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The Hon. = Alexander=20 Downer, MP
MINISTER FOR = FOREIGN=20 AFFAIRS, AUSTRALIA

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Speech

At the CSCAP General Conference, Jakarta

8 December 2003

=E2=80=9CThe Campaign Against Terror: Winning the Battle of = Ideas=E2=80=9D

Introduction

Ladies and Gentlemen.

It is a great pleasure to be here today at the general conference of = the=20 Council for Security Cooperation in the Asia Pacific.

At a time of great challenge in the region, the exchanges which CSCAP = promotes between officials, academics and commentators on regional = security are=20 particularly valuable.

Today I wanted to provide something of an introduction to the next = couple of=20 sessions of the conference. The subjects we will be discussing are = counter-terrorism and the role of Islam in the region.

Of course, consideration of the role of Islam in the region obviously = encompasses a lot more than the terrorist fringe that has perpetrated = acts of=20 violence in the name of Islam.

Indeed one of the things that I would like to do today is to = highlight the=20 important distinction that the Australian Government makes between = terrorism and=20 Islam in the region.

At the same time I also want to consider ways in which I believe that = we must=20 prosecute the war on terror in the region; in particular the important = role that=20 regional cooperation plays in our efforts to defeat this scourge.

And finally I wanted to take this unique opportunity, bringing = together=20 security academics and scholars of Islam, to pose some questions about = the=20 relationship between Islam and the West; to discuss, and to seek your = views, on=20 how we can not only defeat the terrorists but the ideas they propagate = as=20 well.

Not a war against Islam

In deciding how to fight terror it is important, as a matter of first = principles, to understand who we are fighting =E2=80=93 and indeed, who = we are not.

The multi-dimensional campaign we are waging against terror is not a = war=20 against Muslims or against Islam.

It is a statement that has been made often enough by the = spokespersons of the=20 so-called West =E2=80=93 myself included. It is, in fact, a = statement of the=20 obvious.

But it is clear that this is still treated with some scepticism in = parts of=20 the Islamic world. And in the West there are still some people who = misguidedly associate Islam with the terrorists that misappropriate the=20 religion.

I wanted, therefore, to spend a bit of time on this proposition = exploring=20 why, to borrow Samuel Huntington=E2=80=99s often-used =E2=80=93 and to = my mind, over-used =E2=80=93=20 characterisation, our efforts to combat terrorism are not symptomatic of = a clash=20 of civilisations.

Two reason stand out. Firstly, and most obviously, there is a = clear=20 distinction between the vast majority of Muslims and the very small = minority=20 that carry out indiscriminate destruction in the name of = Islam.

In Australia today Muslims are an integral part of our diverse, = modern=20 society. The overwhelming majority of Australian Muslims are = peaceful and=20 law-abiding.

Indeed they have enriched our nation through vital contributions in a = variety=20 of fields, from culture and education to business and sport.

The Islamic eduction system in Australia coexists happily and = effectively=20 with the mainstream education system. Today there are about ten = Islamic=20 primary schools in Australia and a further 11 primary and secondary = combined=20 schools that produce students grounded in both the tenets of their faith = and the=20 vocational skills necessary for them to make their way in the world.

Today there are approximately 100 mosques in Australia, mainly in New = South=20 Wales and Victoria, that are central to the religious, cultural and = social lives=20 of their communities. Indeed, underlining how far back the Islamic = tradition goes in Australia, our very first mosque was built at Marree = in=20 northern South Australia in 1861.

Islam is, of course, rather older in South East Asia. Islamic=20 influences date back to the 14^th century.

Clearly, however, recent decades have witnessed a growing Islamic = identity or=20 affiliation in the region. We have, for example, seen a greater = observance=20 of Islamic practices and dress codes, particularly among young = Muslims. =20 And Islamic organizations have become increasingly prominent and active = on=20 university campuses and in politics more generally.

It is critical, however, that we not confuse this growing Islamic = observance=20 in the region with the emergence of terrorist groups such as Jema'ah=20 Islamiyya.

The Bali bomber Amrozi no more represents the majority of Muslims in = South=20 East Asia than Osama Bin Laden represents the majority of Muslims in the = Arab=20 world.

Indeed we have seen the positive role that Islamic political and = social=20 organisations play in the countries of the region.

In Indonesia, its two largest Islamic organisations, Muhamadiyyah and = NU were=20 central to the successful transition to democracy.

They also play critical roles in the provision of welfare to, and the = development of, their fellow citizens; through, for example, the = provision of=20 family planning advice and counselling, through their medical clinics = and=20 through their education system.

The second, and again fairly obvious reason why the campaign on = terror is not=20 a war against Islam, is because Muslims are as much the victims of the=20 terrorists as non-Muslims.

There is no denying that a strong current of anti-western sentiment = lies at=20 the core of beliefs propounded by the terrorist groups Al-Qaeda and = Jema=E2=80=99ah=20 Islamiyya. And it is true that this can resonate with a = strong body=20 of popular anti-western sentiment in some Muslim = countries.

