16 October 1997
The State Department's designation of 30 groups as foreign terrorist organizations last week drew sharp, but predictable responses: praise from journalists whose governments are combatting the actions of such groups and criticism from those whose leaders have harbored these organizations. Most, however, concluded that the publication of the list, as required under the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996, may, in fact, have some success in stemming the flow of U.S.--and even perhaps other Western sources of--financial support for terrorist organizations. Journalists in Sri Lanka, India and Peru led supporters of the Department's list, calling it "a timely salvo in the larger global fight against all forms of terrorism," and a "positive U.S. initiative which should be followed by the international community." These observers judged that by describing the "true nature" of rogue groups operating in their part of the world, the U.S. had added credence to their own countries' campaigns against terrorism which they say, may ultimately lead to peace talks between insurgency groups and their governments. If there is any criticism, these writers said, it is that Western nations have not taken enough "decisive action" in combatting global terrorism. Responding to the truck bombing in Colombo allegedly by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) yesterday--an act widely considered to be LTTE's reaction to being placed on the terrorist list and U.S. support for the Sri Lankan government--Colombo's English-language, independent Island declared that the major powers "should stop mollycoddling" terrorist groups. Indian and Pakistani papers noted India's contentment with the inclusion of Pakistan-based Harakat ul-Ansar (HUA) on the list for its militant activity in Jammu and Kashmir. The right-of-center Indian Express quoted Indian officials stating that the naming of HUA was a "vindication" of India's contention that it is a victim of cross- border terrorism. In Islamabad, the radical, pro-Iran Muslim contended that implicit in the HUA's listing is the view that "Pakistan has to give up supporting the Kashmiri uprising or it would be enlisted as a country sponsoring terrorism." Peruvian papers applauded the addition of the Shining Path as well as Tupac Amaru Revolutionary Movement--the insurgents who held foreign dignitaries hostage for months at the Japanese Embassy in Lima earlier this year. Noting that Iran had welcomed the inclusion of the Iraqi-based Mujahadeen Khalq on the list, Saudi Arabia's London-based, internationally circulated Al-Hayat asked whether "American animosity toward Iran seems to be softening." As expected, Arab writers gave the harshest assessments of the report. They challenged the Department's "definition" of terrorism and accused the U.S. of pursuing double standards when it comes to Arabs and Israelis defending their rights. In light of the recent failed assassination attempt by Israel's intelligence agency Mossad on a Hamas political leader in Jordan, writers called alternately for Mossad's, the Likud Party's and the CIA's inclusion on the list. This survey is based on 30 reports from 14 countries, October 8-15. EDITOR: Gail Hamer BurkeTo Go Directly To Quotes By Region, Click Below MIDDLE EAST ALGERIA: "Washington Listens To Paris" An article in independent, leading French-languge Liberte, a paper close to the Berber-based political party Rally for Culture and Democracy, stated (10/8), "The U.S. State Department spokesman had disturbing remarks on Algeria. 'We will open rapidly a dialogue with the French government, which has a unique influence in the region, to see what can be done,' said the American diplomat, confirming the project of 'an initiative' on Algeria agreed upon between the Secretary of State, Albright, and her French counterpart, Hubert Vedrine. "These facts would not really have been astonishing, given the offensive of some Europeans which have interventionist dreams, if they had not come after the much-noticed declaration of Neumann, the former U.S. ambassador in Algeria. He provided the support of his country for 'military measures' taken by the Algerian regime in its struggle against terrorism. In his speech before the Senate, Neumann also affirmed that there is enough evidence to attribute the responsibility for the massacres to the GIA (Armed Islamic Group) and added that 'stability is important for our friends in North Africa and in southern Europe as well as for our strategic interests in the region.' Thus, it might be that their interests and the interests of their 'friends' in the Mediterranean have led the Americans to accede to the French desire to interfere in the Algerian crisis.... "In the State Department