NCJ Number
53252
Date Published
1977
Length
11 pages
Annotation
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPROVING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE TO THE AIRCRAFT HIJACKING PROBLEM ARE OFFERED.
Abstract
THE LACK OF PUBLIC OUTCRY ABOUT HIJACKING IS NOTED. THE HISTORY OF HIJACKING INCIDENTS IS REVIEWED BRIEFLY, AND PROVISIONS OF VARIOUS INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS AGAINST HIJACKING ARE SUMMARIZED. IT IS POINTED OUT THAT MANY OF THE CONVENTIONS HAVE NOT BEEN RATIFIED OR, IF RATIFIED, HAVE NOT BEEN IMPLEMENTED. THIRTEEN SPECIFIC SUGGESTIONS FOR STRENGTHENING THE ANTIHIJACKING EFFORTS OF THE UNITED NATIONS (UN) AND OTHER GROUPS ARE OFFERED. AMONG THE SUGGESTIONS ARE THE FOLLOWING: THE UN SECRETARY-GENERAL SHOULD REPORT ANNUALLY ON THE EXACT STATUS OF RATIFICATION AND IMPLEMENTATION FOR ALL HIJACKING CONVENTIONS; PUBLIC DENUNCIATION OF HIJACKING SHOULD BE ENCOURAGED, WITH AIRLINES TAKING THE INITIATIVE; AIRLINES SHOULD BLACKLIST COUNTRIES THAT CONSPIRE WITH HIJACKERS OR FAIL TO ACT AGAINST HIJACKERS; THERE SHOULD BE A SPECIAL UN AGENCY FOR CRIME PREVENTION, WITH A SPECIAL UNIT FOR HIJACKING; INTERPOL SHOULD AMEND ITS CONSTITUTION SO THAT IT CAN BECOME INVOLVED IN HIJACKING CONTROL; AND THE MEDIA SHOULD APPLY NEWS EMBARGOES ON HIJACKING INCIDENTS WHEN IT IS APPARENT THAT PUBLICITY SERVES THE OBJECTIVES OF THE HIJACKERS. OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING: STATES SHOULD REFUSE POLITICAL ASYLUM TO HIJACKERS AND SHOULD AMEND THEIR LAWS AS NECESSARY TO DEAL WITH HIJACKING COMMITTED BY THEIR CITIZENS ABROAD AND BY FOREIGNERS WITHIN THEIR AIR SPACE; THE IDEA OF AN INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT SHOULD BE RECONSIDERED; THE UN SHOULD CONSIDER DRAFTING A CODE OF OFFENSES AGAINST THE PEACE AND SECURITY OF HUMANKIND, AS WELL AS ESTABLISHING AN INTERNATIONAL PRISON FOR OFFENDERS CONVICTED IN THE PROPOSED INTERNATIONAL COURT; AND HIJACK-RELATED RESEARCH, INCLUDING STUDIES OF POLICE COUNTERMEASURES, SHOULD BE STEPPED UP. OTHER MEASURES THAT COULD BE TAKEN BY THE UN TO FOSTER A COOPERATIVE APPROACH TO COMBATING HIJACKING ARE SUGGESTED. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT, WITH SUCH ACTIONS AS THOSE SUGGESTED, HIJACKING CAN BE PREVENTED--IF THE WORLD COMMUNITY ACTUALLY WANTS TO PREVENT IT. (LKM)