Beefed-up security at embassies in region

Spooked by recent terrorist attacks and warnings, authorities in Asian countries step up measures to avert any strikes

SECURITY has been stepped up at embassies and key buildings in the region as South-east Asian countries try to maintain a business-as-usual approach in the face of recent terrorist attacks and warnings that more are on the way.

Despite the terrorist alert that the United States made two days after the Riyadh bombings being brushed aside by Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad at the weekend, security agencies are taking no chances. In Jakarta, members of the elite Indonesian police force, Brimob, conducted a helicopter-borne drill in the city centre yesterday. It involved members of the anti-terror squad who displayed their ability to defuse bombs, rescue hostages and disperse protesters.

Indonesia was also said to be reinforcing its security efforts against terrorism in the wake of Jakarta's military response over the past few days to separatists in Aceh.

In Malaysia, Western missions were not showing any open anxiety yesterday. Their confidence, however, might have been boosted by the fact that after the Riyadh bombings, Malaysian police quietly stepped up security around the embassies and other hangouts favoured by Westerners.

'It's business as usual... we have become used to a tighter security environment,' said Australia's Deputy High Commissioner, Mr Nicolas Brown.

An official at the German embassy said: 'We are operating as normal.'

The warnings from Washington, issued two days after the Riyadh suicide bombings in which 34 people were killed, singled out Sabah as an area of particular concern.

It said Al-Qaeda-linked JI militants were active there.

With Philippine defence officials confirming the terror threat, the department of foreign affairs said it would not protest against the latest US travel advisory telling Americans to be on their guard in South-east Asia.

A spokesman for President Gloria Arroyo warned yesterday of possible attacks by the separatist Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). Captured documents had revealed links with the Jemaah Islamiah (JI) as well as MILF plans for bombings, and the public was said to be 'jittery' over reports of possible terrorist attacks.

'People are tense and generally suspicious of those carrying backpacks,' said political-science professor Domingo Non, explaining that the bomb that exploded at a Philippines airport in March had been in a backpack.

Tourist arrivals in the country, already hit by Sars, are expected to slide further because of the terror threat with the tourism industry braced for a loss of US$500 million (S$864 million).

In September last year, South-east Asian nations stepped up security on the first anniversary of the Sept 11 attacks on America.

Citing a 'credible and specific' threat to security, US embassies in Malaysia, Indonesia, Cambodia and Vietnam were closed and shuttered.

Security at airports, government and private offices was also beefed up to help avert terrorist attacks. Many of the heightened security measures have remained in force.

Some countries, however, were taking a more relaxed attitude towards the threat.

Thailand has dismissed suggestions that it could be vulnerable to a terrorist strike.

A random check by The Straits Times of tourist nightspots revealed only one that had a security guard checking bags and packages.