'Foot soldier' versus terrorists - Worldwide dilemma

by our political correspondent

Foreign Minister Rohita Bogollagama, Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, Environmental Authority Chairman Udaya Gammanpila and TULF Leader V.Anandasangaree in conversation after the conference.

Sri Lanka, in its live agenda to combat terrorism and bring peace not only locally but also globally has sincerely contributed immensely for the last three decades. Its newest initiative was to bring international expert on countering terrorism to one platform to pool their resources together and contribute towards eradicating this menace which has been devastating the lives of people from all corners of the world, destroying economies and standing in the way of sustainable development, especially in developing countries such as Sri Lanka.

Following are excerpts from the inaugural address by the Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama at the International conference on countering Terrorism at the BMICH - on Thursday.

"Terrorism anywhere is terrorism. There's nothing good in terrorism, Sri Lanka has taken an upfront position in the global community's efforts to deal with terrorism," quoting President Mahinda Rajapaksa's address to the 62nd Sessions of the United Nations General Assembly, Minister Bogollagama said.

"However terrorism is a global phenomenon but unfortunately little effort has been made by the international community to arrest this trend until the 9/11 attacks, he pin pointed.

Two foreign delegates at the Conference.

Guest speaker at the inaugural meeting of the conference Dr.Gerard Chaliand (left) with another delegate

A 'foot soldier' in the battle against terrorism, as you are aware, Sri Lanka has played a pioneering and influential role in a multitude of forays from the South Asian Association of Regional Cooperation (SAARC) to the United Nations (UN), the Commonwealth, Non Aligned Movement (NAM), recently through the Shangri-La Dialogue and the Asian Regional Forum (ARF), in drawing international attention to the problems confronting democracies, he said.

"For over three decades we have been a victim of terrorism and every single citizen of this country has had to deal with this vicious plague.

The brutal tentacles of terrorism are not just limited to a single locality or region, but are ones which spread far and wide, over a myriad of areas from financing, to smuggling be it humans or narcotics, all contributing in no small measure to bring misery and hardship to thousands, whilst further handicapping a country on its path to progress and prosperity.

"Lanka must resolve its conflict through political means and are presently engaged in building consensus through the All Party Representatives Committee (APRC), Sri Lanka has never compromised on, or condoned with terrorism. The recent efforts of the Government in restoring normalcy in the Eastern Province, is a clear message that terrorism can be defeated with coordinated political will.

Today, the Government has embarked on a program to bring about sustainable development in the area and to hold elections at the earliest. It is our hope that this exercise will serve as a model in post conflict development. This is worthy of emulation in other situations as well.

Dr.Gerard Chaliand addressing the conference

Some of the security chiefs

A section of the foreign diplomats

"In the 1990's Sri Lanka was also in the forefront in making specific proposals on measures to eliminate international terrorism, covering the question of abuse of asylum and fund raising activities through front organisations. At that time Sri Lanka also proposed that terrorism crimes should be regarded as 'serious non-political crimes', while also advocating the prevention of financing terrorist and terrorist organisations, whether such financing was direct or indirect. It is heartening to note that the substance of these proposals were reflected in the 1996 Declaration on Measures to Eliminate International Terrorism which was adopted without a vote in the General Assembly.

"My predecessor Lakshman Kadirgamar himself, a victim of terrorism, in whose memory, the Institute of International Relations and Strategic Studies which is the organiser of this Conference, in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has been named, played a forceful role in drawing attention to this phenomenon.

"Since 1963 thirteen major United Nations Conventions and Protocols have been adopted to confront and combat terrorism that deals with a range of issues from hostage-taking, terrorist bombing, financing of terrorism, terrorist related threats to aviation and maritime navigation, nuclear terrorism, among others.

"Sri Lanka is a State, party to twelve of these thirteen conventions, and I deposited the instrument of ratification of the International invention for the Suppression of Nuclear Terrorism at the UN a few weeks ago."It was under Sri Lanka's Chairmanship, that the Nuclear Terrorism Convention was successfully concluded in April 2005.

"Sri Lanka was also amongst the first signatories to the Convention. As for the ongoing negotiations on the Comprehensive Convention on the Elimination of Terrorism Lanka believes that this Convention, which, in our view remains a priority, must be concluded without further delay.

We have come a long way from the time when Sri Lanka's pleas to the international community not to harbour terrorists, to stem money flows and to apprehend those conniving to continue to cause mayhem in Sri Lanka, fell on deaf ears.

"One must be conscious that in taking action against the LTTE, foreign governments are not merely helping Sri Lanka, but they are also acting in their self-interest, for it is well-known that the LTTE's global terror network which has links to other terrorist organisations such as United Liberation Front of Assam(ULFA), the Afghan Mujahideen, the Kurdish Workers Party (PKK), the Maoists, Abu Sayaf, Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and to the Al-Qaeda, has the ability to contribute to copycat terrorism through its suicide bomb technology, acts of maritime terrorism, and nascent air strike capability.

"This has rightfully alarmed the intelligence communities across the world, because given its global network of offices, operatives and vessels, the possibility that the LTTE could offer its services as mercenaries to other groups, should not be discounted.

"Thirdly, given that the chief weapon of terrorists is to terrorise governments and people. Also importantly, notwithstanding the difficulties we face, our socio-economic indicators remain impressive.

"We maintained a growth rate of 7.4% in GDP terms in 2006. Foreign direct investments in 2006 amounted to US$ 640 million, while exports increased by 8.4% to US$ 6.883 billion. These figures too are expected to rise in the current year. Following an increase in per capita income, Sri Lanka is now categorised as a middle income status country.

"These successes should give other democracies hope, that terrorism can be fought and overcome, by ensuring the sustenance of the will of our people and the support and assistance of the international community.

"I am hopeful that in your deliberations you will focus on the need for all states to go beyond subscribing and ratifying the international conventions related to counter terrorism, and convert these into tangible form by developing the necessary enabling legislation that will give effect to their international pledges.

"Without this element our success against terrorists, whether in Sri Lanka or elsewhere in the world would remain futile."