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Protem
committee members of WYCAT Malaysia,the Press, the Police, all
distinguished guests who have gathered here to
meditate on a lofty ideal of working for the establishment of world
peace, to protect the rights of every citizen of the world, to live and
to live with dignity.
I am indeed happy to be
today in this beautiful city of Kaulampur, the capital of Malaysia, to
inaugurate the Regional Charter of World Youth Council Against
Terrorism. I place on record, at the out set, my appreciation for Sri
Pritpal Siddu and others who have been working relentlessly to have a
regional centre of WYCAT here.
Malaysia and India are the
most ancient civilizations. We have a number of things in common.
India always recognized Malaysia as a friendly nation and a formidable
force in South-East Asia. India and Malaysia both have been victims of
terrorism. India had experienced terrorist threat for some time in
Punjab and it has been fighting terrorism and cross border terrorism in
Jammu and Kashmir and other parts of the country. Similarly Malaysia
had tough time with terrorism for 42 years. It fought Communist
Guerrilla terrorism. The collective will of the peace loving Malaysian
people has defeated this terrorism. However, what interests and
impresses everyone is the way Malaysia tackled it. Malaysia tried to
address the core issues which gave space for terrorism. At the same
time it did not compromise on fighting terrorists. The two-pronged
approach of Malaysia in fact, proved prolific.
I am aware, Malaysia is
resolute and steadfast in fighting all forms of terrorism. In Malaysia
and is committed in supporting the global war against terrorism
Malaysia is a model of an
Islamic nation that is moderate, progressive, and tolerant, constant
with modernity; and more importantly, a model that has succeeded in a
multi-racial, religious and cultural setting. Muslims, Christians,
Buddhists, Hindus and Animists live harmoniously together, enjoying the
fruits of prosperity and stability. I am also aware, that Malaysia
offered to establish anti-terrorism centre.
WYCAT was established in
the first international Youth Conference on Terrorism which took place
in New Delhi in 2003. 195 delegates have participated from all nooks
and corners of the world. WYCAT is the manifestation of the aspiration
of the global youth to have common plot-farm to fight terrorism. WYCAT
attempts to bring all the international youth of all religions, of all
cultures, of all beliefs, of all races, of all communities and of all
economic groups under the umbrella, for continuous terrorist activity
would severely affect the prospects of the Youth. In fact, the WYCAT
mission statement expresses its unflinching commitment to fight
terrorism by all means and in all its forms and complement the efforts
of all democratic governments to defeat terrorism and establish world
peace and universal brotherhood.
In the New Delhi
declaration of the WYCAT the international youth community has
accepted the challenge of terrorism as a threat to the human existence.
Terrorism violates human rights, abuses human dignity. The WYCAT
declaration urged the world community to ensure all measures to tackle
the threat of terrorism. The WYCAT action plan has as one of its
agenda to hold comprehensive youth awareness programmes throughout the
world by way seminars, symposiums, conferences at regional charters have
and international level. In pursuance of this WYCAT resolution
regional charters have been established in different parts of the
world. I am happy that the Malaysian charter would spread the
activities of WYCAT not only in Malaysia but in other nations of
south-east Asia.
We began this Conference
today, when the horrendous activities of terrorist have been going on in
London. It is a sheer coincidence that we experience and witness the
carnage of terrorist in the city of London. The London bomb lasts prove
that terrorism is anti human, anti religion, anti women, anti children
and those Jihadi terrorist who triggered off blasts in London on
7-7-2005 should realize that their attack have killed all the people,
the Muslims, the Christians, the Hindus Children and women. What have
they achieved? Can we justify this madness? Whatever is the provocation,
whatever are the reasons, compulsions no one should drift to the level
of killing another person.
The nature of terrorism
that we witnessed on 7/7 and 9/11 bring about shocking revelations.
They point to sophisticated technology that the terrorists have. The
facts available suggest that shadowy operatives who incite terrorist
acts in different parts of the world have developed their capabilities
to sophisticated, almost-impossible-to-guard-against levels. They have
the capability to recruit, train, equip, and motivate potential suicide
bombers within a short period. These operatives can non form autonomous
‘cells’ that can function without overt assistance from networks like
Al-Qaeda since the Internet provides them easy access to what it takes –
from inspirational tracts to bomb making manuals. It is important to
notice that the first needle of suspicion with respect to London bomb
blasts turned towards the Pakistan. It is now clear that Pakistan has
increasingly becoming vulnerable for those organizations which want to
spread terrorism. It is a different thing that Mushrraf government
condemned the London carnage. The Mushrraf Government must exert itself
further in the campaign against terror since the London bombers
apparently had links with madrassas in Pakistan.
It said administrative and
legal action against militant organizations has failed to dismantle a
well-entrenched terror infrastructure. All banned extremist groups
persist with new labels, although old names are also still in use. The
Jihadi media is flourishing, and the leading figures of extremists Suni
organizations are free to preach their Jihadi ideologies. Leaders of
banned groups such as Lashkar-e-Taiba, Sipahe Sahaba, and Jaish-e-Mohammed
appear to enjoy virtual immunity from the law. They have gained new
avenues to propagate their militant ideas since the chief patrons of
Jihad, the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUN) have acquired prominent and
powerful roles in Mushrraf’s political structure.
