SE Asia needs joint security to fight terror

AN INDONESIAN regional official and experts yesterday stressed the need for joint security measures in Southeast Asia to curb the threat of terrorism and militancy in the region.

Talking to The Brunei Times over telephone, Aceh Deputy Governor Muhammad Nazar said yesterday the presence of militants which are not Acehnese, will disturb the peace in the area and harm the development process in tsunami-hit area.

Aceh has experienced a prolonged insurgency which claimed over 15,000 lives during a period of three decades.

The conflict ended in August 2005 after the separatist group Free Aceh Movement (GAM) signed a peace pact with the Indonesia government.

"I think special joint-cooperation on security with our neighbouring countries is needed," Nazar said.

"The Aceh social ideology does not tolerate to violence in the name of religion. The Acehnese believe that Islam brings mercy and avoid mudharat (harm)," he said.

He said the recovery of weapons from the militant training camp has raised suspicions of militant groups' link with terrorists.

"They picked Aceh as their training ground as the area is located near to mountains, sea and has adequate foodstuff," he added.

Al Chaidar, an expert on terrorism issue from Universitas Malikul Saleh in Lhokseumawe, said that the terror group known as Tandzim Qaidatul Jihad, which is part of Jemaah Islamiyah (JI), has a wide network in Indonesia and the region. In Indonesia alone, they have groom their cells in 12 provinces, while in the region they have build their networks in Malaysia, Thailand and Philippines. "With this, it is definitely going to damage security in Southeast Asia," Chaidar said.

"Regional cooperation to combat their movement is needed, we cannot work alone as their network is strong" he added.

He suggested that security cooperation in the region should involve police department, immigration department, border officials and military.

Bantarto Bandoro, chairman of the Indonesian Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), said that Indonesia government should not fail to maintain the stability in Aceh, as this will damage the reconstruction process in the area and possibly bring insecurity to neighbouring countries such as Malaysia, Philippines. "This (the terror group) will damage the stability and security in the region," Bantarto said.

"Police cooperation must be intensified in the region. What is happening to Aceh now is an evidence that the Indonesia government has failed to collect vital intelligence, so I think we need to cooperate with our neighbours in Southeast Asia."

Aceh stands close to Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines and Vietnam.

The Brunei Times