Terror attack

GRIM news of insurgency and terror attacks are thrust onto international headlines every day. Although modernization demolishes geographical barriers and moves the world toward an amalgamated economy, clashes among cultures continue to have a damaging impact on world peace and security. Because of cross-cultural ignorance, the essence of civilization is compromised.
In one senseless act of violence, 49 people were shot to death and 53 more were injured after a gunman went on a shooting rampage inside a popular gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida last Sunday, June 12.
Details about the worst mass shooting in American history revealed that the gunman, 29-year-old Omar Marteen, had claimed allegiance to the Islamic State and that the bloodbath was fueled by his hatred of gays.
The Associated Press reported that the gunman was wielding an AR-15-style semi-automatic rifle and a handgun as he opened fire at the club in a three-hour shooting rampage and hostage siege that ended with a SWAT team killing him.
Pres. Barack Obama has condemned the apparent terror attack and vowed to counter extremist ideology.
“Our hearts go out to the families of those who have been killed. Our prayers go to those who have been wounded. This is a devastating attack on all Americans. It is one that is particularly painful for the people of Orlando, but I think we all recognize that this could have happened anywhere in this country,” Obama said. “And we feel enormous solidarity and grief on behalf of the families that have been affected.”
“It’s a reminder that regardless of race, religion, faith or sexual orientation, we’re all Americans, and we need to be looking after each other and protecting each other at all times in the face of this kind of terrible act.”
While there the suspect has no direct link to the Islamic State, Obama pointed out “ this kind of propaganda and perversions of Islam that you see generated on the Internet, and the capacity for that to seep into the minds of troubled individuals or weak individuals, and seeing them motivated then to take actions against people here in the United States and elsewhere in the world that are tragic.”
To counter terrorism, he vowed to after known terrorist organizations and “hit them hard.”
The Philippines is no stranger to this kind of conflict. Since the 1960s, armed conflicts have persisted in the Mindanao. Major fronts such as the New Peoples Army (NPA), the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and Abu Sayyaf have long fought for communist insurgency in the region, leaving national reconciliation as still an ultimate goal for its government.
The prevailing discord in Mindanao stems from what Moros believe as historical and continuing injustice committed against them, resulting in a majority-minority relationship that manifests itself in underdevelopment and dispossession in Muslim areas.
Just recently, the Abu Sayyaf has been involved in an alarming atrocity after it was confirmed that it has beheaded a Canadian hostage after a ransom was not met. The Philippines and Canada have condemned the killing of Canadian Robert Hall, whose head was recovered in front of the Jolo Cathedral in Sulu on Monday, June 13. Hall is among four people who were abducted at a resort on Samal island late last year.
Hall was the second victim beheaded by the bandits. Canadian John Ridsdel was killed in April after a P300-million ransom was not met.
“The vicious and brutal actions of the hostage-takers have led to a needless death. Canada holds the terrorist group who took him hostage fully responsible for this cold-blooded and senseless murder,” Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said as he expressed outrage over the incident.
People behind such terror attacks must be reminded that it took millions of lives, thousands of years and hundreds of wars to achieve some sense of international order. While there is a lack of a comprehensive data on the total number of people affected and resources lost or destroyed as a result of these conflicts, reported estimates have been disturbing.
In this turbulent times, It is easy to aggregate power and instigate war. To foster peace and security remains the world’s formidable challenge and greatest hope for its citizens. This goal must be initiated through mutual respect and humanitarian resolve. (AJPress)