Terrorism Alok Kumar Gupta BABEd Introduction Terrorism in

Terrorism Alok Kumar Gupta BABEd

Introduction Terrorism in contemporary world has emerged as the most important issue and the defining feature of security paradigm of nation-states. It has acquired the place of prominence on most of the bilateral and multilateral forums of the world. The main security paradigm across the globe in the so-called post-modern era is not war but counter-terrorism.

Defining Terrorism is one of the most popular terms in contemporary international relations; yet it exists as a nebulous concept. Explaining terrorism is both complex as well as controversial. Terrorism exists as a cause and as an effect of a conflict. It has been a means to carry on a conflict without the adversary realizing the nature of the threat; and often mistaking it for a criminal activity or a law and order problem. Given its characteristics, the term has become increasingly common among those pursuing extreme goals throughout the world.

The US Department of Defence Dictionary of Military Terms defines terrorism as: The calculated use of unlawful violence or threat of unlawful violence to inculcate fear; intended to coerce or to intimidate governments of societies in the pursuit of goals that are generally political, religious, or ideological. (FBI of US has also defined on the same line).

Bruce Hoffman, Inside Terrorism, 2 nd edn. , Columbia University Press, 2006, p. 40. Ineluctably political in aims and motives; Violent—or, equally important, threatens violence; Designed to have far-reaching psychological repercussions beyond the immediate victim or target; Motivated not by personal gain, but by a political, religious, or ideological objective, such as religious freedom or social change; This has been identified by William C Banks, Renee De Nevers, and Mitchel B Wallerstein, Combating Terrorism: Strategies and Approaches (Washington: CQ Press, 2008), p. 7.

Conducted either by an organization with an identifiable chain of command or conspiratorial cell structure (whose members wear no uniform or identifying insignia) or by individuals or a small collection of individuals directly influenced, motivated, or inspired by the ideological aims or example of some existent terrorist movement and/or its leaders; and Perpetrated by a subnational group or non-state entity. It is primarily an extremism of means, not of ends. This has been identified by T. Bjorgo, “Introduction” in Tore Bjorgo (ed. ) Root Causes of Terrorism: Myths, Reality, and Ways Forward (London: Routledge, 2005), p. 3.

Targeted toward unarmed, non-combatant persons or those otherwise unable to defend themselves (with indiscriminateness to achieve significant psychological and social disruption). This has been identified by William C Banks, Renee De Nevers, and Mitchel B Wallerstein, Combating Terrorism: Strategies and Approaches (Washington: CQ Press, 2008), p. 7.

Objectives of Terrorism Generate violence to strike fear in a target audience; To enhance power base of the organization; To create power in situations which the power previously has been lacking; To force the opponents to succumb to their demand through violence; To terrorise governments to bring them to the negotiation table.

Causes of Terrorism Religious Motivations: Religion has been the motivation for many terrorist movements. Jewish extremism, crusade by Christianity, Khalistan movement by Sikhs, global Jihadist movement by Muslims, Aum Shinrikyo sarin gas attack on Tokyo subway, imposition of Hindu religious standards on Muslims in India are some such motivations that has often lead to religious terrorism. Global jihad movement is a new form of religious terrorism with international focus, opposing foreign values especially of the west in their societies.

Ethnicity and Nationalism: Ethnic and nationalistic groups have resorted to violence to achieve policy changes, autonomy, or independence. Anti-colonial struggle for independence, Palestinian struggle against Jews, are some such examples of ethnic or nationalist violence related to terrorism. Discrimination against one group by the other supported by government leads to such terrorist violence, as one groups perceives that it has been put at in a disadvantageous position by the government.

Ideologies: Ideological motivations have been yet another cause for many terrorist organizations. The term ‘lumpen left’ was accorded to radical communist ideologies for their act of terrorism.

Weak States: Weak states mean the states which are unstable on various counts like, volatile political environment, criminalization of politics, unstable government, financially poor, lack of quality population, and lack of economic growth etc. Rampant poverty further contributes towards weakness of a state. A weak state is unable to ensure good governance. A weak state also becomes a victim of ‘crisis of governability’.

