CONTRIBUTION OF RELIGION, EXTREMISM, FOREIGN POLICY TO TERRORISM –A CASE OF JULY 11 TERROR ATTACKS IN UGANDA

Jacob Waiswa
Situation Health Analyst
Dishma-Inc.
P.O. Box 8885,
Kampala-Uganda
Tel. +256392614655/+256752542504
dishma.imhs@gmail.com
www.situationhealthanalysis.blogspot.com


The term terrorism means something different to different people. It all depends on the user of the word. The common usage of the term as reported from war-affected or insurgent-affected countries in reference to one's enemy in an attempt to demonetize him or her. For example, the Libyan president's (Muammar Gadaffi) reference to rebels fighters in his country as terrorist sent by Al Qaeda's leader Osama Bin Laden (RIP).

The general understanding of the term is in reference to acts by militant groups to create fear among their target population. In his presentation to the graduate peace and conflict class the army spokesman (Uganda People's Defense Forces) Lt. Col. Felix Kulayigye stressed that the main aim of the terrorist is to instill fear and gain recognition by taking advantage of soft targets.

What could not be ascertained from him was whether the security agents’ killing of unarmed civilians during the recent protests against the mistreatment of the main opposition leader Dr. Kizza Besigye was not alone terrorism.

Extremism is the tendency to think and act beyond the ordinary. Extremists have extreme views and act in line with such views. While some sources claim that extremism is the extreme of undesirable or evil act, it can also be so much of doing the good only.

Foreign policy is mode of operation a given country adopts in its relationship with another country aimed at championing its interests. Religion has been widely fronted as agent of terrorism.

Within it, individuals can be less involved, moderate or extreme in the practice of its ideals while in some countries like Indonesia, Cambodia, Vietnam, India, Italy, Iran, Syria, Israel etc, religion is a national language –where foreign policy must be based on it (religion).

On July 11, 2010, an estimated 76 Ugandans died following bomb attacks believed to have been coordinated by the Al Shabaab Islamic group in Somalia. There was no link of terrorism and religion with majority expressions showing no (64%) against yes (30%) and others (6%).

This refutes the view that Islam, Buddhism, Catholicism and others are agents of evil acts of terrorism. In both ways religion can be both ugly and positively rewarding in peace-building, for example, it can respond positively towards peace-building efforts –through forgiveness, restoration, healing and transform them people from viewing it as personal faith to community level wellbeing.

Extremism was greatly attributed to the incidences of terrorism attacks –with its tendencies being yes (84%), no (1%) and other factors (15%). An example of intolerance and extremism is the killing of Iraqi Christians: 3 killed and 20 more injured in the continued attack on helpless minority –as was reported last year by the BBC. There are different or other causes of terrorism that can be attributed to the July 11, 2010 bomb attacks in Uganda.

Foreign occupation by another country compromises national sovereignty. Affected countries will in an opportune time and space rise against foreign dominion. Until to day, Israel occupation of Palestine has been a source of conflict. Some observers identify Palestine-Israel conflict as the heart of terrorism in the world today.

At a psychological trauma conference in Nairobi July 4th to 10th 2010, the Somali satellite group expressed their horrible terror experience in Somalia –and sealed that by calling on foreign states fighting in Somalia to vacate their country –suggesting that they had indigenous means to resolve the conflict between themselves through clan leaders. Several other appeals had been made by Somalis and a section of Islamic leaders protesting Uganda's presence in Somalia. A few days later, Bombs struck Kampala.

The idea of resorting to indigenous peace making approach was thus a marketable idea –as the complexity of clan issues (conflict) can hardly be comprehended by foreign governments, but by Somalis themselves. However, Felix Kulayigye underestimated the power of indigenous conflict resolution mechanism that, conflict was raging on in Somalia without it coming into play.

Despite Kulayigyes assertion, it is important to note here that no peace making activities can take place without a ceasefire. Somalia has been drowned into a civil war since the down fall of Siad Barre regime. And between then and now, there has been no clear emphasis on traditional approaches, but a battle ground of foreign interests and imported wars.

