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Terrorism, counter-terrorism and technological advances

M. Shoeb Chowdhury
TERRORISM has become a global threat for humanity and has a pernicious impact on normal life. It has a serious effect on a range of fundamental human rights. Effective counter-terrorism measures and the protection of human rights are complementary and mutually reinforcing objectives which must be pursued together as part of a state's duty to protect the people within their jurisdiction. Efforts to address the human rights implications of terrorism and counter-terrorism measures have tended to focus on the protection of civil and political rights, along with economic, social and cultural rights. This is the main reason for what is called the "War on Terror." The term was first used by US President George W. Bush after the attack on the World Trade Center, popularly known as "Twin Towers." Now world leaders are working to protect human rights, fighting terrorism and enforcing laws to keep us safe from those with the intent and know-how to harm us.
Lady Eliza Manningham-Buller, the former head of MI5 (UK), said that September 11 was a "monstrous crime" but it needed a considered response, an appreciation of the causes and roots of terrorism. We have been on high alert since the horrific events of 9/11, but the real threat is our inability to appreciate is provenance.
International terror is not spread by financial masterminds or even poisonous ideologies. The society is unable to provide rules, structures, or a sense of purpose or meaning to those who commit terrorist acts. We too have trouble articulating a broader vision or direction tor society, or me goats ana aims we seek to achieve. Unsurprisingly, this weakness of vision helps to breed terrorists and the government or state is responsible for the compromise with terror. One judge in a US court made the following statement while passing a judgment: "The essence of what occurred here was that a government, understandably zealous to protect its citizens, created acts of terrorism out of the fantasies, bravado and bigotry of one man in particular and four men generally, and then made these fantasies come true." This is a problem in a world where counter-terrorism law enforcement relies on prevention as its main strategy.
Terrorism has three aspects, political, non-political and religious terrorism. Political terrorism seeks to achieve its political end by creating fear and panic on a large scale. Non-political terrorism exhibits a conscious design to create and maintain a high degree of fear for coercive purposes, but its end is individual or collective gain rather than the achievement of a political objective. Religious terrorism is resorted to by groups or individuals, the motivation of which is typically rooted in faith-based tenets. Terrorist acts throughout the centuries have been carried out on religious grounds with the hope of either spreading or enforcing a system of belief, viewpoint or opinion. Religious terrorism does not in itself necessarily define a specific religious standpoint or view, but instead usually defines an individual's or a group's view or interpretation of that system's teachings.
Political and religious terrorism are much more dangerous and the consequences can be disastrous. Both kinds of terrorists are well organised and well-trained and it often becomes difficult for the law enforcing agencies to arrest them in time. They indulge in senseless violence on a large scale in order to intimidate the people and the government. Hijacking of aeroplanes, arson, robberies, murder of eminent personalities, shooting down of innocent people indiscriminately, use of transistor bombs and other explosives, spreading of rumours, etc. are the ways used by terrorist organisations in order to achieve their ends.
Terrorists constantly change their hideouts and their tactics in order to escape arrest. When arrested, they try to commit suicide or are killed by their own close associates. They may think that they are patriots, but in reality they are antisocial or criminal elements who are exploited by clever politicians to achieve their own ends. There is also criminal terrorism which indulges in kidnappings in order to extort huge amounts of money by way of ransom. The history of terrorism goes back to Sicarii Zealots, a Jewish extremist group, after Zealotry rebellion in the 1st century AD when some prominent collaborators with Roman rule were killed. But the term terrorism was originally used to describe a phase in the French Revolution known as the "reign of terror."
In Bangladesh, terrorist activities started after the birth of the country. Political terrorism turned into religious terrorism during period of the four-party alliance government.The series of bomb blasts all over the country, the grenade attack on Sheikh Hasina, the killings of Mrs. Ivy Rahman, writer Prof. Humayun Azad and A.S.M. Kibria, and many others incidents took place apparently because of religious terrorism.
Those involved in terrorism are young, while the masterminds behind them who guide their activities are old and seasoned. They are fanatics and extremists and act with great fervour and zeal, but studies reveal that if apprehended alive a terrorist loses his fervour. When he has time to think, he realises his stupidity. We need to focus our attention on anti-social elements within different political parties and ensure punishment for all disruptive activities. Terrorism has no place in a democratic process. All problems can be solved through dialogue and negotiations. If a government is not able to handle these matters it can be changed through a free, fair and credible election.
My appeal to policymakers is that they should be confident about the state of the country or the state of the planet. The virile young tiger of Asia, Bangladesh, is not in a risky position like the American or European economies. In this connection, efficient leadership can respond to the challenges of the time by making use of technological advances. Technology is giving people worldwide a growing capacity to respond. For the average inhabitant of the planet, there has never been a better time to be alive than today. And, like it or not, this statement will be true again tomorrow and the next day. This fact should cheer us in Bangladesh.
The writer is an Entrepreneur and General Secretary, International Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA) Bangladesh. E-mail:msc4u@live.com