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International Counter-Terrorism

Sub-Regional Ministerial Conference on Counter-Terrorism: Co-Chairs' Statement

Introduction

1.      The Sub-Regional Ministerial Conference on Counter-Terrorism was held on 5-6 March 2007 in Jakarta, Indonesia. The Conference was co-chaired by the Foreign Ministers of Indonesia and Australia, H.E. Dr N Hassan Wirajuda, and H.E. The Hon Alexander Downer MP. The Conference was attended by the Foreign Ministers of Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand, and the Senior Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of Singapore as well as Justice Ministers, Attorneys General, Police Chiefs and representatives.

2.      The Ministers affirmed that the Sub-Regional Ministerial Conference on Counter-Terrorism was convened with the aim of deepening counter-terrorism cooperation in the sub-region and addressing emerging counter-terrorism challenges. The Ministers acknowledged that the six countries represented at the Conference were those most affected by the activities of regional terrorist groups. 

3.      The Ministers reaffirmed the commitments made at the Bali Regional Ministerial Meeting on Counter-Terrorism, also co-hosted by Australia and Indonesia in February 2004, as a significant contribution to regional counter-terrorism efforts. The Ministers agreed that the follow-up activities conducted under the Working Groups on Legal Issues and on Law Enforcement, established under the Bali Ministerial Conference, (commonly known as the Bali Counter-Terrorism Process), had strengthened the bonds of understanding, shared purpose and cooperation between legal and law enforcement practitioners in the region. 

Overview of the Current Threat of Terrorist Groups in the Sub-Region

4.      The Ministers discussed issues related to counter-terrorism in the region in order to address the current threat of terrorist groups; to strengthen existing counter-terrorism cooperation; to enhance cooperation in law enforcement, intelligence, legal frameworks and preventing trans-border terrorist movement; to counter radicalization; to prevent terrorist access to CBRN and respond to mass casualty terrorist incidents.

5.      The Ministers noted that recurring attacks in various locations demonstrated that terrorism remained a persistent, evolving and long-term threat. The Ministers renewed their commitment to meet the terrorist threat with coordinated and targeted policies and measures, at the national, sub-regional, regional and global levels, in the key areas of law enforcement, information sharing and strengthening legal frameworks.

6.      The Ministers noted that Southeast Asia has been facing a real threat posed by terrorism, largely as a result of attacks conducted by regionally-based terrorist groups, in particular Al-Jamaah Al-Islamiyah and the Abu Sayyaf Group. The Ministers commended recent counter-terrorism successes in the region.

Strengthening Existing Counter-Terrorism Law Enforcement Cooperation in the Sub-Region

7.      The Ministers cited the importance of the international legal framework for countering terrorism. The Ministers called upon countries of the sub-region that have not yet done so to sign and or ratify international conventions and protocols relating to terrorism and to work towards concluding negotiations on the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism.

8.      The Ministers welcomed the signing of the ASEAN Counter-Terrorism Convention, which provides a legal framework for regional cooperation to comprehensively counter terrorism in all of its forms and manifestations. The Ministers pointed out that the Convention showed its own regional characteristics with the inclusion of elements on prevention and suppression of terrorism such as addressing factors which contribute to terrorism, interfaith dialogue, exchange of best practices in rehabilitative programs and legal cooperation.

9.      The Ministers acknowledged that further efforts are needed to deal with trans-border movements of individuals, weapons, funds, and other related materials involved in terrorist operations and their supporting activities. The Ministers agreed on the need to further strengthen the capacities of law enforcement agencies to obtain, share, manage and analyse counter-terrorism information, as well as to develop effective databases and mechanisms for that purpose.

10.The Ministers welcomed the significant progress in the implementation of the electronic ASEANAPOL Database System (e-ADS), which reflected the commitment of ASEANAPOL to pool rapid, reliable and secure criminal intelligence information including data on terrorism. The Ministers emphasized the importance of strengthening cooperation between ASEANAPOL and the Australian Federal Police (AFP), including developing a regional capability strategy for the sharing of intelligence and information on counter-terrorism.

11.The Ministers welcomed the increasing communication, cooperation and coordination between police and intelligence authorities.  The Ministers agreed on the importance of strengthening and continuing support for the Jakarta Centre for Law Enforcement Cooperation (JCLEC), the Multi-National Operational Support Team (MNOST), and other regional counter-terrorism centres.

