And therefore a regional measure was already in place. We had then to consider our options in regard to national measures and international measures. What we chose to do was to try our best to seek and join others in developing international consensus on the ways and means of combating terrorism. And, therefore, Mr. Speaker, we began to spend a lot of time and energy on going to various capital cities, mainly in the West, and arguing that terrorism was a phenomenon with international ramifications. Terrorist activities and conspiracies cross national boundaries with ease.
Terrorism is financed heavily by groups in various countries.
Our argument was that all countries should join hands in devising ways and means of combating a problem that affects all of us. My answer to this, Mr. Speaker, used to be that the time would come, sooner rather than later, when that argument would be seen to be hollow. I used to say to those countries that terrorism would soon arrive on their own doorsteps. The response to our argument, our entreaties, was not very encouraging in those years. But we persisted, Mr Speaker, because to us terrorism is a matter of life and death, not an academic concern.