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