Fed: Security a major concern at APEC

AAP General News (Australia)
12-24-2006
Fed: Security a major concern at APEC

By Nick Butterly and Sandra O'Malley

CANBERRA, AAP - Australians were shocked by the scenes of violence at this year's G20
meeting in Melbourne.

Protesters, drawn together to air their anger at issues ranging from the war in Iraq
to globalisation, fought battles with police on the perimeters of the conference, resulting
in injuries on both sides and many arrests.

Most were not intent on trouble, but a small number of well-organised radicals managed
to hijack the protests, goading police into using force in a series of confrontations.

These tactics likely will be repeated at next year's Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation
(APEC) meeting in Sydney in September, perhaps on an even larger scale.

Australia's chief spy, ASIO director general Paul O'Sullivan, admitted as much during
a security conference in Sydney earlier this month.

Mr O'Sullivan said while terrorism remained a real fear, the more likely threat came
from violent protesters, some of whom may come from overseas to take part in the violence.

"Certainly in the context of the APEC meetings and events we can expect to see large-scale
protests on a range of issues, including anti-globalisation, the environment and climate
change, the Iraq war and a number of other matters," Mr O'Sullivan said.

"While the threat of protest action in connection with APEC is certain ... there is
also an overarching and persistent threat of terrorism which inevitably has an impact
in the conduct of events such as APEC, either in general or directed at some of the individual
leaders."

Mr O'Sullivan said the agency was expected to carry out 30,000 accreditation checks
for APEC as part of attempts to keep troublemakers out of Australia.

"These individuals and groups actually plan for violent protest and seek to develop
tactics that will bring them into conflict with police and other authorities.

"They also seek to involve others in their activities with a view to causing widespread
disruption and havoc to events or individuals whose views they oppose."

Security costs are expected to gobble up almost half of the anticipated $300 million
price tag for the summit.

As part of preparations, the federal Attorney-General's Department has overseen a series
of security exercises involving state government branches and specialist police units
and the Australian Defence Force (ADF).

As in Melbourne, large parts of Sydney's central business district will be sealed off,
keeping the public kilometres away from officials and world leaders.

And in a unprecedented move, Sydney residents will be given a one-off public holiday
the day before the meeting to help authorities secure the city centre the day before the
forum begins.

While the focus of APEC is on the leaders summit on September 8 and 9, it will be the
culmination of more than 20 meetings of ministers, senior officials and business leaders
throughout Australia and New Zealand over the year.

The schedule of more than 100 days of meetings begins in Canberra next month with a
senior officials meeting which will set the APEC agenda running over nearly two weeks.

That event alone is expected to attract up to 1,700 delegates.

The grouping of Asia Pacific economies has grown from 12 to 21 members and still manages
to hold a level of influence among a myriad of new regional organisations because of the
inclusion of the United States.

Prime Minister John Howard seems set to host the 20 other world leaders, including
US President George W Bush, Russian President Vladamir Putin and Chinese President Hu
Jintao as one of his last official engagements before heading to the polls later in the
year - showing his credentials as an international statesman.

Australia has signalled climate change and energy security will be some of its key
focuses as host nation.

And if the current round of Doha trade talks can't be resurrected, APEC is likely to
start seriously exploring the concept of a free trade area for the Asia Pacific region.

However, even if APEC leaders agree to move forward on a regional trade pact, some
believe it could be more than a decade and a half before such an agreement could be finalised.

With so much of the world's focus on Australia, groups like those that caused so much
trouble in Melbourne will be eager to do even more damage in Sydney.

AAP so/nb/sb/cdh/jm

KEYWORD: YEARENDER APEC

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