Threat from Extremist Groups to Southeast Asia Growing: Singapore
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Kamis, 1 Januari 1970 07:00 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The threat that violent extremist groups pose to Southeast Asia is growing each year as they become more organized and focused in their aims, Singapore Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen said on Friday (Sep 30).
Dr Ng was speaking to reporters following a meeting of Southeast Asia defense ministers with US Defense Secretary Ash Carter in Hawaii, where the defense chiefs devoted a major chunk of time to discussing the threat from Islamic State and similar groups.
More than 1,000 Southeast Asians have flocked to join Islamic State's self-declared "caliphate" in Iraq and Syria, Dr Ng said.
"Every year we meet, the situation and threat from extremist terrorism rises," Dr Ng said.
"Compared to, say, a year or even two years ago, they're more organized [...] they're more networked, they're more clear in their articulation of what they want to achieve," he added.
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