Ukubhekana Nosongo Lobuphekula

EKUPHELENI kwawo-1980, kwakubonakala sengathi ubuphekula buyaphela. Kodwa, sekuvele uhlobo olusha lobuphekula. Usongo lobuphekula namuhla luvela ngokuyinhloko kontamo-lukhuni abaye bazitholela izindlela zabo zokuxhasa ngokwezimali—ngokushushumbisa izidakamizwa, ngokuqhuba amabhizinisi azimele, ngengcebo yabo, ngezinhlangano zosizo nangokusekelwa umphakathi ngokwezimali. Futhi bayaqhubeka benesihluku kakhulu kunanini ngaphambili.

Eminyakeni yamuva nje kuye kwaba nezenzo eziningi zobuphekula ezingenangqondo. IWorld Trade Centre eNew York City yashaywa ngebhomu, kwafa abantu abayisithupha kwalimala abangaba yinkulungwane. Ihlelo elithile ladedela isisi esibulala izinzwa i-sarin emzileni wesitimela ongaphansi komhlaba eTokyo, kwafa abantu abangu-12 kwalimala abangaphezu kuka-5 000. Iphekula labhubhisa isakhiwo sikahulumeni e-Oklahoma City ngebhomu elalicushwe elolini, labulala abangu-168 lalimaza amakhulu. Njengoba ishadi elisekhasini 4 no-5 libonisa, izenzo zobuphekula ezihlukahlukene ziye zaqhubeka kuze kube manje.

Ngokuvamile, kubonakala sengathi amaphekula awasenakuzithiba njengasesikhathini esidlule. Umcuphi webhomu owaboshwa owayecuphe ibhomu esakhiweni sikahulumeni e-Oklahoma City ngo-1995 wacashunwa ethi ukuze athole ukunakwa ayekufuna, wayefuna “ukubona izidumbu zilele uyaca.” Umholi weqembu elaqhumisa ibhomu ngo-1993 eWorld Trade Center eNew York City wayefuna ukuba lezi zakhiwo zingqubuzane, kufe wonke umuntu ophakathi.

Okunye okusha yizikhali amaphekula azisebenzisayo. ULouis R. Mizell, Jr., onguchwepheshe kwezobuphekula, wathi: “Siphila enkathini yolaka olukhulu nezikhali ezibhubhisayo: zenuzi, zamakhemikhali nezamagciwane.” Ontamo-lukhuni abafuna ukuqashelwa kabanzi sebesebenzisa izikhali zobuchwepheshe eziyingozi kakhulu ezitholakalayo.

Ukuhlasela Ngama-computer

Lokho okubizwa ngokuthi i-cyberterrorism kuhilela ukusetshenziswa kobuchwepheshe besimanje, njengama-computer. Esinye salezi zikhali yizinhlelo ze-computer ezonakele (computer virus), ezidla ukwaziswa noma zilimaze izimiso zemishini. Kukhona “namabhomu aphundulayo” akhohlisa ama-computer ukuba azame ukwenza okuthile angenakukwazi ukukwenza, kanjalo aphoqeleke ukuba angasebenzi kahle. Njengoba umnotho nokulondeka kwamazwe kuya kuncika ezimisweni zama-computer, abaningi banomuzwa wokuthi umphakathi usengozini enkulu yokuhlasela okunjalo kwamaphekula. Futhi nakuba amabutho amaningi enezimiso ezigcina ezokuxhumana zisebenza ngisho naphakathi nempi yenuzi, izimiso ezisetshenziswa umphakathi—amandla kagesi, izinto zokuhamba nezikhungo zezezimali—zisengozini enkulu yokuhlaselwa.

Esikhathini esingeside esidlule, uma iphekula lalifuna ukucima ugesi walo lonke idolobha, mhlawumbe, laseBerlin, lalingase lifune umsebenzi kwamasipala ukuze likwazi ukucekela phansi isimiso sikagesi. Kodwa manje abanye bathi kungenzeka ukuba uchwepheshe wama-computer oyisigebengu acime ugesi wedolobha lonke ezihlalele kwakhe edolobheni eliqhele ngezinkulungwane zamakhilomitha.

Muva nje isigebengu esinguchwepheshe wama-computer eSweden savula isimiso sama-computer eFlorida futhi savala isimiso sosizo oluphuthumayo isikhathi esingangehora, okwathiya ukusabela kwamaphoyisa, izicisha-mlilo nama-ambulensi.

“Empeleni, siye sakha umphakathi wembulunga yonke ongenawo amaphoyisa,” kusho uFrank J. Cilluffo, umqondisi we-Information Warfare Task Force eCenter for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). Kanti ngo-1997, uRobert Kupperman, umeluleki oyinhloko weCSIS, wathi uma amaphekula ekhetha ukusebenzisa izinqubo zobuchwepheshe obuphambili, “ayikho inhlangano kahulumeni ekhona njengamanje engamelana nemiphumela yokuhlasela kwawo.”

