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APEC: Terrorism Top of Agenda
JAKARTA, Oct 15 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) - The Asia Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC) meeting in Shanghai, China, may focus its attention on the effects of terrorism and the war led by the U.S. against terror, sources said on Monday.
The source said APEC members have an ideal opportunity to show that the grouping can be more than just a talking shop, and that strong anti-terror measures might be announced after the meeting.
U.S. President George W. Bush is scheduled to participate at the meeting; the Chinese government has confirmed his participation.
The September 11th terrorist attacks in the United States led to unprecedented support from world governments for an international campaign against terror, including punitive strikes against terrorist strongholds.
The U.S. is using this support, made so far by 40 nations, with numbers are growing daily, to attack Afghanistan. Afghanistan is accused by the U.S. of harboring terrorists responsible for the September 11th attacks.
There has been speculation that leaders will use this opportunity to issue an unequivocal statement against terrorism, sending a signal to the perpetrators that their actions would not be tolerated.
However, some Muslim countries within APEC will probably also condemn the U.S.'s punitive strikes against the Afghans in which there have been civilian casualties, adding to the humanitarian catastrophe there.
Malaysia may voice its opposition to the air strikes against Kabul and other cities in Afghanistan. It may also get the support of Indonesia, behind the scenes, to urge the U.S. to stop the punitive strikes.
However, Malaysia has been in the limelight with accusations from the U.S. that it is still allowing al-Qaeda linked groups to operate there. The U.S. also said anthrax letters were sent from Malaysia to U.S. destinations, prompting the start of an inquiry in Malaysia.
An opposition source in Kuala Lumpur said it was "very odd that Malaysia is now targeted by the U.S."
"Malaysia has taken a rigid stance by not joining the U.S.-led coalition against Afghanistan. This is obviously the reason why they are putting the heat on Malaysia.
"I personally believe the anthrax story and the al-Qaeda linked networks in Malaysia are just propaganda stories concocted by the U.S. in order to bring Malaysia into the anti-Islam alliance," said the vocal member of the opposition.
Malaysia is a prominent member of APEC which groups Australia, Brunei, Canada, Hong Kong, China, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, the Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, the United States, and Vietnam. Thailand will chair and host the APEC summit in 2003.
It represents two-thirds of the global economy and two-thirds of the world's population. APEC was formed in 1989 in Canberra, Australia, and has grown to become the primary vehicle in the region to promote open trade, investment and economic cooperation.
Since the end of the Uruguay Round of global trade negotiations in 1994, APEC has staked out the high ground in terms of trade and investment liberalization.
With additional reporting by Kazi Mahmood
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