Four Southeast Asian Countries Conclude Counter-Terrorism Cooperation Agreement

On May 7, 2001 Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines signed a counterterrorism cooperation agreement that will fortify border controls, facilitate the sharing of airline passenger lists, and provide for joint training exercises, the establishment of hot lines, standard procedures on search and rescue, and the sharing of intelligence. Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad of Malaysia said the agreement is also open for other members of the Association of South-East Asian countries (Asean) to Sign. Officials said that Thailand and possibly Myanmar may join. Singpore and Malaysia are detaining some of the persons under the punitive colonial-era Internal Security Act (ISA) that permits indefinite detention without trial. For instance, in January 2002 Singapore authorities arrested 13 people under the ISA on charges of conspiring to blow up the U.S. embassy and U.S. business there. Singaporean investigators said eight of the suspects trained in al-Qaeda camps in Afghanistan.