Mobilizing Multilateral Resources in the War against Terrorism: The Role of ASEAN Inside and Outside of Southeast Asia

Speech of ASEAN Secretary-General Ong Keng Yong

Inaugural Asia-Pacific Homeland Security Summit
Honolulu, USA
20 November 2003

I would like to thank the organizers of this Summit for this opportunity to share with you the efforts of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in responding to the challenge posed by international terrorism. Southeast Asia has been drawn into the global network of Al-Qaeda and its indigenous operatives. For this reason, we in ASEAN are deeply committed to combating terrorism in all its forms. During the recent visit of President George Bush to the region in October 2003, he expressed his appreciation of several effective law enforcement actions (for example, detention and trial of suspects and seizure of explosive materials and financial assets) taken by ASEAN Member Countries.

Homeland or homefront security cannot be taken for granted.  So, this inaugural conference and exhibition is useful and an important milestone.

Partnership with the United States

In August 2002 in Brunei Darussalam, ASEAN signed with the United States a Joint Declaration for Cooperation to Combat International Terrorism. On that occasion, US State Secretary Colin Powell announced the ASEAN Cooperation Plan (ACP), which aims at enhancing US relations with ASEAN. The three areas covered are: support for ASEAN integration, cooperation on transnational issues including terrorism, and strengthening the ASEAN Secretariat, in Jakarta, Indonesia.

The first ASEAN-US consultation on the ACP was held in Viet Nam in June 2003. An ASEAN-US Work Plan on Counter-Terrorism was endorsed in principle. It focused on information sharing, capacity building and border control.

Other ASEAN Initiatives in Counter Terrorism

 We are all aware that ASEAN is not a military alliance. As such, it cannot collectively engage in direct military action to combat terrorism. But as an organization committed to regional peace and stability, ASEAN provides the framework for political and security cooperation among its ten Member Countries. The process of arriving at a consensus takes place in ministerial and senior officials’ meetings. Where necessary, the needed mandate is obtained from ASEAN Leaders meeting in their annual summit.

ASEAN has been addressing the problem of terrorism and transnational crime even before September 11, 2001. The ASEAN Ministers of Home Affairs concluded the Declaration on Transnational Crime in 1997, the Manila Declaration on the Prevention and Control of Transnational Crime in 1998, and the Joint Communique of the Second Ministerial Meeting on Transnational Crime in 1999.

Greater Awareness of the Spectre of Terrorism

But it was the September 11 tragedy that strengthened the resolve of our Member Countries to work more closely with the international community to combat terrorism. This commitment was reaffirmed in the Joint Communique of the Third ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Transnational Crime signed in Singapore in October 2001.

At the 7th ASEAN Summit in Brunei Darussalam in November 2001, ASEAN Leaders condemned the September 11 attacks. They considered them as a direct challenge to the attainment of peace, progress and prosperity of ASEAN and the realization of ASEAN Vision 2020. The Leaders adopted the 2001 Declaration on Joint Action to Counter Terrorism.

Operationalizing Counter-Terrorism

This 2001 Declaration has several specific measures for  ASEAN  to  implement. For example, it calls for the early signing of or accession to all relevant anti-terrorist conventions including the International Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism; deepening cooperation among ASEAN’s front-line law enforcement agencies in combating terrorism and sharing "best practices"; enhancing intelligence exchange to facilitate the flow of  information; and strengthening existing cooperation and coordination between the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Transnational Crime (AMMTC) and other relevant ASEAN bodies in countering terrorism. ASEAN Member Countries are encouraged to develop regional capacity building programmes to enhance their existing capabilities to investigate, detect, monitor and report on terrorist acts.

These specific measures were incorporated in the Terrorism Component of the Work Programme adopted by the Special ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Transnational Crime in Kuala Lumpur in May 2002. The Work Programme has components on trafficking in small arms, illegal drug trafficking and money laundering.  ASEAN Member Countries are now working on the establishment of a regional database for disseminating information on respective national laws, regulations, bilateral and multilateral treaties or agreements of respective countries.

More information is in our web site and in our brochure detailing ASEAN efforts to counter terrorism.

Multilateral Cooperation

We in ASEAN realize that in order to mobilize multilateral resources in the war against terrorism, cooperation with Dialogue Partners outside the Southeast Asian region is necessary. We have been actively working with them in various undertakings.

I have referred to the ASEAN-USA Joint Declaration to Combat International Terrorism. Many ASEAN Member Countries are closely cooperating with the United States on the Container Security Initiative (CSI). It is designed to prevent the smuggling of terrorists or weapons in ocean-going cargo containers into the USA. The Customs-Trade Partnership against Terrorism (C-TPAT) ensures that all cargoes to the US are effectively scrutinized and documented. The 24-hour Automated Manifest System (AMS) rule requires carriers to file manifest information 24 hours in advance of departure or loading.

