GLOBAL SECURITY AFTER THE ATTACK ON AMERICA

convened at the Open Forum held on 18th September at Safari Park Hotel, Nairobi

We, the African scholars, researchers, academics, practitioners and others from Africa and the diaspora who attended the Open Forum, organized as a special event during African Conference on Sustainable Development, Governance and Globalization, held in Nairobi, (September 17-19, 2001), organized by Heinrich Boll Foundation (Regional Office for East and Horn of Africa), African Academy of Sciences, Africa Peace Forum and Mazingira Institute:

STRONGLY CONDEMN AND ABHOR the attack in America (on the World Trade Centre and the Pentagon) causing the reckless destruction of life and property by persons yet unidentified; and as Africans, we stand for a humane, just, fair and democratic world order and community that promotes and defends the sanctity of human life and dignity everywhere.

1. We therefore support the United Nations Secretary General, Mr. Kofi Annan, in his condemnation of this incident while at the same time calling for restraint on the part of the US government and its European allies in NATO and elsewhere, not to take any military retaliation that may precipitate a vicious cycle of violence, more acts of terrorism and probably another world war.

2. We call upon the world community, particularly the United Nations, to convene an International Convention on “global security and terrorism” in which civil society should be involved fully. This convention would discuss the causes of terrorism -- both individual (or spontaneous) and state terrorism; how it can be controlled or eliminated; and the establishment of an independent judicial system to ensure that all governments adhere to this convention and follow proper legal procedures in dealing with acts of terrorism and terrorists.

3. We reiterate that, since the Second World War, acts of terrorism have increased principally as offshoots of “theatres of wars and conflicts” in which the super powers have been supporting oppressive states against popular struggles for national liberation and democracy. Those who commit acts of terror are, quite often, people who feel “pushed to the wall” and need to call attention to their frustration and despair through acts of terror against soft spots. As the poet Dylan Thomas once wrote:
“Doeth a bird
Deprived of wings
Go earthbound wilfully?”

4. In this regard, we call upon the United States government to effectively address the resolution of the Middle East and other similar crises and to understand that no military approach alone (including state terrorism) will ever be successful. Such approaches will only fuel more acts of terror as witnessed on the tragic day of 11th September in New York, Washington DC and rural Pennsylvania. A political settlement, which is acceptable to all parties affected by the tragic crisis is the way to a viable and sustainable settlement.

5. In the meantime, we call upon the United States government, and all member states of the United Nations to establish an independent International Court to judge the perpetrators of the violence, in accordance with the standards of civilized justice, so that justice may be seen to be done.

Signed, Nairobi 19th September 2001, on behalf of the African Group:

African Academy of Sciences Africa Peace Forum Mazingira Institute
Prof. Anyang Nyong’o Amb. Bethuel Kiplagat Davinder Lamba