Human Security Gateway: Singapore

Organization Vs. Ideology: The Lessons from Southeast Asia

Tue, 25 Oct 2011 16:16:33 -0700

The nature and extent of the jihadist threat in Southeast Asia was not fully understood until well after the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States. In the aftermath of those attacks, states in Southeast Asia appeared to move quickly to quash the putative threats in their own countries. Both the Singaporean and Malaysian authorities, for example, detained a number of suspected Islamist militants in late 2001. Nevertheless, official and academic opinion remained for at least another year largely indifferent to the transnational terrorist network that had established itself in Southeast Asia. This indifference and neglect was all the more surprising given the often intrusive intelligence agencies in many Southeast Asian countries. However, these too apparently failed to identify the evolving threat in their midst and the growing danger jihadism posed to regional order. The October 2002 nightclub bombings in Bali, Indonesia, which killed 202 people, changed all of this. Those attacks brought to the world's attention the existence of a sophisticated, regionally-networked web of jihadist activity in Southeast Asia.

Prior to 9/11, regional intelligence cooperation was poor, and there was little awareness of or attention paid to the character and evolution of regional crime and terror networks. In particular, there existed a collective nescience concerning the growing ideological links between the most militant jihadist grouping in Southeast Asia, Jemaah Islamiah [JI], and the globalizing network of networks of Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda. One objective of this essay, therefore, is to indicate the process by which al-Qaeda and its regional affiliates attempted to draw localized separatist struggles in Southeast Asia into an evolving but loose network of transnational jihadism. To illustrate how this structure has advanced, we shall show how JI developed through kin groups, marital alliances, cliques, and radical pesantren [religious schools]. Furthermore, we will examine the mix of counterterror strategies that have since 2003 successfully disrupted the organization and its network.

Exploring this evolving, networked organization in Southeast Asia also helps to illustrate a broader point about the character of modern jihadism. Long before it was appropriate to speak of an entity called al-Qaeda or the emergence of Osama bin Laden as its figurehead, those inspired by an Islamist, theo-political vision were already thinking strategically in terms of regional and transnational operations and their political effects. In Southeast Asia, we can trace this vision, if not also the strategy, back to the Darul Islam, or "Islamic Realm," movement. SOURCE: Hudson Institute // Center on Islam, Democracy and the Future of the Muslim World

From Proxy to Principle: Singapore’s Myanmar Policy

Thu, 20 Jan 2011 14:57:44 -0800

The complexity of the Singapore–Myanmar relationship was reflected in the breadth of opinion offered by participants who attended a roundtable discussion hosted by the Singapore Institute of International Affairs on September 30, 2009. Leaders from the Singapore academic, business, and nongovernmental organization (NGO) communities attended the meeting. Their contributions are graciously acknowledged and provide a strong foundation for this report. Although the group did not reach an overarching consensus on how Singapore should engage Myanmar, the participants did reach conclusions on several points while illuminating many aspects of the relationship. The discussion reflected differences over Myanmar among the different sectors of society represented in the dialogue, as well as shifting public opinion of Singapore’s own image and responsibilities. The group highlighted several concerns about the Myanmar situation and Singapore–Myanmar relations, some gleaned from the group’s uniquely Singaporean perspective. At the meeting’s end, the group proposed a spectrum of options for considering policy recommendations.

This report summarizes the dialogue in four sections. First, the overall outlook on Myanmar is presented. Second, Singapore’s involvement with Myanmar in four sectors is described: government and diplomacy, business and trade, humanitarian aid and technical assistance, and military ties. Third, Singapore’s policy options are discussed and sketched on a spectrum from “proxy” to “pragmatic” to “principled” approaches. Finally, the report suggests how Singapore’s strategy fits into regional and global contexts. SOURCE: Singapore Institute of International Affairs

Workshop Report: 1st Strategic Workshop on Rehabilitation and De-radicalization of Militants and Extremists

Tue, 18 Jan 2011 14:25:40 -0800

To assist Pakistan in building a national rehabilitation programme, the Government of Pakistan has engaged Singapore’s International Centre for Political Violence and Terrorism Research (ICPVTR) since 2008. ICPVTR staff held meetings throughout Pakistan to build support in laying the foundation for a rehabilitation programme. This included meetings with both political leaders and bureaucrats. The vision of building a structured rehabilitation programme for inmates and detainees driven by terrorist and extremist ideologies was shared by Mr. Tariq Pervez, chairman of the National Counter Terrorism Authority of Pakistan, when he participated at the inaugural International Conference on Terrorist Rehabilitation held in Singapore on 24-26 February 2009. The paper was aptly entitled “Challenges of Establishing a Rehabilitation Programme in Pakistan.” Nonetheless, the initiative to launch the rehabilitation programme in Pakistan is a natural progression. SOURCE: The FATA Secratariat Capacity Building Project, International Centre for Political Violence and Terrorism Research, S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Nanyang Technological University