Globalization and modernization: Globalization and modernization has brought socio-political, socio-economic changes which are often detested by traditional elements and primordial loyalties; which resorts to violence to oppose the forces of globalization and modernization. Another dominant view is that such changes have further widened the gap between the rich and the poor. Consequently, poverty breeds violence and increases the vulnerability of the poor to be motivated by the disgruntled elements of society for acts of violence.

State repression: Quite often repressive and oppressive activities of the state against certain groups or community makes them disgruntled and turn against the state.

Terrorist Organizations Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS): It is also known as Islamic State of Syria and Levant (ISIL) or simply Islamic State (IS). It has global ambitions which include carving out an Islamic World Dominion. The leader of IS Abu Bakr al. Baghdadi made the declaration of the caliphate and addressed jihadists the world over:

Al Qaeda: It was founded in 1988/89 in Afghanistan. It gained momentum after the American invasion of Iraq in 1991 and the basing of US troops in Saudi Arabia. Its main plank has been the International Islamic Front for Jehad against Jews and Crusaders launched in 1998 by Osama bin Laden.

Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE): LTTE was a leader-centric organization centred on Vellupillai Prabhakaran, aimed to establish Tamil Eelam (a homeland) in North East Sri Lanka. Later it was decimated militarily by the Sri Lankan government of Mahinda Rajapakshe.

Hezbollah (Party of God): A Shiite military and political group that was formed to resist the Israeli invasion of Lebanon in 1982. It adopted the Iranian ideology of sacrificing one’s life for the cause.

Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK): Formed in 1978 in Turkey, but resorted to terrorism in 1984. It followed a Marxist-Leninist ideology based on Kurdish ethno-nationalism. It owed allegiance to just one leader Abdullah Ocalan. Most Kurds are Muslims and aimed to a separate state for Kurds in South Eastern Turkey.

Hamas: Harkat al Mazawama al Islamiya is a Sunni Islamist group formed in 1988 as an offshoot of Muslim Brotherhood. HAMAS means ‘Zeal’ in Arabic. It has militant agenda to free Palestine from Israeli occupation. It got elected to government in the Palestinian territories in January 2006. Its Charter states that “the Prophet is the model, the Koran its constitution, and Jihad in the name of Allah as a way of life. ”

Apart from above-mentioned organizations there are numerous splinter groups and smaller terrorist organization attached to all the bigger organizations in different parts of conflict-ridden areas. Fidayeen (The Assassins), Bassiji (active during Iran-Iraq war in the 1980 s), Palestinian Islamic Jehad, Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, Fatah, Saddam e Fedayeen, Taliban and its several splinter groups, Harkat-ul-Mujahideen (HUM), Al. Faran, Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM), Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami, Harkat-ul. Jihad-al-Islami Bangaldesh (Hu. Ji-B), Jaish-e-Mohammed (JEM), Lashkar-e. Tayyiba (LET), Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (Le. J), Sipah-i-Sahaba, Abu Sayyaf, Lashkar Jihad, Kumpulan Mujahideen Malaysia (KMM), Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU), Islamic Jehad Group, East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM), Jemmah Islamiyah Organization, Palestine Liberation Army, Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), and Fatah are to name but a few of the organizations that resorted to violent acts that has often branded them as terrorist organizations.

Modes Operandi of Terrorists: Bombing Kidnapping and Hostage taking Armed attacks and assassinations Suecide Attacks Arsons and Firebombing Hijacking and Skyjackings

Types of Terrorism Religious Terrorism Bioterrorism Cyber terrorism WMD Terrorism Nuclear Terrorism Narco Terrorism Eco Terrorism Financial Terrorism

Combating Terrorism Negotiation and Diplomacy Role of Intelligence Legal Interventions Security Arrangements

United Nations has approved number of Conventions and amendments which attempt to eliminate terrorist activity, culminating in a broad Global Counter Terrorism Strategy approved in 2006. Its Resolution covers generalities and a Plan of Action. The annexed Plan of Action enumerates measures to prevent terrorism and to build States’ capacity to do so. Thus, UN resolves to strongly condemn terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, committed by whomsoever, wherever and for whatever purposes. The Resolution is generic in nature. However, its performance on the ground is subject to criticism.