NCJ Number
57920
Date Published
1979
Length
23 pages
Annotation
TERRORISM CANNOT BE CONTROLLED IF LEGALITY IS CONFERRED ON TERRORIST ACTS COMMITTED BY A STATE AGAINST ITS OWN PEOPLE OR BY TERRORISTS SEEKING SUCH SYMPATHETIC GOALS AS SELF-DETERMINATION AND INDEPENDENCE.
Abstract
THE ORDINARY CITIZEN IS CONCERNED ABOUT ACTS OF TERROR THAT ARE OFFICIALLY DIRECTED AGAINST A GOVERNMENT OR SOME POLITICAL MOVEMENT AND THAT HURT THE INNOCENT OR ARE EXECUTED IN THE TERRITORY OF A THIRD STATE. HOWEVER, HE IS NOT CONCERNED WITH THE LEGALITY OF ISRAEL'S RAID ON ENTEBBE AIRPORT OR THE EGYPTIAN COMMANDO OPERATION IN CYPRUS. HE CONSIDERS SUCH ACTIONS TO BE MORALLY CORRECT ACTIVITIES DIRECTED TOWARDS THE SUPPRESSION OF TERRORIST ACTS. COUNTRIES TEND TO TAKE A SIMILAR HANDS-OFF APPROACH TOWARDS TERRORISM ALLEGED TO HAVE BEEN COMMITTED BY THE AUTHORITIES OF ANOTHER GOVERNMENT. INTERNATIONAL LAW HAS LONG RECOGNIZED THE RIGHT OF A STATE TO DO WHAT IT DESIRES WITH ITS OWN NATIONALS. IT IS CONTENDED THAT THE MOST NOTORIOUS EXAMPLES OF STATE-DIRECTED TERRORISM ARE TO BE FOUND IN STALIN'S RUSSIA, HITLER'S GERMANY, AND IN THE SO-CALLED PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITALS IN RUSSIA TODAY. THE 1948 UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS HAS ALLOWED MORE PROTESTS AGAINST OPPRESSION THAN PREVIOUSLY, BUT NOT NECESSARILY MORE ACTION. HOWEVER, THERE SEEMS LITTLE CHANCE OF TERRORISM BEING CONTROLLED ON ANTHING LIKE A UNIVERSAL BASIS WHLE THE CURRENT A 'DOUBLE STANDARD' IS IN EFFECT. THE LEGALITY AND RESPECTABILITY CONFERRED UPON THE PALESTINE LIBERATION ORGANIZATION (PLO) BY THE UNITED NATIONS IS ALSO OPPOSED. IT IS CONTENDED THAT THE PLO AND OTHER GROUPS LIKE IT ARE COMMITTING MURDER AND THAT THE UNITED NATIONS ACTION WILL ONLY ENCOURAGE AN INCREASE IN SUCH ACTIVITIES. REFERENCE NOTES ARE PROVIDED. (PRG)