World leaders must translate words into action

US President Barack Obama last week called upon global leaders to rally against extremism. In his address to the United Nations General Assembly in New York last week, Obama said that it was the obligation of all leaders to speak out forcefully against violence and extremism.

In his speech with reference to the US ambassador murdered in Libya recently, Obama called for worldwide efforts to eradicate global terrorism. Referring to the US envoy's killing in Benghazi on September 11 during protests sparked by an offensive video which hurt the religious susceptibilities of Muslims around the world, Obama challenged the UN to affirm that "the future will be determined by people such as Christopher Stevens, and not by his killers".

Meanwhile, Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari defending his government's record against extremism said, "No country and no people have suffered more in the epic struggle against terrorism than Pakistan," at the UN General Assembly last week. "To those who say we have not done enough, I say in all humility: Please do not insult the memory of our dead and the pain of our living."

Speaking next to a photograph of his late wife - the former leader Benazir Bhutto, who was murdered by Islamic militants - the Pakistan President said regular US drone strikes against targets in his country made his task of "selling" the fight against terror to his people harder, as did the massive increase in Afghan drug exports since the US-led invasion.

The observations by the Presidents of the United States and Pakistan should be closely evaluated.

Prior to May 2009, Sri Lanka had been badly hit by terrorism and there were only a handful of friendly countries which supported Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka's economy and day-to-day civilian life had come to a virtual standstill due to LTTE terror when President Mahinda Rajapaksa was elected as the First Citizen on November 17, 2005.

The LTTE, for over two decades, had indiscriminately massacred thousands of civilians in massive bomb explosions targeting the public. The Tigers had shown no mercy in brutally assassinating hapless civilians belonging to all three communities - Tamil, Muslim and Sinhalese. Property worth billions of rupees were destroyed as the LTTE also targeted economic hubs such as the country's only international airport and the Central Bank headquarters.

The so-called godfathers of human rights and those who had called themselves the leaders of the global battle against terrorism preferred to remain mum against the LTTE when Sri Lanka was at the receiving end.

But thanks to the few friendly countries which stood firmly by Sri Lanka, the LTTE was crushed militarily on May 18, 2009. Had it not been for President Rajapaksa's political sagacity and dauntless leadership, Sri Lanka would never have eradicated terrorism.

At the same time, all Sri Lankans will remember with profound gratitude the support extended by friendly countries. Pakistan was among the handful of those true and sincere friends who had come to our rescue when it mattered most. This is precisely why President Rajapaksa recently declared that Sri Lanka would never have eradicated terrorism had it not been for the support extended by Pakistan.

It is gratifying to note US President Obama's stand against global terrorism again. Soon after the 9/11 attack, the US declared a worldwide battle against terrorism. At the time, most Sri Lankans were certain that it would be extended to this part of the world as well.

Nevertheless, Sri Lanka was then compelled to lead its own battle against the most ruthless terrorist outfit in the world.

President Rajapaksa had told the UN General Assembly five years ago, that there can't be two types of terrorism, one for the West and another for this part of the world. He emblazoned that there are no good terrorists and bad terrorists and terrorism in any part of the world should be eradicated in similar manner.

President Rajapaksa called upon global leaders to rally against extremism and deadly terrorism, long before US President Obama did so at the UN General Assembly recently. The President not only said so but also set an example with his unmatched political leadership to the country's battle against terrorism and moreover inspired Sri Lanka's Security Forces for that memorable victory. Thus, Sri Lanka became the first country to eradicate terrorism.

In the event world leaders are sincere in their calls against terrorism, they should gladly use Sri Lanka's expertise and first-hand experience in annihilating the world's deadliest terrorist outfit. No other Army in the world has acquired such tremendous experience in guerrilla warfare and anti-terrorist strategies. If the UN and other world organisations which scream to the high heavens against terrorism are genuine in their calls, they should by all means grab Sri Lanka's experience to crush global terrorism.

Regrettably, what had transpired since Sri Lanka's Security Forces had eradicated terrorism a little over three years ago has been somewhat negative. Rather than hailing that great victory which rescued over half a million civilians in the world's largest human rescue mission, certain Western countries and some international organisations had attempted to level war crime allegations against the Security Forces which had achieved a unique feat in eradicating terrorism.

The US-led resolution against Sri Lanka at the UN Human Rights Council earlier this year only underestimates the Herculean efforts of the Security Forces who risked their life and limb to liberate thousands of civilians who had been held forcibly by LTTE terrorists as a human shield.

Strangely, some Western countries seem to be more interested in the human rights of terrorists than that of civilians who had been tortured and killed by the same terror outfit. If world leaders are really sincere in their calls for a global battle against terrorism, they would never support the LTTE rump in levelling war crime charges against Sri Lanka or its Security Forces purely for the 'sin' of eradicating the world's most brutal terrorist outfit which had only inflicted untold misery and agony on thousands of people, including its own community.

It is time that the world leaders translate their words into action and prove their integrity and sincerity in crushing global terrorism. Championing the human rights of terrorists would only support and encourage terrorist groups the world over.

The UNHRC, on principle, should only respect the human rights of civilians and not that of terrorists, either directly or indirectly. Any further action against a sovereign state such as Sri Lanka at the UNHRC would set a bad precedent and infuse fresh hopes for global terrorism.