[FEATURE] Japan Warns of Terror Threat in Southeast Asian Countries
Written by Elena Cancio
The Japanese Embassy released a statement that they have received information on possible attacks on the Philippines, Thailand, Myanmar, Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia. The statement included a warning to its citizens to stay at home and avoid crowded and religious places as these are the areas with the highest possibilities of an attack. This has caused an uprising in the defense and security of each country.
Philippine Secretary of National Defense Delfin Lorenzana reached out to the Japanese government to gather more information on the alleged attack; however, they have not provided any feedback on the warning. According to Lorenzana, there have been no reports of foreign terrorists in the country. He also states that the military remains focused on local members of terrorist groups in the country. The Japanese Embassy in Manila also confirmed that a warning had been issued to inform citizens of a possible threat. The embassy had also declared that it could not provide any additional information or reveal the source of its information. “We take seriously all received reports that pertain to security matters, especially on terrorism,” said Colonel Ramon Zagala, spokesman for the Philippine Armed Forces. He also stated that security reports were constantly evaluated and that the threat level in the country was “moderate” at the time of the latest review. The Philippine Coast Guard Commandant, Vice Adm. Leopoldo Laroya, affirms that the district commanders across the country are always focused on fortified border security and conducting 24/7 seaborne patrol operations within their jurisdictions.
READ: Japan warns citizens of possible terror attack in Southeast Asia | by Rappler
Indonesia marks itself in “Terror Season.” According to an Indonesian government report, Indonesia’s elite counterterrorism team, Densus 88, has detained 123 members of the Southeast Asian terrorist network Jemaah Islamiah (JI) since last month, taking into account the warning from Japan. The significant arrests came as Indonesian security and intelligence agencies ramped up their counterterrorism efforts.
According to Malaysian Deputy Inspector-General of Police Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani, the Malaysian police have not received any information or discovered any security threats. Wisma Putra or the Malaysian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has also told the Malaysian embassy in Tokyo to maintain regular contact with the Japanese foreign ministry.
Thailand confirmed that Japan’s foreign ministry had sent a warning to the country’s citizens. However, Thailand’s National Police Force Deputy Spokesman, Pol. Col. Krisana Pattanacharoen, said no current intelligence about terror threats. In another statement, “The Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs has not validated the source who provided such information,” stated Tanee Sangkrat, spokesperson for Thailand’s Foreign Affairs Ministry.
After Japan’s foreign ministry issued a warning on probable terrorist strikes through its embassies in Southeast Asian countries, Singapore’s Internal Security Department stated it currently had “neither particular nor credible intelligence of an impending terrorist threat to Singapore.” ISD says that members of the public should nevertheless remain vigilant and promptly contact the ISD Counter-Terrorism hotline.
OPINION
Terrorism has always been a significant threat to our society. These acts of violence control the public with fear, yet without a doubt, every country has been working hard to increase its nation’s security. It is important to remember to remain attentive, especially in public surroundings. If you are already in the situation of an attack, find the safest way to leave the area and to be calm. If an explosion has occurred, stay inside and far from the windows or outside doors. Spreading vital information on surviving terrorist attacks will save lives, so it is beneficial to educate children and any age or gender about this.
THE AUTHOR
Hey! My name is Elena Christine C. Cancio, I’m a feature writer and editor for the Tigercubs. I have a lot of different hobbies since I like being creative! These hobbies are painting or clay arts to reading young adult books and manga collecting.
As a writer, my main purpose is to inform and to inspire. I want to be able to change or widen the perspectives of my readers. I believe that Tigercubs is a great community to start in, being able to share ideas with passionate and driven peers with the help of experienced seniors and teachers is a great way for me to grow and learn as an aspiring writer.
