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