Unite to fight terrorism, ASEAN urged

By Amit Baruah

SINGAPORE, OCT. 11. Singapore's Deputy Prime Minister, Mr. Lee Hsien Loong, said today that the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) should ``co-operate more closely'' to fight terrorism.

Inaugurating the third ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on transnational crime, Mr. Lee said: ``We must signal clearly that we stand by what the ASEAN economic ministers and the E.U. Commissioner said in their statement... .issued on September 12. ...that we condemn the brutal acts of terrorism... .that ASEAN agrees that there is a need for the international community to strengthen cooperation in combating terrorism around the world and that ASEAN is committed to enhancing cooperation among its law enforcement agencies to combat terrorism.''

Mr. Lee, son of the Senior Minister, Mr. Lee Kuan Yew, made it clear that combating terrorism was an international endeavour. ``The problems are deep-rooted, and there are neither easy answers nor final solutions. As responsible members of the international community, ASEAN needs to work with the rest of the world to support these global anti-terrorism efforts. Terrorist networks extend across many countries, and we too are at risk,'' he said.

``Among ourselves, we should co-operate more closely to fight terrorism, especially through increased exchange of information and intelligence using existing law enforcement and intelligence channels, and more dialogues between ASEAN members,'' Mr. Lee said.

Mr. Lee said the chain of events spawned by the Sept. 11 attacks had not yet been fully played out. ``The U.S. and its coalition partners have just commenced their attacks against terrorist organisations in Afghanistan, and the terrorists, in all probability, are preparing to strike back.''

The Deputy Prime Minister stated that ASEAN's efforts to tackle various issues of transnational crime would demonstrate the grouping's determination to work together and with the international community, to enhance security in the region and elsewhere.

``By definition, transnational crimes straddle national borders. Each country can take measures to curb the proliferation of criminal activities within its own borders... .but it is equally important to strengthen cooperation between countries to combat transnational crime, and ensure an overall environment which is stable, where the rule of law prevails, and where basic preconditions exist for economic growth and foreign investments,'' he said.

``This will strengthen international confidence in ASEAN, and help member countries to pick up the pieces from the Asian crisis and the current economic downturn. ...'' Mr. Lee added.

He listed cyber crime, piracy and money-laundering as some of the other challenges.

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Section  : International
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