NCJ Number
126894
Journal
Terrorism Volume: 12 Issue: 4 Dated: (1989) Pages: 297-315
Date Published
1989
Length
18 pages
Annotation
This conference report covers a panel discussion on the legal responses to terrorism. Terrorism is defined, and different strategies of dealing with it are discussed, in particular, legally dealing with terrorism as an international crime.
Abstract
According to the panelists, attempts at recognizing terrorism as an international crime have so far been unsuccessful because of the difficulties in defining international terrorism. Acts of terrorism can currently only be prosecuted if they are defined as crimes under municipal laws and only by the State that has jurisdiction over the area hit by the terrorist act. One area of difficulty in definition is the attempt to distinguish between terrorists, revolutionaries, and freedom fighters, eg. differentiating between a terrorist act and a political crime, which can differ from country to country. Intelligence about terrorist activities and groups plays a crucial role in combating terrorism. Intelligence can be employed for prevention of terrorism, for prosecution of terrorists, and in crisis management. Psychological operations are also discussed as a counterterrorist strategy. Extradiction is seen as a key feature of any international antiterrorism conventions or legal strategies.