AYF-News> Fwd: Fwd: Re: Members-Discuss> But why?

[ayf@xxxxxxx]

--- Weitergeleitete Nachricht / Forwarded Message ---
Date: Wed, 19 Sep 2001 10:49:00 +0200
From: "Paulyn Jansen" <ayf-info@xxxxxx>
To: ayf@xxxxxxx
Subject: Fwd: Re: Members-Discuss> But why?

> Ursprüngliche Nachricht:
> > Kabissa Members Discussion Mailing List
> > ===========================================================
> > 
> > Below is a thoughtful write-up from a Sri-Lankan.
> > 
> > Toyin
> > ********************************************************
> > > > Dear Friends and Loved Ones, 
> > > > 
> > > > This was intended to be a wrap up of views and 
> > experiences during --  and a discussion of my disappointment with -- the

> > World Conference Against Racism in Durban, South Africa. I went to 
> > Durban with the International Centre for Ethnic Studies and also 
> > reported on the conference for the Voice of America. I returned to 
> > Sri Lanka just  hours before the attacks in New York and 
> > Washington. 
> > > > 
> > > > I begin this message in Sri Lanka's nightly  blackout, three hour 
cuts due to a drought that starves the island's  hydropower. 
> > > > 
> > > > Like so many of you, I cannot describe the  sensation of watching
the 
> > > > second 767 strike the World Trade Center, of seeing a structure that

> > > > seemed as permanent as the earth itself collapse into oblivion. The 
> > > > feeling that floats to the top must be despair.  Living myself in a 
> > > > world of terror and reprisal (though we are far  from the radar 
> > > > screens of the world), I also feel despair at the surge of bloodlust

> > > > on the networks and the calls for vengeance from people,
politicians, 
> > > > and the media. 
> > > > 
> > > > Recent attacks on the US have been called evil acts of madmen. 
> > > > Oklahoma City, the Embassies in Africa, the USS Cole, all seen 
> > > > as acts of irrational evil. Evil they are. Nothing else can describe

> > > > such brutal massacres, such wanton destruction. They are not, 
> > > > however, acts of madmen. None of them. The danger of such rhetoric 
> > > > should not be underestimated. 
> > > > 
> > > > In my few years in Sri Lanka, I have seen dozens of  brutal
terrorist 
> > > > attacks, the most shocking and brazen the recent destruction of 12 
> > > > civilian and military aircraft on the tarmac at the international 
> > > > airport. I have walked among the dead and reported the carnage. The 
> > > > evil of terrorism touches countries worldwide. War and insurgency 
> > > > have killed over 140000 Sri Lankans in the last 18 years and left a 
> > > > million displaced. The population of the island is only 18 million. 
> > > > Most terrorist attacks here strike the cities and kill innocent 
> > > > civilians. The government often retaliates with military operations 
> > > > and air strikes. 
> > > > 
> > > > In this setting, the rebels are the "terrorists"  and government 
> > > > retaliation is justified and celebrated by much of the general
public 
> > > > in government held areas. Such attacks are supported by the 
> > > > international community as the defense of a sovereign nation in a 
> > > > state of war. 
> > > > 
> > > > But reprisals can never stop the terrorist attacks. Every time a 
> > > > military operation claims an innocent son or daughter or parent or 
> > > > sibling, another terrorist --- or freedom fighter --- is born. The 
> > > > cycle is perpetual. Security can only be flawed; retaliation, 
> > > > however effective, can only contribute to more violence. 
> > > > 
> > > > Sri Lanka is a gauntlet of military and police checkpoints. Vehicles

> > > > are inspected going into shopping malls. You have to reach the 
> > > > airport 3 hours in advance and pass through multiple checks and 
> > > > searches, multiple x-rays, and at least one hand search of all 
> > > > baggage. The bombings continue. The airport remained vulnerable. 
> > > > Security is omnipresent and it is naturally discriminatory, often 
> > > > profiling people of the same ethnic community as the rebels. 
> > > > Checkpoints and searches do not make you feel safe. Because the 
> > > > underlying causes of the violence are not fully addressed, the 
> > > > attacks continue. 
> > > > 
> > > > Undoubtedly, the attacks on New York and Washington can be 
> > > > attributed to sloppy security at many airports and twin failures by 
> > > > American intelligence and by American defense forces. Security must 
> > > > be tightened and the citizens will have to accept the restrictions 
> > > > for their own safety. 
> > > > 
> > > > But in America, too, increased security cannot stop terror attacks. 
> > > > A single individual willing to die for a cause is virtually
unstoppable. The fabric that holds diverse societies together is an 
uncompromising
defense of individual rights and 
> > civil liberties. Security arrangements can prove dangerous if they 
> > target or harm specific segments of a population, thus driving 
> > people to extremism. Retaliation, unless surgically precise, will always

> > create a mushroom affect---new men and women willing to die 
> > if their loved ones are slaughtered. We see it now in America: 
> > Thousands would die to exact vengeance on those responsible for 
> > Tuesday's attacks. 
> > > > 
> > > > But we are doomed to an ongoing cycle of terror unless the struggle 
> > > > Americans are willing to die for is one for justice --- not revenge.

