Singapore, Thailand to put air marshals on flights

Asian Political News, Dec 22, 2003

SINGAPORE, Dec. 20 Kyodo

Singapore and Thailand are planning to place air marshals on flights between the two countries to deter terrorists, Singapore's Deputy Prime Minister Tony Tan said Saturday.

''We are...putting in place arrangements to have air marshals on board flights between Thailand and Singapore,'' Tan, who is also coordinating minister for Security and Defense, said in Indonesia where he is on a visit this week.

He said Singapore will also be discussing with Indonesia the possibility of implementing the scheme on board flights between the two countries.

''I think (Indonesia) recognizes that this is a good move. It doesn't threaten Indonesia at all,'' Tan said, according to a transcript of comments he made when interviewed by journalists in Indonesia that was released Saturday by Singapore's ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts.

''There are some technicalities, which have to be resolved, but I am confident that any difficulties will be ironed out because air marshals will be a feature of the international aviation scheme before very long.''

In Indonesia, Tan met with President Megawati Sukarnoputri, Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Susilo Bambang, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Dorodjatun Kuntorojakti, and Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda.

One of the main issues during his meetings with Indonesian leaders was cooperation between the two countries, especially in the area of security and defense.

Tan said Singapore and Indonesia's ministries of transport and home affairs and police will be meeting to work out the details so that the scheme can be activated within a few months.

Singapore has already signed an agreement with Australia for air marshals on board flights between the two countries. The two are expected to have undercover air marshals armed with stun guns or silencers aboard SIA and Qantas flights on the busy Singapore-Australia route soon, probably before Christmas.