U.S. envoy tells Jakarta to do more

U.S. envoy tells Jakarta to do more

SINGAPORE: Indonesia should follow the lead of Singapore and
Malaysia in taking firmer action against suspected terrorists,
U.S. Ambassador to Singapore Frank Lavin said here Saturday.

Lavin said it was "disturbing" to read reports that some of
the suspected terrorists who had planned to attack American
targets in Singapore, including the U.S. embassy, had fled to
Indonesia.

The envoy, speaking before diplomats, academics and
businessmen, said there was a need for greater border controls in
Southeast Asia to reduce the ease with which suspected terrorists
move to evade security forces.

He said Washington has asked Singapore to tighten controls at
its main port to curb any attempts by terrorists to use the
world's busiest harbor to smuggle contraband, and was assured of
the passage of legislation for that purpose when parliament
convenes next month.

"I think it's a little unclear what the nature of the
challenge is in Indonesia," Lavin told the United Nations
Association of Singapore.

"We saw a substantial number of arrests in Singapore, we saw
equally aggressive ... moves in Malaysia, (but) we have not seen
that kind of response yet in Indonesia and it is a matter of
concern," he said. -- AFP