BANGKOK, Dec 23 –The Thai cabinet has given a green light to the country’s Foreign Ministry to ratify the Convention on Cooperation in Combating International Terrorism, Transnational Organized Crime and Illicit Drug trafficking of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC), according to a deputy government spokesperson.
Maj Gen Sansern Kaewkamnerd said that the cabinet at its weekly meeting on Tuesday approved the National Security Council (NSC) proposal that the Foreign Ministry ratify the anti-terrorism pact of the seven member group.
BIMSTEC member countries are Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Nepal and Thailand.
The BIMSTEC member countries recognize a growing threat from terrorism, transnational crime and drug trafficking in the region and see the need to enhance their cooperation in combating the problems, according to Gen Sansern.
Relevant agencies have studied the anti-terrorism pact and found it to be in accordance with Thailand’s prevention and suppression of the transnational crime act and United Nations’ requirement, he said
By ratifying the pact, member countries agree to share and exchange information and experience and to enhance cooperation among local law enforcement agencies to help combat terrorism, transnational crime and drug trafficking.
The convention will enter into force after it is ratified by all seven member countries.
