Indonesian Chief Security Minister Wiranto speaks at the conference (Photo: EPA/VNA) Jakarta(VNA) – Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Australia, New Zealand and Bruneihave agreed to intensify cooperation in combating terrorism following theself-proclaimed Islamic State (IS) militants’ attacks in the southernPhilippines, said a senior Indonesian official.
Indonesian ChiefSecurity Minister Wiranto announced the information after attending asub-regional meeting on foreign terrorist fighters and cross-border terrorismin Manado city of North Sulawesi province at the weekend.
According to theofficial, the meeting agreed to establish a forum on counter foreign terroristswith a view to strengthening cooperation and sharing information among lawenforcement and intelligence agencies.
The countries agreedto collaborate with firms providing social media services, video file sharingand messaging to monitor the presence of terrorists or counter their moves, he said.
They also consentedto conduct a comparative study on terrorism in each nation, and step upcooperation among institutions to block financing of terrorists, Wiranto added.
He disclosedthat a further sub-regional meeting would be held next year.
The meeting tookplace at a time when the IS militants are expanding its influence to SoutheastAsia, particularly their recent siege of Marawi city in the southern Philippines, killing more than 500 people and leaving the citydevastated by government air strikes against the militants.-VNA
VNA
