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.