Oleh/By : DATO SERI DR MAHATHIR BIN MOHAMAD
Tempat/Venue : PWTC, KUALA LUMPUR
Tarikh/Date : 16-11-2001
Tajuk/Title : THE CONFERENCE ON TERRORISM
Versi : ENGLISH
Penyampai : PM
Saya ucap berbanyak terima kasih kerana dijemput
untuk memberi ucap utama dalam konferensi berkenaan
dengan keganasan atau terrorism ini. Saya harap
konferensi ini berjaya menghasilkan kefahaman akan
masalah keganasan yang mencabar dunia dan menolong
mengenalpasti pendekatan yang dapat mengatasi sedikit
sebanyak musibah yang menimpa dunia di abad ke-21 ini.
2. The terrorists have been with us throughout
history. Over the last half a century the terrorists
have become more sophisticated and are much more
focussed. We may not agree with them, we may
consider them misguided but it would be a mistake to
think that they terrorise for the sake of terrorism, or
because they enjoy terrorising their victims. Their
evil deeds have a purpose, to them at least. They
would not willingly kill themselves in the most
horrible fashion on Sept 11 if it is not because they
believe there is a purpose for their suicide.
3. And so, whether we like it or not we have to learn
to understand their psyche if we want to deal with them,
if we want to counter them, if we want to eliminate them,
if we want to stop terrorism.
4. But first of all we have to determine who is a
terrorist. This is important because people who some
people describe as terrorists are regarded as noble
freedom fighters by some others. More confusing still,
some are condemned as terrorists one day, only to be
considered respectable people another day. If we want
the whole world to join in the fight against terrorists
then we must ensure that a terrorist is a terrorist to
all and everyone at all times.
5. Examples of the ambivalence in the definition of
terrorists are many. The Jewish Hagana, Irgun and Stern
Gang were at one time regarded as terrorists and were
hunted by the British. But later they became respected
leaders of Israel. Jomo Kenyatta and Robert Mugabe were
described as terrorists and were condemned by the British
only to become in the end the acknowledged leaders of
independent states.
6. The Irish Republican Army is a terrorist organisation
in the eyes of the British but are regarded as freedom
fighters worthy of financial support by the Americans.
7. With such differences in the views of different
people at different times, it is difficult to get the
whole world to join in the fight against terrorism.
And if the whole world is not in the fight and the
hunt, if some people and some countries provide shelter
and protection for the terrorists because in their
eyes these are not terrorists, it would be impossible
to eliminate or liquidate the terrorists and to put an
end to terrorism.
8. The operative word is terror. Terrorists use terror
as their weapon. The hijacking and crashing of the
aircrafts create terror in the minds of people
especially the direct and indirect victims. Such is the
fear created that people are now afraid to fly. The Abu
Sayyaf kidnappers inspire fear by beheading their
hostages. Exploding bombs in public places and killing
innocent people inspire fear and terror, and a feeling
of being unsafe anywhere at any time. Unexpected death
stares everyone in the face without one knowing it and
being able to take evasive measures.
9. Poisoning through chemicals or gas frighten people.
Killing children and non-combatants,taking hostages etc.
all cause fear and terror among people.
10. If we have to determine who is a terrorist and who
is not then we have to base it on the act and not on the
person or the group or the race or the religion.
11. Once we are agreed on what constitutes an act of
terror then it would be easy to identify a terrorist.
Even if his cause is noble, even if he is fighting
against oppression, against terrorists themselves,
using acts of terror would not be justified. He
becomes a terrorist. And as a terrorist he should
be outlawed by the world, should be hunted, captured,
tried and appropriately punished.
12. At the moment Osama bin Laden and his followers are
considered to be terrorists. Admitted, at the moment
they are the prime suspects and they should be hunted.
But despite protests that the war against terrorists is
not a war against Islam, what cannot be denied is that
only Muslim terrorists are being targeted.
