Victims — They Are a World by Basil Fernando (A poem dedicated to all victims in the world, written on September 16 in response to September 11 tragedy in the United States) Baptized by horror bathed in the river of pain, victims newly roused to their depth humanity's only true spokes persons. Scientist, reformers, heroes, messiahs are nothing, till really understanding voices speaking from the depths, the victims They need no healing they are the healers doctors, heal yourselves listen to the truth from the mouths of victims. Victims knows no nation they are a world, they are the sea they are the skies Don't hide the victims do not hush their voices do not speak for them, let them speak to us all Power means nothing to victims victory means nothing to victims revenge means nothing to victims manipulating of such hollow words is sin. Seeing the worst of the worst they know what humanity has lost tasted bitterest of the bitter know the sweetness humanity has lost They are the enlightened they are the pure of heart they are givers of life to life only they can lead us to light.

Reflection on Terrorism and Counter-Terrorism
by Basil Fernando

September 24, 2001

Let me share briefly what happened to my own country, Sri Lanka, over a period of around 20 years, in the name of a battle between terrorism and counter-terrorism. This may be relevant as we hear talk of a prolonged war against terrorism these days. Mine are a private citizen’s observations.

Over the last twenty years, we have got used to hearing of similar incidents in our own country, though different in magnitude… despite changes in details, what I was seeing was something I have seen very many times before… There were no surprises for me.

May I relate this to how I have been coping with the news and information on the September 11 Tragedy in the United States? I heard of this incident just a few minutes after it happened. I was in Bangkok attending a conference on the International Criminal Court (ICC), an international treaty that, ironically, United States has refused to ratify. I watched the TV coverage continuously till the next morning, and during very many hours in the days since. This was not due to curiosity, but due to habit. Over the last twenty years, we have got used to hearing of similar incidents in our own country, though different in magnitude. I watched as you may have done, the scenes of the incident, listened to reports, commentators, politicians, priests and others. Above all, I watched intently the members of the victims’ families, carrying photos of loved ones, showing posters of them, talking to commentators and community workers, often crying. I also saw the good people trying to help. Further, I also saw the political and religious ceremonies and talk of theologians and military people. As I did that, I came to one realization: That despite changes in details, what I was seeing was something I have seen very many times before. It was as if I was reading a book that I had read over twenty times or more. There were no surprises for me. Psychologically, I was once again grappling with something that I have been familiar with for a long time.

The rhetoric of U.S. leaders who spoke of war, of sure enough victory, good and evil, friends and foe — how many times I have heard these things before! All that I noticed in their faces was confusion, as I have seen in the faces of successive leaders in my country. They tried to sound brave and united. It is always like that.

After twenty years, what has "terrorism and counter-terrorism" done to my country?

• All economic life has been seriously disrupted, including the air transport industry.
• It has virtually destroyed the spirit of the nation
• It has deeply and fundamentally divided the communities living in the country.
• It has made people cynical of the political establishment of the country and created alienation from the political process.
• Rule of law has collapsed to the point that an Appeal Court judge said recently that people resort to summary justice instead of resorting to courts.
• A whole generation of young people have grown up without knowing what peace means. This psychological impact on the young is the worst of all.

One firm conviction I have is that it is the private citizens that can really make a change. If they speak out their minds and if they intervene to assert what they think is right and wrong, there is hope for a transition to peaceful times.

And many other things. I want to stress that this is not only due to terrorism but due also to the so-called war on terrorism.

My country failed to address some of the fundamental problems — economic, political and social — which gave rise to armed conflicts. Even of late, many people have come to realize this. So there may still be some hope.

One firm conviction I have is that it is the private citizens that can really make a change. If they speak out their minds and if they intervene to assert what they think is right and wrong, there is hope for a transition to peaceful times. Uniformity and conformity leads to decadence, and decadence is no answer to the type of grave problems that throw up sad tragedies. I only hope that the present crisis will not result in the use of the same strategies that have failed us. I further hope that a wiser, more mature and humane solution may come out of the present crisis, and that this may also help all of us in different parts of world who have been trying to deal with this problem for a much longer time.

W. P. J. Basil Fernando is a Sri Lankan born in 1944, who has been active in human rights and social action issues continuously from his youth years. He has been the Executive Director of the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) and the Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC) from 1994 up to the present. His prior work includes practicing law at the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka with an emphasis in Criminal Law, Employment Law and Human Rights Law, and serving as a Senior United Nations Human Rights Officer under the UN Transitional Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC). He is the author of several books on human rights and several books of poems, and editor of the monthly magazine "Solidarity."