POLITICS OF INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM (FROM CONTEMPORARY TERRORISM - SELECTED READINGS, 1978, BY JOHN D ELLIOTT AND LESLIE K GIBSON - SEE NCJ-48724)

• NCJ Number: 48728
• Author(s): A J PIERRE
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 16 pages
• Corporate Author: International Assoc of Chiefs of Police
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: REPRINTED FROM ORBIS, V 19, N 4 (WINTER 1976)

Annotation

RESPONSE TO INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM BY GOVERNMENTS, BY THE UNITED NATIONS, AND THROUGH INTERNATIONAL LAW IS EXAMINED, AND PROPOSALS FOR PREVENTION AND DETERENCE ARE PRESENTED.

Abstract

IN REVIEWING DEBATE IN THE UNITED NATIONS ON INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM, IT IS CONCLUDED THAT WHILE THE MAJORITY OF COUNTRIES REPRESENTED ACKNOWLEDGE THE DANGER OF SPREADING TERRORISM, MANY COUNTRIES STILL ARE MORE WILLING TO BE NEUTRAL OR TO CONDONE IT RATHER THAN CONDEMN IT. EFFORTS TO DETER SPECIFIC ACTS OF TERRORISM, SUCH AS SKYJACKING AND KIDNAPPING, THROUGH COOPERATIVE ACTION BETWEEN NATIONS HAVE MET WITH LIMITED SUCCESS. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT ATTEMPTS TO DEAL WITH TERRORISM SHOULD NOT CONCENTRATE SO MUCH ON LAW AS ON THE USE OF POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC PRESSURE, BOTH UNILATERALLY AND COOPERATIVELY, TO THWART CONDITIONS THAT SPAWN AND NOURISH TERRORISM. MEASURES FOR PREVENTING AND DETERRING INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM ARE PROPOSED. PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALIENATED AND OPPRESSED GROUPS TO REMEDY THEIR PLIGHTS THROUGH NONVIOLENT MEANS WOULD BE A MEANS OF PREVENTION. TERRORISM IS SEEN AS A FRANTIC ATTEMPT BY AN OPPRESSED PEOPLE TO GAIN THE ATTENTION OF POLITICAL POWER CENTERS OR TO MANIPULATE THEM IN AN EFFORT TO RECTIFY THEIR CONDITIONS. EFFORTS TO CONTACT, NEGOTIATE WITH AND HELP DISSIDENT GROUPS ARE URGED BEFORE VIOLENCE IS ATTEMPTED. SUGGESTIONS FOR DETERRING TERRORISM ARE AS FOLLOWS: USE OF POLITICAL PRESSURE AND INFLUENCE ON COUNTRIES WHO ARE LENIENT WITH INTERNATIONAL TERRORIST; ENCOURAGING IMPLEMENTATION OF SANCTIONS; IMPOSITION OF SPECIFIC SANCTIONS AGAINST THOSE COUNTRIES THAT SHELTER AIRPLANE HIJACKERS AND SABOTEURS; AND SHARED INTELLIGENCE DATA ON TERRORISTS AND THEIR ACTIVITIES FROM COUNTRY TO COUNTRY. IN ADDITION, RESTRAINT IN MEDIA COVERAGE OF TERRORIST ACTIVITY IS URGED; REEXAMINATION OF THE CURRENT UNITED STATES POLICY OF 'NO RANSOM' IS ENCOURAGED; AND A BROAD CONSENSUS IN THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY THAT VIOLENT ACTS AGAIST INNOCENT PERSONS ARE IMMORAL AND IRRATIONAL BY EVERY BEHAVIORAL STANDARD, EVEN IN THE PURSUIT OF WHAT SOME MAY PERCEIVE AS LEGITIMATE REVOLUTIONARY AIMS SHOULD BE SOUGHT. NOTES AND REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (RCB)