13. In Palestine civilians including children are
being shot and killed every day by Israelis. And in
retaliation the Palestinians kill Israelis with human
bombs at times. Every day Palestinians face the
possibility of being killed. Can it be said that they
do not live in terror of being the next victim? Yes
the Israelis too, but they have superior firepower and
obviously they instill more terror in the hearts of
Palestinians than the other way round.
14. Then there are the Bosnians, the Chechens,
the Iraqis, the people of Kosovo - all living or had
lived in fear of being killed. Are we to dismiss their
terror as of no consequence? Are we just going to hunt
for the collaborators of the 11th September attack and
ignore the other acts of terror?
15. The Afghans must be living in a state of terror,
waiting for the bombs to rain on them, to maim and kill
them, their children and their friends. Can we say that
because other innocent people had been killed therefore
it is right to retaliate by killing other innocent
people? Terrorists are unprincipled, despicable people.
Should civilised people do unprincipled, despicable
things because the terrorists did?
16. And now there is talk of extending the war to
other countries. Iraq should receive the same
treatment as Afghanistan even if there is no evidence
that they harboured the prime suspect and his
followers. There is some evidence, as vague as the
evidence against Osama bin Laden, that anthrax were
being spread not by Muslim Arabs but by violently
rightist Christians. We must remember that Timothy
McVeigh who blew up the Government building in Oklahama
belonged to such a group. Yet while there is talk
about attacking Iraq there is no violent rage against
the spreaders of anthrax or McVeigh's supporters. We
hate to say it but it is beginning to look more and
more like a war against Muslims.
17. This impression can only be got rid of if actions
are taken also against those people who terrorise the
Muslims e.g. against the Israelis in Palestine. Maybe
the world is not prepared to punish the Israelis. But
at least the world can take action to protect the
Palestinians, to separate them from the Israelis.
18. Terrorists are not people who advertise their
intention to commit acts of terror. They are not
usually soldiers in uniform, although some can be.
Usually they are unrecognisable until they commit their
terrible acts. Usually they would be like ordinary
people. They need not stay in a particular country.
They can be everywhere and anywhere. Indeed they can
live as very ordinary people in the country they
consider to be their enemy, against whom they intend to
commit acts of terror.
19. Today we can safely assume that the associates of
those involved in the Sept 11 attack are not just in
Afghanistan. Today we can assume that they are in the
U.S. or Europe or in any of the Muslim or non-Muslim
countries. Because we do not know who they are or
where they are it is difficult to wage a conventional
war against them. Afghanistan may be harbouring them,
but it is not necessary that they will be under the
control of the Afghans. Even if the Afghans want to,
they may not be able to hand over the terrorists to the
people who are after them.
20. Attacking Afghanistan is not going to result in the
killing or capture of the terrorists. Wiping out the
Afghans, reducing their country to dust will not wipe
out the terrorists. Some may be killed but many others
living outside Afghanistan or who have slipped out of
Afghanistan would escape unscathed. Safe and alive they
can still carry out acts of terror. They are not likely
to be deterred by the killings of the Afghans or the
destruction of the country.
21. On the other hand the killing of the Afghans and
the destruction of that country is likely to anger a
lot of Muslims. Their Governments may not, though it
is very likely that they too could be angered by the
wanton acts against a brother Muslim country. But
certainly the vast majority of the Muslims in whichever
country are going to get very angry. And of the many
millions of angry Muslims there would be quite a few
who would join the ranks of the terrorists and be
willing to die to avenge what is to them a gross
injustice and cruelty. And so the bombings and
rocketing of Afghanistan, far from progressing the war
to eliminate terrorists would actually result in the
spawning of more terrorists. The world is going to be
saddled with the terrorists problem forever. And we
don't know what new villainy they would think of.
22. Malaysia is familiar with terrorism and the war
against terrorists. Rebel-trained guerillas believe
that guerillas can never be defeated. By their books
the terrorists in Malaysia could not be defeated. But
we defeated them. After fighting for 42 years, 1948 to
1990, the terrorists in Malaysia decided to lay down
arms.
