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                   PERSPECTIVE: War Against Terrorism

By B K Sen
Oct. 6, Mizzima News(www.mizzima.com)
The clouds of war gathering over the issue of the terrorist attack on
the World TradeCenter in New York are ominous. The attack itself was a
dastardly act. Nearly six thousand innocent lives were lost. It was a
challenge to civilization.  Civilized society wonders if it can exist or
whether a handful of bandits will rule humanity. It is not an issue of
Islamic religion versus the rest of the world. The Islamic façade, which
the terrorists have given to the heinously violent acts, cannot hide
their real motives. By and large, the Islamic world has condemned the
attacks and aligned with the rest of the world. The issue that has
emerged is whether a War against Afghanistan, housing the operational
headquarters of the terrorists,  will destroy terrorism. US war ships
and troops have moved in around Gulf Seas and taken position to strike.
The question arises: will bombing and other military operations not
strengthen the Taliban forces? Afghanistan, which is divided today, will
become unified under rabid right-wing fanatics. Terrorism will become
nationalism. The Talibans will be masquerading as champions of a
defensive just war. Through the centuries, the Afghans have been
intensely nationalistic. Alexander the Great, Persia, Britain, the
Soviet Union and Pakistan tried to control the country but failed. The
US record is equally dismal.It sponsored  the collapse of the Soviet
occupation, in the course of which it created the Taliban. Thereafter,
the US allowed Pakistan and Saudi Arabia to interfere in the internal
affairs of Afghanistan. Only with the rise of Osman bin Laden in late
1996 did the Clinton administration wake up. With a series of bombings
of its Embassies, a slight shift of US policy was brought about. The US
concern was to apprehend bin Laden and at the same time not to confront
the Taliban. The collateral result of this policy was the emergence of a
pervasive network of terrorist groups in more than 34 countries and the
generation of an abundance of funds through money laundering. Al-Qaida
is the hard core-organization of Laden. (GW Bush in a speech to the US
Congress on 21 September 2001:  "Its goal is remaking the World and
imposing its radical beliefs on people everywhere"). The situation is
indeed critical. The terrorists have put on the garb of Islamic
Revolution. In the Islamic world, however, a number of countries are
moving beyond fundamentalist belief systems, and the rule of law has
become the beacon light for the oppressed millions. The dictators
who rule a number of Islamic countries are under threat and face a
dilemma. If they ally themselves with the fundamentalist forces, their
regimes will be toppled. If they oppose the fundamentalist forces,
pro-democracy forces may well dissolve their regimes. The Taliban is
exploiting this dilemma. This also explains the ambivalent role that a
number of Islamic leaders have chosen.

The aggressive speeches of Bush and his attempt to bypass the UN have
sown deep suspicion in the minds of many Islamic people. The Taliban has
been successful in eroding the initial support that the US had garnered
from states like Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and others. This will be the
political context of the war that the US intends to launch.Furthermore,
there are divisions in the ranks of its allies who are debating for a
global coalition to fight terrorism. The absence of rule of law is at
the bottom of Afghan woes. At no time has there been a government based
on and rooted in the rule of law in Afghanistan. The paramount issue in
Afghanistan is political, not military. A government of nationalities of
the Afghan people is the first priority. It is good that swift US
military action has not taken place. It is good that the world community
has asserted itself, cutting across the religious divide.

The terrorists have to be dealt with now or never. The world has to be
made safe and secure. Democratic interaction has to proceed.
International humanitarian assistance to the suffering Afghans must be
accelerated. Democratic transformations and development are
pre-requisites for the eradication of poverty and ignorance. Those who
wreck peace deserve to be punished. Peace is a paramount requirement.

In the context of Burma, this situation is potentially dangerous. The US
oil giant UNOCAL, which has business interests in Burma, proposed
setting up a gas line through Afghanistan. Taliban ranks have swelled by

increasing numbers of foreign volunteers from countries as diverse as
Pakistan, Algeria and Burma. (The Nation Sep 22, 2001) Article by Stefan
Smith under caption "Taliban, Pakistan's foreign policy failure" also
had an exclusive interview with Bin Laden and Laden stated, "there are
areas in all parts of the world where strong Jihad forces are present
from Indonesia to Algeria, from Kabul to Chechnya, from Bosnia to Sudan,
and from Burma (Myanmar) to Kashmir".

