ANTITERRORIST LEGISLATION IN SWEDEN (FROM TERRORISM AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE - AN INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVE, 1978 BY RONALD D CRELINSTEN ET AL - SEE NCJ-47357)

• NCJ Number: 47362
• Author(s): J SUNDBERG
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 16 pages
• Corporate Author: Lexington Books
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

TERRORIST ACTS AND THE ENSUING LEGISLATION MADE TO PREVENT SIMILAR ACTS FROM RECURRING IN SWEDEN ARE DESCRIBED.

Abstract

SWEDEN, ALTHOUGH RULED BY THE SOCIAL DEMOCRATS, IS CONSIDERED TO BE A NONSOCIALIST COUNTRY. THE POLICY OF GRANTING ASYLUM TO POLITICAL REFUGEES (I.E., PERSONS IN DANGER OF POLITICAL PERSECUTION) MADE SWEDEN A HAVEN FOR THE POLITICALLY DISLOYAL. COMMUNIST PARTY MEMBERS HAVE BEEN REQUIRED TO REGISTER SINCE 1930, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE PERIOD IMMEDIATELY FOLLOING THE SECOND WORLD WAR. HOWEVER, AFTER SEVERAL SECURITY-RELATED SCANDALS, THE POLICE REGISTER ACT WAS PROMULGATED IN 1965 TO PROVIDE GUIDELINES FOR SECURITY. INTERNAL SECURITY WAS ALSO THREATENED BY QUARRELS BETWEEN IMMIGRANT GROUPS, NOTABLY THE CROATS AND THE YUGOSLAVS. THE CULMINATION WAS AN AIRPLANE HIJACKING BY A CROAT GROUP DEMANDING THE RELEASE OF SEVEN POLITICAL PRISONERS, WHICH RESULTED IN THE REVISION OF THE PERSONNEL CONTROL ORDINANCE. THE REPORT OF THE LIDBOM COMMISSION IN 1972 PROPOSED THE ENACTMENT OF COOPERATION BETWEEN NATIONAL POLICE FORCES WITH REGARD TO THE ADMINISTRATION OF ALIENS. THIS WOULD PERMIT THE EXPULSION OF A FOREIGNER ON THE BASIS OF A FOREIGN POLICE TIP. THIS BILL CREATED A GREAT DEAL OF ANGER AMONG LEFTISTS BECAUSE OF THE CREATION OF A LIST OF TERRORISTS. THIS BILL WAS TABLED, BUT LIDBOM POINTED OUT THAT THE ONLY ALTERNATIVE WAS TO DO NOTHING AT ALL. THE BILL FINALLY WAS PASSED. VARIOUS INCIDENTS RELATING TO MEMBERSHIP IN TERRORIST GROUPS ARE CITED. THE EXPULSION OF JAPANESE TERRORISTS IN THE SHIMADA CASE IS DESCRIBED. DISCUSSION OF THE SWEDISH POLICY AGAINST TERRORIST GROUPS SHOWS THAT, DESPITE CRITICISM, IT IS COMPATIBLE WTH THE EUROPEAN CONVENTION ON HUMAN RIGHTS. WHEN A FOREIGNER COME TO SWEDEN CLAIMING TO BE A POLITICAL REFUGEE, HE IS NOT TURNED AWAY. IT IS STATED THAT SWEDEN HAS NOT DEALT WITH THE PROBLEM OF FELLOW TRAVELERS. BY THIS POLICY, SWEDEN MAY BE ADMITING POTENTIAL TERRORISTS INTO THE COUNTRY. THE SWEDISH GOVERNMENT NO LONGER SEEMS TO WANT THE COUNTRY TO BE HAVEN FOR REVOLUTIONARIES. (BAC) WANT THE COUNTRY TO BE A HAVEN FOR REVOLUTIONARIES. (BAC)