Civil Liberties ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ killed and 21 nabbed by the police and the Army from Udhampur-Doda Range of Jammu & Kashmir while 55 militants surrendered. 3.5 The World Conference in Vienna (1993) was a significant landmark in recognizing terrorism as a threat to human rights. It stated that: “The acts, methods and practice of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations... are activities aimed at the destruction of human rights ... The international community should take the necessary steps to enhance cooperation to prevent and combat terrorism”. 3.6 Different aspects of terrorism have been a concern of world community. The problem of hijacking was dealt with in the 1963 Tokyo Convention, 1970 Hague Convention and 1971 Montreal Convention. Though there have been as many as 12 conventions and a declaration dealing with the subject but it was the killing of Israeli athletes at the Munich Olympics which led to the inscribing of international terrorism on the agenda of the United Nations General Assembly in 1972 at the request of the then Secretary General of United Nations and the problem of international terrorism was confronted both politically and legally and in its entirety rather than concentrating on any specific acts of terror. 3.7 The Commission firmly believes that the acts of terrorism damage the socio-economic fabric of the society besides causing injuries to the victims, often fatal. Terrorism has to be distinguished from ordinary violence, which has been a part of human behaviour since the advent of human society. Terrorism is most vicious, irrational and senseless kind of violence, which aims at achieving personal, religious or political ends through acts of terror. The main aim of such acts is not to kill or harm a particular person or persons but to create a sense of terror and fear among the people generally and senselessly violate human rights of innocent citizens. Every violation of human rights wherever it occurs is a threat to the welfare of the entire human family. 3.8 The Commission strongly affirms that there is a clear and emphatic relationship between national security and the security and integrity of the individuals who comprise the State. Between them, there is a symbiosis and no antagonism. The nation has no meaning without its people. John Stuart Mill emphasized that the worth of a nation is the worth of the individuals constituting the nation. This is the emphasis laid in the Constitution of India, which holds out the promise to secure both the nation and the individuals, simultaneously. 3.9 The Commission endorsed the views of Ms. Mary Robinson, the United Nations Commissioner for Human Rights who had cautioned against the violation of human rights in the global ‘fixation’ with the war against terrorism and said: “What must never be forgotten is that human rights are no hindrance to the promotion of peace and security. Rather they are an essential element of any strategy to defeat terrorism.” 10 AR-Chapter-1-19-10-6-06.p65 National Human Rights Commission Annual Report - 2004-2005 30 7/17/06, 6:29 PM