Abanye abahlaziyi bakholelwa ukuthi amaphekula asebenzisa ama-computer anamathuluzi obuchwepheshe okwehlula noma yimiphi imishini yokuvikela amabutho empi anayo. “Isitha esikwaziyo ukufaka uhlelo olonakele esimisweni sama-computer noma ukuvula ingosi efanele singabangela umonakalo omkhulu,” kusho uGeorge Tenet, umqondisi we-U.S. Central Intelligence Agency.

Ukuhlasela Ngamakhemikhali Namagciwane

Kukhona ukukhathazeka okubangelwa nawukusetshenziswa kwezikhali zamakhemikhali nezamagciwane. Umhlaba washaqeka ekuqaleni kuka-1995 lapho uzwa ngokuhlasela kwamaphekula ngesisi esinobuthi emzileni wesitimela ongaphansi komhlaba eTokyo. Kwamangalelwa ihlelo lembubhiso ngalesi senzakalo.

“Ubuphekula sebushintshile,” kusho uBrad Roberts we-Institute for Defense Analyses. “Amaphekula avamile ayefuna ukuqashelwa kwezombangazwe. Kodwa manje, amanye amaqembu athi inhloso yawo iwukubulala abantu abaningi. Lokhu kwenza izikhali zamagciwane zikhange kakhulu.” Ingabe kunzima ukuthola izikhali ezinjalo? Umagazini i-Scientific American uthi: “Umuntu angakhiqiza izigidigidi zamagciwane ngaphandle kokuzifaka engozini esebenzisa amathuluzi avamile njengomshini wokuvubela nesithako samagciwane esinamaprotheni, isivikela-buso nejazi lepulasitiki.” Lapho la magciwane esekhiqiziwe, kulula kakhulu ukuwasakaza. Izisulu ngeke zazi ngisho nokuthi kunesikhali esidedelwe kuze kudlule usuku olulodwa noma ezimbili. Ngaleso sikhathi kungabe sekwephuze kakhulu.

Kuthiwa i-anthrax iyisikhali samagciwane esiyintandokazi. Igama lalesi sifo lisuselwa egameni lesiGreki elisho amalahle—ngenxa yoqweqwe olumnyama oluvame ukwakheka ezilondeni zesikhumba kulabo abathintana nemfuyo enegciwane le-anthrax. Abathungathi bezifo bakhathazeke kakhulu ngezifo zamaphaphu ezibangelwa ukuhogela igciwane le-anthrax. Kubantu, igciwane le-anthrax lishaya libhuqe.

Kungani i-anthrax iyisikhali samagciwane esiphumelela kangaka? Kulula ukukhiqiza leli gciwane futhi linamandla kakhulu. Kungathatha izinsuku ezimbalwa ngaphambi kokuba abanalo babone uphawu lokuqala, umkhuhlane ohambisana nokukhathala komzimba. Kube sekulandela ukukhwehlela nokucinana kwesifuba. Kamuva umuntu uba nenkinga enkulu yokuphefumula, aquleke, abese efa phakathi namahora nje ambalwa.

Amaphekula Anezikhali Zenuzi?

Ngemva kokuwa kweSoviet Union, abanye babezibuza ukuthi sikhona yini isikhali senuzi esebiwe esasizodayiswa ngokungemthetho. Nokho, ochwepheshe abaningi bayangabaza ukuthi lokhu kuyoke kwenzeke. URobert Kupperman, ocashunwe ekuqaleni, uphawula ukuthi “abukho ubufakazi bokuthi kuneqembu lamaphekula elake lafuna ukuthola izikhali zenuzi.”

Okukhathaza kakhulu uhlobo oluthi alufane nebhomu lenuzi kodwa olubhubhisayo—imfucumfucu enemisebe. Ayiqhumi. Ayisabalali noma ibangele ukushisa. Kunalokho, ikhipha imisebe ehlasela amangqamuzana ngamanye. Amangqamuzana omnkantsha yiwona asengozini kakhulu. Ukufa kwawo kubangela imiphumela eminingi, kuhlanganise ukopha nokuwohloka kwesimiso somzimba sokuzivikela ezifweni. Ngokungefani nezikhali zamakhemikhali, ezishabalalayo lapho zihlangana nomoya-mpilo nomswakama, imfucumfucu enemisebe ingaqhubeka ibangela umonakalo iminyaka eminingi.

Ingozi eyenzeka eGoiânia, idolobha eliseningizimu-nenkabazwe yeBrazil, ibonisa indlela eyingozi ngayo imfucumfucu enemisebe. Ngo-1987 indoda ethile eyayinganakile yavula ibhokisi lomthofu elalinamathele emshinini wokwelapha olahliwe. Leli bhokisi laline-cesium-137. Ihlatshwe umxhwele umbala okhazimulayo waleli tshe eliluhlaza okwesibhakabhaka, le ndoda yabonisa abangane bayo eyayikutholile. Lingakapheli isonto izisulu zokuqala zaqala ukutheleka emthola-mpilo wendawo. Izinkulungwane zahlolwa ukuthi azinazo yini izimpawu zalesi sithako. Kwagula izakhamuzi ezingaba yikhulu. Ezingu-50 zalaliswa esibhedlela, kanti ezine zafa. Umcabango wokuthi kwakungase kwenzekeni ukube le cesium yayisakazwe ngamabomu wenza ochwepheshe bezokunqandwa kobuphekula bafikelwe ukwesaba okukhulu.

