NCJ Number
61352
Date Published
1974
Length
15 pages
Annotation
DIPLOMATIC KIDNAPPINGS ARE EXAMINED BOTH AS A FORM OF URBAN TERRORISM WITHIN INDIVIDUAL STATES AND AS AN INTERNATIONAL PROBLEM; MEANS FOR DEALING WITH THE PROBLEM ARE SUGGESTED.
Abstract
DIPLOMATIC KIDNAPPINGS, WHICH DATE FROM THE MID-1960'S, HAVE MULTIPLIED BOTH IN FREQUENCY AND IN GEOGRAPHIC EXTENT. ESPECIALLY IN LATIN AMERICA AND THE MIDDLE EAST, SUCH KIDNAPPINGS ILLUSTRATE THE REVOLUTIONARY STRATEGY OF USING TERRORISM AS AN INTERIM TACTIC TOWARD LONG-RANGE POLITICAL GOALS. WRITINGS OF RECENT REVOLUTIONARY THEORISTS EMPHASIZE THAT VIOLENCE IS ESSENTIAL TO ACHIEVE REVOLUTIONARY GOALS. A MAIN GOAL OF DIPLOMATIC KIDNAPPINGS HAS BEEN TO FREE JAILED GUERILLA COMRADES. INDIVIDUAL GOVERNMENT POLICIES TOWARD KIDNAPPERS' DEMANDS FOR RANSOM OR PRISONER RELEASE HAVE VARIED FROM STATE TO STATE. DEATH OF THE HOSTAGES HAS FREQUENTLY OCCURED. STRATEGIES FOR DETERRING FUTURE KIDNAPPINGS HAVE AIMED TO MAXIMIZE THE RISKS TO TERRORISTS, VIA SECURITY MEASURES AND PROSECUTION, AND TO MINIMIZE THE REWARDS, VIA REFUSAL OF TERRORISTS' DEMANDS. IF THE GOAL OF KIDNAPPINGS IS TERRORISM RATHER THAN REWARD, HOWEVER, REFUSAL TO ACCEDE TO DEMANDS WILL FAIL TO DETER THESE ACTIONS. NEVERTHELESS, THE STRATEGY OF INCREASING KIDNAPPERS' RISKS CAN ONLY BE HELPFUL. INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS ADOPTED BY THE ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN STATES AND THE UNITED NATIONS, UNILATERAL TIGHTENING OF SECURITY CONTROLS, AND CONCERN WITHIN THE U.S. GOVERNMENT ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF DIPLOMATIC KIDNAPPINGS WITHIN U.S. BORDERS ALL ILLUSTRATE THE INCREASING CONCERN ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AS WELL AS MEASURES TAKEN TO PREVENT IT. STRATEGIES FOR DETERRENCE CAN BE EFFECTIVE ONLY IF ADOPTED REGIONALLY OR WORLDWIDE, RATHER THAN UNILATERALLY. A BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE ABOUT THE AUTHOR IS INCLUDED. (CFW)