SE Asia on anniversary alert

Just last month Jakarta's Marriott Hotel was bombed

The second anniversary of the 11 September strikes on the US has prompted tight security measures across South East Asia, dubbed the "second front" in the war on terror by the Bush administration.

In Indonesia, still reeling from last year's Bali bombings and another fatal attack last month on a Jakarta hotel, police went on heightened alert.

"We are focusing on possible new terror attacks during Thursday's anniversary and threats of terror attacks beyond that date. We are fully on guard," said national police spokesman Zainuri Lubis.

In the Philippines, elite anti-terror police units were deployed around Manila for the anniversary, the military said.

The Thai Government, however, said it was taking no specific new measures.

It believes there are already adequate security precautions in place in the run-up to a major Asia-Pacific conference in Bangkok next month, to be attended by the US president.

"We have been on alert ever since 9/11, particularly in light of the recent terrorist incidents in the region and the coming Apec meeting," Thai foreign ministry spokesman Sihasak Puangketkaew told BBC News Online.

"We are working closely with neighbouring countries in exchanging information and intelligence to pre-empt any possible terrorist incident."

Police in the south of Thailand, however, tightened security at Hat Rin beach on the island of Koh Phangan - the venue of a full moon party popular with foreign tourists, which this month coincides with the 11 September anniversary.

War on terror

Many politicians around the region took the opportunity to reiterate their support of the US-led war on terror.

Australian Prime Minister John Howard, a key ally of US President George Bush, warned that fighting terror could be a long haul.

"This could go on for a very long time, just as the Cold War went on for a long time," he said in a radio interview.

"We have to understand that if you roll over and do nothing they will win and the sort of society that will replace the society we have now, with all its imperfections, is not a society you and I and our listeners want to live in."

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda also stressed that the problem was not diminishing.

"The threat of international terrorism still remains serious," he told reporters.

"Japan will further strengthen co-operation with other countries and continue to tackle the problem," he said.

Fears of retaliation

Philippines President Gloria Arroyo warned: "The anniversary of the 9/11 tragedy reminds us that we should not take the threat of terrorism lightly for we know that there are still a number of terror groups waiting for a chance to strike."

There is obviously a desire to intimidate and let the world know that the terrorist movement is very much alive and kicking - including in South East Asia MJ Gohel Regional security analyst

The region's media, however, voiced its concerns about how the US' war on terror may be being misused.

"The world's only remaining superpower must realise that the 'with us, or against us' approach, and in particular the further use of aggression, will only fuel the hatred which motivated the attacks in the first place," said Hong Kong's South China Morning Post.

"So far, President Bush is not only far from rooting out terrorist networks and getting to the core of the problem; he has triggered the emergence of more terrorists in the world," said the Jakarta Post.

Some analysts agree that the risk of attack may in fact be greater this year.

The Bali bombing has pointed up the existence of Muslim extremist group Jemaah Islamiah (JI) and its local allies, says MJ Gohel, head of the Asia Pacific Foundation, an international Policy Assessment Group.

"Any of these groups are capable of perpetrating a major atrocity, especially during a time such as this second anniversary," Mr Gohel told BBC News Online.

"There is obviously a desire to intimidate and let the world know that the terrorist movement is very much alive and kicking - including in South East Asia."