Indeed it is only natural that our outlooks will sometimes be = different =E2=80=93=20 though it is of concern when these perceptions differ as a result of=20 misunderstandings.

But where these divergences really concern us is at the point at = which they=20 become the basis for violence and intolerance. In these situations = it is=20 not just the West that is under threat, but also Muslims and = Islam.

Whether it is from the terrorist=E2=80=99s vision of building = Taleban-style=20 theocracies in moderate Muslim countries; or indeed from the human and = economic=20 costs of terrorism.

Thirty eight Indonesians were killed in the Bali bombing of 12 = October 2002,=20 and eleven in the Marriott hotel bombing on 5 August 2003 =E2=80=93 = among them many=20 Indonesian Muslims. The Bali bombing alone is estimated to have = taken 1.5=20 per cent off Indonesia=E2=80=99s GDP =E2=80=93 something which impacts = on all Indonesians.

Globally, Muslims were among the victims on September 11; they were=20 predominantly the victims of recent terror attacks in Saudi Arabia and=20 Turkey. And we have seen the significant impact terrorism has had = on=20 tourism-dependent economies in the Middle East.

All of this serves to underline that what we face today is not some = new clash=20 between civilisations; or a war between the West and Islam. It is = simply=20 the age-old clash between the mainstream and a violent = minority=E2=80=A6=E2=80=A6between=20 tolerance and intolerance=E2=80=A6 between those who uphold the = integrity of their faith=20 and those prepared to kill innocents in its name.

Fighting the extremists

How then should we fight this war? What are the most effective = ways of=20 responding to the senseless brutality of the terrorists?

Our first priority must be to defeat the terrorists. The recent = tragic=20 bombings in Istanbul highlighted that we are indeed in a race against = time to=20 prevent terrorists indiscriminately killing yet more = innocents.

And this means using our law enforcement, intelligence and security=20 capabilities to track and arrest terrorists and disrupt terrorist=20 networks.

But critically, it also means enhancing international cooperation to = ensure=20 the terrorists are defeated. No country can combat terrorism on = its own =E2=80=93=20 particularly when terrorists are able exploit the enhanced = communications and=20 travel afforded by globalisation.

Muslim and non-Muslim countries have already shown they can be = effective=20 allies in the fight against terror. Indeed we could not have made = the=20 progress we have so far had it not been for this cooperation.

Today some 3,000 terrorist suspects have been detained in more than = 90=20 countries and entire Al-Qaeda cells have been disrupted on every=20 continent. Nearly US$200 million in terrorist assets have = been=20 frozen or seized.

In our own region some 200 Jema=E2=80=99ah Islamiyya suspects have = been detained; key=20 figures like Hambali and Al-Ghozi are no longer at large.

And of course many of those involved in the Bali bombings are now = behind bars=20 thanks to the extremely effective work of the Indonesian police and = security=20 services.

But it is not enough for us to simply respond to terror attacks when = they=20 happen. The focus must be on prevention; the citizens of our = countries=20 demand nothing less.

And this must be a multi-dimensional effort. From our efforts = to=20 strengthen border and transport security=E2=80=A6=E2=80=A6to the work = being done to track and=20 disrupt sources of terrorist finance=E2=80=A6to greater political = coordination between=20 regional Governments to provide a framework for practical = cooperation.

With respect to the latter we have already seen very good work done = through=20 the ASEAN Regional Forum and APEC. Last December we saw a highly=20 successful regional conference on money laundering and terrorist = financing=20 co-hosted by the Indonesian and Australian Governments in Bali.

And next February, Dr Hassan Wirajuda and I have agreed to co-host a = regional=20 ministerial meeting, again in Bali, to consider ways of strengthening=20 counter-terrorism cooperation in South East Asia.

This meeting will be an excellent opportunity to review our efforts = to combat=20 terror so far, and to see if there is anything more that we could be = doing to=20 protect our citizens from future terror attacks.

At the same time, we need to keep our counter-terrorism cooperation = in=20 perspective; we need to maintain some balance in our bilateral = relationships and=20 not view them exclusively through the prism of the campaign against = terror.

We do have a shared interest in combating terrorism. But our = efforts to=20 defeat terrorism should not define our relations. For its part the = Australian Government will continue working extremely hard to maintain = and=20 further develop political, economic and people-to-people linkages with = the=20 countries of the region.

Winning the battle of ideas

The campaign against terror cannot, however, just be fought on the = law and=20 order and security front.

If we are to defeat the terrorists arresting them and disrupting = their=20 networks will not, on its own, suffice. We must also ensure that = the=20 actions and ideas of the terrorists do not resonate with a wider = audience.

Let me be clear about what I am saying here. I am not a = proponent of=20 the idea that terrorism has so called =E2=80=9Croot causes=E2=80=9D that = are easily identifiable=20 and resolvable; both as a matter of principle, but also for more = practical=20 reasons.

As a matter of principle I refuse to accept that anything justifies = or=20 legitimises the killing of innocents. We must be resolute in our = actions=20 and our words and make it completely clear that even if one=E2=80=99s = cause is just,=20 pursuing it through indiscriminate murder will never be acceptable.

