Defeating terrorism globally

September 11, 2001, changed the world in more ways than one. It was the day that the world truly woke up to the brutality of global terrorism. Just two months previously, Sri Lanka's only international airport had been attacked by Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) terrorists. Apart from the usual condemnations, the international community did not take much notice.

The Twin Towers attack disproved the myth that terrorism was confined to a few countries which had to treat it more or less as an "internal problem". Suddenly, the truly global nature of terrorism was laid bare. They could strike anywhere, even in the heart of the world's only superpower.

It dawned on the international community that global terrorism required a truly global response. Nations of the would have no alternative but to band together, within and outside the UN system, to fight terrorism.

It is in this context that we commend UN Secretary General Kofi Annan for presenting a comprehensive global counter-terrorism strategy to the General Assembly, emphasising the need to address bio-terrorism, the growing use of the Internet by terrorists and the urgent need to stop terrorist financing.

His strategy is articulated around "Five Ds" - Dissuading people from resorting to terrorism or supporting it; Denying terrorists the means to carry out an attack; Deterring States from supporting terrorism; Developing State capacity to defeat terrorism; and Defending human rights in the context of terrorism and counter-terrorism.

He has also called on all Member States to conclude a comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism. The role played in this regard by the late Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar must be recalled with gratitude. It is a pity that some countries are yet to ratify this important convention. Such dilly-dallying may result in yet more abominable crimes being committed by terrorists.

One of the most effective ways of putting pressure on terrorist groups is preventing fund raising and freezing existing assets. Terrorists are using more informal, less easily detectable methods to launder money worldwide. The use of front organisations with a charitable or cultural face is a favoured tactic.

The LTTE has many such front organisations that engage in fund raising, circumventing the bans imposed by a number of countries. However, some countries have seen through this facade and banned their charity organisations as well.

It is also necessary to stop brazen extortion by terrorist groups. The LTTE's sordid methods of extortion of the Tamil diaspora were recently exposed by the US-based Human Rights Watch. Countries with substantial Sri Lankan Tamil populations can no longer ignore it as "none of their business".

The people being subject to threats and extortion are now their citizens, who have every right to seek the protection of law enforcement agencies of the respective countries.

It is also well-known that the leading terrorist groups in the world learn from, and maintain close links with, each other. The LTTE was the first terrorist outfit to deploy suicide bombers on one-way missions of death and destruction.

Now several other terrorist organisations routinely use suicide cadres. It has also been revealed that terror groups cooperate in gun-running, drug trafficking, weapons training and human smuggling. They are truly transnational entities.

The international community should thus take more concrete steps to restrict terrorists' communications and travel. Terrorists are freely using the Internet to spread hate against Governments and issue direct threats to their sovereignty. Although it is true that cyberspace cannot be completely censored or controlled, Governments can take many steps to deny them access to computer networks.

Similarly, all countries should be active to the dangers posed by the illegal movements of terrorists. The enhanced sharing of intelligence, more effective patrolling of borders, eavesdropping on terrorists' communications and outright bans on travel by known terrorists (as imposed on the LTTE by the EU) can all help.

Therefore, Annan's call could not have come at a more opportune moment. Terrorists the world over must no longer be allowed to disrupt the lives of ordinary, peace-loving citizens. A threat to peace in one country is a threat to peace everywhere. The earlier the world moves towards a more comprehensive action plan aimed at eliminating terrorism, the better it will be for prospects of lasting peace on our planet.