Deradicalizing Islamist Extremists

Mon, 29 Nov 2010 11:56:43 -0800

Deradicalizing Islamist extremists may be even more important than getting them to simply disengage from terrorist activities, according to a new RAND Corporation study that examines counter-radicalization programs in the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and Europe. Although there has been much research about the radicalization and recruitment of Islamist extremists, there has been little study until recently about how one deradicalizes those who have been recruited into the Islamist extremist movement. A key question is whether the objective of counter-radicalization programs should be disengagement (a change in behavior) or deradicalization (a change in beliefs) of militants. A unique challenge posed by militant Islamist groups is that their ideology is rooted in a major world religion, Islam. The RAND study indentifies and analyzes the processes through which militants leave Islamist extreme groups, assesses the effectiveness of deradicalization programs and summarizes the policies that could help to promote and accelerate the processes of deradicalization. SOURCE: RAND Corporation

Rehabilitation of Radicals

Mon, 01 Nov 2010 12:34:07 -0700

In the past 10 years, the rehabilitation of Muslim radicals has become a pressing issue. Great numbers of radicals have passed in and out of various incarcerating institutions and are returned to their societies where they frequently rejoin radical groups, sometimes more radicalized and technically proficient than they were prior to their incarceration. Both Muslim and non-Muslim governments have sought different methods to rehabilitate radicals, ranging from arranging debates between radicals and mainstream Muslim religious elite to confronting them with betrayals and denunciations by relatives, friends, and associates. There are also full-scale “reeducation” camps. This policy paper will seek to evaluate these methodologies and propose for the United States a workable policy for re-integrating radicals into society, thus defusing the power of recidivism. SOURCE: James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy, Rice Univeristy

CTC Sentinel [Volume 2, Issue 1, January 2009]

Tue, 07 Sep 2010 11:14:47 -0700

Reports: 1 Al-Qa`ida’s Five Aspects of Power By The Combating Terrorism Center; 5 A Case Study of the January 2008 Suicide Bomb Plot in Barcelona By Fernando Reinares; 8 A Holistic Critique of Singapore’s Counter-Ideological Program By Kumar Ramakrishna; 11 Shifting Trends in Suicide Attacks By Assaf Moghadam; 14 The Future of Moqtada al-Sadr’s New Jaysh al-Mahdi By Babak Rahimi; 17 Reconsidering the Role of Militias in Iraq By Major James J. Smith, U.S. Army; 19 The Pakistan Army and its Role in FATA By Shuja Nawaz; 21 Iraq’s Border Security: Key to an Iraqi Endstate By LTC Steven Oluic, U.S. Army SOURCE: Combating Terrorism Center // West Point

Implementing the Responsibility to Protect: Asia-Pacific in the 2009 General Assembly Dialogue

Thu, 26 Nov 2009 16:30:20 -0800

In July 2009, the UN General Assembly held an Interactive Informal Dialogue and plenary session on the Responsibility to Protect (RtoP). The dialogue provided the first opportunity for the UN membership as a whole to discuss implementation of the 2005 World Summit’s commitment to the RtoP and the UN Secretary-General’s report on the matter. Fifteen governments from the Asia-Pacific region, namely Indonesia, the Philippines, Korea, New Zealand, Australia, Singapore, Japan, China, Vietnam, Solomon Islands, Myanmar, Timor-Leste, DPRK, PNG and Malaysia, participated in the dialogue. This culminated in a resolution co-sponsored by, inter alia, Australia, Fiji, Singapore, Papua New Guinea, Republic of Korea, Timor-Leste and New Zealand that noted the Secretary-General’s report, observed the fruitfulness of the interactive dialogue, and committed the Assembly to further consideration of the RtoP. According to the Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect, one of the most significant aspects of the dialogue was the positive transformation of attitudes towards the RtoP within the Asia-Pacific region. Having previously been considered the region most opposed to the RtoP, the region now boasts near unanimity in its endorsement of the principle and the Secretary-General’s efforts towards its implementation (with the exception of North Korea). SOURCE: Asia-Pacific Centre for the Responsibility to Protect

The Responsibility to Protect in Southeast Asia

Thu, 26 Nov 2009 15:11:52 -0800

The 63rd United Nations (UN) General Assembly is poised to debate Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s report on the operationalisation of the Responsibility to Protect (referred to as ‘R2P’ for the remainder of this report). It is expected that his report will be released and debated in early 2009. Therefore, this is a good time to examine the position that Member States have adopted on the R2P since its endorsement at the 2005 World Summit and policy issues relating to its implementation through the UN. This report will focus on the Member States of the Association for South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) with the exception of Myanmar, which is currently on the UN Security Council’s agenda. It concentrates on their position on the R2P and their policy priorities in areas related to implementing the principle through the UN. The report identifies steps that might encourage the region’s governments to become more positively engaged with the R2P principle. SOURCE: Asia-Pacific Centre for the Responsibility to Protect

Maritime Crime in the Strait of Malacca: Balancing Regional and Extra-Regional Concerns

Tue, 22 Sep 2009 13:00:28 -0700

Piracy in the Straits of Malacca is a large and growing concern for the world. Not only does it cause economic havoc in a critical region, but this piracy may also have connections to terrorism and has the potential to cause an ecological disaster. However, attempts by outside states to establish security regimes have repeatedly run into sovereignty concerns from the coastal states in the region: Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, and Thailand. Instead of persisting in this failed strategy of externally imposed solutions, interested parties should focus on aiding the creation of an internal security regime through aid and logistical support. Building the capacity of the local navies to patrol the region is the most acceptable and effective solution towards ending piracy in the long run. SOURCE: Stanford Journal of International Relations // Stanford University

