Thailand to join regional antiterrorism coalition<\/p>\n
Associated Press, Phnom Penh<\/p>\n
Thailand says it will join Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia and the
\nPhilippines in forming an anti-terrorism coalition, broadening a
\nsecurity alliance in a region regarded as a terrorist breeding
\nground.<\/p>\n
Thai Foreign Minister Surakiart Sathirathai will sign an
\nagreement on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian
\nNations (ASEAN) summit being held this week in Phnom Penh, Tej
\nBunnag, a senior Thai diplomat, said on Sunday.<\/p>\n
Though all five signatories are part of ASEAN, the security
\nalliance is separate from a joint anti-terrorism declaration that
\nmembers of the 10-nation regional grouping are expected to sign
\nduring their annual meeting on Monday and Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Determined to send a clear message that the region is safe for
\nforeign tourists and investors, leaders will discuss expanded
\ncooperation in countering terrorism, including more information
\nsharing and possible military assistance, Thaksin said.<\/p>\n
"It is possible that one country could help another country
\nsuppress terrorism by force if asked to help," Thaksin said. "But
\nI think the details of such a joint armed operation would need to
\nbe worked out between the two nations when that occurs."<\/p>\n
"This is another channel of cooperation... We all suffer from
\nterrorism," Tej said.<\/p>\n
Under the agreement, member countries are to intensify
\nexchanges of security information. They plan to establish and
\nstandardize search-and-rescue operations, create hotlines, share
\nairline passenger lists, strengthen border controls and conduct
\njoint counter-terrorism exercises.<\/p>\n
Philippine Foreign Undersecretary Lauro Baja said his country
\nwould host a meeting in the next few months to set up a committee
\nto oversee the alliance's anti-terror work.<\/p>\n
Another Philippine official said Manila's National Security
\nCouncil has proposed an exercise during that meeting where the
\ncountries would try to coordinate efforts to deal with a
\nhypothetical terrorist strike.<\/p>\n
Deadly bombings in Indonesia and the Philippines last month
\nhave stirred fears of more terrorist attacks in the region, which
\nis increasingly being seen as a new front in the global fight
\nagainst terrorism.<\/p>\n
The other members of ASEAN are Brunei, Laos, Myanmar,
\nSingapore and Vietnam.<\/p>\n
Cambodia, which hosts the annual meeting, hopes the summit,
\nthe largest international gathering in the country's modern
\nhistory, will symbolize its return to respected status in the
\nworld community after nearly three decades of war, Khmer Rouge
\nrevolution and civil conflict.<\/p>\n
Potholed streets have been repaved and swept, banners hoisted
\nacross boulevards, and many of the city's colonial-era government
\nbuildings have been given a fresh coat of paint.<\/p>\n
But the state of Cambodia's ill-equipped and under-trained law
\nenforcement agencies has raised concerns about security for the
\napproximately 1,000 delegates gathering in Phnom Penh for the
\ntwo-day summit.<\/p>\n
In addition to the 10 ASEAN nations, leaders from China,
\nJapan, South Korea, India and South Africa will attend, and
\nCambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen has pledged complete safety.<\/p>\n
Security was extremely tight near the summit's venue, a glitzy
\nhotel in the city's southwest. Streets were barricaded and police
\nchecked even inside wallets and under shoes.<\/p>\n
Other main topics to be discussed on the sidelines of the
\nmeeting will be North Korea's nuclear weapons program, officials
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi will meet with Chinese
\nPremier Zhu Rongji and South Korean Prime Minister Kim Suk-soo,
\nKoizumi's spokeswoman Misako Kaji said, adding "as its neighbors,
\nChina and South Korea would be very much interested in North
\nKorea."<\/p>\n
Yutaka Aoki, a spokesman for the Japanese Embassy in Phnom
\nPenh, said officials are discussing whether to urge the North
\nstop its nuclear development program. Pyongyang rejected similar
\ndemands during talks with Tokyo last week.<\/p>\n
The United States on Friday ruled out any talks with North
\nKorea until it dismantles the program that U.S. officials say is
\ncapable of producing one or two nuclear weapons.<\/p>\n
Leaders of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation member
\nnations also called on North Korea to dismantle its nuclear
\nweapons program last month, adding that economic benefits from
\nthe communist country's growing ties in the region depended on
\nit.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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