If a ceasefire is negotiated and indigenous approach well facilitated by international community rather emphasis of military intervention, the ethnic complexity can be diffused to bring civility back to Somalia.

The process would entail the evaluation of the 2004 peace agreement for any loopholes like the tendency of some regional powers (for example; Ethiopia and Eritrea) taking side or supporting key factions in Somalia. Ethiopian and Eritrea actions in Somalia were an extended war between themselves in a foreign country.

A civil war in a given country can have spill over effects on a wider geographical area. It had been conceived that the war-plagued environment of Somalia was attractive to international terrorist organizations like the Al Qaeda -who could strike at any country anytime.

Kulayigye linked the terrorist presence in Somalia to the 1998 Nairobi bombings. And that, by helping pacify Somalia, the great lakes region will be at peace. Indeed militarists look for perceived threat -even where it is non-existent. If every country behaved like Uganda, then every entity would be at war with each other by a strike of mere imagination of a threat.

But before Uganda's entry in Somalia, there were no terrorist attacks linked to Somalia. Those that happened in late 1990s and early 2000s were only linked to the Allied Democratic Front (ADF) and the lord’s resistance army (LRA). The Somali linked terror attacks only took place after weeks of clear warnings and appeals for Uganda to end their presence in Somalia.

Indeed, the contagion factor can not be taken lightly -even in regards to other cases of violence elsewhere; an isolated case of violence or terrorism can spread to become a serious civil war. An example of a potentially contagious matter is the formerly individual walk-to-work protest by Dr. Besigye, then violence, could with time become seriously national-wide violent protest and claim lots of lives from the ruthless national security agencies in Uganda.

The protests will in the first case demystify government wrath in violently 'solving' the political and economic crises and winning a point for protesters to turn violent protests into a norm and as a means of 'conflict resolution' applicable elsewhere. Contagion of terrorism is thus a factor that has facilitated scenes of terrorism elsewhere in the world -including the July 11th 2010 Kampala bombing.

Unemployed and ambitious young people have been lured into terrorist activities upon being promised either money or better life after death away from uncertain future. Once poverty and indoctrination are married on one hand, and powerful ambitions and indoctrination on another, a powerful terror spirit can be created. The Ugandan youngsters –who bombed Kampala had been promised an equivalent $250 Uganda Shillings per month.

From the information fed to the suspects there was a clear indication that such information is packaged in a way that convinces the executioner that life would be better than the current. In his confession to the Ugandan press one of the terror suspects (Idris Nsubuga) revealed that by answering a phone call (that triggered the bomb blast) his life will never be the same. In his words he said, "I thought by answering this call my life would be better," he said. "But it changed it entirely -- I've never been the same since then.”

Unsuspecting youngsters are taken advantage of in the name of religion to carry out acts of terror, Issa Ahmed Luyima a much more senior member of the Al-Shabaab found it easier to recruit his young brother (Haruna Hassan Luyima) than any Ugandan outside his kinship -as they could be suspecting enough to foil his terror plan. He was quoted in the Ugandan media saying, “I did not want to work with my brother but recruiting other people was very risky, so I manipulated him.”

In another media statement that reinforces the terrorist organizations' act of indoctrinating young people into terror activities, the inspector general of police was quoted saying, “The eight Pakistanis arrested preaching in Pallisa were initially in Kasese recruiting children and indoctrinating them in Madarasa (Koran schools). The next thing, they were in Pallisa without documents.”

Extremism in religious organizations was the critical contributor to terrorism showed by yes (84%), no (1%) and other factors (15%) against religion at yes (30%), no (64%) and other factors (6%), and foreign policy at yes (28%), no (58%) and other factors (14%).

It is therefore pertinent for religions and other ideologists to preach tolerance and promote diversity, as the media plays the role of creating a human spirit -across religious and cultural spectrum.

Much as security involvement in terror prevention is invisible, there is huge evidence that they monitor every person’s activity in the country. This is very evident on international journeys –where each carrier an operative to monitor movements of those they are suspicious of –if not all the Ugandans. Tracking phones is fully in force and puts every Ugandan mindset under a security verification microscopy.