SE Asia's steps against terror praised

SE Asia's steps against terror praised

Dow Jones, New York

The exigencies of domestic politics notwithstanding, top U.S. diplomats praised the cooperation and support that Southeast Asian nations have lent to the U.S.-led war on terrorism.

A small contingent of U.S. ambassadors to Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore and Vietnam passed through New York on Monday to spread the word that, despite rather overdrawn press reports about the extent of al-Qaeda s presence in Southeast Asia, it's generally a safe place for both U.S. investment and tourism.

I personally wouldn't warn Americans not to go to Southeast Asia, Ralph Boyce, U.S. Ambassador to Indonesia, told an audience at the Asia Society on Monday. It's generally pro- American and generally quite safe if visitors exercise common sense and, for example, avoid areas torn by ethnic strife.

Boyce stressed that this is just as true for Indonesia, where anti-American demonstrations were staged in the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks as the U.S. formed an international coalition and mobilized for the war in Afghanistan.

Indonesian President Megawati Soekarnoputri was the first head of state from a Muslim nation, the world's largest, to visit to the U.S. following Sept. 11, Boyce noted, adding that she said all the right things. But her absence allowed some domestic opponents to begin jockeying for position and mount an apparent challenge to her presidency by organizing the demonstrations, the ambassador explained.

The images of Afghans celebrating the overthrow of the Taliban regime, however, knocked the wind out of the demonstrations, on which Megawati then clamped down. Although she did adopt a little of the rhetoric on display during the protests, she did so as a tactic to deal with domestic concerns, Boyce said.

Such considerations mean that Indonesia's cooperation, which Boyce described as acceptable, will be undertaken privately rather than publicly. That's especially the case now that the initial phase of the war against terrorism - the campaign in Afghanistan - has moved off the television screens.

Another pivotal event to boost the U.S. s anti-terror effort in the region was the foiled attack planned against U.S. interests in Singapore in January. If it could happen in Singapore, it could happen anywhere, Boyce said.

From across the Singapore strait, Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad saw the opportunity to mend fences with the U.S. and took it, Boyce said, adding that this represented a significant change from the days when, in the midst of the 1997- 1998 Asian financial crisis, Mahathir often took swipes at the U.S. and other Western countries.

Marie Huhtala, U.S. ambassador to Malaysia, where nearly two- thirds of the population practice Islam, called her host nation's cooperation fabulous.

Thailand, which has an Islamic minority in the country's south, is able to do more for the war on terror privately than publicly, Boyce said, adding that it receives high marks for its support.

Cooperation with Singapore has been impressive, publicly and privately, he said. As for the Philippines, that the U.S. has military advisors in the archipelago speaks for itself.

Even Vietnam is taking the correct approach, though the issue is less relevant than it is with other countries in the neighborhood. Still, it has also worked with the U.S. to share intelligence and track the international movements and financing of terrorists.