The Influence of Terrorism in Southeast Asia - Essay Example

The influence of terrorism in South East Asia: Terrorism has existed in since several decades now, although the form and goals of the few terrorist groups which were active during the 1990s were mainly to achieve freedom from political repression or to seek social or economic justice. However, over time the nature, scope and extent of such acts of terror have multiplied significantly causing large scale destruction to life and property, and resulting in millions of preventable deaths. International terrorism has grown since the 1990s to unprecedented levels resulting in formation and spreading of various Islamic militant groups in various countries across the globe (Art, 2005). Figure 1: Global terrorism deaths Source: The Economist (2011) Terrorism causes millions of deaths worldwide every year, and despite the war on terror and stringent measures taken to curtail such anti-social activities, the death toll due to terrorist strikes continues to spread globally. Although statistics suggest a decline in deaths caused due to terrorist activities, the gravity of the issue is highlighted by the extent and outreach of international terror groups and the scope of damage which can be caused due to such acts of terror. Various international terrorist organizations have established and set up new havens, South East Asia – being one of them. This paper on the “Influence of terrorism in South East Asia” discusses, the various negative impacts of terrorism on three particular nation states in the Indo-China region – namely: Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines. Thesis Statement: Southeast Asia is home to several prominent and radical Islamic terrorist groups in the world whose dominance in the region is reaffirmed with the recent spurt in terrorist activities including suicide bombings and the use of lethal weapons of mass destruction. The changing dynamics of the global environment and the growing technological developments has blurred regional and geographic boundaries, thus implying that any growth in terrorist groups and activities in the region is likely to cause an equal and significant impact on other countries as well. Growth of terrorism in Southeast Asia implies an indirect albeit definite threat to the global population. Hypotheses: 1. Transnational and international terrorism: Terrorism as we know it today, is no longer confined to the regional boundaries alone, but has gone international. Most of the terrorist organizations operating in recent times are highly interconnected, and use certain regions as base to operate and execute their deadly agendas and target distant regions / countries. The new era has ushered in novel and threatening concepts of transnational and international terrorism. 2. Clash of civilizations: There has been a drastic change in the conventional goals and objectives of terrorist groups. Terrorist organizations today are largely motivated by Islamic fundamentalism, whereby there is a conscious and active role played by religious fundamentalists and clerics to help cleanse the largely conservative Muslim world from “western influences”. 3. Power distance: The unequal distribution of power and the widening gap between the developing and the developed world is said to be another underlying cause of the rise in terrorism. Key definitions: The key terms used throughout this paper include terrorism, transnational terrorism and international terrorism. The same are defined below, for the purpose of this study: Terrorism: Although the term terrorism is defined in different ways by various authors, the UN defines the concept as "the act of destroying or injuring civilian lives or the act of destroying or damaging civilian or government property without the expressly chartered permission of a specific government, this by individuals or groups acting independently ... in the attempt to effect some political goal" (in Enders & Sandler, Pp. 6-7). Transnational terrorism: According to Enders and Sandler "When an incident is planned in one country but executed in another, it is transnational event" (in Sheehan, 2007, Pp. 37) International terrorism: According to Wilkinson international terrorism refers to terrorism directed exclusively towards foreigners or foreign targets (Sheehan, 2007). The U.S. Central Intelligence Agency defines international terrorism as one when its "ramifications transcend national boundaries (as the result, for example, of the nationality or foreign ties of its perpetrators, its locale, the identity of its institutional or human victims, its declared objectives or the mechanics of its resolution)" (in Sheehan, 2007, Pp. 37). The Rise of Islamic Militancy and Terrorism in Southeast Asia Southeast Asia has been a breeding ground for various militant groups since decades. A significant proportion of these militant groups are Islamic belonging to various diverse groups located internationally. The association between such groups was weak initially, and their activities and goals were focused on achieving domestic goals such as the promotion of their religion; insisting and advocating the implementation of Islamic laws (Sharia) in the country; and seeking an independent governing body to gain political clout. However, such an association between these diverse and independent groups has grown stronger over the years, thus leading to a series of coordinated and planned anti-social activities and / or acts of terror (Chalk, 2009). Various regions in Southeast Asia, such as southern Thailand, Malaysia, and southern Philippines, have experienced certain levels of insurgencies and ethnic clashes since several decades, which however were largely confined to domestic factors. However the recent spurt of transnational terrorism within these regions has of late become a threat to the political and economic stability and in the absence of effective preventive measures is highly likely to disrupt the very existence of populations residing in those regions. The countries in Southeast Asia namely Malaysia, Indonesia and Philippines were conventionally and traditionally used to exist in a harmonious and peaceful environment, hence the sudden upsurge in terrorist activities, operated and executed