy shopping mall in Central
\nJakarta on Aug. 1.<\/p>\n
Six people were injured in the blast, including the man who
\nwas later arrested by the Malaysian authorities on his return.
\nThe authorities said the suspect was a member of the Malaysian
\nMujahidin Group, a radical Muslim group.<\/p>\n
Visiting British Foreign Minister Ben Bradshaw meanwhile said
\nthe travel warning, which remains in force, was not intended to
\ndiscourage Britons, including investors, from coming to
\nIndonesia.<\/p>\n
\"We are not advising anyone against travel to Indonesia. We
\nare simply advising our citizens to be on guard as they go about
\ntheir business and travel,\" he told a media briefing held at the
\nBritish Council.<\/p>\n
Bradshaw, who ended his three-day visit on Tuesday and was
\nheading for East Timor, defended the decision by the British
\nEmbassy in Jakarta to block the access road leading to the
\nembassy as a precaution against a possible terrorist attack.<\/p>\n
Admitting that the measure had inconvenienced some people, he
\ninsisted that the barrier was erected with the consent of the
\nIndonesian authorities.<\/p>\n
Both the Jakarta government and police have publicly professed
\nignorance about the road block, saying they were never asked by
\nthe British Embassy.<\/p>\n
\"These arrangements are considered necessary and we have the
\ngoodwill of the Indonesian government in implementing them,\"
\nBradshaw said. (dja\/07)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ri-seeks-united-asean-action-against-terrorism-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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