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Countries pledge cross-border cooperation to tackle terrorism
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Closer cooperation -- Coordinating Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Minister Wiranto (center) shakes hands with UN Counterterrorism Committee deputy executive director Weixiong Chong (right) and ASEAN secretary general Le Luong Minh during the opening of the International Meeting on Counterterrorism in Nusa Dua, Bali, on Wednesday. (thejakartapost.com/Zul Trio Anggono)
T
he twenty countries in attendance at the International Meeting on Counterterrorism have agreed to strengthen cross border cooperation to tackle terrorist threats.
"We agreed there is a need to prevent cross-border movements of terrorists through closer intelligence cooperation and border security," said Coordinating Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Minister Wiranto, who chaired the meeting, in a press conference during the meeting on Wednesday.
He said countering the cross-border movement of terrorists needed cooperation among countries.
Ministers and senior officials from 23 countries, including Australia, Belgium, Singapore, the US and the Philippines, attended the International Meeting on Counterterrorism. Representatives of ASEAN, Interpol and the UN were also present.
Wiranto said all participating countries also agreed to encourage global information sharing and collaboration on deradicalization programs. They also called on the UN to increase its role in counterterrorism efforts and assistance in tackling the root problem of terrorism, as well as finalizing the comprehensive convention on international terrorism.
Wiranto explained that many important issues had been discussed during the meeting, including terrorist organizations’ use of digital technology to garner followers.
"Cyber technology should be utilized to prevent terrorist networks from using the internet as means of propaganda, recruitment, cyberattacks and cybercrime," Wiranto said.
He said the return of foreign fighters to their home countries would be monitored through intelligence cooperation and information sharing as well as border controls.
"Countering extreme ideology through counter narrative and deradicalization programs should be promoted. It is also important to strengthen practical cooperation to detect and deter terrorism financing," he stressed. (ebf)
