Counter Terrorism Strategy and Plans for Japan - Essay Example

? Counter Terrorism Strategy and Plans for Japan Terrorism is considered to be a very old threat to established societies, most frequently it emergesout from groups with political agendas like the IRA or individuals whose motives lie in creating violence against the societies in which they live. No nation is said to be immune from such threat. Even the stable, homogeneous society like Japan is vulnerable (Branscomb, 2004). For example, the religious sect Aum Shinrikyo made small quantities of several biological agents and successfully carried out an attack plan on the people in Tokyo subway. Aum Shinrikyo is an indigenous terrorist group arising in Japan (Hidaeki, 2003). The group also carried out certain marginally successful attacks on the Diet and the Crown Prince’s wedding with botulin toxin and attempted an anthrax attack on the people of streets of Tokyo (Branscomb, 2004). This paper primarily deals with the counter terrorism strategies and action plans for Japan in current context and also for future. Defining Counterterrorism Counterterrorism is a difficult concept to define, especially in the context of western democracies. Paul Wilkinson writes that, “There is no universally applicable counter-terrorism policy for democracies. Every conflict involving terrorism has its own unique characteristics”. Both Paul Wilkinson and Louise Richardson and many others argue that, Western democracies must have respect for the rule of law and civil liberties should be followed in maintaining their counterterrorism strategies. Counterterrorism operations are subject to continuous change according to the nature of the threat (Rineheart, 2010). Counterterrorism as defined by the U.S. Army Field Manual stands as “Operations that include the offensive measures taken to prevent, deter, preempt, and respond to terrorism” (Rineheart, 2010). This definition of counterterrorism is more concrete but has its own weaknesses and strengths. Though it correctly explains that counterterrorism is an all-inclusive doctrine including prevention, preemption, deterrence, and responses which would require bringing all aspects of the nation’s power to be exposed both domestically and internationally, yet essentially it differentiates nothing. If an effective counterterrorism doctrine is meant to follow the principle that ‘whatever is needed, whenever we need it,’ then this could create problems with developing effective counter strategies, allocating resources, and determining accountability – it might make the concept of counterterrorism rather worthless. There are advantages to an all-encompassing approach to counterterrorism. It allows the governments to recognize the complexities of responding to terrorism; it also provides a rhetorical tool that reinforces the notion that there is no simple fix to a nation’s terrorism problem (Rineheart, 2010). International Counter-Terrorism Policy of Japan There are a number of dimensions to the counter-terrorism strategy of Japan. The government’s paramount responsibility is to guard the security of Japan’s territory and citizens against terrorist acts (Hideaki, 2003, p. 55). The basic policy of Japan to counter terrorist activities is by strengthening the national counter terrorism measures. International cooperation and capacity building assistance to countries in need is also enumerated in the list of counter terrorism activities for Japan. The Japanese government in December 2004 adopted the "Action Plan for Prevention of Terrorism" which included taking16 ‘Urgently Needed Terrorism Prevention Measures’. In lieu of this certain urgent measures were taken. Japan has actively committed to the negotiations on relevant treaties in the UN and other international bodies. It has ratified and implemented all of the 13 international counter-terrorism conventions and protocols, most recently, the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism in August 3, 2007. Japan has also been participating in the ongoing negotiations of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism. An initiative proposed by Japan at the 2004 Summit, was readily adopted by G8. G8 members are committed to continuing efforts to enhance practical counter-terrorism measures including port security. Known by the name SAFTI “Secure and Facilitated International Travel Initiative” at the Sea Island Summit was adopted (Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Japan, 2010). National Counterterrorism Measures As the international community is working continuously to build efforts to fight against terrorism, Japan is determined not to become a loophole in counteracting terrorist activities globally. In order to address such criteria, Japan has built an action plan to enhance its counter terrorism measures. The action plan includes several preventive measures. i. Tightening of immigration control by taking fingerprints at landing examination and during application of visa. ii. Entry restriction to terrorists. iii. Mandatory prior submission of crew and passenger list by airplane or vessel captain. iv. Denial of entry of terrorists by using ICPO’s database on lost and stolen passports. v. Mandatory check of passengers’ passports by air and sea carriers. vi. Assistance