We Shall Not Succumb to Terrorism :: Maldives News :: Editorial:: Dhivehi Observer

Editorial

We Shall Not Succumb to Terrorism

Dhivehi Observer, 30 September 2007

When innocent people are hurt, injured, maimed, or killed, that is TERRORISM, irrespective of their nationality, cast, creed or religion and despite who carried out the attack. In recent times, terrorist attacks mainly directed at tourists have been on the increase around the world. However, for those of us on these shores, they seem distant, remote, and often at times surrealistic. That is until yesterday. What we witnessed yesterday is real terrorism targeted against tourists. This is frightening and menacing. By the grace of the Almighty, no one was killed in this particular incident. But it could have been otherwise. And we as a country need to get to the bottom of this and find out who carried out this dastardly act.

Not only do we need to find the perpetrators of this crime, but we also need to send a clear message to all and everyone involved that terrorism in all its form and manifestation is totally unacceptable. Whether it is state-sponsored terrorism or whether it is terrorism by fringe groups, it has no place in our society. Sadly we have seen the growth of violence, extremism and xenophobia in the Maldives lately. We have seen verbal and physical abuse of expatriates. We have seen our own people being attacked by violent gangs. The strike on the tourists visiting the Sultan Park seems to be the next sordid chapter in this tragic disintegration of the very fabric of our society. But what those who carried out this criminal act failed to realize is that tourism is the mainstay of Maldives and attacking tourists for whatever reasons or grudges they may have against foreigners, is like cutting our noses to spite our faces.

It was in September last year that the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy was adopted by its Member States. For the first time all member states have agreed to a common strategic approach to fight terrorism. We hope that the international community would uphold their commitment to this strategy and assist us in combating ALL activities that are targeted to terrorize both the tourists who visit our country and the natives of Maldives.

We hope that those who carried out this criminal act would soon be brought to justice. We pray that no foreigner or local have to suffer terrorist activities in future.

"Democracy is necessary to peace and to undermining the forces of terrorism." - Benazir Bhutto

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