ASEAN's antiterrorism drive: Can it be sustained?

ASEAN's antiterrorism drive: Can it be sustained?

Bantarto Bandoro, Editor, 'The Indonesian Quarterly', CSIS, Jakarta

The continuing coverage of the issue of terrorism in this
daily reflects both the deep concern of the society of the grave
impacts of terrorist activities upon the life of human beings and
the need to have an effective counter-terrorism strategy.

Terrorism, by nature is an international problem that requires
a solution with an international focus. The response therefore
cannot be unilateral, but must involve forging alliances with
other countries. Members of the Association of Southeast Asian
Nations (ASEAN), as well as other countries in other parts of the
globe, were alarmed by the Sept. 11 tragedy. In the interest of
humanity and the self interest of every nation in the world, a
broad-based coalition against "hyper terrorism" seems to be
imperative.

The issue of terrorism and the U.S. strike on Afghanistan are
seen as a real test for ASEAN solidarity and cohesiveness.
Perhaps inspired by the U.S. policy to establish a global
coalition against terrorism, the need to eradicate local
terrorism and to prevent the region from being further accused of
being a haven for terrorist groups, ASEAN countries, in their
seventh summit in Brunei Darussalam in November, took bold steps
by issuing a joint declaration to combat terrorism, a pledge that
will bind the regional group politically with the global alliance
against terrorism.

ASEAN condemned the terrorist attacks on New York and
Washington. The attack has brought a new level of insecurity to
the world and to the ASEAN region and its neighboring countries.
It has also brought countries in the region closer together and
injected an urgency to the collective efforts to combat
terrorism.

A series of discussions on the issue of terrorism by officials
and leaders of ASEAN, set off by Megawati's tour to ASEAN member
states, indicates a high level of awareness among ASEAN members
that terrorists with global reach must be stopped and defeated.
It also reflects their prime concerns of the internal and
regional instability caused by terrorism.

The recent bilateral meeting between Megawati and the
president of the Philippines, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo revealed
the intent of these two countries to launch a pluralistic
agreement to combat transnational crime, including terrorism,
involving all five original members of ASEAN, including Malaysia
and Singapore.

ASEAN's efforts to step up the antiterrorism drive also were
manifested in the press conference recently given by Megawati and
visiting Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, saying that
ASEAN member countries should exert concerted efforts in fighting
terrorism in the region. The issue of terrorism seems to have
driven the leaders of ASEAN closer in their relationships. The
issue is urgent in ASEAN, given that this region has been known
to host local, regional and international terrorist networks.

The agreement reached by the leaders of ASEAN in fighting
global terrorism should serve as a strong foundation for regional
cooperation amongst the police, the intelligence services and the
armed forces of ASEAN member countries.

From a strategic perspective, ASEAN's role in the global
coalition will not only enhance ASEAN's international standing,
but perhaps also encourage the enhancement of more effective
international networks to address concerns that these acts of
terrorism -- with their horrendous toll in human lives and
material devastation -- are tearing at the very fabric of
civilized societies.

ASEAN's involvement in the global fight against terrorism
confirmed the evidence that the source of the threat and acts of
terrorism have emanated not only from within the borders of a
country, but also are cross border in nature. Hence, national
efforts alone will not suffice unless accompanied by regional and
global endeavors.

For ASEAN, to be an effective actor and factor in the global
coalition, it must pursue a more aggressive strategy that must go
beyond what it has already stated in its formal declaration,
namely: make no concession to terrorists, strike no deals and
bring terrorists to justice for their crimes.

The ASEAN governments have long been opposed to terrorist
groups and their activities. ASEAN therefore must not ignore the
possibility of direct foreign military action against terrorist
groups in the region, and if such an action were to occur, the
governments of ASEAN must make sure that such an action is done
in concert with local counter-terrorism initiatives.

If ASEAN's antiterrorism coalition is to be successful, it
must have at its disposal the full resources to back up and
sustain regional initiatives and convince their respective
societies that regional efforts in eradicating terrorism is both
necessary and desirable, meaning that ASEAN counter-terrorism
strategies must have the full and unconditional support from the
public.

Because terrorist activities have serious repercussions on the
security of the region, the issue of terrorism can then be
considered important in shaping the future outcome of security
cooperation among ASEAN's elements. But due to corrupt law
enforcement institutions, weak judicial systems and inadequate
cooperation due to domestic problems each ASEAN country has,
ASEAN will find it difficult to totally eliminate various cells
of terrorist groups that operate in the region. It is within this
context that ASEAN must recognize the complexities of its "new
fight" against global terrorism and the pitfalls that lie before
it.

Because of ASEAN's limited resources and inherent weaknesses
and difficulties, ASEAN must open itself up for whatever support
the U.S. might provide to enhance the credibility of the ASEAN
antiterrorism strategy.

ASEAN's fight against international terrorism will be seen as
a serious business only if it has the political will to translate
into policy actions what it has previously agreed to. The
challenge facing ASEAN in combating terrorism is perhaps how to
solve the issues that are likely to fracture the regional
coalition. Issues to be worked out can be in the form of improper
accusation, and therefore an official denial in a defensive
manner, that one country is sympathetic to, or providing a safe
haven for, certain Muslim extremist groups which are allegedly
linked to prominent Muslim figures outside or inside the
government.

Another issue which has the potential to fracture the ASEAN
coalition is the extent to which the ASEAN members allow the full
entry of foreign forces into the business of eradicating local
terrorist networks and threats. All this suggests that a prudent
approach in building an antiterrorist coalition is needed by
ASEAN if it wants its counter-terrorism strategy to be seen as
impressive, significant and indiscriminate.

Establishing a coalition against terrorism is by no means easy
as it involves myriad aspects of a country's life. However, for a
regional coalition against terrorism to succeed, the governments
of ASEAN states must be held accountable for eliminating their
local terrorist threats, and they should mobilize whatever
resources they have to increase the reach throughout the region
to combat terrorism by, for example encouraging regional
cooperation, beginning perhaps with a call on the ASEAN Regional
Forum for a "special session" on terrorism.