Bahrain: Middle East and Asian nations should pool their resources to address radicalization, which leads to religious extremism and terrorism.
Deputy Prime Minister S. Jayakumar made this point in a speech at the 2005 Gulf Dialogue here yesterday, saying: "Both Asia and the Gulf face a common security threat - international terrorism. And it can only be defeated through our common efforts."
He said security and stability provide the basis for development and underpin current and future economic success.
It is not enough for countries to focus on comprehensive physical measures, he said, and warned that if they fail to properly address the 'ideology' of the extremists, they will not win the fight against terrorism.
He suggested three areas in which governments could enhance cooperation against terrorism: prevention, intervention and response.
After 11 September, countries have rightly concentrated on putting in place the urgent physical and operational security measures, such as strengthening security in the aviation, maritime, port and mass rapid transport sectors, he said.
Countries have also reviewed their internal laws and organizational structures to deal promptly with terrorist challenges, he said.
Prof Jayakumar said all these measures have led to significant progress in disrupting Al-Qa'idah and Jemaah Islamiyah networks.
However, there is also an equal urgency to deal with the ideological aspects of radicalism and terrorism which lead to religious extremism and the commission of terrorist acts, he said.
It is only recently that countries are beginning to recognize the problem.
DPM Jayakumar, who is also the Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Law, gave several examples and shared Singapore's experience on the Religious Rehabilitation Group. He also noted that some other countries have taken similar approaches, including Indonesia and Malaysia.
DPM Jayakumar said countries in the Gulf and other Middle East countries are also tackling this issue.
As there is growing realization that the ideological aspect is an equally important area, countries in the Middle East and Asia can now work towards greater cooperation in this area, he said.
