The whole world is discussing the dangerous threat of extremism and terrorism in the civilized society. Many countries have been suffering from this rampant tragedy. Even the recent bloody conflict in Sri Lanka and Gaza warn the wide and most dangerous consequence of any kind of terrorism. Both stories also indicate the terrible humanitarian crisis involved.
Terrorist activities or suicide attacks alone can not be defined as extremism. The war mongers who order to shell with mortars and kill innocent children and women must be also termed as extremists.
There may have been diplomatic and political motives behind any kind of conflict. But the result of every fighting is tragedy and misery. One form of extremism here is invasion or occupation. The other is total violence and brutal killings in the name of resistance. Both are dangerous and harmful to sound democratic and civilized life with peaceful co-existence.
The intolerant attitude of either an organization or a nation can force into chaos a whole region. In Sri Lanka, LTTE (Liberation of Tamil Tiger’s Eelam) have transformed it into one of the biggest extremist force in the world by amassing arms and ammunition in huge quantity and organizing well-trained parallel army to attack the Sri Lankan government. On the other hand, Hamas, a militant organization, labeled by Israel and the U.S, take up arm in the name of resistance against invasion. Hamas also owns suicide attackers. Both conflicts tell the story of self-claimed ancestry, freedom, ethnology and migration.
In Sri Lanka, tigers have become a formidable terrorist organization by forming suicide bombers and guerrilla fighters. The organization has almost fully walked away from the real path of democracy and discussions. LTTE has became a nightmare for many ordinary tamils who became scapegoats in the hands of Prabhakaran. LTTE has become indifferent to bi-lateral talks and agreements. They even worked out deadly attacks outside Lanka. Former Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi was brutally killed in a suicide attack in Tamil Nadu, India, in 1991 organised by the LTTE. Prabhakaran’s hands were proved in that cruel murder. Thus gradually LTTE became enemy of India too. The entire soft corner India had on Sri Lankan Tamil people came to a halt after this incident.
Tigers have declared a fight for a self-ruled independent Tamil north eastern state for the last twenty years. The conflict had begun in this nation immediately after it was freed from Britain in 1948. Sinhalese and Tamils, both claim that their ancestors are the original settlers of Sri Lanka, located in the southern coast of India.
In 1983, Tamil Tigers attacked army patrol in the northern region. One of the first major attacks launched by Prabhakaran. The retaliation was a fierce ante-Tamil riots in which around 600 people were killed and as many displaced. In 2008 the fighting intensified, both sides accused of breaking a cease fire agreement brokered by Norway. The latest reports from Colombo say Sri Lankan army has captured the most crucial strong holds and political hubs of Tigers including Kilinochchi and Elephant Passé. This means Tigers have suffered a deadly setback for their agenda.
The leaders of Hamas and its supporters claim that Hamas is a legitimate fighting force defending Palestinians from a brutal military occupation. In Arabic, Hamas means “Islamic Resistance Movement”. According to Hamas, they have to get the privileges of an elected government. But Israel tries to block the freedom of Palestinians. They lost the free passage and every kind of mobility. They can cross the Gaza border only under the supervision of Israel army. The goods and medicines pass over the tunnels. All the roads are closed and huge metal walls have been built.
The Israeli’s version is that they attacked in order to stop the firing of rockets by Hamas into Israel. Israel wants to make sure Hamas does not replenish its arms cache. Israel declared that they do not want to hear any firing from Hamas. The Israeli attack began on December 27, 2008, not long after Hamas had announced that it would not renew a ceasefire that had started in June 2008. In Palestine, Hamas became a cause for the fierce battle between Israel and Gaza. One way, it can’t be called a battle. How it is possible to engage in a war with a weak nation?
When we dream for a new world with peaceful co-existence in the beginning of 2009, these two fighting has become a setback to our hope.
Whatever be the reasons behind the extreme movements, price is too high. Many innocent peoples lost their precious lives including hundreds of children. The terrible face of war reflected in the faces of young children! The innocent faces of the dead children become the tragic angle of every tragedy. Even the hard-hearted men can’t help but remain shocked at the cruel sights of battle field.
Whatever be the cause and nature of war and conflict, the result is horrific.
The nations are fighting on various grounds. Immeasurable energy and wealth is being lost for war and weaponry. While the fierce battle was going on, Hamas’ senior member, Osama Hamdan told this in a television interview: “If they continue the occupation, we will look for resistance measures that will be extreme.” There was a jihad’s tone in his word.
Despite having experienced the fierce bloodshed of hundreds of civilians and fully-aware of the power of one of the strongest army in the world, he expressed his emotion against invasion. He pointed out the miscreant attitude of the U.S, the latter allegedly backing Israel with arms and ammunition. The Arab world came forward against the massacre of hundreds of innocent civilians in Gaza. The Arab streets witnessed huge demonstrations against “Zionist “Israel. The Middle East nations questioned the human rights violation of Israeli authorities during the conflict. In the beginning Israel had promised that they would not attack civilians and their target was Hamas militants. But the development of attack was horrifying. Even residential areas and school were bombarded.
It was in 1948 that Israel was freed from British rule and the United Nations agreed and drafted an outline to form separate nations for Jews and Arabs in Palestine. While the plan was being discussed, Israel came forward and announced a self-styled free nation. Thus, the first conflict between Jews and Arabs began. As the result of the war, Israel captured all other regions of Palestine except Gaza and West Bank. Egypt and Jordan joined with Arabs in this war. Both the nations took over Gaza and West Bank respectively.
But in 1967, Middle East region witnessed another Arab-Israel war in which Gaza and West Bank came under control of Israel. Palestine Liberation Organization was created in 1964 with the aim of a free Palestine nation. In 1980, P.L.O and Israel recognized and approved each other. The peace move was appreciated by the international community.
As per the Oslo treaty, in 1983, peace initiatives became more powerful. As per the bilateral talks, Palestine would be treated as a free nation and Gaza and West Bank would be come under the Palestine authority. Fathah party, the political wing of P.L.O came into power in Gaza and West Bank.
But unfortunately Fatah party could not lead the government as per the expectation of the Palestinians. Hamas became more influential among the disappointed Arabs in Palestine. This reflected in the election held in 2006. Hamas won majority of votes and formed government in Gaza and West Bank. Fatah and Hamas jointly ruled Palestine in 2007. But dramatically Fatah leader Muhammad Abbas, who was elected directly, earlier, dissolved the government. Hamas, foreseeing a coup, formed a government in Gaza by force. West Bank continued under the rule of Fatah party.
Israel never recognized Hama’s victory. They tried to harass Palestine by imposing economic sanctions. On the other hand Hamas never recognized Israel as a nation. The lack of mutual recognition between Israel and Hamas has been making Gaza region a less pleasant place to live.
Both LTTE and Hamas have an option before them to reach a deal to cease-fire in the way of diplomatic dialogues. If Hamas stop firing of rockets and smuggling of arms across the border, Israel would consider the relaxation of blockade in Gaza strip and lifting of sanctions. Similarly, Sri Lankan government has been willing to offer more autonomy to the north and east, a package for Tamil. But LTTE has been demanding full-scale independence of these areas.
Many independent analysts have commented that the militant organizations leaders who have personal motives are the main obstacles to solving the issues. They want the problems of settlers and ethnicity persist for ever, to act their “role.” Tolerance, from both sides is the only way to resolve the various crisis’s.
