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.