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Singapore Stands with U.S. Against Terrorism
JAKARTA, Sept 24 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) - Singapore on Monday strongly reaffirmed that it stood with the U.S. and the rest of the "civilized world" in the fight against terrorism.
Prime Minister of Singapore, Goh Chok Tong, said this was obvious even though Singapore has to manage both regional and domestic sensitivities in doing so.
Tong was speaking to a crowd of 15,000 people of all faiths at a candlelight memorial service at the National Stadium for the victims of the September 11th terrorist attacks in New York and Washington.
He said, "The perpetrators of these terrible crimes must be brought to justice and others deterred from contemplating such horrific acts.
"We will have regional and domestic sensitivities to manage. But we must accept risks for the sake of a better world."
He praised Americans for showing great strength in the face of disaster, remaining "uncowed, unbowed, determined not to let evil destroy their way of life."
"[U.S.] President [George W.] Bush has made it clear that this is a war against terrorism, not a fight against Islam, or Muslims, of whom there are over a million in the U.S." Actual figures of Muslims in the United States are estimated at over six million.
The U.S. would not be alone in fighting terrorism, he said, noting that citizens of about 80 countries had perished September 11th.
However, in Southeast Asia, the majority of the Muslim population, accounting over 250 million, comprising Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, Thailand and Indonesia, is said to be against any attack on Muslim countries.
Singapore is predominantly Chinese, totaling more than 75% of its four million people. Muslims of Malay, Arab and Indian origins accounts for 15% of the population.
Singapore is also surrounded by majority Muslim nations Malaysia and Indonesia, where anti-U.S. and pro-Osama bin Laden demonstrations have occurred.
One of Singapore's closest allies in the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) region, Thailand, is also finding it difficult to contain the rise of anti-U.S. sentiments among its roughly five million Muslim population.
However, Tong added in his speech that the current war against terrorism was a fight "between people who stand for civilized society, and those out to destroy it.
"It will be a long struggle to make the world safer from terrorism," he said.
He was supported by U.S. Ambassador Franklin L. Lavin who said that America was not against Islam or Arabs, and recalled the times U.S. servicemen had put their lives at risk to save Muslims in Kuwait, Bosnia and Kosovo.
"So let no one spread the falsehood that America is against the Islamic faith or against the Arab people."
During the vigil, representatives from the nine major religious groups in Singapore - including Buddhists, Muslims and Christians - prayed for the victims, and for unity and peace.
Mufti Syed Isa Semait said a prayer in English for the "innocent souls" of the victims, and asked God to "plant eternal love, peace and tranquility" in the hearts of all.
"Let us unite our hearts to make this world a safer one to live in," he said.
Heading a 600-strong contingent from Jamiyah Singapore, the Muslim group's president, Abu Bakar Naidin, said: "It's very good that we are all united and we all stand as one, showing sympathy for the victims' families."
There is a sizeable population of American expatriates living in Singapore.
With additional reporting by Kazi Mahmood
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