Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Sydney (Fides Service) - Australia’s Prime Minister John Howard just re-elected for a fourth term of office has confirmed his commitment to the war on terrorism and said he is ready to take preventive military action to destroy cells of terror in South East Asia.
The Prime Minister had said this in the past and was strongly criticised by neighbour countries. The Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said Australia was an “agent at the service of the United States”. Indonesia and the Philippines also protested. But encouraged with this re-election for a fourth term as Prime Minister Howard has confirmed his intentions, also in the wake of the latest terrorist attack in Indonesia in which the target was the Australian embassy.
“If a certain country cannot or will not fight terrorism which is a threat for Australia, as a final resort to save Australian lives and protect our institutions we will take direct action”, said Mr Howard adding that collaboration with regard to security between Australia and countries such as Indonesia, Philippines, Singapore and Malaysia is excellent.
With regard to Australia’s relations with the United States Howard said “as we have demonstrated in recent years, it is possible to have good relations with America and with our Asian neighbours”.
Yesterday, 12 October the 2nd anniversary of the 2002 bomb blast in Bali, Australia remembered the grief and anger aroused by the killing of 202 innocent people, including 88 Australian tourists .
“This is an opportunity to remember those who lost their lives and also to commit ourselves, in cooperation with our fiends in the region and in the world to the battle against terrorism”, Howard said. “It will be a long struggle but we have no alternative because terrorists despise weakness, take advantage of a retreat and punish indecision”, he continued.
The militant Islamic Jemaah Islamyah group which has cells active in Indonesia, Southern Philippines, Malaysia, was held responsible for the Bali tragedy, also called ‘Australia’s September 11’.
(PA) (Agenzia Fides 13/10/2004 righe 33 parole 356)
