India-led UN body asks to adopt 'zero tolerance' to terrorism

From Yoshita Singh
United Nations, Sep 29 (PTI) An India-chaired Counter
Terrorism Committee of the UN Security Council has come out
with a document asking member nations to ensure
"zero-tolerance" towards terrorism by denying safe haven to
terrorists and bring to justice perpetrators of terror acts.
The document calls on member states to take urgent
action to prevent and combat terrorism in all its forms and
manifestations.
It was released at a special meeting here Thursday
commemorating the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the
Counter-Terrorism Committee.
The meeting also marked 10 years of Security Council
resolution 1373 (2001), adopted in response to the 9/11
attacks.
Addressing the meeting, UN Secretary General Ban
Ki-moon said a decade after 9/11, terrorism still remains a
"potent threat", with thousands losing their lives and
repeated attacks destabilising regional harmony.
India's Permanent Representaitve to the UN Hardeep
Singh Puri, who chairs the counter-terrorism committee, said
the Security Council resolution "brought increasing solidarity
and intensified dialogue among states concerning the threat
posed by international terrorism and the means to confront it
effectively."
Puri later told reporters that from only two states
that were signatories to all the 12 UN conventions relating to
terrorism as of September 11 2001, the number has now grown to
111.
Ensuring zero tolerance to terrorism will also require
nations to "prevent those who finance, plan, facilitate or
commit terrorist acts from using their territories for terror
acts against other nations and to deny safe haven to persons
engaged in these activities," Puri said.
The document asks nations to bring to justice
perpetrators of terror acts in particular noting the principle
of "extradite or prosecute" in accordance with international
law.
The nations should prevent movement of terrorists,
including the supply of weapons, through effective border
controls, ensure that funds for charitable purposes are not
diverted or utilised for terrorist purposes and develop
comprehensive strategies to effectively address the
conditions "conducive to the spread of terrorism including
radicalisation and recruitment for terrorism."
There is need also to enhance cooperation in
bringing terrorists to justice, including cooperation in their
investigation and prosecution.
The committee "reaffirms that any terrorist acts are
criminal and unjustifiable regardless of their motivations and
terrorism cannot and should not be associated with any
religion, nationality or ethnic group," it said.
The committee expressed concern that terrorism
continues to pose a "serious threat" to international peace
and security, as has been evident by recent attacks in various
regions of the world.
It also noted with concern the close connection
between terrorism and transnational organized crime,
including trafficking of illicit drugs, money-laundering,
illegal arms trafficking and illegal movement of nuclear,
chemical, biological and other potentially deadly materials.