RP Seen as New Terror Arena after Iraq War

www.riyadhdaily.com.sa Monday - 10 March 2003 The Philippines could be the arena of a bloody international conflict after Iraq, according to foreign security experts who have tagged the country as a major security hot spot in the world today. In an article in the United States-based "Forbes" international business magazine, the Philippines is near the top of a list of 15 countries and regions around the world - along with Indonesia and Malaysia - "that could pose problems in the future." The article titled "The Next Iraq," appearing in Forbes’ March 17 issue, draws up an "Atlas of Evil and Discord" in a global security assessment that sums up the threat in the Philippines and its two Southeast Asian neighbors. "Al-Qaeda has bases here, as do Islamic fundamentalist and separatist groups. (There has also been) ethnic and religious bloodshed," it said of the three countries. The magazine’s list of "smoldering" security volcanoes came on the heels of last Tuesday’s bomb explosion at the Davao City international airport in which was found among the 21 fatalities a religious fundamentalist with a bomb still strapped to his body. Deteriorating peace and order conditions in the country’s south are said to have been scaring off investors and tourists. Topping the list of the world’s security hot spots are Belarus and Ukraine, which Forbes described as "two unstable states" on the verge of civil strife. Next came four regions of the world where the Al-Qaeda terrorist network is allegedly strong or gaining influence. These are the Balkans, Chechnya and the Caucasus in the former Soviet bloc; Pakistan in South Asia, and the three Southeast Asian countries-the Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia, collectively ranked 5th-where Al-Qaeda has reportedly already established a foothold. Surpassed by the Philippines in the degree of "threat risk" are three Asian countries with nuclear potential, listed as 6th to 8th in the Atlas: Japan, South Korea and Taiwan. All three are at odds with North Korea and China and may resort to nuclear arms "if Iraq goes badly and the US loses influence," the article said. Next ranked are two other countries slated to join the small, elite group of nuclear-equipped nations this year, Iran and Libya. Rounding up the list is Venezuela, where civil war looms, and four more places wherein Al-Qaeda followers have supposedly started setting up bases: the whole of Central Asia "where religious fundamentalism is exacerbating political instability" and Brazil, Colombia and Mexico in the Americas.