SPECIAL ASEAN MINISTERIAL MEETING ON THE RISE OF RADICALISATION AND VIOLENT EXTREMISM (SAMMRRVE)

CHAIRMAN’S STATEMENT

SPECIAL ASEAN MINISTERIAL MEETING ON THE RISE OF RADICALISATION AND VIOLENT EXTREMISM (SAMMRRVE)

ASEAN

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA

Friday, 2nd October 2015

1.            ASEAN Ministers overseeing the responsibilities of combating transnational crime and Representatives fromBrunei Darussalam, Kingdom of Cambodia, the Republic of Indonesia, the Lao People's Democratic Republic, Malaysia, the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, the Republic of the Philippines, the Republic of Singapore, the Kingdom of Thailand, and the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam met in Kuala Lumpur on 2 October 2015 for the convening of the Special ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on the Rise of Radicalisation and Violent Extremism(SAMMRRVE). The Meeting was also attended by the Deputy-Secretary General of ASEAN.

2.            The Meeting was presided over by the Hon. Dato’ Seri Dr. Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Home Affairs, Malaysia. The purpose of the Meeting was to provide a platform for ASEAN Member States to exchange experiences, views and ideas on the best practices in handling the issues of radicalisation and violent extremism, particularly in Southeast Asia. The holding of this meeting  is consonant with the United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 2178 adopted on 24 September 2014 which requires all United Nations Member States to take concrete steps to  address the threats posed by  Foreign Terrorist Fighters (FTFs) by building community resilience in countering violent extremism to prevent terrorism.

3.            The Meeting deliberated on three (3) main issues, namely, (i) the Challenges in Dealing with Radicalisation and Violent Extremism; (ii) Rehabilitation/ Reintegration; and (iii) Regional Cooperation to Counter Radicalisation and Violent Extremism.

4.            The Meeting noted the challenges and the concrete measures taken by the respective ASEAN Member States in dealing with the aspects of radicalisation and violent extremism encompassing promulgation of new laws, rehabilitation and reintegration programmes and activities to engage as well as to create awareness among civil society, the private sector and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs).

5.            The Meeting further noted the presentations by the representatives from ASEAN Member States on their experiences, methods and approaches to the rehabilitation and reintegration into society of radicalised or extremist individuals.

6.            The Meeting has resolved to:

Call upon ASEAN Member States to speak up against and reject extremism and support moderation in line with the Langkawi Declaration on the Global Movement of the Moderates adopted on 27 April 2015.The Langkawi Declaration aims to promote moderation and tolerance as core values for the region and its peoples to ensure that it would continue to be a peaceful and prosperous region; Counter radicalisation and violent extremism in all forms and manifestations that lead to terrorism, including preventing radicalisation, financing, recruitment and mobilisation of individuals into terrorist groups.   Place strong emphasis on the aspect of deradicalisation in rehabilitation and reintegration programs as part of comprehensive measures in countering terrorism, besides applying force or punitive measures, so as to ensure that radicalised or extremist individuals are ready to reintegrate into society as well as to prevent ‘relapse’ or their return to militant/terrorist activities; Conduct analyses and studies on the factors, including root causes, that create a conducive environment for the spread of radicalisation and violent extremism in Southeast Asia with a view to assisting ASEAN Member States by providing them with a better understanding to effectively address both issues that could lead to terrorism; Develop programmes to counter violent extremism that build trust and strengthen cooperation between communities vulnerable to radicalisation and the Police. These initiatives might focus on community-police relations such as through community policing. Additionally, ASEAN Member States should also develop more community-based approaches to countering radicalisation and violent extremism; Develop and implement, together with relevant ASEAN sectoral bodies, comprehensive regional communication campaigns to counter terrorist narratives through all information and communication technologies aimed at denying radicals and extremist proponents the means and opportunities to pursue extremist/terrorist activities and promote their misconstrued ideologies; Strengthen cooperation with ASEAN Dialogue Partners, and related International Organisations through exchange of experiences, views and ideas including best practices in handling the issues of radicalisation and violent extremism.

The Meeting appreciated the initiative of the Government of Malaysia in convening the Special ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on the Rise of Radicalisation and Violent Extremism (SAMMRRVE).