U.S. Alliances and Emerging Partnerships in Southeast Asia

Mon, 13 Jul 2009 12:41:53 -0700

Hillary Clinton’s visit to Indonesia on her first trip abroad as U.S. secretary of state signaled that the Obama administration intends to pay renewed attention to Southeast Asia, a region with over 550 million people, the world’s largest Muslim nation, an economy of over $1 trillion, and some of the world’s most strategic waterways. This is a welcome development due to the significance of U.S. interests in the region. U.S.–Southeast Asia trade amounts to over $200 billion annually, and U.S. cumulative investment in the region is valued at over $100 billion. Perhaps more importantly, Southeast Asia is a region likely to play a critical role in determining the future of Asia and whether the United States can sustain itself as an Asia-Pacific power. Enhanced U.S. engagement with Southeast Asia will naturally involve greater attention to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and other multilateral forums, but key U.S. interests in the region will continue to be pursued through bilateral partnerships. This will include not only U.S. treaty allies—Thailand and the Philippines—but also key emerging players, particularly Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and Vietnam. This report assesses the health and potential of these partnerships and offers recommendations to incoming policymakers as they consider the way forward in U.S. policy toward the region. SOURCE: Center for Strategic and International Studies

Anti-Piracy in Somalia: Models for Maritime Security Institutions

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 16:28:54 -0700

There is an emerging consensus on how to deal with piracy off Somalia and in the Gulf of Aden: improve security on land and establish a strong national security apparatus in Somalia. Can the "Malacca Strait" approach be a model? The Kuala Lumpur International Conference on Piracy and Crimes at Sea was convened on 18-19 May 2009, organised by the Malaysian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It was attended by government officials, as well as experts from inter-governmental organisations, shipping and insurance industries, and academics. The conference was to provide an update on the situation concerning piracy and armed robbery against ships off the coast of Somalia and in the Gulf of Aden. At the conference, two officials from Somalia reiterated the need for international support for the efforts of the coalition led by the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia. They urged more international support for Somalia to build up its security establishment to ensure order on land as well as good order at sea. If indeed there is a will to build up the maritime security institutions in Somalia, then some of the security measures and institutions established by the littoral states along the Malacca could be used as models. SOURCE: S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies // A Graduate School of Nanyang Technological University

The Best Guide for Gitmo? Look to Singapore

Sat, 23 May 2009 20:06:30 -0700

What to do with the Guantanamo detainees? Uncertainty resurfaced last week, as the Obama administration backed away from earlier statements on U.S. anti-terrorism policies. The president reversed a decision to release photographs of alleged detainee abuse. Then he decided to keep the military commissions for trying terrorist suspects. The White House is now reportedly considering plans to detain some suspects on U.S. soil indefinitely, without trial. As the administration struggles over the fate of the 241 remaining detainees in its charge, it may want to look to an old Asian ally for a hand. Meet Ustaz Ibrahim Kassim, one of Singapore's most respected Islamic scholars. His business card describes him as "Assistant Registrar of Muslim Marriages." But Kassim is engaged in a more important enterprise. He is part of his country's innovative program to fend off the threat of Islamic extremism. "We are not scared of [the terrorists]," says Kassim, an older gentleman with a face framed by a neatly trimmed white beard. "We know that history repeats itself, but these problems do not need to be passed on." SOURCE: Carnegie Endowment for International Peace // The Washington Post

Indonesia: Radicalisation of the "Palembang Group"

Sat, 23 May 2009 18:41:16 -0700

Indonesia has earned well-deserved praise for its handling of home-grown extremism, but the problem has not gone away. In April 2009, ten men involved in a jihadi group in Palembang, South Sumatra, were sent to prison on terrorism charges for killing a Christian teacher and planning more ambitious attacks. Their history provides an unusually detailed case study of radicalisation – the process by which law-abiding individuals become willing to use violence to achieve their goals. The sobering revelation from Palembang is how easy that transformation can be if the right ingredients are present: a core group of individuals, a charismatic leader, motivation and opportunity. Another ingredient, access to weapons, is important but not essential: the Palembang group carried out its first attack with a hammer and only later moved to making bombs. The group was uncovered by accident. Singaporean authorities and Interpol had mounted an international manhunt for a fugitive Singaporean member of the regional jihadi organisation Jemaah Islamiyah (JI), Mohammad Hassan bin Saynudin alias Fajar Taslim. Indonesian counter-terrorism police were separately pursuing the network of the elusive Malaysian terrorist Noordin Mohammed Top. Both searches led to Palembang in 2006 and the targets turned out to be linked. The Singaporean had helped turn a local non-violent religious study circle into a militant jihadi group that then made contact with the Noordin network. By 2007, the men were under surveillance; by mid-2008 they were under arrest. SOURCE: International Crisis Group

Protecting Human Rights, Safeguarding Democracy? The Records of the Top 25 Recipients of U.S. Arms in the Developing World

Wed, 10 Dec 2008 13:49:20 -0800

This table is part of the larger "U.S. Weapons at War 2008" report. For the full document, please see http://www.humansecuritygateway.info/showRecord.php?RecordId=27517 SOURCE: New America Foundation

