ASEAN condemns extremist groups

Malaysia and other ASEAN member nations yesterday condemned the violence and brutality of extremist organisations and radical groups around the world, taking issue in particular with the outlawed Islamic State (IS) militant movement which recently beheaded a Japanese citizen in Syria and is threatening another. Foreign Minister Anifah Aman said he and the other foreign ministers attending the ASEAN Foreign Minister’s Retreat agreed to denounce IS’ extremist actions, as well as its apparent beheading of a Japanese citizen Mr Haruna Yukawa.

“The ministers renewed our commitment to combat violent extremism, including through the Global Movement of Moderates (GMM),” he said, referring to the Malaysian government’s 2010 initiative to use moderation as the key to realising world peace.

The foreign ministers in ASEAN formally agreed to condemn the violence committed by the extremist groups in Iran and Syria, whose impact “increasingly poses a threat to all regions of the world.” “We denounce all unlawful acts of destruction, violence and terror in all its forms and manifestations, including the apparent barbaric murder of a Japanese hostage and continued detainment of another; underline the need to bring all the perpetrators of the reprehensible acts to justice, and call for the release of all hostages,” the resolution said.

It also reaffirmed ASEAN’s commitment to the full implementation of the ASEAN Convention on Counter Terrorism, the ASEAN Comprehensive Plan of Action on Counter Terrorism, and the relevant provisions of law and the UN charter.

Mr Anifah said Malaysia will convene an ASEAN Special Ministerial Meeting on Radicalism and Extremism. AGENCIES