An investigating journalist found out that in 1997, there were “only four countries where a sustain campaign of suicide attack had taken place.” But in 2008-just eleven years after, the same researcher wrote that “more than thirty countries located in every continent save for Australia and Antarctica have experienced devastating consequences of suicide attacks.” He concluded that such attacks are “executed by more and more organizations who kill a great number of people every year.”- The Globalisation of Martyrdom
I listened keenly to Jacob a white South African born man living in Namibia. I will not forget the Monday morning at the post office reflected Jacob, “the place was jam-packed with people, I saw a suspicious bag left unattended nearby. I collected my mails and left. After driving for about three minutes, I heard a tremendous blast. I later learned that a bomb had exploded a few metres from where I was standing.”
To realize latter that innocent people, a number of whom I knew where blown to pieces was a great shock. I still shudder today anytime I remembered the incidence even though this occurred over 25 years ago. At times I have recollections of the carnage I latter saw and realize how close to death I came.
You may never had come closed to the situation Jacob explained above but had likely heard of similar incidence occurring around the world. Many group of people are resorting to violence, usually called terrorist acts to achieve their aim.
The groups which usually take responsibility for terrorist acts usually consider themselves as freedom fighters. They are either striving to gain independence form the government that ruled their country or trying to protect their religious beliefs and so on.
Beani was born in Zambia but grew up in a refugee camp in a nearby country. He was furious at the brutal and unfair way his family and others had been treated, so he joined the militant group his parents belong.
The prevalence of violence all over had made it commonplace of seeing very many children growing up in the refugee camps. The saddest part of the issue is the emotional impact of growing up in a refugee camp. Children are torn from their mothers, fathers and siblings. The older ones are off fighting. Many never returned, children never see their fathers, not even in a photo. All they knew was that they died fighting. The emotional scars remain with them all through their life time and many end up joining the militant groups their parents belong.
The issue of terrorism is obviously a complex one. Having a better understanding of it will help to realize what has to be done if mankind is ever to see a world free of violence and terrorism.
