Indonesia Leading In Counter-terrorism Cooperation Within ASEAN: ASEAN Chief

Nusa Dua (Antara Bali)- Indonesia has taken the lead in counterterrorism cooperation within the ASEAN, according to ASEAN Secretary General Le Luong Minh.

Indonesia also played a crucial role in discussions on counterterrorism during the Defense Ministerial Meeting of ASEAN Plus, he remarked while speaking at an international meeting on counterterrorism (IMCT) here, Wednesday.

Minh called on countries in the region to strengthen both bilateral and multilateral cooperation to ensure coordination among defense institutions to conduct security exercises and to secure the border areas, particularly to prevent the spread of ISIS ideology and attacks.

"The ASEAN condemns every form of violence and terror attack, extremist organization, and radical group that are threats to every region in the world," he emphasized.

The leaders of ASEAN at the organization`s 27th Summit in 2015 had adopted a blueprint on ASEAN security and politics 2025 to deal with terrorism.

In his speech, Minh congratulated Indonesia for being able to neutralize terror leader Santoso in Poso, recently.

Indonesian Police Chief General Tito Karnavian is the keynote speaker at the IMCT themed "Countering Cross-Border Movement of Terrorism."

The meeting aims to strengthen international cooperation network in addressing the growing threat of cross-border ramifications of terrorism, which includes actors, information, and also finance flows.

The meeting will be convened back-to-back along with the 2nd Counter-Terrorism Financing (CTF) Summit, to be jointly organized by the Indonesian Transaction Report and Analysis Centre (PPATK) and the Australian Transaction Report and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC), at the same venue, from August 8 to 11.

At least 200 specialists from more than 20 countries will take part in the CTF aimed at promoting cooperation and collaboration among financial intelligence agencies, particularly in Southeast Asia.

This year`s summit will deliver real outcomes on terrorism financing that AUSTRAC and PPATK have developed jointly with Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand. (WDY)