Injustice at root of terror, says the UAE's ambassador to the UN

Terrorism will not be defeated until leaders tackle injustice, poverty and other factors that help fuel violent political dissent, says envoy.

NEW YORK // Terrorism will not be defeated until leaders tackle injustice, poverty and other factors that help fuel violent political dissent, the UAE's ambassador to the UN said yesterday. Ahmed al Jarman, who addressed the world body's sixth committee on legal affairs, said the Emirates had clamped down on everything from banking transactions to border security in its attempt to thwart organised terror networks. But leaders also needed to seek change on some of the root causes.

"Efforts have mainly focused on combating and pursing those who commit and organise terrorist actions and their sources of funding without achieving any mentionable progress in searching for the many root causes of these actions and that lead to terrorist activities," he said. Police in the UAE had fought drug traffickers, mercenary outfits, illegal arms dealers, smugglers and money launderers while working with overseas agencies to smash crime syndicates, he said.

A 2004 anti-terrorist law offers "stern punishments for those found guilty" and the Government has blocked funding to al Qa'eda and the Taliban while co-operating with international legislators and the UN Security Council. He urged the UN's other 191 members to address the "oppression, marginalisation and poverty - that lead to hatred and a desire for revenge". [e-mail]