briefing, James Rubin did not come out in favor of an American-French action. He merely indicated that the two governments will discuss the opportunity of an initiative. Nevertheless, it is not so much this consultation between Paris and Washington with regard to Algeria that shocked Algiers. It is rather the role of 'godfather' or of inescapable intermediary that the Americans attribute to the French.... Algiers' point of view has apparently not been integrated into this surprising approach." BAHRAIN: "What About The Mossad, CIA?" Radhi Al-Sammak made this point in semi-official Akhbar Al-Khalij(10/12), "If Washington considers itself the defender of democracy and peace in the world and the principal adversary of international terrorism, when is it going to add the Mossad to its list of terrorist organizations? Perhaps it is useless to ask this question, as it is like asking the accused party to bring himself to trial, especially when we consider that all Mossad activities receive the support, cooperation and coordination of its mother--the American terrorist agency, the CIA." "Albright's Dictionary" Semi-official Akhbar Al-Khalij ran this coment (10/10) by Hafedh Al- Shaikh: "Albright embraces the regime in Tunisia, praising its 'moderate' policy, while at the same time bearing a list of organizations she calls 'terrorist,' including the Lebanese Hezbollah, the Palestinians' Hamas and Al-Jihad.... It is not difficult to know what Albright means by moderate.... It means surrendering to the Zionist plan.... Even if this action leads to civil wars between people and governments or crippling the democracy which America pretends to promote.... On the other hand, the word 'extremist' in Albright's dictionary means every action carried out in self-defense, and for the defense of property, territory, holy sites, or people." JORDAN: "Unbalanced Standards" Senior editor Nabil Al-Sharif opined on the back page of center-left, influential Arabic Al-Dustur (10/12), "We are not here to discuss the U.S. terrorist list or why it's so focused on Islamic organizations. We would like, however, to arrive at a more accurate definition of terrorism. We ask: Does the Israeli Mossad's violation of an Arab capital by clear orders from the Israeli government fall under the rubric of terrorism?... Israel has its own concept of terrorism where the focus is on what other people do, and not on their own violations of international values and laws. The strange thing is that some international circles seem to agree with Israel." "State Terrorism" An unnamed writer identified as "meem" opined on the front page of pro-government, influential Al-Ray (10/10), "Secretary of State Madeleine Albright announced the names of 30 organizations as terrorist organizations. Did the secretary forget about what the Mossad did in the streets of Amman when they tried to assassinate Khaled Mishaal? Isn't that terrorism?... How long is the United States going to continue to consider Israel the beloved one?" MOROCCO: "U.S. Interpretation Of Terrorism In The Balance" Front page commentary by Abdelkrim Al Suti in opposition, left-of- center Arabic-languageBayane Al Youm (10/13), "While Washington turns its back on Israeli's practice of state terrorism, it does not hesitate to launch a poisonous media campaign against Arab and Islamic countries.... If Washington proclaims its rejection of terrorism, why has it stayed silent in the face of an endless series of Israeli terrorist actions against innocent civilians and children at Deir Yassin, Kfar Qacem, Sabra and Chatila, and South Lebanon? The United States should end its policy of a double standard. Enough is enough with this blind bias!" SAUDI ARABIA: "Washington Ready To Work With Tehran?" London-based, internationally circulated Al-Hayat featured this editorial (10/15) by Khairullah Khairullah: "The situation in northern Iraq raises many questions, especially whether American animosity toward Iran seems to be softening. Evidence of this is the inclusion of the Mujahideen Khalq organization into the State Department's terrorist list, which meets one of the Iranian demands. And here we should note that the Mujahideen Khalq are in Iraq, as if Washington wants to prove that its problem with Tehran is solvable and that Washington is ready to work out a solution with Tehran." SYRIA: "Illogical Association Of Ideas" According to Chief Editor Amid Khouli, writing in government-owned Al- Thawra (10/12), "Netanyahu has publicly announced responsibility for the attempt on Meshal's life. This is an unusual and unprecedented development in this unique case.... Logically, the Likud organization should be on America's list of terrorist states, but I have discovered that this world is not governed either by