Widening gaps among gov’ts hamper anti-terror fight

CEBU — Security experts and diplomats from 56 countries and the United Nations warned yesterday that widening gaps and rising barriers among governments are hampering global counterterrorism efforts.

They called on nations to work together to find a "middle way" amid hard and soft approaches to fighting terror.

In the "Cebu Concord" drafted at the end of the three-day, first-ever Philippine Counter-Terrorism Experts’ Conference (CTEC) here with the theme "Defeating Dilemmas in Counter-Terrorism," the delegates also emphasized the need for governments to respect human rights, uphold the rule of law, and improve governance to enable the global fight against terror to succeed.

The document, drafted by nearly 300 participants, declared terrorism to be a global challenge "best responded to at the global level through the UN, but also most effectively addressed by a mix of policy responses at the individual state and regional levels to complement global efforts."

The participants said no national and regional counterterrorism strategy can work for all states or regions, which would have to develop their own strategies, taking into consideration its political, ethnic, religious and other conditions.

"There remain barriers and challenges to regional cooperation on account of disparities in understanding needs, capacities, resources and priorities," the document said. "There are gaps in the counterterrorism capacities and capabilities, particularly of developing states, which need to be bridged through international cooperation."

The CTEC, organized by Philippine Ambassador-at-large for Counter-Terrorism Benjamin Defensor, was initiated by the government after President Arroyo told US President George W. Bush during the Asia-Pacific Economic Conference leaders’ summit in South Korea last November that the Philippines could host such a conference.

"We are confronted with many dilemmas like the crucial need for exchange of information among countries yet there are interests of governments coming into play," Defensor said.

He added that there was the issue of the media glamorizing terror suspects while authorities often underestimate their capabilities to stage attacks or propagate fanaticism.

Among the other barriers and gaps cited by the experts during the conference was the fact that developing countries have strong commitments to fight terrorism but often lack the capability to do so.

They also said there are differences among governments and organizations on what engenders terrorism and extremism, and how these can be dealt with.

Language, cultural, educational and religious barriers remain even as technologies and information that could be used for terror now easily cross borders, the participants said.

Retired brigadier general Javed Iqbal Cheema, Director General of National Crisis Management Cell of Pakistan’s Ministry of Interior, said there is a distinction between terrorism and extremism.

He said terrorism is the act itself while extremism "is a state of mind that should be handled carefully" and could not be defeated militarily.

Ambassador Chen Shiqiu of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the fight against terrorism in Southeast Asia has been complicated by ethnic separatism, piracy, local conflicts and links of militant groups with al —Qaeda and Jemaah Islamiyah.

"Even among Western analysts and diplomats there are differences of opinion, so these are different perspectives for how to treat terrorism," Chen said.

Dr. Rohan Gunaratna, head of the Singapore-based International Center for Political Violence and Terrorism Research, said local conflicts and their causes must be clearly defined so that appropriate responses could be made.

He maintained that the fight against terror should be comprehensive, to include diplomatic and political approaches.