It is a surprise that Laden has mentioned Burma alone of the countries
where Islamic fundamentalists exit in operation. There is a group,
Arakan Rohingya Islamic Front fighting the Burmese military Junta for
decades for an Independent state on the western borders of Burma. The
group also formed Rohingya Liberation Army. In 1999, the Rohingyas
joined the Democratic Alliance of Burma (DAB) headed by Karen National
Union (KNU), an ethnic armed group operating on southeastern borders of
Burma and Thailand.

The Muslim minorities constitute nearly 15% of forty million populations
in Burma. The ruling military junta in Burma, State Peace and
Development Council (SPDC) on this occasion sent a delayed message of
condolence to the US State Department. The delay was said to be a
protection against existing tension. The SPDC has antagonized the Muslim
minorities. If the news report quoted above is true, then the situation
in Burma is volatile
and needs careful handling.

Long repressive rule by the Junta has generated widespread discontent
and the ethnic minorities and religious groups have been worst victims.
They may be forced to seek assistance outside. The Talibans will be too
ready to play the lead role. Burma will not be able to remain in
isolation, which she has undergone for decades. Burmese people are
victim of one form of terrorism, namely State terrorism. This has to
end. Democratic transition and rule of law can only ensure that
fundamentalism of any form, Islamic, ethnic or military or otherwise
does not overtake Burma.

(B.K. Sen, based in Thailand, is a member of Burma Lawyers' Council.)



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<p><b><u><font color="#EE0000"><font size=+2>PERSPECTIVE: War Against Terrorism</font></font></u></b></center>