to foreign governments to improve travel document examination capacity by dispatching the document examination advisors. vii. Thorough identification of foreign guests by hotels and inns. viii. Establishment of system to control pathogenic microorganisms potentially used for bioterrorism. ix. Tightened control over explosive-related material potentially used for bomb attacks. x. Tightened import control through designation of explosives as prohibited goods for import. xi. Measures to fully implement FATF Recommendations. xii. Tightening of security measures for important facilities during emergency. xiii. Firmer counter-terrorism measures at airports and nuclear facilities. xiv. Stronger protection over nuclear material. xv. Firmer anti-highjack measures through introduction of Sky Marshal Program. xvi. Reinforced terrorism-related Intelligence Gathering through integrated efforts of relevant organizations. In order to realize the domestic action plan several measures have been taken by the Japan Government by legislation. Amendment of the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act has been enacted in May 2006. Japan has also introduced electronic passports in the same year. E-passports have helped in preventing forgery and illegal use of Japanese passports. Further Japan has also worked in accordance with the United Nations Security Council Resolutions and adopted certain measures to freeze assets. Under the Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Act (2008) assets of nearly 530 individuals identified with some sort of terrorist activities were reported to have been frozen (Japan’s International Counter Terrorism Cooperation, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Japan,2008). Japan has been assisting some countries in counterterrorism capacity building by hosting seminars regarding legal provisions by implementing domestic laws and by promoting the accession to counterterrorism conventions. Japan is actively undertaking various efforts in capacity building assistance for the law enforcement personnel. These are mainly collaborated with the developing nations by dispatching experts, accepting trainees and hosting seminars. For example, Japan has been engaged building technical assistance to support the reformation and improvement of Indonesian police since 2002. The Japanese National Police Agency has been enhancing capabilities of Indonesian National Police in local police station as model site of project to bring about imprecision in community policing suitable for the Indonesian society. Japan has also been providing grant aids including provisions of equipment, to assist in improvising equipments and other resources that are related to measures of counter-terrorism (Japan’s International Counter terrorism cooperation, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Japan, 2008). Analysis Knowledge about the structural organization of terrorist networks is important for investigating terrorist activities and to find the effective strategies in order to prevent terrorist attacks. Knowledge management tools and techniques help intelligence analysts by various ways and it contributes to play a major role in various ways, when trying to make sense of the vast amounts of data that are collected in context to terrorism (Wiil et. al, 2011, p.172). To counter terrorism, law enforcement agencies regard deployment of the Intelligence management and knowledge management cycles as one of the key strategic initiatives to be undertaken by them which can potentially provide the necessary basis for establishing a sustainable competitive advantage to curb criminal and terrorist activities. The prerequisite for perspective for successful Intelligence Management is applied to domain specific Knowledge Management (KM). There are two types Knowledge Management deployment approaches, viz. epistemological and ontological. In this respect it should be noted that although the ontological approaches for Knowledge Management provides deployment opportunities and also provide substantive benefit to Strategic Intelligence. But in order to fully recognize the KM potential, it is essential that law management agencies take into account the epistemological approaches. The Intelligence types classification used by LEAs (e.g. IMINT, SIGINT, ELINT, HUMINT in the context of UK) fails to create a holistic representation and single out the knowledge asset (Akhgar, 2011, pp. 145-149). In most cases, the role of police lies in announcing of the crisis to the department. This is mainly the responsibility of the first Responding officers to the crime site. The second task for the responding Officers is to call for backups. Back-ups are called in relation to the severity and magnitude of the attack occurred. One of the critical factors of success identified for an epistemological approach is that Strategic Intelligent Management (SIM) formulation. This would also create the provision of generic methodological approach that is capable of dealing with the complex requirements to curb terrorism and combat crime. If SIM has to be defined conceptually, it states that, “a term that reflects an evaluable framework for a complex matrix of individual or collective mental constructs (thoughts, visions, ideas, insights, learning processes, experiences, goals, expertise, values, perceptions and expectations) held by individuals that provides specific guidance for specific actions in pursuit of particular ends” (Akhgar, 2011, p.149). This is undertaken by utilizing knowledge with LEAs extended value systems which includes the communication platforms, location, and requirements of the legal system as well as political and social constraints. Thus formulation of SIM therefore be defined as a result driven action-oriented process of transforming the LEA knowledge utilization, from the current status to a desired status typically based on the combined Intelligence and knowledge life cycle which would include the processes of collection, analysis, creation and transformation through collaboration, visualization, storage along with refinement of the evaluated and assessed methods (Akhgar, 2011, p.149). In many ways, the strategies to encourage the private adoption of risk solely depend on the dominant language of handling terrorism, which views it as a behavior so unacceptable that its prevention justification is greatly enhanced by not only the coercive authority but also by widespread public surveillance and even pre-emptive war. That is, the United States and other governments have adopted very nearly a ‘zero tolerance’ policy for terrorism, which sits uneasily alongside efforts to privatize the risk and to make a shift in the costs of prevention onto residents in general and citizens in particular (Leheny, 2010, p.226). Terrorism prevention measures require continuous study. A basic legislation policy for prevention of terrorist activities should be considered. The National Police Agency, Ministry of Justice and other relevant agencies along with Japanese people should swiftly follow and conclude on a legislative action to curb terrorism activities. On a practical level, Japan is helping to cut off terrorist financing. Money is essential for terrorists to carry out operations (Hideaki, 2003, p. 59). There should be a system to designate terrorists and terrorist organizations. Further stringent measures are to be taken to freeze terrorist assets. In order to suppress terrorism, Ministries of Finance and Economy, Trade and Industry have virtually united and frozen terrorist assets. However, there is no similar regulation with respect to transactions pertaining to residents of Japan (Action Plan for Prevention of Terrorism, 2004, p. 16). To address the root causes of terrorism, Japan has been making the efforts to recognize the conditions conducive to terrorism. These can be addressed by assisting educational and economical reforms in the developing nations. Seeking a peaceful settlement of conflicts and consolidation of peace is important criteria amongst them. Aims should be there to achieve sustainable conditions by poverty alleviation and contribution to the peace process in the Middle East. Last but not the least, assistance is extended to moderate and promote dialogue between civilians (Japan's International Counter-Terrorism Cooperation, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Japan, 2010). The three guiding principles should be accommodated into the action plan execution strategy in building effective measures in the international fight to vanquish terrorism. The first point to be addressed should be to stringent measures of counter terrorism policy at every stage of terrorism. The policy to counterterrorism should essentially have to be multi-disciplinary and third that the international societies must unite to eradicate terrorism and the threat of terrorism (Hideaki, 2003, pp. 62-63). References Akhgar, B. & Yates, S. (2011), Intelligent Management: Knowledge Driven Frameworks for Combating Terrorism and Organized Crime. UK: Springer. Branscomb, L. M. (2004), Japanese-American Collaborative Efforts to Counter Terrorism. Engineering & Foreign Policy, 34(2), 11-16. Retrieved on July 6, 2012 from: http://www.nae.edu/Publications/Bridge/EngineeringForeignPolicy/Japanese-AmericanCollorativeEffortstoCounterTerrorism.aspx#about_author7534 Counterterrorism: Japan’s International Counter-Terrorism Co-operation, (2008). Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, Retrieved on July 6, 2012 from: http://www.mofa.go.jp/policy/terrorism/coop0208.pdf Leheny, D. (2010), Terrorism risks and counterterrorism costs in post-9/11 Japan, Japan Forum, 22 (1-2), 219-237 Rineheart, J. (2010). Counterterrorism and Counterinsurgency, Perspectives on Terrorism: A Journal of the Terrorism Research Initiative, 4(5), retrieved on July 6, 2012 from: http://www.terrorismanalysts.com/pt/index.php/pot/article/view/122/html Action Plan for Prevention of Terrorism, (2004), MOFA, Retrieved on July 6, 2012 from: http://www.mofa.go.jp/policy/terrorism/action.pdf Hideaki, M. (2003), Terrorists, Terrorism, and Japan’s Counter Terrorism Policy. Gaiko Forum, 3 (1), pp. 53-63. Retrieved on July 7, 2012 from: http://www.gaikoforum.com/53-Mizukoshi.pdf Japan’s International Counter- Terrorism Cooperation (2010). Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Japan, Retrieved on July 7, 2012 from: http://www.mofa.go.jp/policy/terrorism/intl_coop.html Wiil, U.K. (2011). Counterterrorism and Open Source Intelligence. New York: Springer Wien. Read More