Monday, January 15, 2007 Nalzaro: On counter-terrorism By Bobby Nalzaro Saksi
THE four-day 12th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Summit will culminate today with various agreements and policies signed by the 10 member-countries and their dialogue partners, most notable of which was the Asean Convention on Counter-terrorism, the first regional anti-terrorism pact.
Some Asean countries, including the Philipppines, has been the subject of deadly attacks by terrorists organizations, like the Jemaah Islamiya, one of the cells of Osama bin Laden’s Al Qaeeda network, the world’s most feared terrorist group.
This is a good move. Terrorism should be stopped. It can practically ruin the economy, peace and order stability of a country if left unabated. If terrorists were able to perpetrate the most powerful and advance countries, like the US, how much more Third World countries, like some of the Asean member-countries. The Philippines is perceived as the weakest link among countries in Southeast Asia in fighting terrorism because of the inefficiency of our police and military in gathering intelligence.
Terrorists know no boundaries and do not consider their targets for as long as they can achieve their evil desire to sow terror and create chaos. The bombings in Metro Manila few years ago and recently in Mindanao were the handiworks of terrorists. Terrorism poses a constant threat to progress and development. Developments in countries hounded by terrorism problems are very slow. That is why fighting terrorism should be everybody’s concern. Governments in the region should unite and pour in their resources to combat this menace.
The key points on the fact are: member-countries will cooperate to counter, prevent and suppress terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, but in line with non-interference in the internal affairs of member-nations. That will include cooperation on exchanging intelligence, enhancing inter-faith dialogue, and ensuring perpetrators are brought to justice.
Asean countries also agreed to treat anyone taken into custody fairly, promote the rehabilitation and social reintegration of those who commit terrorist acts, assist each other in criminal investigations and extradite offenders or submit their cases for prosecution in their own courts without unduly delay.
I think in order to firm up our campaign against terrorism, our Congress should speed up the passage of the anti-terrorism bill that has been pending for quite some time. Our government cannot effectively fight terrorism unless our legislators will pass that law. However, it should be carefully studied so that the law won’t violate the basic rights of every individual, whether a foreigner or a Filipino.
