ID :
47959
Fri, 02/27/2009 - 17:21
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/47959
The shortlink copeid
MILITARY ASSETS USED IN DISASTER RELIEF OPS IN ASEAN COUNTRIES
By D. Arul Rajoo
PATTAYA, Feb 27 (Bernama) -- Military assets and resources of Asean member
countries will be used in tackling non-traditional threats such as providing
natural disaster relief and curbing crime in border areas such as human and drug
trafficking.
Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said such
assistance, however, would only be provided after the country affected by the
natural disasters, such as the cyclone or tsunami, requested for it.
"For example during the tsunami in Sumatera (2004), we provided aid and this
was well received. So, any aid provided must not cause any problem," he told
Malaysian journalists covering the Asean Defence Ministers Meeting (ADMM), here
Thursday.
He said agreement on the use of the military assets was a follow-up to the
decision of the ADMM in Kuala Lumpur in 2005 which called on the defence sector
to also participate in the realisation of Asean's goal of forming a regional
community that was happy, peaceful, safe and stable.
Abdullah said the need to involve the military assets was in view of the
fact that the resources of the ordinary citizens were incapable of tackling
major natural disasters.
"The military assets referred to are boats and heavy machinery and not
armaments," he said.
Abdullah said the meeting had also agreed on the security forces to work
together with the police and other non-governmental organisations such as the
Red Crescent Association, or Rela in Malaysia, in efforts to tackle such
threats.
Asean secretary-general, Surin Pitsuwan earlier told a press conference that
militaries in the region should look at non-traditional threats such as
diseases, climate change and drug and human trafficking.
He said such threats might not be solved at the state level and could spill
over to the neighbouring countries.
"We have to prepare ourselves to face disasters which are becoming more
frequent in the region.
So we want to involve both military and non-govermental organisations in
humanitarian and relief works," he said.
-- BERNAMA
PATTAYA, Feb 27 (Bernama) -- Military assets and resources of Asean member
countries will be used in tackling non-traditional threats such as providing
natural disaster relief and curbing crime in border areas such as human and drug
trafficking.
Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said such
assistance, however, would only be provided after the country affected by the
natural disasters, such as the cyclone or tsunami, requested for it.
"For example during the tsunami in Sumatera (2004), we provided aid and this
was well received. So, any aid provided must not cause any problem," he told
Malaysian journalists covering the Asean Defence Ministers Meeting (ADMM), here
Thursday.
He said agreement on the use of the military assets was a follow-up to the
decision of the ADMM in Kuala Lumpur in 2005 which called on the defence sector
to also participate in the realisation of Asean's goal of forming a regional
community that was happy, peaceful, safe and stable.
Abdullah said the need to involve the military assets was in view of the
fact that the resources of the ordinary citizens were incapable of tackling
major natural disasters.
"The military assets referred to are boats and heavy machinery and not
armaments," he said.
Abdullah said the meeting had also agreed on the security forces to work
together with the police and other non-governmental organisations such as the
Red Crescent Association, or Rela in Malaysia, in efforts to tackle such
threats.
Asean secretary-general, Surin Pitsuwan earlier told a press conference that
militaries in the region should look at non-traditional threats such as
diseases, climate change and drug and human trafficking.
He said such threats might not be solved at the state level and could spill
over to the neighbouring countries.
"We have to prepare ourselves to face disasters which are becoming more
frequent in the region.
So we want to involve both military and non-govermental organisations in
humanitarian and relief works," he said.
-- BERNAMA
