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by Dann Kolthoff*
23 October 2002.

Over the past year terrorism and its consequences is something that has been highlighted to the world. The ¡†West ¡†has been drawn into terrorist acts and is seeking a manner to end this unjustifiable violence that often impacts the innocent. But maybe we should look at what causes people to choose for terrorism and how we can help to minimize the cause.

Although terrorism is a word that has been branded around everyday in the newspapers and on the radio since September 11, 2001 ¡Ì it is not a new ¡†issue¡Ö nor is it likely to disappear from the newspapers main pages in the near future. Innumerable terrorists acts have been carried out over the last decades, in fact centuries. The degree of their impact may be varied but all are generally trying to achieve one objective : to highlight their cause (and often to hurt the opposition).

The Bali bombing brought terrorism closer to New Zealand, and stirred up feelings of insecurity, a cry for a stronger defence force, a stop to immigration, etc.. Despite the investment in the most powerful countries in things such as defence world terrorism continues.

Over the last few years there have been many more acts of terrorism (with often a much larger impact). Some more recent and/or present examples of terrorist acts that are hardly mentioned in our newspapers include:

 Russian Federation : In 1996 a bomb exploded in central Moscow in an apartment block and then in a busy crowded subway. Russia blamed Chechnya, although evidence was never found and the Russians began another war on Chechnya [again]. Most of Chechnya was bombed to the ground, however the war continues today as the Chechens continue to seek independence from the Russian Federation ¡Ì spreading terrorism through Russia.  Basque Spain: the province of Basque wish to gain independence from Spain. For years different terrorist acts have been performed by the ETA; assassinations of government officials and the military, car bombs and other [random] acts of terror and the dispute continues.  Palestine suicide bombings targeting Israeli Jews ¡Ì trying to bring attention and resolution to a land re-division undertaken since Israel¡Ùs independence as a state in 1948. The Palestinians claiming their ancestral land; the Israelis holding on to Biblical time borders and claiming they need the occupied territory as a security zone. The result is years of war in the Palestine territories of Gaza and the West Bank and spreading into Israel proper.  IRA bombings in England : a fight against English/Protestant settlement in Northern Ireland.  Orange bombings in Northern Ireland : the other side, claiming their English/Protestant ¡†rights¡Ö in Northern Ireland.  United States, September11: ¡†out of the blue¡Ö, or so it seems, the United States are pulled into an apparent offshore motivated terrorist attack. Four planes crash and kill more than 3000 people. The U.S. begin a war against terrorism. The initial target being the El Queda network lead by Osama Bin Laden. Leading to an extensive and continuing bombing of, already war torn, Afghanistan. Resulting in the fall of the Taleban regime, an extreme Muslim party, who had also supported Bin Laden. Further action is also being pushed for against Iraq who are blamed for the building up of chemical weapons and acting as a threat against the ¡†West¡Ö.  Bali: is Australia now targeted as a result of their strong stance to back the U.S. 100% and tough anti¡Ìimmigrant policies or was this an attack to harm the Hindu part of a predominantly Muslim country for its tolerance to heavy drinking and general liberalism?

What drove these groups to selfish acts of violence often against innocent citizens? Terrorism appears to be a means for those who feel either politically suffocated and as a consequence undermined as a group, or a religiously driven movement fighting against the oppressors and usually wealthier up hand ruling religion/party.

We see these unequal positions of wealth and power across the whole world. Normally the differences are even further exaggerated after a period of heavy fighting/war. We are a long way from having a world that is free from oppression or inequalities. What does this mean for terrorism and the war against terrorism?

An act of terrorism is definitely an unjustifiable act of terror and murder. If terrorists arise from situations where people feel talking and negotiating have left them stranded and victimized, how will further violence and physical destruction ever give them access to their basic human rights, let alone the feeling of being respected and equal? Surely an act of further violence against the country of origin will not help our longer term goal for equality (and therefore getting closer to safety and security).

Every year millions of dollars are invested in humanitarian aid ¡Ì for emergency relief and longer term development. At the same time billions more are blown up in weaponry ¡Ì be it during conflicts or as a support to [questionable] allies. Yesterday¡Ùs allies are often present day terrorists and vice versa. Was it not the U.S. that supported Osama Bin Laden during the Cold War ¡Ì supplying advanced weaponry and US Dollars; wasn¡Ùt ex-Prime Minister Menachem Begin the same as the terrorist Begin ¡Ì fighting the English colonizers before 1948 in Palestine, or Nelson Mandela ¡Ì once a terrorist, later President of South Africa, etc. etc. What is more, millions and billions are often promised but never appear! Take Afghanistan as a good example of this ¡Ì earlier this year billions of dollars were promised to Afghanistan to assist the new government in rebuilding their country. To-date not even 0,5% of these promises have materialized. Is this the way to build respect and support of a government that the West wanted instated and by force managed to implement ¡Ì and what does that mean to future terrorism?

We live in a small world that gets smaller every day due to our modern technology. Within 24 hours we travel to the other side of this world, in the most ¡†primitive¡Ö places all over the world people have access to CNN, the World Service and American soaps, O.E.¡Ùs brought about internet facilities in countries where people live from $ 30 a month. Whether we like it or not, people shall try to share in that wealth so obviously demonstrated. And if need be ¡Ì everyone has ¡†access to terrorism¡Ö, whether it¡Ùs manuals for terrible devices on internet, (high jacking) airplanes or random killings. No strong defence force, tough immigration laws or flattening countries can stop that.

It would be better to review our spending; putting a halt to the arms industry (and its exports). Then, for example, investing the money we promise to pay in rehabilitation and to promote and support stability and to indiscriminately carry out United Nations resolutions ¡Ì be it to allies or [as now] Iraq. Terrorism is a factor that we won¡Ùt be able to ban from our lives ¡Ì we simply need to accept that we can not always be in control, everywhere. No ¡®Skyhawks¡Ù, stronger Navy or tough(er) immigration laws will save New Zealand from terrorism. Sticking to moral principles, respect and working towards equality would make a good start in ¡†The War Against Terrorism¡Ö.

* Dann Kolthoff: Recently immigrated to New Zealand after many years of working with refugees and international humanitarian aid organizations.

Previously based in the Netherlands working for the Dutch Government Immigration Service as a case officer for refugee applicants. A specialist on the Caucasus region. This involved in-depth research and writing of reports and checklists over Chechnya, Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Also worked with Amnesty International, Medecins Sans Frontieres and MERLIN. The later two are both medical emergency relief organizations operating in Chechnya, Azerbaijan, Georgia, South Sudan and Bosnia.

ENDS

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