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South Asia: overcoming terror with a regional commitment to peace

Text of speech by Asanga Abeyagoonasekera, Executive Director of the Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute for International Relations and Strategic Studies on March 10, 2012 at Sapru House ICWA, New Delhi

First of all, let me thank Indian Council World Affairs and Association of Asian Scholars for inviting me to this prestigious venue, Sapru House, to participate in the Asian Relations Conference. Since the ICWA's beginning in 1943, I understand great scholars and leaders like Mahatma Gandhi and many others have voiced their ideas at this renowned institute.

Asanga Abeyagoonasekera

The Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute, the premier national think tank of Sri Lanka, with its Board of Management chaired by the distinguished academic and scholar, Prof. G. L. Peiris, Minister of External Affairs, is keen to work and have a close relationship with Indian Council of World Affairs. We have made history at this conference by signing Kadirgamar Institute's first MOU with an Indian think tank, and I am happy and proud it is the prestigious Indian Council of World Affairs. I thank our High commissioner Prasad Kariyawasam for his assistance in this regard.

Peace and stability

The paper we prepared for the conference, ‘South Asia: overcoming terror with a regional commitment to peace’, I believe is of timely importance for our region. Sri Lanka, after experiencing South Asia's longest fight against terror for a period of three decades, has a lot of experience we can share with our neighbouring countries. Our President Mahinda Rajapaksa has ended terror with great difficulty, and now we enjoy a country without terror. Myself being a victim of terror at the age of 16, losing my father who was a Member of Parliament, leader of a political party and a presidential candidate from a suicide bomb in Colombo, I have experienced terror and my wish is to build a harmonious society.

Terrorism is a regional phenomenon, as it is a global phenomenon in the world today. South Asia has the highest number of conflict-afflicted people in the world, and South Asia has the highest number of deaths related to terrorism in the world, it being approximately 10,000 deaths due to terrorism and insurgencies in 2010. The number of deaths in the region due to terrorism and insurgencies have escalated steadily since 2005.

Every nation in South Asia is either currently a victim of or has fallen victim to the debilitating brutality of terrorism. In South Asia, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India and the Maldives, are presently affected by terrorism and extremist violence on their soil.

Terrorism has long been a factor influencing interstate relations in South Asia. Terrorism is a persistent regional concern, where terrorist activity in one country is detrimental to and destabilizes and jeopardizes the security of the entire South Asian region - and the world. Thus, it is imperative for nations to understand that in a world which is getting smaller and more interconnected each day through technological developments and intricate international trade, economic, political, and social relations, the epidemic of terrorism breeding in one country, invariably affects the peace and stability of another. Thus, terrorism is a regional concern and it can only be effectively eradicated with regional measures and cooperation.

At a point in time when a nation is fortunate enough to be free of terrorist activity within its borders while it is afflicting its neighbours, it must not feel relieved that terrorism is 'outside' of its territory, but understand that it is in fact 'surrounded' by it, and thus, that it is only a matter of time until the devastating consequences of terrorism and its related activities are felt in your own. Terrorism is the number one threat to national sovereignty in the region and in the world, and the number one threat to regional stability and security in South Asia. Unless effective domestic and regional, internal and external, measures to counter terrorism and foster reconciliation are not embarked upon immediately, terrorism and the culture of violence of the region will fester to the point of no recovery.

Regional cooperation through regional institutions is made possible within South Asia through the harnessing of cultural and social values common to the South Asian region.

With reference to a quote by the late former Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar, that relations between India and Sri Lanka were "so ancient that they are lost in the mist of time", let us begin to rekindle our deep historical, cultural and social ties as neighbours, and as a region. With justice, forgiveness, compromise, tolerance, communication and reconciliation as our tools, the South Asian family will be able to rise together by coming together in matters of security, trade and development.

The adoption of a regional body overlooking security issues for the South Asian countries is imperative. A communication strategy among regional powers to dilute misperceptions related to transnational terrorism and other regional issues can be initiated by regional institutions.

International community

In this regard, think-tanks, academia, research bodies, policy makers and other key decision makers can be brought onto the same platform in order to share ideas, discuss current issues affecting the region and build connections. Improved communication will help build partnerships and share information, and thus eliminate uncertainties and build confidence among the South Asian states. A regional conference such as ‘ARC III’ is symbolic in this respect.

Cultural exchange programmes for schoolchildren and exchange of arts and cultural programmes can be linked through a network of public and private education institutions in the region, and more so between countries in conflict. Launching of an annual 'regional film festival', connecting diplomatic missions and cultural centres, will also help us understand each other better. These types of initiatives would promote reconciliation fundamentals - empathy and truth-telling - for sharing past suffering collectively, as well as celebrate our differences through cultural and artistic channels such as song, music, drama, art and film.

Violence and corruption

The Kadirgamar Institute has taken on a leading role in facilitating the national reconciliation process in Sri Lanka by conducting a series of National Conferences on Reconciliation which engage diverse sectors, such as the business community, educators, political leaders, media, religious leaders, artistes and the youth. The Kadirgamar Institute aspires to facilitate and act as a catalyst in the reconciliation process by promoting dialogue and collaboration among all such members of society who can contribute to the reconciliation process.

Terrorism in the region - and the world - is increasingly more transnational and merciless in nature with the effects of globalization and developments in technology, thus threatening the security of all South Asian nations, and all nations of the world. Therefore, regional and international cooperation is imperative for a sustainable peace in the region, and genuine efforts must be directed by individual South Asian nations as well as global powers and the international community, in healing and developing the relationships between the South Asian states.

However, in eradicating terrorism and the culture of violence and corruption which have hijacked the potential of this great region, it is assured of a very bright future. South Asia is currently the second fastest-growing region in the world and will be able to eliminate poverty and hunger by 2030 (UNDP, 2011); thus, with the peace and regional (economic) integration ushered in with the regional commitment to security and good governance practices to end terrorism and violence and the redirection of colossal national funds from defence to development, is sure to set the region on a path to prosperity. It will transform the destiny of South Asia in the face of globalization, change the course of the world, and will restore the region's historical status as a centre for spirituality in the world.

 

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