Opposition Leader Condemns Paris Attacks
Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar has expressed shock upon learning of the terrorist attack on citizens in the French capital on Friday evening.
Media reports state that over one hundred persons were killed in the attacks, which led the French government to declare a national state of emergency and close its borders. She issued the following statement:
“I am deeply saddened to learn of the deaths of so many innocent people. Terrorism is a cancer in our civilized world and there is no justification for such savage acts of murder and terror. I join the rest of the international community in condemning this shooting rampage and mass hostage-taking that French President François Hollande called an unprecedented terrorist attack on France.
“Such attacks demonstrate that there remains a greater need for world leaders to work together to combat the threat of terrorism no matter what form it takes or where it strikes.
“As Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago in 2014, I co-sponsored a United Nations (UN) Security Council resolution against terrorism despite criticism from the then Opposition. That resolution compelled UN member states to institute measures to address the growing threat of foreign terrorist fighters leaving their home countries to join international terrorist organisations. It was a bold statement that underscored our commitment to the battle against terrorism.”
“The People’s Partnership Government had also commissioned significant research into the legal issues that pertain to foreign fighters in foreign terrorist organisations and a committee comprising representatives of the various National Security agencies was in the advanced stages of reviewing a national counter-terrorism strategy. I urge the Government of Trinidad and Tobago to maintain and strengthen the existing counter-terrorism foundation and recommit to this issue as a priority.”
“We must never look the other way when innocent people die at the hands of terrorists. My thoughts and prayers are with the Government and people of France and to the families who lost their loved ones in these senseless attacks.”
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