Capacity building for combating terrorism

Bantarto Bandoro, Editor, 'The Indonesian Quarterly', Centre for Strategic and International Studies, (CSIS), Jakarta
bandoro@csis.or.id

Of all centuries, the 21st has experienced the most revolutionary changes, particularly due to rapid developments in the field of technology. Products that use highly sophisticated technology have mostly been used to advance the political interests of given groups or states. It is one of the great ironies of the recent history of mankind, however, that terrorist groups have made the most of technological development as they attempt to change the policies of certain states.

Incidents such as the World Trade Center, Bali and Marriott bombings indicate that terrorist groups were able to evade the security apparatus and that the attacks were also not detected, even by the country whom many consider to be the most technologically advanced of all. That series of bombings set in motion a new commitment for the international community to combat international terrorism.

A capacity at either the state or regional level to combat terrorism will have to be built if the international community is to be seen as credible, effective, capable and committed enough to combat international terrorism.

As the threat of terrorism continues to haunt the Asia-Pacific region, it will host a series of meetings to discuss how the region should tackle the threat of terrorism.

One of these will be the Regional Meeting on Terrorism, co- sponsored by the governments of Indonesia and Australia and due to be held in Bali on Feb. 4 and Feb. 5. A conference on the police response to terrorism was also held in Bali this week to boost coordination and information-sharing in the global campaign against terrorism.

From all these meetings, the international community recognized international terrorism as a serious threat to the regional and global order and that new and fresh approaches needed to be developed to arrive at a regional response to terrorism that had not been tried before.

Terrorism is a common threat to humankind that must therefore be countered by a common strategy, embracing all types of measures and all countries. The danger of terrorism is something that the region can no longer underestimate. Terrorism should not be feared; it must be confronted at all costs.

The Regional Meeting on Terrorism, and other future meetings on counterterrorism too, are intended to develop regional capacity to address the issue of terrorism in a more comprehensive manner. Because terrorism will be with us for millennia, the emphasis of the meeting is likely to be on long- term, capacity-building measures toward developing common ground rules and more effective coordination and cooperation in law enforcement and information-sharing between the countries in the region.

An understanding of the regional meetings as part of capacity building for combating global terrorism is unlikely to be comprehensive unless we understand the meaning of capacity itself.

There is a close relationship between capacity and capability -- one that is intertwined -- just like a water tank whose size defines its capacity to contain or receive, but the potential of that capacity is only fulfilled when the tank has ability to be filled. Regional meetings as a form of capacity building are seen in terms of acquisition or development of sustained and long-term capabilities in combating terrorism.

It is important, therefore, that the meeting be geared to produce desired antiterror measures and policies, one that clearly reflects the regional capacity to face the current as well as future threat of terrorism. It is also important for the participating countries of that meeting to demonstrate their determination to move the region toward greater heights of victory in the war against terrorists.

Capacity building is thus a key strategy for the countries in the region to turn around the present situation so as to further prevent the region from becoming the target of terrorist activities, eradicate terrorism, disrupt the network and secure safety in the international community.

If one observes carefully the series of regional meetings on terrorism from capacity-building angles, it clearly reveals three important aspects: (1) the capacity desired by the region is not passive, but is part of continuing process; (2) the meetings, to ensure that resources and the way in which they are utilized, are central to development of capacity; and (3) it requires that the overall context within which organizations -- either within the states, such as the police or intelligence agency, or within the region such as ASEAN -- undertake their functions will be a key consideration in the strategy for developing capacity for combating terrorism.

Capacity is thus the power of organizations and systems, both of which are built upon the basic idea that terrorism must be confronted at all costs and levels, to perform and produce counterterrorism measures more properly and effectively. The severity of terrorist threat and the worldwide activities of terrorists must be countered by strong and sustained international networks.

It is through a reliance on such networks that the coming Bali meeting is expected to produce a kind of road map or common plan for combating global terrorism, which includes the establishment of a central forensic laboratory and a training centre for antiterror units.

If the meeting is out to develop a successful capacity to tackle terrorism, it requires a focus on three main areas of counterterrorism activity. First, to deny terrorists the means to commit terrorist acts, for example by preventing the financing of terrorism and the denial of false documents and weapons; second, to deny terrorists a safe haven and to ensure that terrorists are prosecuted and/or extradited. Here, it is important to deny terrorists entry into a country and to reinforce law enforcement agencies.

Third, to overcome vulnerability to terrorism, for example by enhancing domestic security measures. This, indeed, is part of the strategy for capacity building, one that can hopefully guarantee the sustainability of counterterrorism cooperation.