Army Lieutenant Colonel Siamelie Latu, Tonga Defence Services, from Tatakamotonga, Tonga, graduated March 26 from the Asia-Pacific Center for Studies Comprehensive Security Responses to Terrorism (CSRT) Course in Honolulu. Latu received his diploma from retired U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Ed Smith, director of the Center.

Latu joined 61 other military and civilian participants from 31 countries throughout the Asia-Pacific region who attended the three-week course.

Participating in the CSRT course were representatives from Australia, Bangladesh, Brunei, Canada, Egypt, El Salvador, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Laos, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mexico, Micronesia, Mongolia, Mozambique, Nepal, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Poland, Republic of Korea, Russia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Thailand, Tonga, Turkey, United States and Vietnam.

The Comprehensive Security Responses to Terrorism Course provides key states in the Asia-Pacific region and other designated countries, the operational and strategic-level skills necessary to enhance their ability to combat terrorism and to cooperate with other regional nations. The course is designed to build relationships between and among the United States and current and future counterterrorism practitioners of participating countries, develop the trust and confidence necessary for increased information sharing, and identify ways to reduce obstacles to cooperation in the international struggle against those who use terror to promote their goals.

The Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies is a Department of Defense academic institute that addresses regional and global security issues. Military and civilian representatives of the U.S. and Asia-Pacific nations participate in our comprehensive program of executive education, professional exchanges and outreach events, both in Hawaii and throughout the Asia-Pacific region. APCSS' mission is to educate, connect, and empower security practitioners to advance Asia-Pacific security.

To date, the Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies has had representatives from 46 countries attend the courses at the Center for a total of 3,433 alumni. Asia-Pacific Center for security Studies, 26/03/08.