Surprise is of the essence

Editor | Tuesday October 26, 2010 00:00

Almost everyone believed a robbery to be underway. The possibility of a terrorist attack hardly crossed the mind of any of the people running helter-skelter as the primordial instinct of self-preservation kicked in. Thankfully, we all know it was only a simulation drill.

The Mmegi team was on the scene as some women got injured in the ensuing stampede. A few people had to be treated for shock after experiencing what they believed to be the horror of their lives as gunshots rang out everywhere. Some flights were consequently delayed, resulting in mammoth inconvenience for many.

But now that we know it was a mock operation, it is easy to criticise our security forces for subjecting unsuspecting people to such an ordeal. Afterall, we all want to go about our lives with the least inconvenience, to say nothing of the horror at the airport. As one passenger put it, why didn't they inform the public that they would have the drill?

We can only sympathise with this passenger and others so inclined, not least because there is no room for trial by ordeal in our enlightened jurisprudence. (Yes, primitive societies often subjected the accused to severe and prolonged pain. According to Wikipedia, in some cases, the accused was considered innocent if they survived the test, or their injuries healed. In others, only death was considered proof of innocence!)

But it cannot be because doing so would give the game away. As all robbers and terrorists know, surprise is of the essence. So it is with mock operations of this nature. The execution of the machination must be convincing throughout, including the apparent callous disregard of bystanders or treatment of members of the public as 'collateral'.  

Hence we appeal to our fellow Batswana to appreciate that this was done for our own good. We do so because terrorism and threats of terrorism are real. And in today's world, no one is exempt from terrorism. But terrorism and its macabre effects can be tackled only with preparedness, especially the readiness of security forces. This preparedness is enhanced if the security forces are working with a security conscious population whose members can tolerate inconveniences such as the type occasioned by the simulation at SSKIA last Friday.   

There are, however, legitimate concerns that such exercises should be swift and briefin order to minimise their side effects such as injuries, trauma and delayed flights. Importantly, we should be wary that security concerns are not used as a ploy to instil the fear of 'Big Brother' in the public psyche.

                                                               Today's thoughtThe exercise is a joint operation of DIS, BDF and the police to see the readiness of people and security agents to deal with a terrorist threat.

                                                              - DIS Director Isaac Kgosi