by Nicasio Angelo Agustin
Just as dusk often hides the beauty as well as the flaws of nature, Yemen seems to fade from the world’s view until an upsetting event there ignited global concern and attention. Before the Halloween, two so-called “parcel bombs” were discovered about to be sneaked aboard aircraft bound for America.
As reported in the news, the “attackers” hid the devices in ink cartridges inside computer printers and sent them by scheduled courier services from Sana’a, Yemen’s capital, addressed to synagogues in Chicago, USA. Intelligence reports theorized that the parcels might have been intended to explode en route, probably as the plane was landing. The al-Qaeda terror group was quickly pointed to as the most probable source.
One thing that worked well was the accuracy of the tip-off that prompted authorities to search for the bombs and eventually foiled a disaster reminiscent of the 9/11 World Trade Center. The inter-agency teamwork that located the devices in cargo sheds in Dubai and Britain was likewise a much commendable stride in global efforts of international counter-terrorism.
The plot, though perfectly and promptly blocked, has revived fears, worries and paranoia – at domestic, regional and global magnitudes. This only highlights the increasing capacity and resilience of the global network of terrorists and, at this time, the Yemeni branch (if there is such a thing). Yemen was never a high profile country that constituted a threat in global affairs; after all, it is one of the poorest and least developed countries in the Arabian peninsula. Yet, because of its location and terrain, it is perceived as an ideal haven for bandits, rebels and terrorists. In fact, Yemenis are known to have gained prominence in al-Qaeda since the 1990s. According to reports, Osama bin Laden is of Yemeni descent.
The belief that a Yemeni group of terrorists is gaining ground should set off the global security alarm. Yet, there is also the possibility that other networks and groups have their own grand design and schemes to stage a global uproar and disorder. This is exactly the message of the US and the more developed countries when they issued their call for vigilance against all forms of terrorism. In fact, as early as the first week of October 2010 and prior to the Yemen-related incident, the US and other countries like the United Kingdom, Japan and Sweden, had issued travel warnings to be extra-vigilant in Europe. This indicated that the alleged interceptions of explosives from Yemen in air-freight sheds were not isolated incidents but part of an ongoing global threat.
In the domestic front, we should not get offended when America and other countries have given out precautionary travel advisories to their citizens who are planning to travel to the country or those who are now in the country. Let us accept the fact that every nation – including the Philippines – can be a possible staging ground for terroristic activities, especially when such nation is weak in its security policies and enforcement. These travel advisories should rather be taken as eye-openers for our national leaders in Malacanang and Congress. We cannot blame other countries for how they look at the security level of the country; they are merely protecting their own people. What we can do is to correct the impression that they have of us – not by words, but by deeds.
Sending explosives by parcel post has a long and murky history, but nothing has been done to address it. On a more practical basis, action should be taken along the broader scope of international trade, particularly export and transshipment activities because it is there where the devil lurks. It involves three major actors – the police and military (particularly the Coast Guard), the Bureau of Customs, and the big industry players (the traders). Any of these could be used as entry point by terrorists to advance their murderous intent.
What the Philippines needs is an integrated export control system – a system to prevent non-state actors that attempt to acquire, use or transfer sensitive items like nuclear, chemical, biological weapons and their delivery system, which can be extremely dangerous if it falls into the wrong hands, especially in the diversion of dual-use goods and technology. This system would require not just armed military personnel, but advance technology to detect sensitive items even when these are still in transit to the Philippines. For instance, the Coast Guard should already have this for proper surveillance and detection of sensitive items in vessels about to enter our shores.
As a signatory to the United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1540, the Philippines is also mandated to take and enforce effective measures that will establish domestic control to prevent proliferation, including illicit trade, transfer or diversion of such very sensitive items and commodities that are of interest to terrorists and countries supporting terrorism.
Without a comprehensive export control system in place, the involvement of the Philippines – as a major transshipment hub in Asia – becomes highly probable even if the country does not produce any sensitive items.
Feel free to send your comments to nic_agustin@yahoo.com.
