Lead Editorial
alone the MANPADS issue which has been the liquid explosive plot and the subsequent operated by Aero Montañas was the target
put on the back-burner since the liquid sentencing of Abdulla Ahmed Ali, Assad of a hijack attempt by two Peruvians and a
explosive plot was identified. Sarwar, Tanvir Hussain, and Umar Islam. Bolivian, Mario Sobenes Ali, who had
So, we have a choice. It’s not whether to pick With names like these, alongside al-Megrahi, entered the country using a dead man’s
on groups of travellers because they match our we face an uphill struggle in getting the world travel documents. The aircraft had been
stereotype threat or to confiscate liquids from to recognise that the Islamic community chartered by the men with a view to them
genuine passengers; it is whether to apply should not be the sole target of our scrutiny. stealing the aircraft, quite possibly with the
rules of proportionality and move towards a But it shouldn’t... intention of later using it for the facilitation
comprehensive aviation security solution that of the transportation and trade of narcotics.
is futuristic or to be disproportionate and rely “...a Bolivian national And, on 9th September, another Bolivian
on a system based almost exclusively on national hijacked an Aeromexico flight soon
deterrence rather than effectiveness. hijacked an Aeromexico after its departure from the Mexican resort
The news headlines do little to help our city of Cancun bound for Mexico City. The
cause. In August, the Lockerbie case flight soon after its hijacker, Josmar Flores Pereira was a
returned to the front page with the release of former drug addict and alcoholic who had
Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi from his Scottish departure from Cancun...” found religion. Indeed, he had a message
prison cell on, supposedly, compassionate for the President of Mexico and wished to
grounds due to his suffering from terminal convey to him the fact that with the date
prostate cancer so that he could die at home On a daily basis incidents occur that never being 09/09/09 (666 upside down!) the
in Libya. (Like many in the industry, I was make it to the newspapers or cable news country was going to be hit by an
sickened by the hero’s welcome he was networks or, if they do, they command only earthquake. Mario Sobenes Ali and Josmar
given by the Qadaffi regime and horrified momentary coverage. They are the small, yet Flores Pereira are representative of the
that a man, sentenced to life imprisonment significant, acts that can be prevented by the types of criminals and psychologically
for a crime totally devoid of compassion, aviation security front-line, provided it is not disturbed individuals who provide a
should be afforded such concern. Then distracted by forced focus on the big threats constant challenge to our industry.
again, it wasn’t compassion; it was the sound that, when it comes to it, only the intelligence In fact, maybe that’s why Evo Morales,
of the cash register that prompted his community will prevent from becoming a reality. the President of Bolivia, has made it to the
release!) And, as soon as the Lockerbie story This September two flights were hijacked. US “No-Fly” List. It’s not the Muslims we
was laid to rest, we witnessed the verdict in On 5th September, in Peru, a Cessna should be targeting...it’s the Bolivians!
Aviationsecurityinternational October 2009 www.asi-mag.com 3
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