11. What is transnational terrorism?

11. What is transnational terrorism?

In Sec 3 – we learnt about the IRA and the LTTETerrorism is used by the IRA and LTTE to strike fear in the people and weaken the governmentToday, a new form of terrorism known as transnational terrorism threatens peace and security

What is transnational terrorism?

transnational terrorism involves the unlawful use of force or indiscriminate violence by internationally-linked groups against persons and properties in many parts of the world.

transnational terrorist groups usually have an international membership and conduct their activities in many countries

What is transnational terrorism?

Is terrorism a new phenomenon?

Terrorism is not new There have been terrorist attacks in the

past They were carried out by state agents

or non-state organisations• E.g. In 1987, a South Korean airline was

destroyed by a bomb planted by North Korean agents.


Another e.g. US airliner destroyed over the UK by Libyan agents in 1988.

Non-state organisations which have carried out terrorist activities in the past – LTTE, IRA, Aum Shinrikyo • In 1995, sarin gas attacks on the Tokyo train

system by Aum Shinrikyo – 12 people died and 54 seriously injured

• LTTE – killed former Indian PM Rajiv Gandhi


Terrorist attacks in the past were small-scale operations

On 11 Sept 2001, 19 men hijacked 4 commercial airplanes and crashed them into various locations in the USA including the World Trade Centre – 3,000 people died.

12 What was the significance of the September 11 attacks?

Attacks marked a turning point in the history of terrorism

Victims from more than 30 countries died

Attacks showed – terrorist well-trained and could co-ordinate mass attacks

Attacks showed they were willing to target civilians & die for their cause

Flights.exe

12 What was the significance of the September 11 attacks?

Attacks caused two 110 storey-tall Attacks caused two 110 storey-tall towers to collapse and the debris towers to collapse and the debris covered New York City in dust for covered New York City in dust for months.months.

Attacks had a huge Attacks had a huge psychological and and economic impact on the world. impact on the world.

12.1 What is Al-Qaeda?

Al-Qaeda, or The Base, is an organisation created in 1989 by Osama bin Laden.

Members grew out of a nerwork of Arab volunteers who had gone to Afganisatan to fight against the Soviet Union.

Osama moved to terrorism when he fell out with the Saudi ruling family.

It rejected his offer in 1990 to lead an army of militants to liberate occupied Kuwait.

12.1 What is Al-Qaeda?

The Saudi govt turned to the USA for help Osama was unhappy with the stationing of

US troops in Saudi soil He resorted to anti-state activities & he was

expelled him from Saudi Arabia. Osama then decided to carry out a campaign

against the Saudi govt. Al-Qaeda wants to rid western influence in

Muslim countries especially the USA.

12.2 Why is Al-Qaeda significant?

Many of the recent terrorist attacks in the world can be traced to Al-Qaeda.

Al-Qaeda is the epitome of the new transnational terrorist organisation.

Multi-national membership scattered around the world.

It makes use of globalisation – internet, & international banking to carry out attacks across the world.


Sept 11, 2001 – response from USA – Sept 11, 2001 – response from USA – to declare a global war against to declare a global war against terrorism.terrorism.

Oct 2001 – US-led coalition forces Oct 2001 – US-led coalition forces went into Afganistan to get rid of Al-went into Afganistan to get rid of Al-Qaeda when the Taliban Govt Qaeda when the Taliban Govt refused to give up Osamarefused to give up Osama

US forces attacked Al-Qaeda training US forces attacked Al-Qaeda training camps.camps.


But even with its leaders killed or But even with its leaders killed or captured, and its base of operations captured, and its base of operations destroyed, Al-Qaeda proved that it destroyed, Al-Qaeda proved that it was still able to carry out attacks.was still able to carry out attacks.

Al-Qaeda shares strategies, transfers Al-Qaeda shares strategies, transfers resources and even conducts joint resources and even conducts joint operations with other groups.operations with other groups.



Al-Qaeda’s resilience lies in the Al-Qaeda’s resilience lies in the deliberate and effective spread of its deliberate and effective spread of its ideology.ideology.

