Pacific face global criminal activity

Pacific face global criminal activity

The Pacific is confronted by globalised criminal activity and is under severe environmental degradation and change.

In the keynote address at a Maritime Security meeting organised by the Asia-Pacific Centre for Strategic Studies in Honolulu, Hawaii on 13th September, Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, Tuiloma Neroni Slade said the Pacific Ocean, which is home to the people of the Pacific islands, “has sustained humankind in the history of its exploration and discoveries and in the development of modern economies and global trade.”

“But, alas, where once generous in her provisions, the Pacific Ocean of today is under severe environmental degradation and change, and has come to reveal the darker side of her power to generate sea-level rise and related events of devastation,” Mr Slade said

“More immediately, as is the purpose of our gathering, the Pacific today is being confronted by globalised criminal activity, and in a way that is already posing significant threats to countries of the region and to the world at large. For the stability of our communities, we must take action to make our region and home safe and secure. “

Mr Slade added: “Given the character of the region and the magnitude of its ocean domain, maritime security is at the very essence of our national and regional security requirements. There are few security issues in the Pacific that matter which do not have some direct maritime security implications.

Mr Slade said in 2005 Forum Leaders adopted a vision for the future to guide Forum policies and approaches to a myriad of issues. The overarching goal was to establish a region of peace, harmony, security and economic prosperity, so that its peoples could lead free and worthwhile lives.

To give effect to this vision, Forum Leaders adopted the Pacific Plan to act as a roadmap for regional cooperation and integration. Security, a foundation stone for the vision, is one of the four pillars of the Pacific Plan and was recognised as an essential prerequisite for the other three pillars of good governance, economic growth and sustainable development.

The Forum Secretariat Secretary General Mr Slade explained that since the formation of the Pacific Islands Forum in 1971 there have been mainly harmonious relations between the States of the Pacific with very few border incidents and only a relatively small number of bilateral disputes.

“However, there are real and serious external threats to maritime security, with implications for regional instability, in the form of potential terrorist attacks, transnational crimes, and the impacts of climate change and pandemic disease. Within regional countries, there are potential threats to stability and, sometimes, actual violent conflict created by internal tensions and disputes over resources, over ethnic and tribal issues, political discontent, poverty and perceived economic and social disparities,” Mr Slade said.

He pointed out that some of the main maritime security issues facing the region include the protection of marine resources and the ongoing struggle against transnational crime and terrorism.

“The protection of maritime resources, particularly fisheries, is a huge responsibility for Pacific states, compounded as it is by limited technical and economic abilities of member states and by the vastness of the Pacific as well. As it is, we know that an estimated 20% of the current reported catch from the Pacific comes from illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, and that major international bodies are warning that overfishing is threatening some key commercial stocks. It is critical that Governments of the Pacific and Governments worldwide continue to seek effective action to tighten controls over illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing. “

To protect fish stocks, regional agreements such as the Niue Treaty on Cooperation in Fisheries Surveillance and Law Enforcement in the South Pacific Region have provided mechanisms such as subsidiary agreements allowing for joint surveillance and improved cooperation on fisheries protection.

“Unfortunately,” Mr Slade said, “little use has been made of this particular mechanism with only a handful of subsidiary cooperative agreements between member countries having been made. “

As to terrorism, the Pacific is generally rated as low in risk, and there seems little likelihood of planned attacks within the region. Nonetheless, attacks in Bali and Jakarta as well as thwarted plots in key capitals in Australia in recent years highlight the risk of such threats, and to a region where preparedness may be perceived as low.

“Not least for its deterrence effects, Pacific Forum countries are taking steps to maintain active counter-terrorism measures. Due to the high possibility of ocean cruise liners being targeted, the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) prepared a report in 2008 for Pacific island countries containing recommendations on how to mitigate possible threats. This has supported the extensive work in policy and legislative development since carried out by the Forum Secretariat to assist member countries in preparing for terrorist events and also in meeting their international counter terrorism compliance and reporting obligations in response to the UN Security Council resolution 1373.”

The Forum Secretary General added: “Throughout the region, Pacific island countries are being confronted by serious criminal activity such as drugs and arms trafficking, people smuggling and money laundering, much emanating from off-shore and having maritime security implications given the shipping and border controls involved. There is credible evidence of these activities being carried out by organised criminal groups having transnational criminal linkages and of their part in the commission of a variety of domestic crimes. The presence of these criminal networks poses an already significant threat by challenging governance structures, seeking to corrupt and undermine national law enforcement administrations and officials. Governments are directly affected by diminishing customs revenues, while the increasing volume and violence in related local crime undermine the capacity of law enforcement agencies to enforce effectively criminal and border legislation.”

To address these maritime security issues, Mr Slade said the coordination of national, regional and international efforts is essential but, in practice, a major and almost impossibly complex task.

Work is underway at the national and regional levels, particularly through the Forum’s Working Group for Strengthening Information Management to improve and unify policy objectives and encourage information, especially at the national level.

Australia’s Pacific Patrol Boat Programme which has operated since 1983 is one of the key components of the regional security arrangements with 22 patrol boats supplied under the programme Pacific island countries to patrol their 200 mile exclusive economic zones.

Mr Slade added that regionally organised arrangements are also in place including the Control and Surveillance Centre of the Forum Fisheries Agencies which tracks and coordinates foreign fisheries surveillance activities and operations on a regular basis.

Mr Slade concluded: “Let me reiterate the absolute necessity and importance of maritime security to the sustainability and the stability of Pacific nations. The region faces significant threats which need to be addressed comprehensively and as effectively as can be managed. This calls for strengthened cooperation and coordination in the collective effort of regional and partner countries.”

ENDS.

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