ASEAN is collaborating with China, Japan and the Republic of Korea under the ASEAN Plus Three process to address the threats of terrorism and transnational crimes. At the ASEAN-China Summit in Phnom Penh in November 2002, ASEAN Leaders and the Prime Minister of China issued the Joint Declaration of ASEAN and China on Cooperation in the Field of Non-Traditional  Security Issues. Combating terrorism was included as one of the priorities for ASEAN-China cooperation.

ASEAN and the European Union adopted a Joint Declaration on Cooperation to Combat Terrorism during the 14th ASEAN-EU Ministerial Meeting in January 2003 in Brussels, Belgium.

During the 36th ASEAN Ministerial in Phnom Penh in June 2003, the Joint Declaration of the Foreign Ministers of ASEAN and the Russian Federation on the Partnership for Peace and Security, and Prosperity and Development in the Asia-Pacific Region was signed. The Joint Declaration identified terrorism as one of the principal threats to regional security.

ASEAN and India adopted a Joint Declaration for Cooperation to Combat Terrorism at the 9th ASEAN Summit in Bali, Indonesia in October 2003.

ASEAN Regional Forum

ASEAN is the core and driving force of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), which is actively engaged in countering terrorism in the larger Asia-Pacific region. Initiated by ASEAN in 1994 as a venue for discussing political and security issues of interest to the Asia-Pacific, the ARF now has 23 participants: the 10 ASEAN Member Countries and the 10 ASEAN Dialogue Partners: Australia, Canada, China, the European Union, India, Japan, the Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Russia and the United States, plus Papua New Guinea, Mongolia and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.

 At the 9th Ministerial Meeting of the ARF in Brunei Darussalam in July 2002, the ARF Statement on Measures against Terrorist Financing was adopted. It also agreed to establish the Inter-Sessional Meeting on Counter-Terrorism and Transnational Crimes, which convened in Sabah, Malaysia in March 2003. The US is providing technical support to several ARF countries on terrorism-related matters, such as a post-blast and forensic investigation, training of swift response teams, border security software, detection of fraudulent documents, and terrorist interdiction programmes.
 
At the 10th ARF Ministerial Meeting in Phnom Penh in June 2003, the ARF Ministers issued the ARF Statement of Cooperative Counter-Terrorist Action on Border Security. They committed themselves to enhance their efforts in a more comprehensive manner, particularly in addressing counter-terrorism aspects of border security in the movement of people and goods.

Human Security the Best Deterrent to Terrorism
 
We can see that ASEAN is pro-actively engaged in mobilizing resources not only within its own region but also beyond Southeast Asia.  We look at the larger picture, because we fully realize that international terrorism permeates all corners of the world and hence, requires a multilateral and global solution. For this reason, we are involving all the big powers which cannot be insulated from the effects of terrorist activities in our region.  All countries of the world have to work together on a practical coordinated strategy for law enforcement and intelligence exchange, Likewise, there should be standardized measures such as harmonization of laws against terrorism, safeguards against money laundering as well as  travel and cargo security.

But we all know that terrorism cannot be eliminated through military and police action and financial safeguards alone. It is not only unresolved issues in the Middle East that stoke the fervour of extremists. Deep-seated resentment arising from social inequality, poverty and lack of opportunities serves as fuel to terrorist inclinations. This is why we strongly believe that a prosperous ASEAN, made possible through greater productivity and economic integration, is the most effective long-term measure against the danger of terrorism.  Therefore, ASEAN will continue to expand its trade and investment linkages with its external partners, including the USA, so that increased economic growth and better quality of life can be obtained for the more than 520 million people in ASEAN. 
 
We are aware that many Al-Qaeda terrorists and their supporters are not economically deprived.  But a peaceful and secure ASEAN where job creation, employment and the livelihood of its citizens are taken care of is the desired goal in combating all the threats to society.  Such a condition will provide human security.  The support of the people is essential.  We cannot use systems and technology alone in the counter-terrorist campaign.  Let us use technology to cope with and cure the inconveniences of terrorism.  But the human factor is most important.

Conclusion

 In conclusion, let me stress that ASEAN is using its available mechanisms and resources to improve the national and regional capabilities and capacities in countering terrorism.  ASEAN may not have been very visible in this campaign.  We have many sensitivities to contend with particularly not to aggravate the perception that Islam and Muslims are engaged in a monumental struggle with modernisation and the West.  There is no doubt that ASEAN cannot allow terrorism to threaten its development and progress.
 
Finally, let me say that incidents of terrorism in Southeast Asia do not make the entire region a troublesome place.  There must be differentiation of Southeast Asia into its ten component countries and Timor Leste.  It is not fair to issue travel advisory against all of Southeast Asia merely because of one or two acts of terrorism in one or two cities in the region.  ASEAN, as a regional organisation is constructively engaged in ensuring that Southeast Asia will not be so tarnished by one brush stroke.

 Thank you.