RP, Indonesia, Malaysia to discuss proposed anti-terrorism accord

Officials of Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines, all grappling with Muslim extremist violence, will meet this week in Manila to discuss a proposed anti-terrorism accord, an official said yesterday.

Deputy foreign ministers from the neighboring Asian countries will try to finalize a draft of the accord during a two-day conference starting today, Foreign Undersecretary Lauro Baja said.

Foreign ministers of the countries are hoping to sign the document in their annual meeting in Phuket, Thailand early next year.

Baja, who heads the Philippine delegation, said he was confident an anti-terrorism accord could be drafted.

The accord, first proposed by the Philippines, aims to intensify exchange of intelligence and border patrols to prevent and better deal with possible terrorist attacks, Baja said.

It calls for communications centers on the borders of the countries and the establishment of a communications system to allow forces from each county to rapidly react to intrusions by armed groups, according to a Philippine draft of the accord.