<p><b><font color="#408080"><font size=+1>By B K Sen</font></font></b>
<br><font size=+1><b><font color="#408080">Oct. 6, Mizzima News</font></b><a href="www.mizzima.com">(www.mizzima.com</a>)</font>
<br><font size=+1>The clouds of war gathering over the issue of the terrorist
attack on the World TradeCenter in New York are ominous. The attack itself
was a dastardly act. Nearly six thousand innocent lives were lost. It was
a challenge to civilization.&nbsp; Civilized society wonders if it can
exist or whether a handful of bandits will rule humanity. It is not an
issue of Islamic religion versus the rest of the world. The Islamic fa&ccedil;ade,
which the terrorists have given to the heinously violent acts, cannot hide
their real motives. By and large, the Islamic world has condemned the attacks
and aligned with the rest of the world. The issue that has emerged is whether
a War against Afghanistan, housing the operational headquarters of the
terrorists,&nbsp; will destroy terrorism. US war ships and troops have
moved in around Gulf Seas and taken position to strike. The question arises:
will bombing and other military operations not strengthen the Taliban forces?
Afghanistan, which is divided today, will become unified under rabid right-wing
fanatics. Terrorism will become nationalism. The Talibans will be masquerading
as champions of a defensive just war. Through the centuries, the Afghans
have been intensely nationalistic. Alexander the Great, Persia, Britain,
the Soviet Union and Pakistan tried to control the country but failed.
The US record is equally dismal.It sponsored&nbsp; the collapse of the
Soviet occupation, in the course of which it created the Taliban. Thereafter,
the US allowed Pakistan and Saudi Arabia to interfere in the internal affairs
of Afghanistan. Only with the rise of Osman bin Laden in late 1996 did
the Clinton administration wake up. With a series of bombings of its Embassies,
a slight shift of US policy was brought about. The US concern was to apprehend
bin Laden and at the same time not to confront the Taliban. The collateral
result of this policy was the emergence of a pervasive network of terrorist
groups in more than 34 countries and the generation of an abundance of
funds through money laundering. Al-Qaida is the hard core-organization
of Laden. (GW Bush in a speech to the US Congress on 21 September 2001:&nbsp;
"Its goal is remaking the World and imposing its radical beliefs on people
everywhere"). The situation is&nbsp; indeed critical. The terrorists have
put on the garb of Islamic Revolution. In the Islamic world, however, a
number of countries are moving beyond fundamentalist belief systems, and
the rule of law has become the beacon light for the oppressed millions.
The dictators</font>
<br><font size=+1>who rule a number of Islamic countries are under threat
and face a dilemma. If they ally themselves with the fundamentalist forces,
their regimes will be toppled. If they oppose the fundamentalist forces,
pro-democracy forces may well dissolve their regimes. The Taliban is exploiting
this dilemma. This also explains the ambivalent role that a number of Islamic
leaders have chosen.</font>
<p><font size=+1>The aggressive speeches of Bush and his attempt to bypass
the UN have sown deep suspicion in the minds of many Islamic people. The
Taliban has been successful in eroding the initial support that the US
had garnered from states like Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and others. This will
be the political context of the war that the US intends to launch.Furthermore,
there are divisions in the ranks of its allies who are debating for a global
coalition to fight terrorism. The absence of rule of law is at the bottom
of Afghan woes. At no time has there been a government based on and rooted
in the rule of law in Afghanistan. The paramount issue in Afghanistan is
political, not military. A government of nationalities of the Afghan people
is the first priority. It is good that swift US military action has not
taken place. It is good that the world community has asserted itself, cutting
across the religious divide.</font>
<p><font size=+1>The terrorists have to be dealt with now or never. The
world has to be made safe and secure. Democratic interaction has to proceed.
International humanitarian assistance to the suffering Afghans must be
accelerated. Democratic transformations and development are pre-requisites
for the eradication of poverty and ignorance. Those who wreck peace deserve
to be punished. Peace is a paramount requirement.</font>
<p><font size=+1>In the context of Burma, this situation is potentially
dangerous. The US oil giant UNOCAL, which has business interests in Burma,
proposed</font>
<br><font size=+1>setting up a gas line through Afghanistan. Taliban ranks
have swelled by</font>
<br><font size=+1>increasing numbers of foreign volunteers from countries
as diverse as</font>
<br><font size=+1>Pakistan, Algeria and Burma. (The Nation Sep 22, 2001)
Article by Stefan Smith under caption "Taliban, Pakistan's foreign policy
failure" also had an exclusive interview with Bin Laden and Laden stated,
"there are areas in all parts of the world where strong Jihad forces are
present from Indonesia to Algeria, from Kabul to Chechnya, from Bosnia
to Sudan, and from Burma (Myanmar) to Kashmir".</font>
<p><font size=+1>It is a surprise that Laden has mentioned Burma alone
of the countries where Islamic fundamentalists exit in operation. There
is a group, Arakan Rohingya Islamic Front fighting the Burmese military
Junta for decades for an Independent state on the western borders of Burma.
The group also formed Rohingya Liberation Army. In 1999, the Rohingyas
joined the Democratic Alliance of Burma (DAB) headed by Karen National
Union (KNU), an ethnic armed group operating on southeastern borders of
Burma and Thailand.</font>
<p><font size=+1>The Muslim minorities constitute nearly 15% of forty million
populations in Burma. The ruling military junta in Burma, State Peace and
Development Council (SPDC) on this occasion sent a delayed message of condolence
to the US State Department. The delay was said to be a protection against
existing tension. The SPDC has antagonized the Muslim minorities. If the
news report quoted above is true, then the situation in Burma is volatile</font>
<br><font size=+1>and needs careful handling.</font>
<p><font size=+1>Long repressive rule by the Junta has generated widespread
discontent and the ethnic minorities and religious groups have been worst
victims. They may be forced to seek assistance outside. The Talibans will
be too ready to play the lead role. Burma will not be able to remain in
isolation, which she has undergone for decades. Burmese people are victim
of one form of terrorism, namely State terrorism. This has to end. Democratic
transition and rule of law can only ensure that fundamentalism of any form,
Islamic, ethnic or military or otherwise does not overtake Burma.</font>
<p><font size=+1>(B.K. Sen, based in Thailand, is a member of Burma Lawyers'
Council.)</font>
<p>&nbsp;</html>

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