Iraq: Foreign Contributions to Stabilization and Reconstruction

Fri, 05 Sep 2008 14:05:18 -0700

U.S. policymakers have made securing and maintaining foreign contributions to the stabilization and reconstruction of Iraq a major priority since the preparation period for the launch of Operation Iraqi Freedom in March 2003. This report highlights and discusses important changes in financial and personnel contributions from foreign governments to Iraq since 2003. To date, foreign donors have pledged an estimated $16.4 billion in grants and loans for Iraq reconstruction, with most major pledges originating at a major donors' conference in Madrid, Spain, in October 2003. However, only a small part of the pledges have been committed or disbursed to the World Bank and United Nations Development Group Trust Funds for Iraq. The largest non-U.S. pledges of grants have come from Japan, the European Commission, the United Kingdom, Canada, South Korea, and the United Arab Emirates. The World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, Japan, and Saudi Arabia have pledged the most loans and export credits. Currently, 33 countries including the United States have some level of troops on the ground in Iraq or supporting Iraq operations from nearby locations. Those forces are working under the rubric of one of several organizations — the Multi-National Force-Iraq (MNF-I), the NATO Training Mission-Iraq (NTM-I); or the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI). Currently, the largest troop contributors, in addition to the United States, are the United Kingdom, Georgia, Australia, South Korea, and Poland. Some of these key contributors have announced their intention to reduce or withdraw their forces from Iraq during 2008. The total number of non-U.S. coalition troop contributions has declined since the early stabilization efforts, as other countries have withdrawn their contingents or substantially reduced their size. SOURCE: Congressional Research Service

The Impact of Terrorism and Conflicts on Growth in Asia

Tue, 26 Aug 2008 14:13:52 -0700

This paper quantifies the impact of terrorism and conflicts on income per capita growth in Asia for 1970–2004. Our panel estimations show that transnational terrorist attacks had a significant growth-limiting effect. Transnational terrorism reduces growth by crowding in government expenditures. An internal conflict has the greatest growth concern, about twice that of transnational terrorism. For developing Asian countries, intrastate and interstate wars have a much greater impact than terrorism does on the crowding-in of government spending. Policy recommendations indicate the need for rich Asian countries to assist their poorer neighbors in coping with the negative growth consequences of political violence. Failure to assist may result in region-wide repercussions. Conflict and terrorism in one country can create production bottlenecks with region-wide economic consequences. International and nongovernmental organizations as well as developed Western countries and regions could assist at-risk Asian countries with attack prevention and post-attack recovery. This study has six purposes. First, and foremost, we present panel estimates for a sample of 42 Asian countries to quantify the impact of terrorism and conflicts on income per capita growth for 1970–2004. Panel estimation methods control for country-specific and timespecific unobserved heterogeneity. Second, we distinguish the influence of terrorism on economic growth from that of internal and external conflicts. Third, these influences are investigated for cohorts of developed and developing countries to ascertain whether development can better allow a country to absorb the impact of political violence. Fourth, econometric estimations relate violence-induced growth reductions to two pathways— reduced investment and increased government expenditures. Fifth, a host of diagnostic and sensitivity tests to support our empirical specifications. Last, we draw some policy conclusions. SOURCE: Asian Development Bank Institute

Itinéraire de Trafiquant: Le Réseau Malais au Sud de Singapour

Wed, 11 Jun 2008 10:12:43 -0700

Dans le cadre de son doctorat, l'auteur a eu l'occasion de rencontrer quelques aventureux Indonésiens, lointains héritiers des thalassocraties indianisés et des sultanats malais, qui perpétuent les liens pluriséculaires entre les deux rives du détroit de Malacca. Il revient ici sur le cursus de ces trafiquants sumatranais, depuis les rizières asséchées où naissent le besoin et les vocations, jusqu'aux petits villages où les contrebandes s'organisent. SOURCE: Revue de la Sécurité Humaine - Centre d'études et de recherches internationales - Sciences Po

Shangri-La Dialogue 2008, grand messe de la sécurité en Asie

Wed, 04 Jun 2008 16:11:21 -0700

Edition 2008. Réunis le temps d’un week-end (30 mai– 1er juin) dans le confort du Shangri-La Hotel de Singapour — un cadre propice à l’étude des grands enjeux contemporains de sécurité en Asie…—, les représentants des 27 délégations officielles ont honoré de leur présence et enrichi de leurs réflexions ce 7eme rendez-vous annuel, plus connu sous le vocable informel de Shangri-La Dialogue. Un forum annuel unique en son genre en Asie, organisé par le prestigieux International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) londonien, lequel célébrait au passage son demi-siècle d’existence de fort belle manière. Evénement sur lequel les médias occidentaux s’arrêtent de coutume fort peu, ce « sommet » aux atours moins protocolaires concentre deux jours durant une somme inédite de décideurs politiques (ministres ; parlementaires) et militaires (officiers d’état-major), d’experts (institutions internationales ; fonctionnaires ; chercheurs), d’hommes d’affaires et de journalistes autour d’une pléiade de séances plénières, de tables rondes et de débats publics (et de réunions plus restreintes...). La diversité et le sérieux des thèmes abordés (voir p.2), la qualité des intervenants et des échanges, les inévitables « déclarations » collatérales et autres réactions « à chaud », justifient qu’on lui consacre ci-après quelque attention. SOURCE: Institut de Relations Internationales et Stratégiques

Who's Left in Afghanistan?

