Fighting terrorism
Laws must exist beyond the paper they are written on if they are to have any real significance in battling terrorism.
The government is planning to place before parliament new legislation which it hopes would help it combat terrorism more effectively. The prime minister is reported to have been considering the various proposals for the new laws drafted, we assume, by experts in the relevant departments.
The question, however, is whether we just need new legislation, or something a little beyond this. Whereas loopholes in existing laws may need to be filled in, the fact also is that we would appear to have sufficient laws on the books to tackle terrorism. Where there are gaps, these can, of course, be filled. What is far more important is the implementation of these laws and measures that can make sure they are followed through with. This happens too infrequently under the present circumstances.
Beyond this, we also need to look at the way our security agencies are structured and the training available to them. Upgrading their skills could take us a long way forward. Better use of forensic evidence and other modern means developed around the world to deal with crime would enable us to bring terrorists to trial more effectively, and make sure they do not get off free. Due to flawed evidence gathering, this is happening far too often. It is also a fact that improved intelligence could lead us into the heart of the hornets’ nest from where terrorists operate. It is unclear why these outfits have not, so far, been fully infiltrated and the information gathered in this way used to weaken them and capture top members. Such methodologies are commonplace around the world. Where legislation can help put such mechanisms in place, it must be drafted and put through the legislature without any delay. But laws alone can change nothing. They must exist beyond the paper they are written on if they are to have any real significance in battling terrorism and all that it involves. It is failures on this front that has held us back in the past. We must now overcome this barrier by making sure laws are enforced and that our law enforcement agencies have the capability to do so.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 1st, 2014.
The question, however, is whether we just need new legislation, or something a little beyond this. Whereas loopholes in existing laws may need to be filled in, the fact also is that we would appear to have sufficient laws on the books to tackle terrorism. Where there are gaps, these can, of course, be filled. What is far more important is the implementation of these laws and measures that can make sure they are followed through with. This happens too infrequently under the present circumstances.
Beyond this, we also need to look at the way our security agencies are structured and the training available to them. Upgrading their skills could take us a long way forward. Better use of forensic evidence and other modern means developed around the world to deal with crime would enable us to bring terrorists to trial more effectively, and make sure they do not get off free. Due to flawed evidence gathering, this is happening far too often. It is also a fact that improved intelligence could lead us into the heart of the hornets’ nest from where terrorists operate. It is unclear why these outfits have not, so far, been fully infiltrated and the information gathered in this way used to weaken them and capture top members. Such methodologies are commonplace around the world. Where legislation can help put such mechanisms in place, it must be drafted and put through the legislature without any delay. But laws alone can change nothing. They must exist beyond the paper they are written on if they are to have any real significance in battling terrorism and all that it involves. It is failures on this front that has held us back in the past. We must now overcome this barrier by making sure laws are enforced and that our law enforcement agencies have the capability to do so.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 1st, 2014.