Asian Anti-Piracy Campaign To Begin In September
Josephine Roque - All Headline News Staff Writer Singapore (AHN) - Eleven Asian countries have signed and approved an agreement to fight piracy throughout the region. It will take effect in September. The Singapore ministry says it is "the first regional government-to-government agreement to combat piracy and armed robbery against ships in Asia." Countries included in the move are: Cambodia, Japan, Laos, Thailand, the Philippines, Myanmar, South Korea, Vietnam, India and Sri Lanka. Brunei is in the final process of approval. The AP reports that under the pact, the countries will gather information through a center based in Singapore. Singapore will host the first meeting of the governing council toward at the end of this year. AP adds that the looter-rich Strait of Malacca has been the scene of many armed robberies and ruthless attacks. The U.S. fears the shipping lane, which is used by more than 50,000 ships a year carrying half the world's oil and a third of its commerce, could be used by terrorists linking up with pirates to blow up an oil tanker or use it as a floating bomb. Collective air and sea patrols by Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore have begun patrolling the area.
Article © All Headline News - All Rights Reserved
|
