FORUM-ASIA strongly condemns Tuesday's (11 July) bomb attacks in Mumbai which killed up to 190 persons and injured hundreds of others. We also express our deepest condolences to the families of the victims. In a country as diverse and large as India, where many armed conflicts are simultaneously taking place, the identity of the group responsible for the attack might be difficult to ascertain. However, no matter what cause its perpetrators may claim to be fighting for, such an attack is absolutely unjustifiable because it is directed primarily against civilian targets. International law expressly prohibits these acts even under situations of war.
FORUM-ASIA strongly condemns Tuesday’s (11 July) bomb attacks in Mumbai which killed up to 190 persons and injured hundreds of others. We also express our deepest condolences to the families of the victims.
In a country as diverse and large as India, where many armed conflicts are simultaneously taking place, the identity of the group responsible for the attack might be difficult to ascertain. However, no matter what cause its perpetrators may claim to be fighting for, such an attack is absolutely unjustifiable because it is directed primarily against civilian targets. International law expressly prohibits these acts even under situations of war.
While authorities must ensure that the perpetrators be brought to justice, they must also guard against possible adverse impacts that these attacks could bring. We are concerned that the bombings and the government’s responses might trigger even more violence along religious lines in India. It is important that, while aiming for a swift resolution, authorities ensure that measures abide by the rule of law and international human rights standards. In the longer term, any legitimate grievance raised by the attackers should be systematically addressed.
From a regional perspective, the message that such an attack brings is clear: five years after the September 11 attacks, terrorism is still a major concern that has shown no signs of abating despite the launching of the global war on terrorism. Overall response to the phenomenon of terrorism is predominantly military in nature and has prioritised protection of national security interests over the people’s.
Among the first casualties of the war on terror and national anti-terrorist measures is the respect for human rights. Currently in many countries at present, accusations of being a “terrorist” has justified violations of the rights of suspects .These include arbitrary arrests, extended detentions, violations of due process, torture, disappearances or for some, extra-judicial executions. Many areas are subjected to emergency rule that often means curtailing civil liberties and undermining the supremacy of civilian authority. The generally militaristic response to conflicts in the region – which are in many cases traced to ethnic and religious differences – has only resulted in greater polarisation in many societies and between countries.
Finally we are concerned that Asia’s human rights movement has made little impact on the policies responding to this terrible global phenomenon and the ensuing anti-terrorism campaign. Many groups that work close to the grassroots, including people’s movements, are in a good position to facilitate the open and democratic discussion of community and people’s grievances that lay at the roots of many armed conflicts. Asian human rights groups must begin to work together and deal with this problem in order to contribute towards lasting non-military solutions.
In solidarity,
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Anselmo Lee
Executive Director
