Arab security officials press for unified approach to fighting terrorism
2009-06-26
Fifteen Arab nations participated at a counter-terrorism conference this week in Tunisia. Delegates agreed that global co-operation is needed to fight a global crime.
By Mona Yahia for Magharebia in Tunis – 26/06/09
 [JOSEPH BARRAK/AFP/Getty Images] The 12th Arab Conference for Combating Terrorism ended this week with call for global co-operation. |
The 12th Arab Conference for Combating Terrorism concluded Thursday (June 25th) in Tunis with a number of recommendations aimed at enhancing counter-terrorism efforts and promoting co-operation between relevant Arab security bodies.
The two-day conference was organised by the Secretariat General of the Council of Arab Interior Ministers. Delegations from 15 Arab countries and representatives from the League of Arab States, Interpol and the UN Office on Drugs and Crime attended the conference.
Participants discussed a draft Arab strategy to fight money laundering and terror financing, the "mental, psychological, and social characteristics of a terrorist", the role of the internet in expanding global terrorism and the need for protections against cyber crimes and cyber terrorism.
New technology makes it "easier for terrorist rings to influence weak people through TV and, most of all, the Internet", Council of Arab Interior Ministers chief Mohammad Bin Ali Koman said in his opening speech.
Describing terrorism as "the incontestable crime of the age", he said that "global crime and terrorism call for global co-operation and co-ordination".
More dialogue is needed to fight terrorism, participants in the conference concurred. Tolerance and understanding are other factors in that battle. They also agreed that regular citizens can play an effective role in fighting terrorism through collaboration with security forces.
"Terrorism has surpassed all other forms of crime, in terms of its massive damage and perilous repercussions. It is now a thorn in the body of countries and societies," Koman told the participants.
To deny terrorist groups access to financial support, participants urged the authorities to establish a firm policy to monitor this issue and analyse relevant information to keep terrorist groups from receiving any funding. They also urged development of a strategy to monitor all donations to charity institutions and social work associations, to prevent them from becoming fronts for terrorist financing.
Conference president and Lebanese security official Hassan Farhat urged Arab countries to lay down strategies and identify the best means co-operate and co-ordinate counter-terrorism efforts.
"Terrorism is a topic that still appears on the agendas of most conferences and meetings," said Farhat, "while no common definition has yet been reached for it at the international level."
"Everyone unanimously agrees that terrorism is evil and a danger that is invading the globe."
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Moroccan Patriot Posted 2009-06-27
Terrorism Does not Exist. It is part of the BIG Lie. The threat of Terrorism is something that is manufactured as cover for other illegal activities. No One to date has come even close to proving the existence of terrorism. No one can claim that as a result of fighting this fake, "war on Terror", that anyone is any safer. People are supposed to believe that some guy in a cave had planes hijacked and driven into buildings. People are supposed to believe that some guys spontaneously decided to blow themselves up on trains. People are supposed to believe that others decided to blow themselves up in Buildings??? My question is very simple... WHY? When you hear of a supposed "terrorist" event, the question you should ask yourself is who stands to benefit? When you determine who stands to benefit, you can then decifer who is the real culprit behind the criminal activity. Terrorism is a BIG Lie. The use of the word terrorism is offensive to people's collective intelligence. Consider first that, "terrorism" suspects are never put on trial in open court, consider that secret evidence and, "enhanced methods" (torture, rape and murder) are often used to solicit confessions; and then finally consider that the initial act of terrorism that the accused is framed of usually is in the interest of the biggest criminal entity in that particular geographic area. I will make it simple: Govt.'s frame individuals as terrorists to terrorize their own populations into surrendering additional rights and liberties to these same govt's. Govts are the main beneficiaries of terrorism. They are the ones with real motive, as they are the ones that most benefit by keeping their own populations in a state of continual fear. Those who are afraid are very easy to control.
Anonymous Posted 2009-06-27
Is violation of human rights by all the Arab ministers of Interior also considered as a global crime which needs to be globally fought? Their practice of torture is an incontestable crime of the age. They should be arrested and brought before the International Criminal Court to be judged for crimes against humanity. Wake up Mr Moreno if you are a true prosecutor of the Court and if you really have integrity. Start you inquiry.
ZERGUINE YASMINA Posted 2009-06-27
Indeed, I hope that Algeria will one day have peace.
acharif moulay abdellah bouskraoui Posted 2009-06-28
"An Appeal to all the Arab Security Leaders, the NGOs and the UN" - May praise be to God alone and prayers and respects to The Prophet, His family and His companions. - In this world, everyone is committed to fighting poverty, the cause of many a scourge: illness, AIDS, illegal immigration, terrorism and crimes of all sorts. Poor people are easily manipulated by criminal terrorist and mafia organisations. As such, I appeal to the Arab security leaders, the international community and the UN to participate in the realisation of the Arab Maghreb Union. This union will put an end to many problems in North Africa and will take part in maintaining order in the region. Given that the Polisario was created with the goal of preventing the realisation of this union and, therefore, weakening the countries of the Arab Maghreb, and given that there are historical ties of the Baia between the Alaouite sultans and their Moroccan Sahrawi subjects, a symbol of their Moroccan-ness, the international community is invited to defend the legitimacy of the Morocco's requests and, thus, to defend the Moroccan-ness of the provinces of southern Morocco's Sahara and our plans for autonomy for it so that that Arab Maghreb Union will be realised and peace will reign supreme. -Signed, Acharif Moulay Abdellah Bouskraoui
Anonymous Posted 2009-06-29
The real evil which is invading the globe in this 21st century is Arab fascism and the state terrorism of despotic Arab regimes who make a shameless use of physical and moral torture against their citizens. After the fall of Nazism, Fascism and Communism, it is time for the international community to conjugate efforts to bring down Arab fascism before it is too late.
Marie-Luise Posted 2009-07-04
A global fight against religious extremists--the pest of today--is very much appreciated.
BMFA Posted 2009-07-08
To Anonymous: No sir, you are mistaken. The true fascism threatening peace and security in the world is well and good Zionism! This racist ideology is based on stupid pipedreams to monopolize power over the Palestine, having and continuing to chase the Palestinians from their homes, exterminate them, humiliate them and replace them with mercenaries and armies brought in from the four corners of the world with the complicity of certain Western regimes and the passive complicity of Arab regimes. Israel has been the real cancer of the 20th and 21st Centuries' nations. It is a country above the law, practicing state terrorism in impunity and ignoring all of the UN's resolutions and international and humane law and rulings. However, the international community has not been fooled. It is beginning to become aware of the Zionist danger and understand the true face of Israel. Furthermore, the countdown has begun for the puppet state of Israel, and none too soon.
Anonymous Posted 2009-07-15
I regret that Magharebia preferred not to publish my response. I am of the view that adults have the right to face the facts not only as they are, but also inasmuch as they go unsaid. What a shame.
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