NCJ Number
68236
Journal
Ilanud al Dia Volume: 2 Issue: 6 Dated: (DECEMBER 1979) Pages: 28-32
Date Published
1979
Length
5 pages
Annotation
THE WORLDWIDE THREAT OF TERRORISM, WITH ITS DEADLY EFFICIENCY AND INCREASING SOPHISTICATION OF OPERATING METHODS IS EXAMINED FROM AN AUSTRALIAN CRIMINOLOGIST'S PERSPECTIVE; NEW WAYS TO FIGHT IT ARE SUGGESTED.
Abstract
TERRORISM CAN BE DEFINED AS A MODERN, DEVELOPING INDUSTRY: ITS WEAPONS ARE THE FANATICISM OF ITS OPERATIVES. THE ARMAMENT IS SOPHISTICATED AND TERRORIST FUNDS PRACTICALLY UNLIMITED. EXTREMISTS ON THE LEFT AND RIGHT OF THE POLITICAL SPECTRUM FOLLOW HITLER'S PRECEPT THAT THE BASIC ELEMENT OF SUCCESS IS THE CONTINUED USE OF VIOLENCE. ATTEMPTING TO ANSWER THE QUESTION OF WHO THE TERRORISTS ARE, THIS STUDY IDENTIFIES THEM NOT ONLY AS EXTREMISTS ON THE LUNATIC FRINGES OF INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNIZED POLITICAL PARTIES, BUT ALSO AS VIOLENT CRIMINALS AND CRIMINALLY INSANE AND PSYCHOPATHIC INDIVIDUALS. A WORLDWIDE MUTUAL ASSISTANCE NETWORK EXISTS AMONG TERRORISTS OF ALL POLITICAL HUES AND KINDS, AND INCLUDES ALSO CRIMINAL HANGERS-ON. DEMOCRATIC COUNTRIES, TRYING TO SIMULTANEOUSLY FIGHT TERRORISM AND MAINTAIN DUE PROCESS, AS WELL AS PROTECT THE HUMAN RIGHTS OF TERRORIST SUSPECTS, ARE SEVERELY HANDICAPPED IN THE FIGHT AGAINST TERRORISM. ON THE OTHER HAND, REPRESSIVE MEASURES, INVOLVING SUSPENSION OF CONSTITUTIONAL GUARANTEES, ARE COUNTERPRODUCTIVE WITHOUT THE BASIC AND INDISPENSABLE INGREDIENT OF CITIZEN'S SUPPORT OF THEIR GOVERNMENT'S EFFORTS AND CITIZEN'S RESISTANCE TO TERRORIST PROPAGANDA. TERRORISTS COULD BE EASILY TRACKED DOWN AND ARRESTED, AND THEIR HIDEWAYS, ARMS CACHES, AND BOMB FACTORIES EASILY LOCATED, WITHOUT PUBLIC TOLERANCE OF TERRORISM AND PUBLIC COMPLICITY, OFTEN CAUSED BY FEAR. VIOLENCE CANNOT BE SUCCESSFULLY FOUGHT WITH VIOLENCE: AN ENLIGHTENED AND SUPPORTIVE CITIZENRY IS THE BEST ANTITERRORIST WEAPON OF DEMOCRATIC GOVERNMNENTS EVERYWHERE.--IN SPANISH.