> > > > Fighting evil can only succeed if the approach to it is
sophisticated 
> > > > and profound. It must be rooted in the most difficult strictures of 
> > > > the scriptures of the major religions and the deepest springs of the

> > > > human heart. It must be rooted in forgiveness. Force must be
tempered 
> > > > by understanding; punitive action complemented by positive action. 
> > > > 
> > > > Around the roots of many terrorist organizations there often lies a 
> > > > thick layer of legitimate grievances from which violence drew its 
> > > > nutrients. This is true of the IRA, the LTTE in Sri Lanka, the PLO, 
> > > > the Kosovar Liberation Army, and many others. South Africa's ANC 
> > > > spent generations as a "terrorist" organization. Many vicious forces

> > > > in world were equipped by major powers, including the United States 
> > > > (think of the Taliban itself and the Contras). 
> > > > 
> > > > In Hollywood, attacks like those in New York and Washington are the 
> > > > designs of madmen bent on wealth and/or power. They are thwarted by 
> > > > mythic heroes in the form of Harrison Ford or Arnold Schwarzenagger.

> > > > The movie stars didn't appear on Tuesday to save the day. Similarly,

> > > > there were no madmen. Acts of war like these are rooted in strategy;

> > > > the evil of real life terrorism is based on concrete beliefs and 
> > > > serious efforts to advance those beliefs, often through evil
actions. 
> > > > 
> > > > To fight these forces --- who also believe they are fighting for 
> > > > justice -- countries must answer questions who and how. They must 
> > > > also look beyond to questions of why. The U.S. needs to ask and 
> > > > seriously try to answer these difficult questions: Why do these 
> > > > people hate us enough to do such horrible things? What will the cost

> > > > of our retaliation be and how can it be just and accurate? The 
> > > > suspects in these cases are not after mere wealth and power. 
> > > > While retribution is necessary, the cost of that retribution must be

> > > > estimated. Nations can easily slip into an endless spiral of carnage

> > > > like that engulfing Israel and Palestine, like Sri Lanka, like so 
> > > > many devastated places on earth. 
> > > > 
> > > > I despair for the victims in New York and Washington and
Pennsylvania, 
> > > > for their families, and I dread learning of the friends I too must 
> > > > have lost yesterday. I send my wishes to the rescue workers and hope

> > > > the preservation of life remains on the top of everyone's mind. I 
> > > > despair for a world in which understanding and empathy are victims 
> > > > of political and economic convenience and for leaders around the 
> > > > world who do not -- perhaps cannot -- realize the possible results 
> > > > of their actions. 
> > > > 
> > > > I just returned from an international forum from which the US 
> > > > withdrew. America cannot remain separate from the global community; 
> > > > it must realize that in order to have global support---against 
> > > > terrorism and for many other global concerns---it must at least 
> > > > participate in global processes. It must openly defend its beliefs 
> > > > and interests and attempt to build consensus for its positions. It's

> > > > positions must be debated inside and outside of the country. It must

> > > > empathize and attempt to understand the concerns and beliefs of 
> > > > other states and other groups of people. The withdrawal from Kyoto, 
> > > > plans for missile defense, refusing to sign biological weapons and 
> > > > land mine agreements, rejecting an international criminal court, all

> > > > of these cannot be seen as disconnected from the future of US 
> > > > security. Though I have strong opinions on all of these, I am not 
> > > > passing judgement on American positions here. I am saying that such 
> > > > decisions cannot be taken as if the US exists in a disconnected
world. 
> > > > 
> > > > The United States remains the greatest hope for the concept of
mutual 
> > > > accommodation and tolerance. With many hiccups, we generally live 
> > > > together in tolerance and even celebration of diversity. We allow
all 
> > > > people the pursuit of happiness. As the United States chooses a path

> > > > after Tuesday's tragic loss, may the leaders find the wisdom to seek

> > > > out justice, not vengeance, and to take any retaliatory action with 
> > > > care. May Americans remember to keep one hand ready for positive 
> > > > action if the other is striking destruction. May we confront enemies

> > > > with strength and with kindness and avoid today's global patterns in

> > > > which one wrong makes a wrong makes a wrong makes a wrong. . . 
> > > > 
> > > > May we realize the need to re-engage the world. The stakes cannot be

> > > > higher. 
> > > > 
> > > > Vikram Singh 
> > > > Colombo, Sri Lanka, 
> > > > September 12, 2001 
> > > > 
> > > > Please feel free to distribute this opinion in any means you see fit

> > > > with my name and contact information. 
> > > > 
> > > > Lots of love. 
> > > > 
> > > > 21 Glen Aber Place 
> > > > Colombo 04 
> > > > Sri Lanka 
> > > > 
> > > > +94 1 584955 (home) 
> > > > +94 1 685085 (office) 
> > > > +94 77 382771 (mobile) 
> > > > 
> > > > vikramsingh73@xxxxxxxxx 

> 

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