Mon, 31 Mar 2008 11:24:10 -0700

Thousands of international troops remain in Afghanistan, but some members of this coalition are more willing than others. FP looks at whose militaries are pulling their weight—and who could do far more. SOURCE: Foreign Policy

Importance of Partnership in Countering the Financing of Terrorism

Mon, 10 Mar 2008 13:04:32 -0700

Despite stringent security and financial measures, terrorists and their financiers continue to raise and move funds through the formal financial system. The emerging threat of "home-grown" terrorism has added a new dimension to the mounting challenge in Countering the Financing of Terrorism (CFT). More effective counter-measures are urgently needed to boost better awareness and capability. Singapore, a global financial hub, is taking the lead in this proactive initiative. SOURCE: Nanyang Technological University // S Rajaratnam School of International Studies

The State of Jemaah Islamiyah: Terrorism and Insurgency in Southeast Asia Five Years After Bali

Fri, 21 Dec 2007 14:26:47 -0800

It has been five years since the devastating terrorist attacks by Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) in Bali killed some 202 people, making it the most lethal terrorist attack since 9/11. In the three years that followed, JI perpetrated attacks on an annual basis. Since the most recent attacks in October 2005, JI has suffered a string of defeats, including the November 2005 killing of its master bomb-maker, Dr. Azahari bin Husin. Since then, JI has not been able to perpetrate a major terrorist attack against western targets, though it has reached advanced stages of planning before being thwarted. In June 2007, JI’s two senior-most leaders, Abu Dujana and Nu’aim, were arrested, a blow that raised questions about the group’s future. This article, the first in a series on the state of terrorism and insurgency in Southeast Asia, will identify JI’s prospects in the coming years and explain the group’s resiliency. SOURCE: Jebsen Center for Counter-terrorism Studies

The United States Army in Asia: Legacies of the Past, Present Challenges, and Prospects for the Future

Wed, 24 Oct 2007 03:46:59 -0700

CNAC's Center for Strategic Studies sponsored a day-long conference, "The United States Army in Asia: Legacies of the Past, Present Challenges, and Prospects for the Future," as part of the U.S. Army's Dwight D. Eisenhower National Security Series. The conference featured presentations by scholars, former military officials, and researchers from CNAC as well as The American Enterprise Institute, The Brookings Institution, The Congressional Research Service, The Heritage Foundation, The Hudson Institute, and The U.S. Army Military History Institute SOURCE: CNA Corporation

The Growing Prospects for Maritime Security Cooperation in Southeast Asia

Wed, 24 Oct 2007 03:46:15 -0700

This article discusses the threats to maritime security in Southeast Asia, describes the factors tending toward strengthened maritime security cooperation, and argues that networks of bilateral relationships may be more fruitful than purely multilateral arrangements. The first section, a historical overview of maritime cooperation in Southeast Asia from the end of the Cold War through December 2004, is followed by a survey of contemporary maritime security threats. The article then discusses five significant factors that now favor improved maritime cooperation. It concludes with the various forms that future cooperation might take and speculation as to which are mostly likely in light of evolving state interests and constraints. SOURCE: Naval War College

Asie de l'Est et Pacifique

Wed, 24 Oct 2007 03:46:04 -0700

Le 15 aoxc3xbbt 2005, le Gouvernement indonésien et le Gerakan Aceh Merdeka (mouvement de libération d'Aceh) ont signé un mémorandum d'accord confirmant leur volonté de trouver une solution pacifique, globale et durable au conflit qui sévit dans la province de Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam. Il est Ã espérer que l'application de cet accord permettra le rapatriement dans la sécurité et la dignité des habitants de la province qui vivent actuellement Ã l'étranger, et en particulier en Malaisie, oxc3xb9 quelque 20 000 d'entre eux sont recensés par l'UNHCR. L'Organisation se tient prxc3xaate Ã venir en aide Ã toutes les parties concernées, dans la limite de ses responsabilités et de ses compétences. Toujours en Indonésie, l'UNHCR a participé Ã l'intervention interorganisations menée dans la province de Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam Ã la suite du tremblement de terre et du tsunami survenus dans l'océan Indien le 26 décembre 2004. Aprxc3xa8s s'xc3xaatre retiré d'Aceh Ã la fin de la phase d'urgence, enmars 2005, l'UNHCR est retourné dans la région en juin 2005, Ã l'invitation du Gouvernement indonésien. Ses efforts porteront principalement sur l'aide Ã la réhabilitation et Ã la reconstruction dans la province de Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam et sur l'xc3xaele de Nias, au nord de Sumatra, oxc3xb9 une assistance immédiate a été fournie Ã quelque 20 000 personnes victimes du tremblement de terre du 28 mars 2005. SOURCE: L'Agence des Nations Unies Pour Les Refugies

