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.
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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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