Garth Rattray UNFORTUNATELY, I was not aware of the January 29, 2004, forum at the Fellowship Tabernacle Church sponsored by Campaign for Global Justice and the newly created Coalition for the Withdrawal of the Terrorism Bill. Some of the reported sentiments expressed at the meeting were not entirely well-thinking and came across as anti-American political rhetoric. I am particularly concerned by statements attributed to Senator Bruce Golding, Chairman of the Opposition Jamaica Labour Party, Opposition spokesman on foreign affairs and aspirant to the post of Prime Minister of Jamaica.
Speaking to the Anti-terrorism Act he said, "I don't believe that there are any terrorists in the world who hold such a grudge against Jamaica". He is also reported in the Observer as saying, "A draconian anti-terror bill proposed by the government is not needed because terrorists would have no reason to attack Jamaica, although they may well have had understandable reasons for attacking the US on September 11, 2001".
True, in its original form, the proposed Anti-Terrorism Bill was draconian, oppressive, dangerous and reeked of iron-fisted authoritarianism. Even the U.S. Patriot Act, born out of the events of September 11, 2001, has come under severe criticism and has been branded as unconstitutional by many legal minds within that country. No government should be given such latitude of investigation, prosecution and indefinite detention based on flimsy, often times circumstantial evidence. It opens the door for any administration to carry out politically motivated oppression disguised as "anti-terrorist policing".
Under the original Act you could be prosecuted and sentenced to life in prison for innocently associating with current or future so-called terrorists. Anyone who blocked the access to any public road or private facility committed a terrorist act. I won't go into the many ways that you could be investigated for trivial reasons without your knowledge because I have already made my concerns known publicly and submitted them to Parliament in writing. I hope that they may at least inspire some proponents and debaters of the Bill to consider the dire consequences of such legislation.
PERSPECTIVE
But Mr. Golding (a potential Prime Minister) needs to keep things in perspective. We all need to look at the big picture. No one is safe from terrorists. They are warped individuals who will stop at nothing to achieve their goals. Anyone who recruits innocent impressionable young men, women and children to commit suicide, mass murder and mayhem in the name of God (Allah) is twisted beyond description. They target any country, and hold grudges against those that associate with the United States, the object of their loathing. Terrorists are at war with everyone, even those not in the "big-league game".
It is wrong to rationalise terrorist activities because they are the result of malicious, malevolent and evil minds. There can never be "understandable reasons" for terrorism; it is always unjustifiable and inexcusable. We all know that America has made and is still making horrible blunders in her relationship with the rest of the world but the fact remains that terrorism is not the answer and we are all potential targets of the depraved people that carry out such acts.
Resorts are not immune to terrorist attacks. On October 12, 2002 nearly 200 people were killed and more than 300 injured, including foreigners, in a series of terrorist bomb blasts at the Sari Club in Bali, Indonesia's popular resort island. The incident caught the island totally unprepared, no one expected trouble in paradise. Such an event here would annihilate our tourist industry and plunge us into unimaginable poverty. With this in mind, there is an obvious need to put in place some sort of legislation to dissuade, monitor, investigate and indict terrorists but this law must tread the thin line between protecting our innocent citizens and persecuting them. It must have numerous in-built checks and balances.
It's not that we are going to kow-tow to the American government but since we invite and welcome them here, we have a responsibility to protect our guests. I wouldn't blame them for "marrying" travel advisories with anti-terrorist preparedness. The Anti-terrorism Act needs extensive remodelling not total withdrawal.
Dr. Garth A. Rattray is a medical doctor with a family practice.