by external elements with vested interests, exploited their vulnerabilities leading to chaos and disorder in the otherwise peaceful regions (John & Parashar, 2005). The establishment of various fundamental Islamic movements in Southeast Asia began during the 1990s, and can be attributed to various factors. These include- change in external economic and political environment due to globalization, which in turn is essentially associated with the developed world including the U.S. in particular. Such changes led to vast disparities and unequal distribution of power leading to a rise in frustration and repression of the secular governments and in turn culminating in a desire to create an Islamic state. Furthermore, several other events such as the attack on the World Trade Centers (9/11); followed by the war in Afghanistan, the increase in aggressive and hostile movements on the Gaza strip and role of Israel and the developed world, signaled the arrival of a host of terrorist organizations on an international level. The formation of terror groups such as Al Qaeda, and their close association with other diverse radical Islamic groups further strengthened the terror network and spread its wings in Southeast Asia. Southeast Asia has one of the largest concentrations of Islamic populations in the world, with Indonesia leading with a Muslim population of close to 200 million people. The composition of population is an important element in the study of rise, establishment and implication of terrorist outfits in the region. The Philippines for instance, has witnessed and experienced a major and aggressive Muslim separatist movement for more than a century now. Most of the separatist violence in Philippines was spearheaded with a view to eliminate and overcome cultural and religious differences, followed by lack of economic development in the nation. Furthermore, the implementation of exploitative economic and political policies in the country led to the widening of gap between the Muslim and Catholic populations, thus creating a rift, and sparking a strong reaction from the majority Muslim population, who suffered from local alienation and deprivation (Rabasa, Chalk, 2001). Figure 2: Terrorist activities in South East Asia Source: Global terrorism database The establishment of various local terror outfits in the nation is touted to be a serious offshoot of the prevalent disparities in the society in various Southeast Asian countries thus pushing them further towards the highly immoral terrorist outfits with aggressive and anti-social designs and agendas. Until recently, the terrorist groups and organizations based in these regions were solely confined to the Muslim majority regions, but the recent event of the Bali bombings, triggered a series of hostile acts, with Indonesia, Malaysia and Philippines acting as a breeding ground for such terror outfits (McKenna, 1998). According to John & Parashar (2005), terrorism in Southeast Asia can largely be attributed and linked to Pakistan and its association with Islamic fundamentalist groups. It is due to this association and the vast international network, that the region has now become a permanent and safe haven for international terrorist organizations. Terror outfits recognized globally such as Al Qaeda, LeT, Hizb, JeM etc which have strong links and network in Pakistan, its allies in Southeast Asian countries are likely to get engulfed in its grip, and hence involuntarily become a base to support their immoral designs. Key terrorist outfits in Southeast Asia: Examples Ever since the 1990s the Al Qaeda terrorist network has taken giant strides in setting up their operational base in Southeast Asia, with a primary objective to perform three key tasks i.e., set up local cells operated and controlled by Arab members serving in Al Qaeda; help in creating extensive terrorist networks across various chosen regions; and cooperate with local radical terror groups and extremists by providing them training in operation of explosives and executing terror attacks. The leaders then plan attacks on their targets and offer safe havens for refuge and protection of those involved. The Al Qaeda network was first established in Manila during the early 1990s and was eventually expanded to include Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia as well (Vaughn, 2010; Rabasa, 2006). The terror networks operating in Southeast Asia have exploited the regions high vulnerability in terms of inadequate financial control policies, which played a key role in assisting in illegal fund transfers and money laundering thus supporting the group’s funding activities. Thus due to the absence of stringent laws various prominent and notorious terrorist groups were successfully able to establish and spread their network in the Southeast regions (Abuza, 2002). Another key terror organization which is active in Southeast Asia is the Jemmah Islamiyah – a regional terrorist network which works and operations on similar lines as that of Al Qaeda and has been named for attacks in Bali, which claimed over 200 lives and which targeted mainly Western tourists. Another notorious terror network operated under the name Abu Sayyaf group – is known to receive funding from Al Qaeda and is known to be active in Manila. This outfit operates in close coordination with other key Islamic groups and provides training to the operatives in camps held in Afghanistan, Philippines, Indonesia as well as Malaysia. They are also known to provide terrorists / jihadis on “foreign missions” to participate in various religious strikes and oppose against the attacks on Muslims by people of other religions (Vaughn, 2010). Figure: Terror attacks in Southeast Asia by the Abu Sayyaf Group Source: www.start.umd.edu/gtd/ Factors such as weak central government, ineffective financial policies, lack of strict laws to prevent fund transfer and smuggling, inadequate national security forces, along with other key factors such as widespread corruption, porous geographical borders, lack of stringent laws for application and acceptance of visas, along with the political and economic unrest, have led to the rapid establishment and spread of terrorist groups in the Southeast Asian countries, in general and Indonesia and Philippines