From a practical perspective the root causes argument also fails to=20 acknowledge that it is impossible to know what motivates an individual = to commit=20 murder.

The vagaries of an individual=E2=80=99s psychology, their political = views, their=20 economic or social background can all contribute in different = ways.

For example, I do not believe that poverty is the cause of = terrorism. =20 As we have seen with Al-Qaeda, terrorists come from all backgrounds, = rich and=20 poor; Osama bin Laden came from one of Saudi Arabia=E2=80=99s richest = families. =20 And in South East Jema=E2=80=99ah Islamiyya bomb-maker, Dr Azahari, came = from a =20 comfortable, educated background.

Nonetheless, it is vital that we do not allow those ideas by which = terrorists=20 justify their actions to go un-challenged. Nor should we ignore = some of=20 the conditions which might be conducive to the growth of terrorism.

We must ensure that, to the wider audience to which terrorists play, = there=20 are alternatives to the politics of despair.

There are a number of things we can do. I want to suggest three = today.

Firstly, we need to do more to break down mistrust and = misunderstanding=20 between Muslim and non-Muslim societies. We need to build bridges = of=20 understanding.

The Australia-Indonesia Institute (AII) is, for example, taking an = active=20 role in promoting understanding through its Inter-faith Program, which=20 encourages contact between our countries=E2=80=99 Islamic and Christian=20 organisations.

Earlier this year we formed a Council for Australian Arab relations = to=20 promote economic, political, cultural and social links with Arab=20 countries. It too will help build greater understanding between = Australia=20 and Muslim communities in the Middle East.

And in small ways the Australian parliament has tried to build = understanding=20 between Muslims and non-Muslims.

Recently parliamentary collegues held a cross-party dinner in = Parliament=20 House for representatives of the Muslim faith from NSW, Victoria and the = ACT to=20 celebrate the end of Ramadan. The traditional =E2=80=9Ccall to = prayer=E2=80=9D or Adhan by=20 a spiritual leader was sung over the microphone - possibly for the first = time=20 ever within the Parliament - and there was a recital from the holy = Qur=E2=80=99an.

Secondly, working with the developing world to grasp the economic=20 opportunities afforded by globalisation =E2=80=93 important in and of = itself =E2=80=93 will also=20 help us win the battle of ideas with the extremists.

There is no doubt that the terrorists exploit the sense of = dislocation and=20 loss of control that often accompanies globalisation. And the = radical=20 teaching they provide as a placebo to modernity not only encourages = hatred but=20 leaves their students ill-equipped to succeed in modernising = societies.

Open economies, strong institutions, sound governance and effective = education=20 systems are all critical to a country=E2=80=99s ability to participate = fully in the=20 global marketplace and to translate that into jobs and wealth for its=20 citizens.

And this financial year Australia is spending around $370 million in = support=20 of governance programs working in cooperation with regional governments = to=20 ensure all segments of their societies are able to grasp the economic=20 opportunities afforded by globalisation.

Thirdly, the Muslim mainstream must not cede the agenda to the=20 terrorists. It must speak up =E2=80=93 as it has since September = 11 =E2=80=93 to condemn=20 terrorism unequivocally.

And not because we in the West ask you to, but because it is critical = to=20 efforts to stop violence directed against Muslims and non-Muslims = alike.

At stake is not just the lives of our people and the future of our = countries,=20 but Islam itself as practised by the majority of the world=E2=80=99s = Muslims; strong in=20 its faith, proud in its traditions, and willing to engage with people of = other=20 religions and cultures on the basis of mutual respect.

The West has a role in this regard =E2=80=93 though I acknowledge = that this is=20 sensitive issue and I am keen to hear from others today about the best = role the=20 West can play.

Clearly, there are things that we can all do to ease some of the = mistrust=20 between the Muslim and non-Muslim worlds. The search for peace in = the=20 Middle East is important, first and foremost, in and of itself. = September=20 11 did not make it more urgent =E2=80=93 it was already so.

But there is no denying that peace in the Middle East would also help = us to=20 win the battle of ideas with the extremists, as will our efforts to = build a=20 stable, prosperous and democratic Iraq.

I recognise, however, that there are difficulties for Western = countries posed=20 by being seen to intrude in the debate within Islam or in being too = supportive=20 of mainstream Islamist groups. And I know that the terrorists are = adept at=20 exploiting the significant distrust of the West=E2=80=99s intentions = even amongst the=20 general population to disparage moderate Muslims as lackeys and=20 apologists.

As I have already said I am keen to hear from others today about the=20 appropriate role the West can play. I certainly don=E2=80=99t = pretend to have all=20 the answers.

Conclusion

Just as we cooperate in efforts to combat the terrorists, Muslims and = non-Muslims must work together to find ways to combat the = terrorist=E2=80=99s=20 ideas. In this our interests and our principles = converge.

In Indonesia and Australia, Muslims and Christians, and indeed those = of other=20 faiths, live comfortably together and share values and beliefs. We = have a=20 role and a responsibility to examine ways to further strengthen that=20 co-existence, in our own countries and in the region.