ASEAN tos cooperate against terror
ASEAN tos cooperate against terror
Agencies, Singapore
Southeast Asian nations pledged to step up cooperation against
drug trafficking, piracy, money laundering and terrorism on
Thursday at a one-day gathering of regional home and interior
ministers.
The ASEAN forum -- whose members include the predominantly
Muslim states of Brunei, Malaysia and Indonesia -- also announced
plans for a special meeting to discuss terrorism.
"We strongly condemned all acts of terrorism, in particular
the terrorist attacks of September 11 on the U.S.," the ministers
said in a communique at the end of the 3rd ASEAN Ministerial
Meeting on Transnational Crime in Singapore.
"We acknowledged that transnational crime continues to
seriously threaten the socio-economic and moral fabric of all
countries. We reiterated our deep concern that transnational
crime is becoming more organized, diversified and pervasive," the
communique stated.
"We agreed to work closely with the international community to
strengthen cooperation in preventing and combating terrorism. We
are committed to enhancing cooperation among our law enforcement
agencies to combat terrorism."
Singapore Deputy Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in his keynote
address said the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the United States
"have added a new dimension to transnational crime."
In the communique, the ministers condemned "all acts of
terrorism" and in particular the terror attacks in New York and
Washington which they noted killed not only Americans but also
people of various nationalities.
However, the statement was silent on the ongoing U.S.-led
bombardment of suspected terrorist targets in Afghanistan, which
have admitted sheltering as a "guest" Osama bin Laden, believed
to have masterminded the suicide attacks in the U.S.
Analysts said differences in the 10-member regional block have
been hampering efforts to forge a common stand in support of the
U.S.-led war against terrorism.
Officials in the Philippines have already said that efforts by
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to have next month's ASEAN
leaders summit in Brunei issue a strong statement on terrorism
would probably be abandoned because of conflicting views among
members.
Singapore and the Philippines have given their full support to
the missile and bombing strikes on Afghanistan. But Prime
Minister Mahathir Mohamad of Malaysia -- another ASEAN member --
has unequivocally opposed the U.S.-led action.
In Indonesia, another ASEAN member and the world's largest
Muslim nation, there have been violent anti-US protests against
the military strikes.
Next month's ASEAN summit will be held in Brunei another
staunch Muslim nation. ASEAN also includes Cambodia, Laos,
Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam.