Observations & Conclusions of Syndicate Group Discussions at Colombo Defence Seminar Sessions Tabled

Four Syndicate Group discussions on the final day (Aug 29) of the Colombo Defence Seminar - 2017 focused on four major topics; ‘Balancing Hard Power and Soft Power,’ ‘Role of Military in Global Governance,’ ‘Empowering Communities to Counter Violent Extremism,’ and ‘Use of Fourth Generation Warfare to Counter Violent Extremism’. Dr Harindra Vidanage, Director, Bandaranaike Centre for International Studies (BCIS) conducted the overall supervision as the Chairman for the Preparatory session. Participants were accordingly categorized into Group ‘A’, Group ‘B’, Group ‘C’ and Group ‘D’ under above sub topics.

Ms. Sashikala Premawardhane, Director General (Actg), Ocean Affairs, Strategic Security, Climate Change and Policy Planning, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Rear Admiral N.P.S Attygalle, Commander, Western Naval Area of Sri Lanka Navy, Admiral Dr. Jayanath Colombage (Retd), Dr. Maneesha S. Wanasinghe, Head, Department of International Relations, Faculty of Arts, University of Colombo, Dr. Radhika Coomaraswamy, Former Under Secretary General of the United Nations, Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict, Major General J.R Kulatunga, Commandant, Defence Services Command and Staff College, Batalanda, Makola, Sri Lanka Army, Air Vice Marshal S.K Pathirana, Director Air Operations, Sri Lanka Air Force and Colonel Roy W. Speaks, Assistant Chief of Staff, G5, 8th Theater Sustainment Command, USA served as expert panels in above four groups.

Group ‘A’: determined that soft power can be used to defeat the threats of violent extremism. This can be earned by using cultural values, foreign policies and strategic plans by focusing on the role of military in global governance. Violent extremism can be kept away by strengthening the security, economy and humanitarian aspects.

The discussion breaks into two topics; ‘Institutional Laws’ and ‘Policies’. Why the military is suited to some instances, but not in all the instances in global governance. In the global governance, the military has to play an important role. Military has training, resources and fully equipped structures to undertake any task. Military has deliberate access, mobility versatile nature, flexibility and credibility. The discussion is not only for attributes but also for the challenges.

Concern on global health, disasters and other emergency situations. Military is equipped with all resources and strengths and counter measures, but the people think military personnel carrying guns and weapons are using only hard power. But the military has talent to use its soft power much more than the people think.

Group ‘B’: during their interactive sessions discussed instances in Iraq, Syria, Egypt as good case studies. They discussed on the global trends of the violent extremism and counter insurgencies. The inclusion of all the values in education will develop the methods. National education policy should be much efficient to develop the thinking of people on the peaceful environment. Fighting against any organization or any community group can’t find a long time solution for the violent extremism. Long time educational policies will taboo multinational collisions or community collisions against violent extremisms.

The technology and religion can be used to find the solution for the conflicts. Set a policy framework to find solutions for good governance. A duty to console society with psychological operations is with the armed forces. This is a complex problem to define. It will take a long time process to formulate a platform in search of the solutions to the violent extremism.

Group ‘C’: resolved that community should be empowered to fight against violent extremism. This group vibrantly highlighted this issue which has become very much competitive.

Community is deeply divided on the lines of castes, religions, genders, etc. The collision of each of this will develop as a radical violent extremism, thus building dialogues, trust and care for each other. It makes way for developing of the credibility among each other. It will leave room to eradicate violent extremism. We should not forget women and children, they can push the society into new directions to find a solution for the radical extremism. Education, Peace education, education systems and policies can push the issues to be away from radical extremism.

Group ‘D’: Issues of Cyber power and technological aspects also can be used to develop peace in the society. Sporting youth clubs over these, are needed to promote love and compassion and care which will develop harmony and peace. Technological environment, computer gaming and cyber relationships will develop community links. They do work together among the youth. Those will make the peace environment in the world. We have experienced these in the IDP Camps.

In any community, radicalization can be coming out due to lack of knowledge, economy, relationship and care. These groups, consist of members of different countries, ideas. Violent extremisms may be social, economic, and religious. Sometimes countering violent extremism drives also to give birth to violent extremism. National education policy is the security against the unpredictable violent extremism.