Governments meet to strengthen maritime security legal measures

Abstract

The maritime domain, the vast majority of which is international waters, has traditionally been one characterized by a lack of control bordering on the anarchic. It has therefore proved to be an ideal environment for those engaged in transnational crime and terrorism. In Southeast Asia in particular, the maritime domain is readily exploited by a number of different criminal elements. Piracy continues to take place on a daily basis and is showing no sign of abating. The Jemaah Islamiah terrorist group is suspected of utilizing the maritime domain for the transfer of its personnel from Malaysia to training camps in the Philippines and the Abu Sayyaf Group continues to conduct terrorist attacks on Philippine ferries and other maritime targets.