NCJ Number
53143
Date Published
1977
Length
25 pages
Annotation
THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN URBAN AND RURAL GUERRILLA ACTIVITY AND TERRORISM IS TRACED THROUGH THE SUCCESSES AND FAILURES OF REVOLUTIONARY MOVEMENTS IN LATIN AMERICA.
Abstract
CASTRO'S COMPANION, CHE GUEVARA, WROTE THAT A DETERMINED MINORITY COULD FAN REVOLUTION FROM A DISTANT RURAL FOCAL POINT EVEN BEFORE CONDITIONS WERE COMPLETELY FAVORABLE (AS WAS SUCCESSFUL IN CUBA). WHEN SUCH REVOLUTIONS FAILED IN OTHER COUNTRIES, THE FOCAL POINT SHIFTED TO URBAN AREAS WHERE THE MAJORITY OF THE POPULATION IS CENTERED; THE GUEVARA PRINCIPLE THAT THE REVOLUTIONARY VANGUARD WAS NOT TO WAIT PASSIVELY FOR THE APPROPRIATE TIME TO ACT WAS RETAINED. HOWEVER, WHILE A GROUP OF RURAL GUERRILLAS CAN MAINTAIN ITSELF FOR YEARS AGAINST SUPERIOR FORCES ON INACCESSIBLE TERRAIN, URBAN LOCALES REQUIRE DIRECT METHODS OF DISTURBANCE AND DEMORALIZATION. TERRORISM IS THE SIMPLEST OF SUCH METHODS, EMPLOYING BOMBINGS AND KIDNAPPINGS, WHICH AROUSE UNCERTAINTY AND PROVE THE GOVERNMENT POWERLESS AGAINST AN INVISIBLE FOE. THE GUERRILLA MOVEMENT, ONCE THE LAST RESORT AGAINST ILLEGAL AND DESPOTIC GOVERNMENT, GREW TO BE AN INSTRUMENT OF PROVOCATION AGAINST APPARENTLY CONSTITUTIONAL GOVERNMENTS, WHICH WERE CONSIDERED MORE DANGEROUS THAN OUTRIGHT DICTATORSHIPS BECAUSE THEY CREATED THE ILLUSION THAT PEACEFUL CHANGE IS POSSIBLE. IN VENEZUELA, BRAZIL, AND URUGUAY, URBAN GUERRILLAS CONSIDERED TERRORIST ACTIVITY FOR THE SAKE OF PUBLICITY, TO HARM THE IMAGE OF THE GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC OFFICIALS. HOWEVER, TERRORIST EXCESSES EVENTUALLY BECAME COUNTERPRODUCTIVE, BRINGING ON ARRESTS AND THE TERRORISTS' CONSEQUENT DOWNFALL. FURTHER, ANTITERRORIST FORCES APPEARED IN THE FORM OF 'DEATH SQUADS' AND SECRET POLICE WHO SUPPORTED FASCISM AND EXTREME REPRESSION. THE THESIS THAT TERRORISM WOULD BREAK DOWN THE 'LEGAL FICTIONS' AND PROVOKE REVOLUTION HAS NOT YET PROVED VALID. --IN GERMAN. (MHP)