Leaders from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on Sunday unequivocally condemned "in the strongest terms" the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the United States and directed their foreign ministers to map out a strategy on how to implement antiterrorism measures.
Southeast Asian leaders vowed to strengthen existing cooperation and to enhance the exchange of information on terrorists and terrorist organizations to track down their source of funding and movement, saying the scourge of terrorism threatens regional peace and progress.
ASEAN leaders adopted a declaration for the first time to demonstrate that Southeast Asia is committed to joining the global network to fight the growing threat to international peace and security.
"(We) unequivocally condemn in the strongest terms the horrifying terrorist attacks...and consider such acts as an attack against humanity and an assault on all of us," the leaders said.
Like the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum leaders, ASEAN leaders were also silent on the issue of the current US-led war on Afghanistan where Islamic militant Osama bin Laden, the main suspect in the terror attacks, is believed to be hiding.
They vowed to "review and strengthen our national mechanisms to combat terrorism (and) study relevant international conventions on terrorism with the view to integrate them with ASEAN mechanisms on combating international terrorism."
"(We) view acts of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, committed wherever, whenever, and by whomsoever, as a profound threat to international peace and security which require a concerted action to protect and defend all peoples and the peace and security of the world,"the leaders said.
The declaration, which the ASEAN leaders issued on the eve of the summit, said the leaders also "reject any attempt to link terrorism with any religion or racez" in a bid to negate efforts to equate terrorism with the tenets of any religion or any ethnic background.
"(We) believe terrorism to be a direct challenge to the attainment of peace, progress and prosperity of ASEAN and the realization of ASEAN Vision 2020," they said, referring to the regional grouping's vision to make Southeast Asia a community of peace and prosperity.
The leaders also called for "the early signing or ratification of or accession to all relevant antiterrorist conventions including the International Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism."
They emphasized the need to "deepen cooperation among our front-line law enforcement agencies in combating terrorism and sharing best practices."
Moreover, they vowed to "strengthen existing cooperation and coordination between the ASEAN ministers meeting on transnational crime and other relevant ASEAN bodies in countering, preventing and suppressing all forms of terrorist acts."
"Particular attention would be paid to finding ways to combat terrorist organizations, support infrastructure and funding and bringing the perpetrators to justice," said the declaration, titled the 2001 ASEAN Declaration of Joint Action To Counter Terrorism.
The leaders also stressed the need to "develop and explore practical ideas and initiatives to increase ASEAN's role in and involvement with the international community," including their dialogue partners in the ASEAN plus three to make the fight against terrorism a truly regional and global endeavor.
"(We) should strengthen cooperation at bilateral, regional and international levels in combating terrorism in a comprehensive manner and affirm that at the international level the United Nations should play a major role in this regard," they said.
They called on other regions and countries to work with ASEAN in the global struggle against terrorism.
ASEAN leaders are meeting here for their annual summit Monday and Tuesday. Senior ASEAN officials have been meeting here since Saturday in preparation for their leaders summit.
ASEAN groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. Six of them -- Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand -- have significant or majority Muslim populations. Its three Northeast Asian partners -- China, Japan and South Korea -- will also hold a summit with ASEAN.
( November 5,2001)
