The barbaric murder of Benazir
Bhutto & the proliferation of suicide terrorism Fourth South Asian
political leader to be targeted
The Permanent Mission of
Sri Lanka to the United Nations Office at Geneva
28th December 2007
Benazir Bhutto was the latest high profile victim of suicide
bombers. It was the second suicide attack against her in recent months,
and came amid a wave of bombings targeting security, government officials
and civilians. On the day of her arrival, she had led a motor cavalcade
through the city of Karachi and it was hit by a double suicide attack
that left 130 dead. Although there were no immediate claims of responsibility
for the attack, analysts believe so-called Islamist militants to be
the most likely group behind the attack. (Cf. BBC News, 27 December
2007)
However, Bhutto's killing is just one among many suicide
bomb attacks against political leaders perpetrated by numerous fanatical
terrorist groups. Terrorism associated with suicide bombing has been
highest in the South Asian region, where many such groups operate.
During the last two decades, four prominent South Asian
political leaders who at one time or another had chaired the South Asian
Association of Regional Cooperation (SAARC) have been targeted by suicide
assassins. The assassins succeeded in murdering three of the four leaders:
namely, former Prime Minister of India, Rajiv Gandhi (1991), then President
of Sri Lanka, Ranasinghe Premadasa (1993) and now former Prime Minister
of Pakistan Benazir Bhutto. The fourth, former President of Sri Lanka
Chandrika Kumaratunge managed to escape the attack on her in 1999 but
was left blind in one eye.
What is also striking about these suicide attacks is that
they were all carried out during pre-election rallies attended by general
public. Even more attack, analysts believe so-called Islamist militants
to be the most likely group behind the attack. (Cf. BBC News, 27 December
2007)
However, Bhutto's killing is just one among many suicide
bomb attacks against political leaders perpetrated by numerous fanatical
terrorist groups. Terrorism associated with suicide bombing has been
highest in the South Asian region, where many such groups operate.
During the last two decades, four prominent South Asian
political leaders who at one time or another had chaired the South Asian
Association of Regional Cooperation (SAARC) have been targeted by suicide
assassins. The assassins succeeded in murdering three of the four leaders:
namely, former Prime Minister of India, Rajiv Gandhi (1991), then President
of Sri Lanka, Ranasinghe Premadasa (1993) and now former Prime Minister
of Pakistan Benazir Bhutto. The fourth, former President of Sri Lanka
Chandrika Kumaratunge managed to escape the attack on her in 1999 but
was left blind in one eye.
What is also striking about these suicide attacks is that
they were all carried out during pre-election rallies attended by general
public. Even more significant is the fact that three out of these four
attacks, including the first, were committed by the same terrorist group;
the LTTE Tamil Tigers, one of world's deadliest terrorist groups. Tigers
are widely believed to be "the masters of the contemporary suicide
bombing"(Johann Hari, 27 May 2007: http://www.themercury.co.za/index.php?fSectionId=285&fArticleId=158307)
and are thus arguably one of the foremost sources of proliferation of
world terrorism. They pioneered the use of concealed suicide bomb vests,
which are now used by many other organizations worldwide (among which
Al Qaeda).
The LTTE is responsible for more than 240 suicide bombings
as well as scores of other deadly attacks. (http://wasteofmyoxygen.wordpress.com/2007/12/01/tamil-tigers-terrorist-caught-on-video-during-suicide-bombing/).
According to Jane's Information Group, between 1980 and 2000 LTTE had
carried out a total of 168 suicide attacks on civilians and military
targets. The number of suicide attacks by the LTTE easily exceeded the
combined total of Hezbollah and Hamas suicide attacks carried out during
the same period. (http://www.defence.lk/pps/LTTEinbrief.pdf).
The LTTE is already branded as a terror organization by the U.S., European
Union & a host of other countries.
Given the contagion of example provided by suicide terrorism, states
throughout the entire South Asian region need to cooperate actively
in the anti-terrorist struggle. Sri Lanka's war against a fanatical
formation significant is the fact that three out of these four attacks,
including the first, were committed by the same terrorist group; the
LTTE Tamil Tigers, one of world's deadliest terrorist groups. Tigers
are widely believed to be "the masters of the contemporary suicide
bombing"(Johann Hari, 27 May 2007:http://www.themercury.co.za/index.php?fSectionId=285&fArticleId=158307)
and are thus arguably one of the foremost sources of proliferation of
world terrorism. They pioneered the use of concealed suicide bomb vests,
which are now used by many other organizations worldwide (among which
Al Qaeda).
The LTTE is responsible for more than 240 suicide bombings as well
as scores of other deadly attacks. (http://wasteofmyoxygen.wordpress.com/2007/12/01/tamil-tigers-terrorist-caught-on-video-during-suicide-bombing/).
According to Jane's Information Group, between 1980 and 2000 LTTE had
carried out a total of 168 suicide attacks on civilians and military
targets. The number of suicide attacks by the LTTE easily exceeded the
combined total of Hezbollah and Hamas suicide attacks carried out during
the same period. (http://www.defence.lk/pps/LTTEinbrief.pdf).
The LTTE is already branded as a terror organization by the U.S., European
Union & a host of other countries.
Given the contagion of example provided by suicide terrorism, states
throughout the entire South Asian region need to cooperate actively
in the anti-terrorist struggle. Sri Lanka's war against a fanatical
formation which fields more suicide terrorists than any other, is a
frontline fight against terrorism in the globally vital South Asian
region as a whole. which fields more suicide terrorists than any other,
is a frontline fight against terrorism in the globally vital South Asian
region as a whole.
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