Rhetoric vs. Reality: ASEAN's Clouded Future

Wed, 24 Oct 2007 03:46:04 -0700

Last October, at the Ninth Summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Bali, the leaders of the organization formally declared their aim of establishing a security community in Southeast Asia by the year 2020. The declaration serves as a bold statement of the ASEAN members' attempts to rejuvenate an institution at once plagued by internal paralysis and subject #to assault from the forces of Islamic radicalism. Hopes are high within ASEAN. As ASEAN Deputy Secretary-General Wilfrido Villacorta noted: "This security communityxe2x80xa6[will] strengthen national and regional capacity to counter terrorism, drug trafficking, trafficking in persons and transnational crime." This is not mere rhetoric. In early March this year, the ASEAN foreign ministers met in Vietnam's scenic Halong Bay to make headway on initiatives to build a security community. One idea under serious consideration is the establishment of an ASEAN peacekeeping force. An increasing number of scholars and the organization itself argue that ASEAN should strive to realize the goal of a forming a security community. SOURCE:

Jemaah Islamiyah

Wed, 24 Oct 2007 03:46:02 -0700

Jemaah Islamiyah ("Islamic community" in Arabic) is a militant group active in Southeast Asia and dedicated to establishing a Muslim fundamentalist state in the region. The group has been blamed for the Bali bombings in October 2002, the Marriott hotel bombing in Jakarta in August 2003, the bombing of the Australian Embassy in Jakarta in September 2004 and a series of bombings elsewhere in Indonesia and the Philippines. SOURCE: Canadian Broadcasting Corporation

Dire Strait? Energy Security in the Strait of Malacca

Wed, 24 Oct 2007 03:44:43 -0700

A narrow waterway dividing Sumatra and western Malaysia, the Strait of Malacca is a hub of global trade and one of the world's busiest sea lanes. But piracy and terrorism may jeopardize the safe transport of freighters, potentially threatening the region's energy security and increasing the risk of pollution from security measures like controlled burns for land clearing. Summary, presentations, and video online. SOURCE: Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars // Environmental Change and Security Project

Foreign Terrorist Organizations

Wed, 24 Oct 2007 03:43:59 -0700

SOURCE: Congressional Research Service

Private Security Companies in the Fight Against Piracy in Asia

Wed, 24 Oct 2007 03:43:59 -0700

We live in an increasingly privatised world. Today, private companies offer services for every aspect of life, including the security and military sector. It should, therefore, be far from surprising that so-called Private Security Companies (PSCs) are also employed to secure the world's oceans. In fact, in the last ten years an increasing number of private companies offering anti-piracy services have surfaced and expanded. Despite their growing numbers, there is a number of problems and controversies surrounding the services offered and the organisation and characteristics of these companies. SOURCE: Asia Research Centre // Murdoch University

Burden Sharing, Security and Equity in the Straits of Malacca

Wed, 24 Oct 2007 03:43:39 -0700

In 2005, more than 62,000 ships sailed through the Straits of Malacca, one of the world's busiest and most important shipping lanes. Linking East and Southeast Asia with the world, one third of world trade and half of global oil pass through the Straits. With projected growth in global trade and the rise of East Asian economies, financial demands can be expected to grow on the littoral statesxe2x80x94namely Malaysia, Indonesia and Singaporexe2x80x94to ensure navigation safety and control marine pollution. In addition, the heightened perception of risk to ships traversing the Straits due to threats of piracy and terrorism has led to increased security costs. Considering that an estimated 80% of vessels traversing the Straits are on transit, the littoral states have called for burden sharing in various meetings and conferences over the years. However, there has been little follow-up by the stakeholders to collectively address the issue, and still less effort to come up with an acceptable and workable operating mechanism. Drawing on presentations at the recent International Maritime Organization Meeting (IMO) in Kuala Lumpur, this article presents a case for burden sharing in the Straits. SOURCE: Japan Focus

Promoting Human Security: Ethical, Normative and Educational Frameworks in East Asia

Wed, 24 Oct 2007 03:43:17 -0700

xe2x80x98Human securityxe2x80x98 is clearly a growing and evolving concept in the discourse of global security. Over the last decade, with increasing attention from the political and academic community, the concept of human security has developed into a major issue of debate as it transcends the traditional concept of state security and gives individual security precedence over territorial security. Within East Asia, the concept of human security has not yet been established, and thus has not been considered as a security concern. East Asia itself is a vast region, stretching from Korea, Japan and China in the north to Myanmar, Indonesia and Singapore in the south, including at least fifteen countries where about 40 per cent of the world population lives. The region as a whole has experienced many important and fundamental changes since the 1960s, not only in terms of economic growth but also in terms of political and social transformation. It is also the centre of major concerns about human rights abuses, poverty, refugee problems, human and drug trafficking, HIV/AIDS, environmental degradation and food insecurity, all of which increasingly threaten the security and order of East Asia. SOURCE: United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization

