ASEAN broadens its agenda

ASEAN broadens its agenda

Thanks mainly to Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, Australia is not part of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, and indeed, at least in the immediate future, has given up aspiring to be part of it. However, that does not mean the meeting of ASEAN leaders, which has just taken place in Brunei, holds no interest for us. It does.

Given that terrorist leader Osama bin Laden has recently included Australia in a list of "anti-Islam crusaders" against whom Muslims worldwide must unite, the statement is to be welcomed, however weak it is. Absurd as they are, bin Laden's threats cannot be dismissed outright, though they should not be taken too seriously either.

According to bin Laden, Australia's sin was to separate East Timor, "which is part of the Islamic world", from Indonesia. He is apparently unaware that the East Timorese people are not Muslims. Be that as it may, there are terrorist groups that have been linked to the al Qaeda network in Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines.

It is a positive sign that ASEAN has condemned global terrorism. But many of the members have issues closer to home that need attention.

-- The Age, Melbourne