RESTRICTED
HKC 175/1
130047
MDLIAN 5611
73
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FM MANILA
TO PRIORITY FCO
TELNO 340
OF 170612Z AUGUST 92
INFO ROUTINE OTHER ASEAN POSTS
61
FCO TELNO 206 TO KUALA LUMPUR: PIRACY
SUMMARY
см
pa.
1. DISCUSSION OF PIRACY WITH PHILIPPINE AUTHORITIES. THEY ARE IMPLEMENTING IMO DRAFT CIRCULAR BUT REMAIN KEEN ON ASEAN APPROACH TO THE PROBLEM
DETAIL
2. WE SPOKE ON 14 AUGUST TO THE DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS IN THE PHILIPPINE COAST GUARD (PCG), THE LEAD AGENCY DEALING WITH PIRACY. CAPTAIN GARCIA SAID THAT THE PHILIPPINES WAS KEEN TO COOPERATE WITH THE IMO ON THE PROBLEM, BUT FOUND THE AGENCY SLOW MOVING AND HAD HAD NO RECENT CONTACT WITH THEM. THEY WERE TRYING TO IMPLEMENT THE MEASURES PROPOSED IN THE IMO DRAFT CIRCULAR, BUT KNEW OF NO PLANS FOR REGIONAL SEMINARS AS THE CIRCULAR SUGGESTED.
3. AS OUTLINED IN OUR TELNO 221, THE FILIPINOS ARE ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT A ROLE FOR ASEAN IN TACKLING PIRACY. THEY WOULD PARTICULARLY LIKE TO SEE ASEAN AGREEMENT ON HOT PURSUIT, INFORMATION EXCHANGES AND STEPS TO RECOVER VESSELS TAKEN BEYOND NATIONAL WATERS. THEY EXPECT THESE SUBJECTS TO BE DISCUSSED AT AN ASEAN MEETING DUE TO TAKE PLACE IN SEPTEMBER IN SARAWAK.
4. CAPTAIN GARCIA ALSO DESCRIBED HIS THINKING ON THE NATIONAL STEPS THE PCG MIGHT TAKE ON THE PROBLEM OF PIRACY IN THE MUSLIM REGIONS OF THE SOUTHERN PHILIPPINES, PARTICULARLY SULU AND TAWI-TAWI. A PAPER IS BEING PREPARED FOR THE CHIEF OF STAFF OF THE ARMED FORCES PROPOSING AN ACTIVE OFFENSIVE INVOLVING UNITS FROM THE POLICE AS WELL AS THE PCG. (BUT GARCIA ADMITTED THAT BOTH ORGANISATIONS ARE SEVERELY LIMITED BY LACK OF EQUIPMENT AND RESOURCES).
COMMENT
5.
THE PHILIPPINES IS NOT IN THE FOREFRONT OF THE PROBLEM OF ARMED ATTACKS ON MERCHANT SHIPPING IN SOUTH EAST ASIAN WATERS. BUT THEY DO HAVE A MODERATE INTERNAL DIFFICULTY WITH MARITIME BANDITRY AND
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