Al-Qaeda & other groups spread Al-Qaeda & other groups spread these ideas in order to gain these ideas in order to gain legitimacy for their cause & make legitimacy for their cause & make their violent actions seem their violent actions seem acceptable.acceptable.


Al-Qaeda’s ideology is rejected by Muslims and Islam.

After the disruption of the Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) terrorist network in S’pore, more than 120 Muslim organisations issued a joint statement – condemn the misuse of Islam for terrorism.

In 2002, two bombs exploded at two popular nightspots in Bali, Indonesia

The explosions killed 200 people & injured more than 300 others.


Terrorist were now hitting soft targets such as nightspots and shopping centres.

In 2005, Bali was hit again by terrorist.

Let’s take a look at the map on the next slide.

Other attacks attributed to Al-Qaeda

13. What is the impact of terrorism?13. What is the impact of terrorism?


Economic impact Sept 11 attack had tremendous impact on the

US as well as the world Total loss of life and property cost insurance

companies US$40 billion. Airline industry lost a lot of business US govt had to step in to help the airline

industry – to prevent closing down


Economic impact on Bali was more on Bali was more severe – as Bali depended on tourism severe – as Bali depended on tourism for its revenuefor its revenue

Tourist arrivalsTourist arrivals in Bali fell by 50% in Bali fell by 50% Many local people lost their livelihoodMany local people lost their livelihood Government spendingGovernment spending has also has also

increased since Sept 11 to cater for increased since Sept 11 to cater for increase security.increase security.


More police and troops deployed to guard key installations.

Governments spend more money and resources in holding exercises to ensure that the emergency services and their citizens are prepared.

In January 2006, S’pore held its largest civil emergency exercise, Exercise North Star.

The exercise involved 2000 personnel from 22 agencies.


Social Impact Acts of terrorism may create

suspicion and tension among the various ethnic and religious groups.

In S’pore, the Community Engagement Programme was launched on Feb 2006.

It is a long-term effort to ensure are better equipped to maintain social cohesion and harmony, should a crisis happen in Singapore.


Political impact Govt have a responsibility to keep

their citizens safe from terrorists. As a result, govt have had to tighten

controls to ensure terrorist do not slip into the country.

Border security measures involve greater checks on travellers’ identities and belongings, slowing down immigration clearance.


Intrusive legislation aimed at Intrusive legislation aimed at countering terrorism have also been countering terrorism have also been introduced introduced

Argument that these measures and Argument that these measures and laws infringe on individual freedomlaws infringe on individual freedom

Security vs freedom - debateSecurity vs freedom - debate

14. Can transnational terrorism be managed?

Transnational terrorism is a global Transnational terrorism is a global threat – needs concerted effort to threat – needs concerted effort to manage.manage.

No one country can hope to defeat No one country can hope to defeat terrorism on its own.terrorism on its own.

14.1 ASEAN’s efforts to manage terrorism

ASEAN leaders view terrorism as a ASEAN leaders view terrorism as a major major threat to international peace threat to international peace and securityand security..

It is seen as a direct challenge to the It is seen as a direct challenge to the achievement of peace.achievement of peace.

ASEAN govts –pledged their ASEAN govts –pledged their determination to determination to co-operate againstco-operate against transnational terrorism.transnational terrorism.


ASEAN has pledged to enhance ASEAN has pledged to enhance information and intelligence information and intelligence exchange on terrorist and their exchange on terrorist and their activities.activities.

This has helped member countries to This has helped member countries to disrupt terrorist activities.disrupt terrorist activities.

In January 2002, Philippine In January 2002, Philippine authorities arrested JI bomb-maker authorities arrested JI bomb-maker based on information given by S’pore based on information given by S’pore


Bomb-maker Fathur was involved in Bomb-maker Fathur was involved in the bombing of the Light Railway the bombing of the Light Railway Train in Manila in Dec 2000.Train in Manila in Dec 2000.

He was also a lead character in the He was also a lead character in the Al-Qaeda plot to bomb the western Al-Qaeda plot to bomb the western targets of S’pore.targets of S’pore.