On the other hand, the
western powers, above all the United States must review some of its
policies so that if at all its policy in Iraq of Afghanistan has become
a source of terrorism it must appropriately take corrective measures.
The super powers of the world have a responsibility to understand
different points of view of different nations.
Given the changing nature
of terrorism, it is important not to view terrorism narrowly. Terrorism
is a tactic that can be used by a multitude of actors for a number of
reasons. This is not to say that every criminal act is terrorism.
Clearly there should be delineation between criminal activities and
terrorism.
The end of the Cold War
and the disintegration of the Soviet Union had two major effects.
Firstly, they produced a belief in the military establishment in
Pakistan and amongst those affiliated to radical and fundamentalist
armed groups that had participated in the Afghan “Jihadi” that militant
Islam could be used as a weapon to achieve political objectives across
the world. Secondly, with the Communist ideology being perceived to
have failed, people in countries in West Asia and elsewhere saw religion
as the sole unifying factor to challenge established Governments that
could not fulfill their aspirations.
It is no coincidence that
the terrorist linked to the Taliban and Al Qauda have endeavored to
strike primarily in countries like Indonesia, Philippines, Singapore and
India. These are all countries that have pluralistic societies that are
committed to upholding democratic and pluralistic traditions and
values. India is proudly home to the second largest Muslim population
in the world. It is not without significance that there has been
virtually no case where an Indian Muslim has joined ranks with the
Taliban or Al Qaeda.
A study of recent
terrorists reveals that most of the terrorists are highly educated. The
men who planned and carried out the Islamist attacks on America were
confused, but highly educated, middle class professionals. Mohammed
Atta was town planning expert; Ayman al-Zwahiri, Osama bin Laden’s chief
of staff, is a paediatric surgeon; Omar Sheikh, the kidnapper of Daniel
Pearl, is the product of the same British public school that produced
film-maker Peter Greenway.
Peter Bergen of Johns
Hopkins University recently published the conclusions of his in-depth
study of 75 Islamist terrorists who had carried out four major
anti-western attacks. According to Mr.Bergen, “53 percent of the
terrorists had either attended college or had received a college
degree. As a point of reference, only 52 percent of Americans have been
to college.”
Therefore, the question
that have and why the educated are getting influence by terrorism. We
all know that no religion preaches terrorism. Of all the religions
Islam categorically states that killing innocence is anti-Islamic.
Therefore, there is no justification that jihadi terrorism which we
witnessed in some parts of the world now. Therefore in becomes the
imperative on the part of WYCAT to spread education among youth to make
them realize the essential message of any religion is protection of
innocents. There can be some reasons for agitation. There can be
discrepancies in the system. There can be inequalities, there can be
areas where a section of people are feeling oppressed, there can be
areas where there is injustice. But all these can be solved by
launching concerted and sustained campaign, Terrorists who have so much
will and commitment to work for the cause which they believe in should
ponder over for a minute and channelize their energies for a democratic
fight for the rights. WYCAT will be in the forefront to lead thus
reformed terrorists. It is in fact, the objective of WYCAT to have a
multi-pronged approach which includes eliminating injustices in any
form.
I think Malaysia is a
modern nation and Malaysian example can e emulated by other nations
specially the Islamic nations. Malaysia is plurastic country. Though
the Muslims are more than 60% we have equal respect for other religious
groups. Like Buddhists, Hindus and Chinese. Malaysian culture is a
wonderful example where opinions of one another are respected. For
example, Muslims like beef Hindus don’t. Chinese like pork Muslims
don’t. But then we have people of all food habits eat at one table.
This is the sense of accommodation, and this is the sense of tolerance
and this is the sense of respect and this is the sense of co-existence.
WYCAT regional charger must spread this message everywhere.
Malaysia today is strong
economy. I am impressed to know that unemployment rate is very very
low. i.e., 36 millions of a population of 26 millions. Malaysia have a
strong potential to grow. Terrorism which is spread all voer the world
specially this part should not become threat to the growing nation.
WYCAT regional charter under the leadership of Mr. Pritpal I hope will
work towards this.
I wish to emphasis that no
war and no bloodshed can ever be justified. The terrorist attacks on
New York, on Madrid, on London, on Ayodhya or the bomb blasts in Mumbai
are as unpardonable as the war on Afghanistan of Iraq.
I wish to conclude the
speech by quoting former Prime Minister Dr. Mahathir who is regarded as
a world statesman and Muslim leader, is a credible voice of reason,
moderation, pragmatism, and progress, who said in his speech in New
York.
"Malaysia’s response to the
latest manifestation of terrorism is not only to act against our own
potential terrorists, but to seek to define terrorism and terrorists so
that there is no ambiguity and everyone will be able to fight against
them. We should not seek to avenge particular killings of innocent
people. We should seek to fight all terrorists everywhere, and we
should fight them not just by direct action but more by winning the
hearts and minds of the people, so as to reduce support for acts of
terrorism and to reduce the attraction of acts of terror for those who
see no means of redress for their own sufferings."
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