SINGAPORE Set to Join ‘Forward-Looking’ US-Led Indo-Pacific Economic Framework: PM Lee

Posted by Asia Views | May 23, 2022 | 0 |

Today-May 23

Singapore is poised to join an economic framework for the Indo-Pacific region that will be launched by the United States this week, with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong saying it reflects an “intent to cooperate on economic issues which are relevant” to the region. “We support it, because it is a valuable sign that the Biden administration understands the importance of economic diplomacy in Asia. And we hope that one day the political situation in America will enable them to resume talking about a free trade agreement in some form, and talk about market access,” Mr.Lee said. He made the comments in an interview with Japanese news media outlet Nikkei Asia on Friday (May 20), which came about a week after he said that Singapore welcomed the framework. Slated to be launched by US President Joe Biden on Monday, the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework is part of the US’ economic strategy in the region and has been touted by analysts as a means to counter Chinese influence in the region. The framework will allow negotiations for areas in four economic “pillars”: Fair and resilient trade, supply chain resiliency, clean energy and anti-corruption. Besides Singapore, other countries such as Thailand, South Korea and Japan have also said that they will join negotiations for the framework. Read more at: https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/singapore-set-join-forward-looking-us-led-indo-pacific-economic-framework-pm-lee-1904381

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EXTRICATING NDONESIAN CHILDREN FROM ISIS INFLUENCE ABROAD

Indonesia urgently needs to revisit the possibility of repatriating the neediest of its young citizens stranded abroad, whose families had earlier joined ISIS. Most of these children are in camps in northern Syria but there are also small numbers in the Philippines, Afghanistan and Iraq. “Extricating Indonesian Children from ISIS Influence Abroad”, the latest report from the Institute for Policy Analysis of Conflict (IPAC) argues that the government could begin by bringing back small groups of unaccompanied children under ten years of age, who pose minimal security risk and are most vulnerable to deteriorating conditions in the camps.“The problem is that health and security conditions are worsening by the day in the Syrian camps, and the children are growing older,” says Dyah Kartika, IPAC analyst. “They need access to schools, a nurturing environment, and medical attention. If the government waits too long, the children will be further exposed to ISIS ideology.” The new report examines a 2019 list of Indonesians in camps and prisons run by the Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). The Indonesian government has been trying to verify their citizenship, but with pseudonyms, misspellings and bad transliterations, it is a daunting task. At the time the data was collected, between March and June 2019, there were 555 Indonesians in SDF camps and prisons, including 367 children. Among the children, approximately 277 were under the age of ten and 34 were unaccompanied. In June 2021, there are fewer than ten children who are both unaccompanied and under the age of ten that could be prioritized for return. Bringing back children of ISIS families is no easy task. The report analyses the main challenges faced by the Indonesian government. These include definitional issues, bureaucratic competition, the difficulty of verifying nationality, evaluating the toll of exposure to conflict, assessing security risk, and finding relatives or others willing to provide care once the children are returned. In addition, COVID has meant stringent restrictions on travel, placing further obstacles in the way of repatriation. There are several models for rehabilitation of children exposed to violent extremism in Indonesia that could be modified to accommodate the needs of children repatriated from abroad. The report examines these models and argues that the government does not need to have every detail of rehabilitation programs in place before it starts extricating children from ISIS influence. It can start by bringing back the most vulnerable children and then modify programs as needed.

“It’s important that the government see these children as victims” says Dyah. “They deserve a chance to be children again.”

SINGAPORE Set to Join ‘Forward-Looking’ US-Led Indo-Pacific Economic Framework: PM Lee

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