Assessment for Malays in Singapore

Wed, 24 Oct 2007 03:43:10 -0700

The Malays are widely dispersed across the small island state of Singapore. Most group members immigrated to the country after 1945, mainly from Indonesia but also from Malaysia. In the north, Singapore is separated from southern Malaysia by a narrow strait of water and in the south it is in close proximity to Indonesia. While Malays are the majority in both states, the Chinese are economically dominant in Malaysia and Indonesia. Group me#mbers speak Malay in contrast to Mandarin Chinese, the language spoken by majority who constitute about 77% of Singapore's population. In addition, the Malays are Sunni Muslims while the Chinese are either Buddhists or Christians. The two communities have different social customs and although they are from different racial backgrounds there has been substantial intermixture. Singapore also has minority Indian and European populations. The Malays have two of the four factors that increase the chances of future protest: significant political and cultural restrictions and the transitional nature of Singapore's political system. Whether the Chinese-dominated People's Action Party is willing to allow for greater Malay political participation along with helping to further the group=s economic status will likely influence the future course of Malay activism. SOURCE: Minorities at Risk Project // Center for International Development and Conflict Management // University of Maryland

Stabilizing and Rebuilding Iraq: Coalition Support and International Donor Commitments

Wed, 24 Oct 2007 03:43:01 -0700

In March 2003, a U.S.-led multinational force began operations in Iraq. At that time, 48 nations, identified as a "coalition of the willing," offered political, military, and financial support for U.S. efforts in Iraq, with 38 nations other than the United States providing troops. In addition, international donors met in Madrid in October 2003 to pledge funding for the reconstru#ction of Iraq's infrastructure, which had deteriorated after multiple wars and decades of neglect under the previous regime. This testimony discusses (1) the troop commitments other countries have made to operations in Iraq, (2) the funding the United States has provided to support other countries' participation in the multinational force, and (3) the financial support international donors have provided to Iraq reconstruction efforts. SOURCE: Government Accountability Office

Terrorism in Southeast Asia

Wed, 24 Oct 2007 03:42:50 -0700

Since September 2001, the United States has been concerned with radical Islamist groups in Southeast Asia, particularly those in the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Singapore that are known to have ties to the Al Qaeda terrorist network. Southeast Asia is a base for past, current, and possibly future Al Qaeda operations. For nearly fifteen years, Al Qaeda has penetrated the region by establishing local cells, training Southeast Asians in its camps in Afghanistan, and by financing and cooperating with indigenous radical Islamist groups. Indonesia and the southern Philippines have been particularly vulnerable to penetration by anti-American Islamic terrorist groups. SOURCE: Congressional Research Service

Southeast Asia and the Brotherhood of Terrorism

Wed, 24 Oct 2007 03:42:25 -0700

Throughout Asia there are terrorist organizations, insurgencies, and revolutionaries of all kinds. However, what sets terrorist groups operating in Southeast Asia apart is the intimate nature of cooperation among groups. Although insurgent groups in Southeast Asia's terrorist brotherhood do not share the same goals, their cooperation across national boundaries creates an economy of scale for logistics, training, and safe havens. For example, Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) and the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) have trained with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in camps in the southern Philippines; GAM smuggles weapons with the Thai terrorist group Pattani United Liberation Organization (PULO), and many terrorists use regional connections to move from country to country. Many groups in Southeast Asia's terrorist brotherhood, such as GAM, PULO, Gerakan Mujahideen Islam Pattani (GMIP), Kampulan Militan Malaysia (KMM), Majelis Mujahidin Indonesia (MMI), Laskar Jihad, Indonesian Islamic Liberation Front (IILF) and the MILF, do not appear on the U.S. State Department's or the United Nations' list of Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTO). This oversight has implications for the effectiveness of anti-terrorist strategies in the region because current policies attack only a portion of the terrorist network. Countries in Southeast Asia and the broader international community must identify the full magnitude of the terrorist system and apply anti-terrorist policies toward destroying the entire network. The U.S. government should correct this oversight by updating the FTO to include all of Southeast Asia's terrorist groups and indicating the close links between these organizations. SOURCE: Heritage Foundation

HIV/AIDS in Singapore

Wed, 24 Oct 2007 03:41:29 -0700

SOURCE: HIV InSite Database of Country and Regional Indicators // Center for HIV Information // University of California San Francisco

Security in the Straits of Malacca

Wed, 24 Oct 2007 03:41:23 -0700

The Straits of Malacca is one of the world's busiest and most important shipping lanes. It is a vital artery linking the region's economy with the rest of the world. Carrying a third of world trade and half of its oil supplies, security in the Straits is a concern of everyone with a stake in the waterway. Located in one of the world's most vibrant economic growth areas, the Straits is a pivotal link in international trade and transportation. It is therefore not surprising that security in the Straits is a matter of grave concern among the littoral states and internationally. This article offers an holistic perspective on security in the Straits of Malacca. It attempts to counter the tendency by some analysts to view security in the Straits from the restrictive lens of piracy and terrorism, two issues which have dominated discourse on the subject of late. It lays out the extent of the challenges faced by the littoral states in managing security in the Straits and advocates a comprehensive approach in carrying out the task. SOURCE: Japan Focus

Where the War on Terror is Succeeding

Wed, 24 Oct 2007 03:41:20 -0700

Today, less than five years after the attack on Bali, the situation in Southeast Asia has changed dramatically. Across the region, jihadist groups like Abu Sayyaf and Jemaah Islamiah are struggling to survive, Islamist parties seem to be weakening, and the region's newest leaders openly wage war on terror. Moreover, the United States has played a leading role in these successes, and it has done so without creating much in the way of an anti-American reaction. Indeed, Southeast Asia is proving to be a model for the "long war" against Islamist terror. The lessons of its recent progress deserve to be studied closely. SOURCE: Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

