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University of Otago academics discussing the safety of the public post-bin Laden are (from left) panel chairman Prof Murray Rae and panel members Prof Robert Patman, Prof Kevin Clements, Dr Maryam Purvis and Prof Andrew Bradstock during a public forum at Allen Hall last night. Photos by Jane Dawber. |
The world is no safer even though Osama bin Laden is dead -
that is consensus of three University of Otago academics at a
public forum yesterday.
Politics Prof Robert Patman, Centre for Peace and Conflict
Studies director Prof Kevin Clements, Centre for Theology and
Public Issues Prof Andrew Bradstock, and Information Science
Department lecturer Dr Maryam Purvis discussed whether the
death of bin Laden was "a turning point in building a safer
world".
The forum was held at Allen Hall Theatre before about 150
people.
Iranian-born Dr Purvis said she had researched many of the
world's leaders and their response to bin Laden's death.
Responses had been mixed, with some feeling relieved at his
death, while others were scared of retaliatory attacks.
Prof Clements believed the world was not a safer place
because there appeared to be terrorist cells still trying to
prove they had the power to commit acts of terror.
"The cycle of violence continues."
Prof Bradstock said he was
amazed at the number of people around the world who cheered
when the Twin Towers collapsed in 2001.
He said there were similar scenes of people rejoicing when
bin Laden was killed.
Just as 9/11 created revengeful feelings among Americans, he
believed bin Laden sympathisers would also be feeling the
same way.
He said defeating terror could not be achieved by playing the
same game as terrorists.
Prof Clements, Prof Bradstock and Dr Purvis believed it would
have been better to take bin Laden alive and put him on trial
for his actions.
In the interests of de-escalating terrorist attacks, Prof
Bradstock said the United States should have been seen to
follow international law and give bin Laden a chance to
explain his actions.
"It might have had a much more radical result, and gone
further into the direction of creating peace."
Prof Patman said, like Barak Obama, he believed the killing
of bin Laden was "just one step in the journey" towards
creating a safer world.
Rather than killing bin Laden, he believed the turning point
was the election of Obama who was managing to bring nations
together to co-operate in abolishing terrorism - and
attempting to restore the United States' moral authority.
All on the panel agreed the world was not yet safe from
terrorism, but hope was not lost.
The key was not to fight violence with violence, Dr Purvis
said.
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