ASEAN Regional Forum – used a ASEAN Regional Forum – used a platform to discuss transnational platform to discuss transnational issues.issues.



In Jan 2007, Southeast Asian leaders In Jan 2007, Southeast Asian leaders agreed to several measures that agreed to several measures that committed their national security committed their national security and law enforcement agencies to and law enforcement agencies to work closely.work closely.

The Convention on Counter-terrorism The Convention on Counter-terrorism signed in Cebu, Phillipines – first signed in Cebu, Phillipines – first legally binding anti-terrorism accord.legally binding anti-terrorism accord.

14.2 International efforts to combat terrorism

After Sept 11, UN passed a series of After Sept 11, UN passed a series of resolutions in a bid to stop terrorism.resolutions in a bid to stop terrorism.• Member countries to freeze the financial Member countries to freeze the financial

assets of terrorists and their supportersassets of terrorists and their supporters• Deny them travel and safe havenDeny them travel and safe haven• Prevent terrorist recruitment and Prevent terrorist recruitment and

weapons supplyweapons supply• Co-operate with other countries in Co-operate with other countries in

information sharing and criminal information sharing and criminal prosecutionprosecution


UN set up a Counter-Terrorism UN set up a Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC) to monitor member Committee (CTC) to monitor member countries’ adherence to the countries’ adherence to the resolutions.resolutions.

Strengthen the counter-terrorism Strengthen the counter-terrorism capacity of member statescapacity of member states

The CTC also provides technical The CTC also provides technical assistance to countries that require assistance to countries that require help in implementing the resolutionshelp in implementing the resolutions

Have these measures been successful?Have these measures been successful?

Member countries have frozen Member countries have frozen US$200 million in terrorist fundingUS$200 million in terrorist funding

By sharing information, 4,000 By sharing information, 4,000 terrorist suspects have been arrestedterrorist suspects have been arrested

Despite regional and international Despite regional and international efforts, it has not been completely efforts, it has not been completely successful in getting rid of successful in getting rid of transnational terrorism.transnational terrorism.

Have these measures been successful?Have these measures been successful?

Why?Why? The ability of terrorists to evade securityThe ability of terrorists to evade security Terrorists ability to recruit new operativesTerrorists ability to recruit new operatives They are able to influence people to their They are able to influence people to their

cause because ideas about terrorism and cause because ideas about terrorism and violence is widely available e.g. through violence is widely available e.g. through internet.internet.

14.3 Nurturing an environment that censures 14.3 Nurturing an environment that censures terrorismterrorism

Every individual has a role to play to Every individual has a role to play to deny the terrorists space in society.deny the terrorists space in society.

Society must stand firmly and reject Society must stand firmly and reject terrorist ideas otherwise they may terrorist ideas otherwise they may gain legitimacygain legitimacy

Conclusion

The world today is more inter-The world today is more inter-connected connected

Inter-connectivity has brought Inter-connectivity has brought opportunities and challengesopportunities and challenges

One of the challenges is to manage One of the challenges is to manage and contain the threat of and contain the threat of transnational terrorismtransnational terrorism

Countries should work on this at the Countries should work on this at the regional & international levelregional & international level

Conclusion

Terrorism has no specific religion, Terrorism has no specific religion, ethnic origin, nationality and ethnic origin, nationality and geographic locationgeographic location

Attempts to link it with any faith Attempts to link it with any faith would only serve their interestswould only serve their interests

It is the terrorist who misuse and It is the terrorist who misuse and distort religious teachings to justify distort religious teachings to justify their actstheir acts

Conclusion

Today’s terrorism cannot be dealt with just Today’s terrorism cannot be dealt with just arresting the terrorist operatives.arresting the terrorist operatives.

They are able to recruit new operatives to They are able to recruit new operatives to replace those killed or arrested.replace those killed or arrested.

They recruit by spreading their ideology They recruit by spreading their ideology through the Internet.through the Internet.

Crucial that society play its part to counter Crucial that society play its part to counter radical and extremist influences.radical and extremist influences.

Documents

11. What is transnational terrorism?