Transnational Threats Update Vol. 2, No. 6

Wed, 24 Oct 2007 03:41:15 -0700

SOURCE: Center for Strategic and International Studies

Singapore: A Human Rights Report on Trafficking of Persons, Especially Women and Children

Wed, 24 Oct 2007 03:41:13 -0700

Singapore is a country of destination for trafficked women, growing numbers of whom are arriving illegally from Indonesia, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. Syndicates in Singapore and the Philippines lure young Filipino women with promises of high-paying jobs as singers, actresses, and boutique assistants but force them into prostitution instead. The women often say that they were beaten into submission or were told that they had to pay back airfare and "accommodation fees." Often, they are confined to red-light districts designated by the police, who closely regulate prostitution and discourage public solicitation and pimping. SOURCE: Protection Project // School of Advanced International Studies // Johns Hopkins University

The pipeline that may just change the littoral states' destiny

Wed, 24 Oct 2007 03:41:10 -0700

This week, a deal was signed that might just change the destiny of some East Asian countries. The deal involved a US$7 billion 300 km pipeline to be laid across northern Malaysia (from Kedah state on the northwestern coast to Kelantan state in the northeast) that will divert up to a third of oil now being carried through the Malacca Strait. Work will begin next year looking for completion in 2014. Expectations are that the pipeline would be made profitable by the demand from oil-hungry China. The challenge now is to determine whether it is cheaper to transport oil by the proposed pipeline or by tankers to Singapore. Another issue raised is whether Islamic insurgencies in Southern Thailand which is a stone's throw away from the pipeline would be as destabilizing as piracy in the Straits of Malacca. Many in the industry will be watching closely. SOURCE: Singapore Institute of International Affairs

Human Trafficking: Singapore

Wed, 24 Oct 2007 03:41:03 -0700

Singapore is a destination country for a limited number of women and girls trafficked for the purpose of sexual exploitation. Some of the women and girls from the People's Republic of China, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Vietnam who travel to Singapore voluntarily for prostitution or non-sexual work are deceived or coerced into sexual servitude in the city-state. A small minority of foreign domestic workers in Singapore face seriously abusive labor conditions that amount to involuntary servitude, a severe form of trafficking. SOURCE: Humantrafficking.org

Demographics and Security in Maritime Southeast Asia

Wed, 24 Oct 2007 03:41:01 -0700

With a population of about 325 million, Maritime Southeast Asia xe2x80x94 Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Singapore xe2x80x94 is an area of significant economic and security interests for the United States. These interests are four fold. First, the United States seeks to maintain open sea lanes through the region, especially through the Straits of Malacca, through which much Persian Gulf oil is shipped to East Asia. Second, the moderate Islam practiced in the region can help offset radical Islamist movements elsewhere. Third, Washington seeks to prevent terrorist infrastructure from developing in the dense jungles of the #region. And fourth, the United States needs to build strong strategic relationships in the region to assure access for American air and naval forces. This article analyzes how demographic factors are affecting the security environment of Southeast Asia and examines the resulting security implications for the United States. SOURCE: RAND Corporation

Southeast Asian Maritime Security in the Age of Terror: Threats, Opportunity, and Charting the Course Forward

Wed, 24 Oct 2007 03:40:54 -0700

At the beginning of 2005, Southeast Asian security cooperation is still regarded as inadequate to defend the region against maritime threats. However, structural, economic and normative factors are enabling greater cooperation in the post-9/11 "Age of Terror". This article opens with a brief outline of the history of Southeast Asian maritime security cooperation from 1990 to December 2004, and then discusses the various maritime threats faced by the region. It next describes five factors that are enabling greater maritime security cooperation in the Age of Terror. The potential application of those factors is assessed to anticipate the most likely forms of future regional cooperation. While cooperation will expand on many levels the most fruitful cooperation will result from improved networks of bilateral relationships. Information in this working paper will be of interest to those seeking to understand the cooperation and security dynamics of this important and intensely maritime region. It should be of specific interest to those policymakers seeking to improve international cooperation to combat Southeast Asian transnational maritime threats such as terrorism, piracy and smuggling. SOURCE: Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies // Nanyang Technological University

Singapore: The death penalty: A hidden toll of executions

Wed, 24 Oct 2007 03:40:52 -0700

This report calls on the government of Singapore to abolish the use of the death penalty. Singapore is believed to have the world's highest per capita execution rate, relative to its population. The report argues that the death penalty is an ineffective deterrent to criminal behaviour and often falls disproportionately and arbitrarily on the most marginalized or vulnerable members of society. SOURCE: Amnesty International

Rivalry in the China Sea

Wed, 24 Oct 2007 03:40:42 -0700

Coveted for its hydrocarbon resources and its geographical location on the main international sea routes, the Spratly archipelago is a focus for the ambitions of the southeast Asian countries. By unilaterally asserting its sovereignty over the greater part of the China Sea, in a law adopted in February 1992, China sought to strengthen its great-power credentials and its control of the region. Sources : Virginie and Sonia Raisson, Lépac, Paris. SOURCE: Le Monde Diplomatique