SE Asia steps up fight against crime

SE Asia steps up fight against crime

Agencies, Manila

Southeast Asia's battle against transnational crime has received a major fillip with Malaysia's deportation of a Philippine Moro rebel leader, the Malaysian envoy here said on Tuesday.

"This sets the pace for greater cooperation under a proposed trilateral agreement to fight transnational crime among Malaysia, Philippines and Indonesia," Ambassador Taufik Mohamed Noor told AFP.

"For Malaysia, Mr. Misuari's case is a typical high-profile illegal immigrant case and it must be emphasized that the region is giving greater commitment to fighting transnational crime, which includes terrorism, money laundering and piracy," Taufik said.

The deputy foreign ministers of Malaysia, the Philippines and Indonesia adopted a draft pact in Manila last month agreeing to "establish a framework to facilitate cooperation and inter- operability" in battling transnational crime.

The three countries share a common sea border frequently used by gun runners, pirates, Muslim insurgents and suspected militants.

Among measures proposed to combat such crimes are stricter border patrols and exchanges of intelligence.

The three countries are expected to firm up the pact during a meeting of foreign ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Thailand next month.

"The Misuari case tested the spirit of cooperation but both sides have kept to their commitment and the outcome was to the satisfaction of both parties," said Taufik, who presented his credentials to President Arroyo at the weekend.

Philippine troops are closely watching hard-core armed followers of detained renegade Moro leader Nur Misuari who may stage "sympathy attacks" ahead of his trial for rebellion, military spokesmen said on Tuesday.

Army troops on Tuesday clashed with about 50 Moro rebels, including followers of Misuari, in a southern province, killing at least 11 of the guerrillas, military officials said.

At least four soldiers were wounded in the fighting in a mountainous area straddling three towns in Sulu, where the military has been waging an offensive against Abu Sayyaf guerrillas, the officials said.

An undetermined number of firearms left by the guerrillas were recovered by the soldiers, who initiated the clash, said Lt. Gen. Roy Cimatu, who heads the military's Southern Command.

Kuala Lumpur on Monday deported to Manila former Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) chief Nur Misuari, who was arrested for illegally entering Malaysia in late November.

Misuari had fled the southern Philippines after allegedly spearheading a bloody revolt which left more than 100 people dead.

Philippine President Gloria Arroyo had branded Misuari a terrorist, saying the military had discovered his links to another Philippine Moro guerrilla group, the Abu Sayyaf, which is said to have links to Osama bin Laden.

In a related development, Malaysian officials said on Tuesday foreign boats and ships traveling in waters off a Malaysian state on Borneo island must use routes designated by local authorities starting April.

Chong Kah Kiat, chief minister of Sabah state, said the move was meant to boost security in these waters, which have been plagued for decades by piracy and illegal immigrants from neighboring countries.

Security fears have been raised further in the last couple of years by kidnapping raids and other incursions by rebel groups operating in the restive southern Philippines, a short boat ride away from Sabah.

Taufik said Malaysia would support a Philippine bid to revive a regional growth area involving the two countries as well as Brunei and Indonesia.

Joint activities to boost investments and tourism along the border areas of the four countries under the "East ASEAN Growth Area" were mostly suspended following the 1997 regional financial crisis.