Canadian Def. Seminar Delegate Analyses Causes for Conflicts

Sri Lanka’s LTTE conflict is a classic example for radical extremism, which prevailed for more than 30 years, having been influenced perhaps by the history of conflicts elsewhere, so said Mr. Phil Gurski, President and CEO, Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd, Canada addressing the audience at the BMICH on the sub topic ‘Definitions and Root Causes’ under the ‘Violent Extremism’ of the Session 1 at the Colombo Defence Seminar, now in progress.

He also opined that individual radicalization seems to have developed the ideology to become a conflict. “In fact, violent radicalization could also be developed due to mental illness, egoism, radical extremisms and ideologies.

“There is no logical formula to identify radically violent extremists. It depends on the social status, communities, religion and sometimes due to individual processes which in turn would develop to be a radical violent extremism that could cause a bitter conflict,” he said.

Adoption of bad programmes, unnecessary agendas may also cause a conflict. Why people become violent? Poverty, lack of education, lack of money, mental illness, ideology, etc mainly drive them to extreme conflicts, he added.