NCJ Number
48532
Journal
Terrorism Volume: 1 Issue: 2 Dated: (1978) Pages: 125-146
Date Published
1978
Length
22 pages
Annotation
THE EFFECTIVENESS OF NEGOTIATION PROCEDURES USED IN THE HANAFI MUSLIM TAKEOVER OF THREE SITES IN THE NATION'S CAPITAL DURING 1977 ARE DISCUSSED, INCLUDING HOW SUCH PROCEDURES MIGHT WORK IN OTHER SITUATIONS.
Abstract
THE HANAFI TAKEOVER APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN THE FIRST POLITICAL HOSTAGE SITUATION IN THE UNITED STATES. IN SUCH A SITUATION, THE PRIMARY TACTIC FOR THE POLICE IS TO PREPARE FOR A LONG WAIT, GIVING TENSIONS AN OPPORTUNITY TO DIFFUSE. IN THIS CASE, IT WAS THE OBJECTIVE OF THE POLICE TO ENTER INTO NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE HANAFIS IN AN ATTEMPT TO GRANT SYMBOLIC REWARDS AND TO ARRANGE FOR FACE-SAVING TECHNIQUES IN ORDER TO RESOLVE THE CONFLICT. THE POLICE MET TWO OF THE THREE DEMANDS MADE BY THE HANAFIS: A RELIGIOUS MOVIE THAT OFFENDED THEM WAS TEMPORARILY REMOVED FROM THEATERS AND A $750 FINE THAT HAD BEEN IMPOSED PREVIOUSLY ON THE HANAFI LEADER WAS REFUNDED. THE DEMAND FOR THE HANDING-OVER OF FIVE BLACK MUSLIMS CONVICTED FOR THE MASS MURDER OF SEVEN HANAFIS WAS NEVER MET. IN THIS INSTANCE, NEGOTIATION LED TO AN APPROPRIATE SOLUTION OF THE PROBLEM AND THE RELEASE OF THE HOSTAGES. CONTRARY TO THE POLICY OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA POLICE DEPARTMENT, THE U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT HAS MAINTAINED A POLICY OF TALKING, BUT NOT NEGOTIATING WITH TERRORISTS. THE OFFICIAL U.S. LINE IS THAT THE GOVERNMENT WILL NOT PAY RANSOM, RELEASE PRISONERS, OR OTHERWISE YIELD TO TERRORIST DEMANDS. HOWEVER, THERE IS NO EVIDENCE THAT SUCH A POLICY IS A SUCCESSFUL DETERRENT TO TERRORISM. EXAMPLES OF HOW THE U.S. POLICY OF NON-NEGOTIATION HAS FAILED ARE GIVEN. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT THE STATE DEPARTMENT'S POLICY BE REEVALUATED, TAKING THE SYMBOLIC AND RITUALISTIC MOTIVATIONS OF TERRORISTS INTO CONSIDERATION; THIS MAY NOT ALWAYS NECESSITATE GIVING IN TO THE TERRORIST'S ULTIMATE DEMAND, AND AT THE SAME TIME MAY SAVE MANY LIVES. REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (JSP)