What Can We Do To Make The World Safer 5 Years After 9/11?

[JagtarSinghKhalsa]

SIKH FEDERATION (UK)

www.sikhfederation.com

info@sikhfederation.com

PRESS RELEASE

Monday 11 September 2006

WHAT CAN WE DO TO MAKE THE WORLD SAFER 5 YEARS AFTER 9/11?

Today marks the 5th anniversary of 9/11. This has proved to be a tragedy in more ways than one.

Firstly, there was the dreadful loss of almost 3,000 innocent lives on that terrible day, followed by the war on terror that has seen the loss of an estimated 60,000 and 4.5 million refugees. For the west it has meant several terrorists attacks, such as Madrid and London, claiming 192 and 52 innocent lives respectively.

There has been five years of constant threat of atrocities similar to those on 9/11 with no sign of the threat diminishing. The pictures from that awful day still haunt hundreds of millions who helplessly watched the merciless attacks unfold in front of their eyes.

Five years after the September 11 attacks, governments have invested billions to strengthen their anti-terrorist defences and tighter security checks. But this has been more than matched by a rising threat by mobilisation of disaffected young Muslims in the West and in particular in the UK.

Without doubt the threat has increased in the West with a specific challenge in the UK with the increased risk of attack by home-grown terrorists. Five years on virtually all areas of the infrastructure are vulnerable to 'dirty bombs' and germ warfare attacks.

Over 10,000 Sikhs in the UK will remember those who lost their lives on 9/11 at the National Sikh Convention taking place at the weekend. Sikhs will also reflect on what has taken place over the last five years, why the world and in particular those in the West are less safe and suggest a five-point action plan for reducing the threat.

Details of the five-point plan will primarily be for the UK Government and will be released to the media later this week before the Convention begins on Friday 15 September.

Gurjeet Singh

National Press Secretary

Sikh Federation (UK)

Note 1 - Over 10,000 Sikhs are expected at the annual National Sikh Convention to take place at Guru Nanak Gurdwara, Sedgley Street, Wolverhampton over a three-day period commencing on Friday 15 September. The main day will be Sunday 17 September. Further details of the event can be obtained by emailing info@sikhfederation.com although additional press releases will be issued in the next few days.