Father-and-son cops killed in southern Thailand bombing, shooting; Sulu Sea considered moderately risky
And more in this latest weekly Southeast Asia counter/terrorism roundup.
Last week’s headlines highlighted a complex and concerning security landscape across Southeast Asia. In Myanmar, the military junta continued to face resistance, with reports of rocket attacks and intensifying conflict. The situation has led to international travel advisories and concerns.
Meanwhile, Thailand grappled with ongoing unrest in the south, including recent bombings and a demand for a revised security strategy.
Elsewhere in the region, Indonesia was taking steps to counter terrorism, including training former convicts and considering the repatriation of a Bali bombing plotter.
The Philippines was also actively combating terrorism, with recent convictions of Abu Sayyaf members and efforts to standardise counterterrorism operations with Australia and the UN. However, the country continued to face challenges from smuggled tobacco funding terrorist groups and the threat of online radicalisation.
Malaysia was seeking to enhance its security capabilities through a partnership with the UAE in artificial intelligence, aiming to improve crime prevention and counterterrorism efforts. Despite this, the country's ranking in the Global Peace Index may not fully reflect the underlying security challenges.
Finally, the headlines underscored the broader regional security concerns, such as the rise of China and the ongoing conflict in Israel and Palestine. These global events have implications for the region, as evidenced by Indonesia's recent entry into the BRICS bloc, which raises questions about the future of West Papuan independence.
Check out the headlines and links below to last week’s important stories, with the Indonesia ones mostly in Bahasa Indonesia (browser’s auto-translate advised).
Southern Thai security agency ordered to intensify efforts to track suspects in bomb incident
Myanmar resistance group at ‘stand-off’ with military in northern Shan State
Three terrorist inmates pledge loyalty to Indonesian republic