NCJ Number
51480
Journal
Polizia Moderna Volume: 30 Issue: 4 Dated: (APRIL 1978) Pages: 20-23
Date Published
1978
Length
4 pages
Annotation
TERRORIST CRIMINALITY IS DEFINED ACCORDING TO THE ITALIAN EXPERIENCE WITH TERRORISM; LEGISLATION ENACTED TO CONFRONT TERRORIST ACTS IS DETAILED.
Abstract
TERRORISM IS A CRIMINAL METHODOLOGY WHICH, IF PERPETRATED AGAINST THE INSTITUTIONS OF THE STATE, CAN BE DESCRIBED AS DESTRUCTIVE BUT NEVER AS POLITICAL, AN ACT OF WAR, AN ACT OF POPULAR REVOLT, OR A REVOLUTIONARY EVENT, SINCE IT IS MORE THAN A PHENONMENON OF DELINQUENCY. VIOLATION OF THE PENAL CODE CONSTITUTES VIOLATION AGAINST THE STATE AND ITS LEGAL ORDER IS ATTACKED. TERRORISM DOES NOT ALWAYS IMMEDIATELY MANIFEST ITSELF BUT RATHER GAINS MOMENTUM THROUGH PROGRESSIVE ACTIONS WHOSE INITIAL PHASES DO NOT ALWAYS SEEM TO BE RECOGNIZABLY DANGEROUS. FOR EXAMPLE, THE SICILIAN SEPARATIST MOVEMENT, STARTED AGAINST THE ANGLO-AMERICAN ALLIED ARMED FORCES IN 1943, KINDLED A NATIONAL SICILIAN SPIRIT FOR INDEPENDENCE. FROM THESE BEGINNINGS GREW A SECRET ARMY, WHICH SPARKED OFF WHAT WOULD NOW BE RECOGNIZED AS TERRORIST ACTIVITIES AND SUBSEQUENT SUCCESSFUL GOVERNMENT SUPPRESSION. LAW DECREE N. 59 DATED MARCH 21, 1978, DEALS WITH 'SEIZURE OF PERSONS FOR PURPOSE OF EXTORTION, TERRORISM, OR DESTRUCTION' AND THEREBY MARKS ITALY'S DELIBERATE AND FRONTAL ATTACK AGAINST DESTRUCTIVE TERRORISM THAT IS BASED ON CONFUSED AND MANIACAL IDEOLOGY AND THAT COLDLY PERPETRATES HORRENDOUS, ORGANIZED CRIMES. PENAL TRIAL AND SAFETY REGULATIONS UNDER THIS DECREE ARE LISTED. FOR AN ENGLISH SUMMARY TRANSLATION, SEE NCJ # 59197. --IN ITALIAN. (MHP)