IPU to propose anti-terror actions

Parliamentarians across the world believe that democratic practices can ensure development and social justice.

They also proposed that no member countries of Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) would finance or assist in any kind of militant and terrorism activities. 

IPU, the global forum of lawmakers, yesterday also said it would come up with an action-oriented proposal to enable the parliamentary community worldwide to combat terrorism and religious extremism.

Martin Chungong, IPU secretary general, disclosed the plan at a press briefing at the Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC) yesterday.

The action plan will be announced on the concluding day of five-day 136th IPU assembly that began on Saturday in Dhaka.

"Violent extremism is born out of frustration, out of inequality in the society, injustice, violation of human rights and lack of opportunity … so these are the things we are addressing in the strategy to combat terrorism and militancy.

"A series of actions that will help the global parliamentary community to prevent those things that lead to terrorism,” said Chungong.

He also said terrorism is the single most dangerous threat to stability, to peace in the world today. “It is a global phenomenon. Today no society is immune from terrorism; therefore, we need global solution.” 

Chungong said IPU would highlight an action-oriented proposal how parliaments could take practical action in national and international level to alleviate inequality and restore dignity of human being in all aspects of social, political and economic arena.

Pointing to the global phenomenon of terrorism and militancy, the IPU secretary general said, “We should not allow terrorism to occur before you do something about it.”

Taking part in debate titled “Role of parliament in preventing outside interference in the internal affairs of sovereign states”, Lebanese delegation proposed that no member country of IPU would finance or assist in terrorism activities.

Most of the member countries supported the Lebanese proposal, and it would be included in the final resolution, an IPU official said.

Talking to reporters after the debate at the BICC, Bangladesh Jatiya Sangsad MP Dipu Moni, who led the country's delegation to the programme, said all members of IPU took part in the debate and supported the proposal.

Dipu, also chief of the parliamentary standing committee on foreign affairs, said lawmakers of different countries at the discussion also focused on the MP's role in stopping financial or any sort of assistance to terrorism and militant activities.

In the debate of IPU's standing committee on democracy and human rights, the debate was on how institutions of democracy -- parliament, political parties and elections -- would change between now and 2030. 

It was also discussed how parliaments would work to increase the number of people in the society who believe in collaborative, participative, tolerant and transparent process of decision-making in a changing international environment and what parliaments should do in order to reinforce the idea of democratic diversity around the world.

A lawmaker of the United Arab Emirates said many governments across the world were facing challenges of globalisation.

"We have to take a vow to work for the enhancement of the political participation of all the citizens of the countries," he said.

He said the UAE has established “Ministry of Tolerance and Happiness” to strengthen the social cohesion and effectively ensure happiness of the citizens.

"We have to be tolerant throughout the world and we have to work to achieve social justice.”

In the debate, discussants stressed the need for holding free and fair elections and freedom of the press, and they urged the lawmakers to take effective steps to make the parliaments functional.

Kazi Firoz Rashid, an opposition lawmaker of Bangladesh, said Bangladesh was always sincere in protecting human rights, democracy and establishing the rule of law.

“Freedom of the press is essential for flourishing democracy and we have ensured it.”

A Ugandan lawmaker said repression of the minority was taking place across the world, and women were also being repressed. "Democracy and repression cannot walk together.”

A Palestinian lawmaker said people were being deprived of their rights due to weak democratic system.