Izindleko Ezimba Eqolo

Ukufa kwabantu kalusizi kuwumphumela osobala kakhulu wobuphekula. Kodwa kuhileleke okungaphezu kwalokho. Ubuphekula bungabhuntshisa noma buthiye inqubo yokuthula ezindaweni ezinezinxushunxushu emhlabeni. Bubangela izimpi, buzenze zidonse isikhathi eside, noma zibhebhetheke, futhi bushoshozela udlame.

Ubuphekula bungathikameza nomnotho wamazwe. Ohulumeni baye baphoqeleka ukuba bachithe isikhathi esiningi nemali belwa nabo. Ngokwesibonelo, e-United States kuphela, imali eyabekelwa ukulwa nobuphekula ngonyaka ka-2000 yafinyelela emaRandini angaphezu kwezigidi eziyizinkulungwane ezingu-70.

Kungakhathaliseki ukuthi siyakuqaphela noma cha, ubuphekula busithinta sonke. Buthonya indlela esihamba ngayo nezinqumo esizenzayo lapho sisohambweni. Buphoqelela amazwe emhlabeni wonke ukuba achithe izindodla zemali yentela evikela abantu abaqavile, izikhungo ezisemqoka nezakhamuzi.

Ngakho umbuzo usaphakama: Ingabe likhona ikhambi elihlala njalo lohlupho lobuphekula? Lokhu kuzodingidwa esihlokweni esilandelayo.

[Ibhokisi/Isithombe ekhasini 7]

Ubuphekula Egameni Lemvelo

Kunohlobo olusha lobuphekula oluziveza “ngokushiswa kwezakhiwo, ukuqhumisa amabhomu nokucekela phansi impahla ukuze kulondolozwe imvelo nezilwane ezikuyo,” kubika iphephandaba i-Oregonian. Lezi zenzo ezibhubhisayo kuthiwa i-ecoterrorism. Kuye kwenzeka okungenani izenzo eziyikhulu ezinkulu zalolu hlobo entshonalanga ye-United States kusukela ngo-1980, kanti umonakalo uye waba amaRandi ayizigidi ezingu-328,7. Izenzo ezinjalo zobugebengu ngokuvamile zihloselwe ukuphazamisa ukugawulwa kwezihlahla, ukusebenzisa amahlane ngenjongo yezokuzijabulisa, noma ukusetshenziswa kwezilwane ukuze kutholakale isikhumba, ukudla, noma kwenziwe ucwaningo.

Lezi zenzo zibhekwa njengobuphekula ngoba zihilela ubudlova obuhloselwe ukushintsha ukuziphatha kwabantu nezinhlangano noma ukushintsha izinkambiso zomphakathi. Abashisekeli be-ecoterrorism bakhungathekisa abaphenyi ngokuhlasela izindawo eziqhelile, ngokuvamile ebusuku, bangashiyi mkhondo ngaphandle kwamanxiwa ashe angqongqa. Kuze kube muva nje, izenzo zobugebengu ezenziwa egameni lokuvikela imvelo ziye zaba nomphumela omncane olinganiselwe futhi zanganakwa. Kodwa kuye kwahlaselwa izindawo ezinkudlwana eminyakeni yamuva. “Inhloso yalaba bantu iwukudonsela ukunakekela emkhankasweni wabo wokufuna ushintsho,” kusho umphenyi okhethekile uJames N. Damitio, umphenyi ongumakad’ ebona we-U.S. Forest Service. “Futhi uma benomuzwa wokuthi abanakwa, bazama okunye okuhlukile.”

[Ibhokisi/Isithombe ekhasini 10]

Ubuphekula Nemithombo Yezindaba

“Ukukhulunyelwa kabanzi ezindabeni bekulokhu kuwumgomo oyinhloko nesikhali salabo abasebenzisa udlame ekuhlaseleni abantu abangenacala ukuze bathuthukise imikhankaso yezombangazwe noma ukuba nje babange isiyaluyalu,” kusho uTerry Anderson, intatheli eyayithunjwe ngamaphekula cishe iminyaka engu-7 eLebanon. “Wona kanye umbiko wokuthunjwa kwabantu ngezizathu zezombangazwe, ukubulawa kothile noma ukuqhuma kwebhomu elinamandla kuwukunqoba kokuqala kwephekula. Uma izwe linganaki, lezi zenzo eziyisihluku azisho lutho.”

[Izithombe ekhasini 8, 9]

1. Ibhomu elaqhunyiswa umuntu owazibulala eJerusalema, kwa-Israel

2. Amaphekula ashisekela ubuhlanga acupha ibhomu ebhange laseColombo, eSri Lanka

3. Kuqhuma ibhomu emotweni eNairobi, eKenya

4. Umkhaya wezisulu zebhomu elaqhuma eMoscow, eRussia

[Imithombo]

Heidi Levine/Sipa Press

A. Lokuhapuarachchi/Sipa Press

AP Photo/Sayyid Azim

Izvestia/Sipa Press