The bomb blast in Bali explicitly shows that terrorists know no borders. However, many live safely in their nests. The press and security experts continue to allege that our neighbouring ASEAN countries have significant terrorist nests within their long porous borders.
As a small state, Singapore has limited foreign policy options and capabilities. We have to in our self-interest join multilateral institutions and lobby for international laws that protect our sovereignty and territorial integrity. However, our security also depends on ensuring we are able to bring to justice people who are planning crimes against humanity.
Is it not important that we sign an extradition treaty with Indonesia, to bring to justice persons who have total disregard for human life and human rights?
Singapore's peace and economic security is dependant on the overall strategic security of Southeast Asia. Economic security is subservient to our strategic security. If criminals can hide in safe havens knowing that foreign governments cannot get to them, how can we be totally safe?
An extradition treaty with Indonesia by itself is not going to make Singapore any safer from a terrorist threat. That requires strict vigilance on the part of the police in both countries, better intelligence exchanges, strict monitoring of criminals and an education program for greater respect for human rights.
However, the strength of an extradition treaty is that on one hand, it makes the respective home governments vigilant to criminals living in its territory and on the other hand, sends a clear message to the criminals that there exists a mechanism for them to be brought to justice.
Criminals operate best in safe havens. They don't like to run and hide. It is time the Singapore government institute plans of an extradition treaty with Indonesia for terrorist related activities, illegal smuggling of goods and people, drug-related activities and money laundering.
An extradition treaty with Indonesia will be a welcome addition for our nation's security. This will serve as the best deterrence to any violators and a warning that Singapore will not tolerate criminals who threaten the peace, security and development of the region.
Sources and Relevant Links:
Tempo Indonesia's embezzled money parked in S'pore 16 October 2006
laksamana.net) Singapore's Belated Wake-up to Reality 29 January 2004
TEMPO Interactive "I just laughed when I heard this reason from the Singaporean government" 19 December 2002
