Violence in Marawi condemned
KUALA LUMPUR: Defence ministers from all 10 Asean member countries condemned the attack by the Maute Group in Marawi City in the Philippines as it had led to casualties, destruction of properties and the displacement of people.
Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said this was made clear in a “Joint Statement of Special Asean Defence Ministers’ Meeting on Countering Violent Extremism (CVE), Radicalisation and Terrorism”.
He said this during an informal meeting between Japan and Asean defence ministers at the 11th Asean Defence Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM) and 4th Asean Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus (ADMM-Plus) in Clark, Pampanga, the Philippines, yesterday.
Hishammuddin said all Asean defence ministers agreed that terrorism had multiple dimensions, manifestations and causes, and respects no national boundaries in the ADMM chaired by Philippines Defence Secretary Delfin Negrillo Lorenzana, including the Asean secretary-general.
The ADMM is an annual platform which serves as an opportunity for Asean defence ministers to discuss regional security and defence matters of common concern.
Before the ADMM, Malaysia took the initiative to organise a Special Breakfast Meeting to discuss “Countering violent extremism, radicalisation and terrorism” with representatives from Asean member countries.
Lorenzana had also briefed on developments in Marawi, where hours after, he announced the end to fighting in the city.
Hishammuddin, in the meetings over the past four days, which began on Oct 23, had also conveyed Malaysia’s concern about the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Bangladesh.
“We in Asean simply cannot ignore this situation as the Rohingya and all affected communities are highly vulnerable targets, ripe for the prospect of radicalisation by extremist groups in the region.
“We must never give Islamic State a lifeline to recruit new fighters as the group may be looking to weaponise these refugees and other vulnerable immigrant populations.”
The South China Sea issue was discussed on the sidelines between the Asean defence ministers and China Defence Minister General Chang Wanquan.
“I emphasised that these waters must remain neutral, free and open, safe and commercially navigable, without any concerns of militarisation or hostility.”
In the informal meeting with the United States, Hishammuddin said the focus of the talks was on the recent attack in Marawi and the possibility of IS infiltrating the Rohingya humanitarian crisis in Bangladesh.
Hishammuddin also said the US Defence Secretary James Mattis lauded the trilateral cooperative arrangement, a joint effort undertaken by Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines to secure the Sulu seas.