Kamil Lakshman – 
Tough issues are before nations on how to co-exist in a global world.
It is a challenge to provide humane response without compromsinig national security.
What measures should be in place for the safety of a country? How can countires keep internal vigil? What should be the screening process?
Each country has its own reaction depending on how it has been affected. The reaction will also be dependent on the level of fear. The tolerance level will be dependent on the perceived imminent danger. Can we be responsive rather than reactive?
Changing world
The terrorist attacks in Paris last fortnight in which many innocent lives were lost once again highlights how much the world has changed and continues to change.
It is a phenomenon that can be termed as the ‘silent killer.’
The perpetrators are merciless.They have such conviction in their cause that they are willing to sacrifice their own lives. They have a statement to make. It appears that when one cell is closed, another cell opens.
What will make this stop, when will it end? When will there be a truce or is that an idealistic thought? Should we just learn how to cope?
Discrimination threat
New Zealand has been grappling with such issues and the Immigration Act 2009 bestows wide ranging national security powers. It equipped to respond when the occasion arises.
On the other hand, a recent event calls for concern and can be reflective of the level of fear presented by the Paris event in New Zealand. A Sikh medical student from India was mistaken to be involved in a suspicious act and Police were called to question him.
The student was put through an ordeal because he “looked suspicious.’
This incident depicts the potential pitfalls and the dangers associated with reacting out of fear which can lead to paranoia and disastrous consequences. It can have a snowball effect.
The result is high level of discrimination, maginalising our democratic ways and compromising our freedom of thought, speech and action.
As a nation we have to be vigilant. Once that spectrum is tipped, it would be difficult to get that moderation, tolerance and freedom back.
As Elton John said at his Wellington concert, “This world needs love, hope and faith now than ever before.” We must not forget humanity; the actions of a small group should not dictate our ways of interacting. We belong to a global family and one nation. We dictate our terms of engagement, and this cannot be as a result of fear!
Kamil Lakshman is a Lawyer & Principal of Wellington based law firm Idesi Legal Limited. She can be contacted on (04) 4616018 or 021-1598803. Email: kamil.lakshman@idesilegal.co.nz;
