Exemplary resolveagainst terror

THE world's efforts to outlaw terrorism was given a decisive push at the UN summit of world leaders in New York when the UN Security Council Heads of State and Government adopted two key resolutions to impress on UN member states the crucial importance of facing the terror menace squarely and of defeating it resoundly, besides taking all relevant measures to prevent the emergence of the terrible scourge.

In Resolution 1624 the Security Council condemned "in the strongest terms, all acts of terrorism irrespective of their motivation, whenever and by whomsoever committed, as one of the most serious threats to peace and security".

Under this Resolution, UN member states are expected to take all necessary measures, including those of a legal nature, to prevent incitement to commit terror acts by any party, deny safe haven to those engaging in terror and to cooperate with the international community in putting down the terror scourge, besides other obligations.

Security Council Resolution 1625, essentially, calls on states to adopt all preventive measures against terror including the deployment of preventive diplomacy, engaging in regional mediation, sounding early warnings of potential conflicts and promoting fairness and transparency of electoral processes, among other initiatives.

These Resolutions bear ample testimony to the fact that there is a definitive coming together of minds from all corners of the earth on the question of battling terror and that too very forthrightly.

In other words, terror stands roundly condemned by the majority of mankind, including those sections which qualify for the label "global heavyweights."

It is particularly important to note that acts of terror stand condemned here, "irrespective of their motivation".

As is well known, for decades now some sections have been endeavouring to sanctify some forms of terror on the grounds that they are justified by the political circumstances which compel them; for instance, those conditions which are seen as repressive of communities and socio-economic groups.

However, Resolution 1624, puts the issue beyond all doubt. Under no circumstances could acts of terror, such as the taking and maiming of lives, be justified.

In fact the Resolution reaffirmed "the imperative to combat terrorism in all its forms and manifestations by all means, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations."

These extracts amount to a restatement of the cardinal principles underlying civilized interaction among states and within societies. Under these key Resolutions, furthermore, states are expected to show no quarter to those deploying terror for whatever reason.

Accordingly, the global community is obliged under the terms of these Resolutions to crackdown hard on the LTTE, wherever it may choose to operate and under whatever guises.

Likewise, safe sanctuary cannot be given abroad to terror outfits such as the LTTE. A sincere adherence to the terms of the Resolutions will compel the international community to act in concert and rigour against all purveyors of terror. The world yearns for unity of purpose among the world community on this dangerous cancer.

It is also interesting to note that the states of the world are called upon by these Resolutions to launch a dialogue among civilizations to narrow differences arising from belief systems which give rise to the use of terror.

This could be called a highly constructive component in these accords among the world's most powerful states.

As is known, ethnic and religious tensions are breeding hatred and war. As we see it, such catastrophic results are the products of also misunderstanding among cultures and nations.

A "civilizational dialogue" is likely to narrow these gaps in perception and promote international harmony. In other words, minds need to meet.