in particular (Smith, 2005; Bresnan, 2005; Ramakrishna & Tan, 2003). It is on account of such reasons that make such countries a favorable target for terror groups who establish their networks and use their vulnerability to procure weapons and indulge in a host of illegal activities. Figure: Incidences of Attack by the ASG in Philippines (1990-2010) There is significant presence of terror groups in Philippines which include Abu Sayyaf Group, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) among the prominent ones. The country offers ideal geographic settings which are favorable for the terror groups to smuggle explosives and weapons and also for infiltration. Furthermore, the fact that there is political and economical instability, coupled with a strong sense of alienation and grievance among the Muslim minorities, help these outfits in creating a rift and hiring recruits for executing their plans / terror attacks. Although recently, the government of Philippine has made significant progress in curtailing such anti-social activities, by introducing counter terrorism measures, the increasing penetration of terrorists from across the borders, and the high vulnerability of the nation, continues to foil all administrative measures taken to combat the problem on hand (Cronin, 2009; Koh, 2006; Brown et al., 2010). Philippines today, continues to be highly vulnerable to terror outfits such as Al Qaeda. Implications: The rise in terrorism and widespread establishment of terror outfits in Southeast Asia may have dire consequences on not only those regions but worldwide as well. The terrorist organizations established in Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia are known to use these countries as a base and carry out terror attacks in foreign lands, thus attracting stringent political and economic reactions. The terror activities causes a hindrance to the establishment and maintenance of law and order in the country, leading to increased disruption of peace and harmony; failure to establish and maintain close and harmonious ties with trade partners; failure to establish trade alliances; discourages foreign direct investment and disrupts tourism among others. Figure: Type of target attacked by terrorist organizations Tourism is one of the key sources of attracting foreign exchange for various Southeast Asian countries. The increasing attacks on citizens and tourists, is likely to hamper the development of travel and tourism in the region. Furthermore, as seen from the above figure, a significant proportion of attacks are carried out on business centers, this in turn could adversely affect the economy and prevent economic growth, thus leading to a vicious circle of poverty and unemployment. Conclusion: Terror attacks today are becoming more and more frequent and lethal, which are designed to cause high casualties, thus endangering the lives of millions of innocent civilians worldwide. The rise of international terrorism has worsened the situation, since the terror groups have now an increased access to ones home soil. Such a trend towards massacre of civilians has completely changed the political and economic environment around us. As religiously motivated groups continue to sow seeds of hatred and train humans to kill, the rift in ideological and religious perspectives is likely to widen further. The rise in transnational and international terrorism, and expansion of terror base, pose a significant challenge not only to the local / national governments but to the governments worldwide, since geographical boundaries have blurred overtime. In the wake of such rise in terrorist attacks, it is imperative for the governments across the globe to design and develop effective policies, strengthen the laws of their respective nation states, and take effective steps to counter and discourage the range and scope of international terrorism. It is only through creation of a unique global culture of mutual respect and responsibility that acts of terror can be hoped to be reduced if not completely eliminated. References: Abuza, Z., (2002). Terrorism in Southeast Asia, National Bureau of Asian Research, Strategic Asia Art, R. J., (2005). A grand strategy for America, Cornell University Press, Pp. 17-20 Bresnan, J., 92005). Indonesia: the great transitin, Rowman & Littlefield Publication, Pp. 274-275 Brown, M. E., Cote, O. R., Lynn-Jones, S. M., (2010). Contending with Terrorism: Roots, Strategies, and Responses, MIT Press, Pp. 259-260 Chalk, P., (2009). The evolving terrorist threat to Southeast Asia: A net assessment, Rand Corporation Publication Cronin, A. K., (2009). How terrorism ends: understanding the decline and demise of terrorist campaigns, Princeton University Press, Pp. 27-29 Enders, W., Sandler, T., (2006). The political economy of terrorism, Cambridge University Press Koh, J., (2006). Suppressing terrorist financing and money laundering, Springer Publication, Pp. 12-13 John, W., Parashar, S., (2005). Terrorism in Southeast Asia: Implications for South Asia, Pearson Education Publishers, Pp. 4-7 McKenna, T. M., (1998). Muslim rulers and rebels: everyday politics and armed separatism in the southern Philippines, University of California Press Rabasa, A., Chalk, P., (2001). Indonesias transformation and the stability of Southeast Asia, Rand Corporation, Pp. 85-90 Rabasa, A., (2006). Beyond Al-Qaeda: The global jihadist movement, Rand Corporation, Pp. 147-150 Ramakrishna, K., Tan, S. S., (2003). After Bali: the threat of terrorism in Southeast Asia, World Scientific Publication, Pp. 122-124 Sheehan, I. S., (2007). When terrorism and counterterrorism clash: the War on Terror and the transformation of terrorist activity, Cambria Press, Pp. 37 Smith, P. J., (2005). Terrorism and violence in Southeast Asia: transnational challenges to states and regional stability, M.E. Sharpe Publication, Pp. 217-220 vaughn, B., (2010). Terrorism in Southeast Asia, Diane Publishing Company, Pp. 1-5 The Economist (2011). Global terrorism deaths: 20 years of terror [Online] Available at: http://www.economist.com/blogs/dailychart/2011/09/global-terrorism-deaths [Accessed: November 21, 2011] Global Terrorism Database (2011). [Online] Available at: www.start.umd.edu/gtd/ [Accessed: November 21, 2011] Read More