ASEAN ministers: JI now a major threat

MANADO, Indonesia — Foreign Affairs Secretary Blas Ople and other Asia-Pacific foreign ministers agreed here yesterday that the Jakarta-based Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) has become a major threat to the region.

The concern of Asia-Pacific countries over al Qaeda-linked terrorist groups was reportedly among the issues discussed during the recent 39-nation conference on human trafficking and transnational crime held in the resort island of Bali in Indonesia.

Ople said participating countries drew up measures and signed bilateral and multilateral agreements to counter terrorism and other transnational crimes.

"The framework has to be strengthened by its proper implementation."

Ople said Asia-Pacific foreign ministers agreed that JI is now a major threat to the region and that it has established a presence throughout the region.

"The foreign ministers also expressed appreciation that the Indonesian government has taken new efforts to deal with the JI," he said.

There is a need to review and amend agreements on joint border patrols between the Philippines and Indonesia following reports that JI members have entered Mindanao through the "backdoor," he added.

At least 300 JI members are said to be operating in several independent cells in the Philippines after undergoing training with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front at Camp Abubakar in Parang, Maguindanao and Buliok complex in Pikit, North Cotabato.

The JI has also been blamed for a number of terrorist bombings in Indonesia, particularly the attack on two night clubs in Bali last year that killed more than 200 people, half of them foreign tourists.

Meanwhile, Ople said there is need for a "permanent mechanism" to deal with poaching by Filpino and Indonesian fishermen in waters outside the territories of their countries.

Ople said most of the fishermen caught poaching have been employed by foreign capitalists who have "tremendously" profited from the ventures.

"These foreign capitalists profit from our marine resources while exploiting fishermen who end up in jail for sailing beyond their territorial limits," he said.

Consul General to Manado Reynaldo Martinez said six Filipino fishermen have been caught encroaching in waters off Ternate and another in Tarakan, both in Indonesia.

"These fihermen have to be brought to Biting first where they shall be detained," he said.

Early this year, Ople protested the arrest of about 55 Filipino fishermen whose boat was reportedly fired at by an Indonesian warship.

The fishermen were repatriated upon the intercession of Ople and Philippine Ambassador to Jakarta Rafael Seguis.