Saturday, August 6 2005 10:57 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

United Nations: Asserting that military action alone cannot contain terrorism, senior Congress leader Margaret Alva has said solution to the problem lies in dialogue and undoing the injustices of the past.

There is an explicit link between terrorism and violation of fundamental freedoms and rule of law and "War, crime and brutality breed anger and generate sympathy and support to their cause," Alva told an august gathering of intellectuals and academics here after receiving the prestigious 'Nelson Mandela Award for Minority Empowerment'.

Cautioning against linking terrorism to a particular religion or nationality, the former Union Minister stressed that injustice, poverty and alienation of large sections of the population result in violent reaction.

Presenting the award yesterday, the Director of Foundation for Minority Empowerment John Lupoli praised Alva's work for empowerment of minorities and women.

"There could have been no better person to receive the award for she is a woman and belongs to minority and has a life-long record of fighting discrimination," he said.

In a message of greeting, American President George W Bush congratulated her on receiving the award.

General Secretary of Indian National Overseas Congress George Abraham said the recognition would be an inspiration to others to carry on the great tradition she has set.

Even the most powerful country cannot fight terrorism alone: Alva

Referring to the US coalition to against terror formed after Sept 11, 2001 attacks, Alva said it shows that even the most powerful country cannot fight terrorism alone but warned that solidarity should not be limited to fighting one individual or one group.

"Emergence of international solidarity is encouraging for India, as it has lived with terrorism for years", Alva said.

Stressing the need for poverty alleviation, she said development could only take place when there is freedom from war and violence, when human rights and dignity are guaranteed and citizens have an opportunity to reach decent living standards.

"Science, technology, international commitments and overseas assistance have made this a reachable goal. And yet, as we look around us, freedom, justice and security seem farther away than ever before," she added.

Flaying multilateral lending agencies for 'rarely' considering problems of less developed countries when deciding priorities and programme, she said globalisation is destroying agriculture and food security of developing nations.

"Imported technologies are throwing thousands of workers out of their jobs in countries where unemployment is already a problem," she said.

The tragedy of globalized world is that while capital goods and services are being unshackled, the movement of labor from poor to rich countries is becoming more and more restricted, she said.

Alva also noted that despite many 'onslaughts and threats,' India has remained true to secular and democratic values, adding both majority and minorities have to realize confrontation leads to destruction while dialogue promotes understanding.

Pointing out that minorities exceed 16 per cent of the Indian population, she said communal flare-ups recur when political parties and organizations based on religion, caste and regional identities exploit emotions and ignorance of people and try to create vote banks.