23. Why did they do so? They laid down arms because
the Government of Malaysia did not just fight them with
arms. We did not just chase them into the jungles and
out of Malaysia. We did not just force them to resort
to the plastic mines and ambushes. We carried out a
campaign to win the hearts and minds of the people so
as to ensure that the terrorists lost their civilian
support.
24. We studied the causes of the disaffection of these
terrorists and their supporters and we took remedial
action. Our decision to accord citizenship rights to
over a million non-Malays was not regarded as a victory
for the struggle of the terrorists but rather as a
means to win the loyalty of disaffected people and to
get them to join in the war against the terrorists.
This act and others helped to mobilise the people of
Malaysia to defeat the terrorists.
25. Similarly in the fight against terrorists and
terrorism, the causes of the anger and frustration of
the terrorists must be studied and action taken to
remove these causes. I believe that the principal
cause is the Palestine issue. Israelis believe they
have a historical claim to the land of Palestine but
prior to the deliberate settlement of Jews in Palestine
there were only six thousand Jews against over 300,000
Arabs. The settlement of Jews after the Second World
War not only reduced the Arab majority, but forced more
than 1 million Arabs to be displaced and to live in
miserable tent cities for over 50 years. Their
futile attempts to regain Arab land only resulted in
the Palestinians losing their own State.
26. After tens of thousands of them had died, they do
not even have a right to their own independent State.
Their land has been seized by the Israelis who built
settlements on these lands. Arab houses were bulldozed
and the occupants forced to evacuate. All the while
Arabs were killed with impunity and reported in the
world press as retaliation for Arab attacks against the
Jews. Actually the Arab attacks were retaliation for
Jewish attacks on the Palestinians. What is an
undeniable fact is that more Palestinians are killed
than Jews. Still the Palestinians were described as
terrorist and their peace overtures were rejected.
27. Although initially the Arabs refused to recognise
an Israeli State, their subsequent recognition did not
result in any relenting on the part of the Israelis.
The Israelis refused to recognise the State of
Palestine. In frustration the Palestinian restarted
the Intifada. Again stones were thrown at Israeli
forces by Palestinian children. The Israelis replied
with live bullets, machinegun fire and rocket attacks.
Children were killed along with those who were
defending the Palestinian State.
28. There is no sign of the fighting coming to a halt.
International pressure to cease fighting is not
practical. Even if Arafat agreed to a ceasefire , he
cannot possibly stop his people, individuals, bitter at
having lost their children or members of their family
or their friends from continuing to attack and kill the
Israelis. Each attack by Arabs invariably resulted in
more Arabs than Israelis being killed. And the
Israelis would attack the Arabs with deadly accuracy.
And the Arabs would retaliate ineffectively.
29. We can say that it is because of Arab attacks
that the Israelis have to retaliate. But such
retaliation will not solve the Israeli / Arab conflict.
Only forcible separation of the two people by a strong
UN force can do this. The Palestinians are willing to
have the UN peace keeping force but the Israelis
object. And the world pander to the wishes of the
Israelis. And so the killings and terror goes on.
30. In the Muslim world there is a great deal of anger
which the West cannot understand. But the Muslim
world, weak and unable to be of any help to the
Palestinians see in the unwillingness of the West to
stop the Israelis as a sign that the West is anti-
Palestine, anti-Arab and anti-Muslim.
31. Most Muslims will only feel anger, will talk but
will do nothing. But among the billion Muslims there
must be those whose anger cannot be contained. These
are the people who will resort to terror tactics.
32. It is reasonable to believe that if there is no
Palestinian issue, if the Palestinians are not being
oppressed and children being killed the anger of the
Arabs and Muslims would not be there or would be much
less. Certainly there would not be those who would be
willing to kill themselves in that horrible fashion on
11th September.
33. The belief that these terrorists act in that
manner because of poverty or because of jealousy for
the good life and the freedom of other people does not
reflect a deep knowledge of the terrorist mind. Those
who hijacked and crash the aircrafts are not fanatical
illiterates who only see heaven in after-life. These
people came from the richer Muslim countries, countries
where generous governments give allowances and
subsidised the life of the people. These people are
married and have wives and children. They must know
that the course they were taking would separate them
permanently from their family, friends and a good life.