Addressing Emerging Counter-Terrorism Challenges

  1. The Ministers noted that more individual and collective efforts are needed to address violent radicalism, terrorist propaganda and other factors that could contribute to terrorism. The Ministers recognized the need to develop strategies to counter radicalization and to support religious, community, and other leaders to counter the extremist ideology and propaganda used by terrorist groups to justify their violent acts. In this regard, the Ministers also recognized the need to empower the moderates and strengthen the voice of moderation, inter alia through dialogue and cooperation among and between religious leaders, academics, media practitioners and other community leaders in our sub-region.
  1. The Ministers also noted the role that the internet plays in spreading extremist ideologies, recruiting new members, and assisting terrorist groups in planning and conducting attacks.
  1. The Ministers recognized the threat posed by the possibility of terrorists acquiring chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear (CBRN) weapons, their means of delivery and related materials.  The Ministers encouraged agencies with technical expertise in this area and those with traditional counter-terrorism expertise to cooperate in order to increase capacities for preventing CBRN terrorism. The Ministers noted that Australia would shortly host a regional outreach activity to address the nuclear and the bio-terrorist threat respectively.
  1. The Ministers expressed grave concern at the threat to the sub-region resulting from the link between terrorism and the illicit trafficking in small arms and light weapons (SALW), including their ammunition and explosives. The Ministers agreed to take necessary steps for reducing terrorists’ access to illicit SALW and to take additional steps to prevent weapons that are particularly dangerous, such as anti-aircraft weapons, from falling into the hands of terrorists.
  1. The Ministers urged countries to enhance their preparedness to cope with mass casualties that could result from terrorist attacks by, among other ways, increasing cooperation and establishing national contingency plans and national centres that analyse terrorist acts.

Ministers agreed to undertake the follow-up measures, namely:

Law Enforcement

  1. The Ministers agreed to take necessary measures to strengthen regional and sub-regional networks and to enhance capacities to prevent transborder terrorist movement through, among other ways, border and custom control systems; maritime surveillance and development of database. In this regard, the Ministers also agreed that ASEANAPOL and AFP should undertake joint efforts to address the problem of transborder terrorist movement.
  1. The Ministers agreed to strengthen the Multi-National Operational Support Team through a permanent presence and to continue supporting the JCLEC. The Ministers also agreed to enhance cooperation between the JCLEC and the Southeast Asia Regional Centre for Counter-Terrorism (SEARCCT) and the International Law Enforcement Academy (ILEA).

Legal Frameworks

  1. The Ministers agreed to organize a workshop this year under the auspices of the JCLEC on the ratification and implementation of relevant international conventions and protocols relating to terrorism.
  1. The Ministers agreed to strengthen their legal frameworks for mutual legal assistance (MLA) and extradition by providing training for practitioners in those fields.  

Countering Extremism and Radicalisation

  1. The Ministers agreed to sponsor regional/sub-regional second-track meetings of religious leaders, academics and media practitioners to explore the role of community, informal leaders and the media in discouraging people from participating in or supporting terrorist activities. These meetings would recommend areas for further research as well as possible practical responses.
  1. The Ministers agreed to conduct courses at the JCLEC and other regional counter-terrorism centres on all aspects of the use of the internet, particularly the spread of extremist messages. Such courses should also consider how the internet might be used to disseminate positive messages that counter the damaging ideology of the extremists.

Movement of Weapons

  1. The Ministers also agreed that a workshop of experts should be held to look into the illicit movement of small arms, light weapons, dual use materials and explosives. The workshop may develop strategies to address the issue in a comprehensive manner at a sub-regional level, including consideration of training programs for relevant officials.

Mass Casualty Emergency Response

  1. The Ministers agreed to a meeting of officials to advance this issue, including the option to explore possibilities for increasing regional cooperation and the fast-tracking of assistance following a mass casualty terrorist incident.

Closing

  1. The Ministers expressed their appreciation for the warm hospitality of the Government of Indonesia and for the excellent arrangements made for the Conference.  The Conference was conducted in a spirit of amity and friendship under the co-chairmanship of Indonesia and Australia.