International Cooperation Needed to Combat Terrorism: AICHR

Jakarta, Jan 19 (Antara) - The ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) highlighted the need to establish cooperation between international security agencies to combat terrorism. "Recognizing terrorism as a regional challenge, the ASEAN has held a convention on eradicating terrorism, which covers aspects related to prevention, detection, and counterterrorism," former Indonesian representative for the AICHR Rafendi Djamin stated here on Tuesday. The convention was aimed at encouraging cooperation among ASEAN security officials responsible for handling transnational crimes. In this regard, Indonesia was represented by the national police's chief. In connection with the bombing and crossfire in Central Jakarta, last Thursday, orchestrated by a terrorist group allegedly affiliated to ISIS, Rafendi hoped that cooperation between security officials and the intelligence agencies of the ASEAN member countries would be strengthened. "As the attacks by ISIS increase, we need to intensify our cooperation, so that it would not recur. Adequate interception is required to thwart any act of terror," he emphasized. He also underlined the importance of terrorism prevention by upholding the principles of human rights, which include no torture and violation of privacy. Moreover, Southeast Asia is facing another threat from the Uighur Muslim minority from China who have a spirit of solidarity and a shallow point of view. He pointed out that the radical movement of Uighur needs to be tackled by improving domestic policies and increasing pressure from other countries to urge the Chinese authorities to solve the humanitarian conflict related to the Uighur people before it escalates into a larger terror threat. "Terrorism could only be overcome through international cooperation," Rafendi affirmed. ***2***