And yet, apparently, they were prepared to die in a
horrible fashion as they steered their aircrafts
towards the WTC.
34. We must not glorify these terrorists. But we need
to understand their minds and their mentality. We need
to do this if we want to understand the reason why they
did this. If we don't then we will not be able to
remove the causes and reduce the incidence of
terrorism.
35. Revenge is sweet. But if we are going to
liquidate the culprits almost completely as is likely
to happen if we simply bomb and rocket Afghanistan then
we won't even achieve the revenge that we are after.
The terrorists will probably feel sorry that they had
brought death and destruction to their host but they
are more likely to feel angrier and to be more
determined to continue with their acts of terror. So
there is no revenge.
36. But in fighting terrorism one must not think of
revenge. One must think of ways to make the world free
of terrorists. And that is going to require careful
strategy.
37. If the whole world, including the Muslim world, is
to be asked to participate in the elimination of
terrorists and terrorism then all terrorists,
irrespective of their race or religion or the
particular acts of terrorism that they were involved in
must be the target for elimination. And these must
include State terrorists as well, including the Israeli
Government of Ariel Sharon, the man responsible for the
massacre of thousands of Palestinians in Shabra and
Shatilla and is still the man behind the systematic
killings of the Palestinians today. No terrorists
should be spared, no matter whether their cause is
right or not.
38. The world must be serious about the fight against
terrorists. It will never be completely wiped out but
it certainly can be reduced and rendered less
frightening for the world. Because of the attack on
Sept 11, the whole world's economy has been thrown into
recession. The cost of turning around the world's
economy will be very, very high for at every turn the
possibility of terrorist attacks has to be gauged and
costly countermeasures provided for. It is far better
to spend that money to reduce or eliminate terrorism
than to try and live in fear of terrorist attacks at a
very high cost.
39. We used to talk of the balance of terror. This
refers to the nuclear arms held by the East / West
blocs in the cold war. Today the terror comes not from
great nuclear powers but from individuals and groups
whose capacity to do damage is out of all proportion to
their financial capacity or their technological
capacity. But they hold the balance of terror.
Perhaps the great powers with their command of
sophisticated technology and unlimited finance may be
able to tilt the balance of terror in their favour
again. But we cannot bank on it, not in the near
future anyway.
40. To eliminate the terrorists we must know who they
are. Race, religion and country cannot be used to
identify the terrorists. We can only identify
terrorists by their acts. Unfortunately by the time
they commit their crime it is too late. If the whole
world cooperates we can determine who are their
compatriots or collaborators or supporters. The world
must support action taken specially against these
criminals.
41. But identifying and hunting the terrorists will be
very difficult and will take a long time. The better
immediate solution is to remove the causes of
terrorism. We may not want to remove these causes
because we do not like to give the impression that the
terrorists have succeeded. But such an attitude will
not help. The terrorists must be hunted and brought to
justice but the causes of their committing the acts of
terror must be removed.
42. Once the causes have been removed, support for the
terrorists will be much reduced if not cease
altogether. And as in the case of Malaysia, once the
terrorists lost their support base sooner or later
they must give up their activity. Even terrorists
would not want to sacrifice their lives for nothing,
and removing the cause will mean their sacrifices would
be for nothing.
43. I hope this conference will be able to discuss
terrorism dispassionately. There is no doubt that the
world is under seige. Everyone is exposed to terror
attacks whether they are in any way involved or not.
It is therefore in everyone's interest to seek a
solution to this problem. You may not find the
ultimate solution but you are certain to throw up ideas
on how to deal with this terrible problem of the 21st
century; ideas which we can study and develop and in
due course will help us put an end this scourge.
44. I wish you a fruitful discussion. We foresee further
discussion when the ASEAN countries hold their seminar on
terrorism and hopefully one day the world will admit the
need for the UN to tackle this problem and to seek a
solution to this threat that seems to increase even as our
technological capacity increases.
Thank you.
Sumber : Pejabat Perdana Menteri
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