logic or outright evidence." UNITED ARAB EMIRATES: "Definition Of Terrorism" Commenting on the Israeli attempt to assassinate Hamas political figure Khaled Meshal in Amman, the Sharjah-based Al-Khaleej stated (10/10), "The U.S. stand regarding the attempt has created a problem in defining the word terrorist. In its modern form, terrorism that targeted Arabs is not terrorism. It is only so called when the Arabs use their legitimate rights to defend their own lands. The U.S. stand contradicts all the UN standards which stress the rights for self- determination and independence for people under occupation. The United States, in fact, is directly involved in distorting international laws and legitimacy in favor of Israel." "Netanyahu On The Top Of That List" Dubai-based Al-Bayan stated (10/10), "The announcement of a list containing 30 terrorist groups and the decision by the United States to ban dealings with them is not something new.... Israel continues to kill the peace process and yet no action has been initiated by the United States. It would have been appropriate for the United States to be fair and just before announcing the list of 30 groups and include Israel under Netanyahu on the top of that list." SOUTH ASIA BANGLADESH: "Steps Against Iran And Libya But Not Israel" In the view of conservative Ittefaq (10/14), "It is regrettable, the United States has never been vocal against Israeli terrorism. Israel has killed many Palestinian leaders and lately attempted to murder the Hamas leader in Jordan. But Western countries have never taken any steps against Israel like the ones they took against Iran and Libya. This is a matter of great regret." INDIA: "Now Demonize Pakistan" An editorial in the right-of-center Indian Express (10/15), "When [Kashmir Chief Minister] Farooq Abdullah speaks out on terrorism, he deserves a serious hearing even when he has no fresh revelation to offer. After all, it is the wearer who really knows where the shoe pinches. When he asks for Pakistan to be declared a state that sponsors terrorism, he is reiterating an old demand. But now, with one Pakistani-sponsored organization, Harkat-ul-Ansar, having been banned by the United States, the time is favorable for a more comprehensive initiative. For years now, India has had enough evidence to nail Pakistan.... Now, the cumulative weight of evidence has become fairly overpowering.... The Gujral doctrine, which is already in full deployment, seeks to establish comfort levels with Pakistan. Farooq's initiative calls for the exact opposite--it wants Pakistan demonized.... "While Abdullah's government has managed to re-establish the political process in the Valley over the past year, Delhi cannot seriously expect it to move further ahead on the road to normalcy while its citizens remain under threat from cross-border violence.... The Ministry of External Affairs obviously has to get its public relations acts together and try to reverse a rather peculiar situation wherein Pakistan can comfortably keep scoring debating points with outright falsehoods. India has the facts on its side. It only remains to tilt the climate of international opinion decisively in its favor." "OIC Sees Sense?" An editorial in the nationalist Hindustan Times (10/15): "The decision of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) not to put Kashmir on the agenda for its next summit meeting scheduled to be held in Tehran in December raises hopes that it would graduate from being a forum of sectarian rhetoric to a purposeful multinational organization.... The fact that Pakistan had been shown up as the chief promoter of several armed groups active in Kashmir has begun to make an impact on independent opinion across the world. The U.S. State Department's decision to name the Pakistan-based Harkat-ul-Ansar as a terrorist organization lent further confirmation to Pakistani complicity in the continuing subversive activities in the Valley.... Though Iran had in the past gone along with the OIC on Kashmir, it was obliged to take a more objective view of the regional realities in its capacity now as the organization's new chairman.... Tehran indeed had an opportunity to take the OIC out of a closed mind-set." "Countering Terrorism" An editorial in the right-of-center Indian Express stated (10/14), "It is a response to domestic public opinion after the Oklahoma City bombing and to the subsequent law passed by the U.S. Congress requiring the government to block funds to terrorist groups. As such, the list is neither comprehensive nor will it necessarily win wide acceptance outside the U.S. Nevertheless the act of naming names has its uses as long as it survives legal challenge. Material aid in the United States to the cited organizations will be substantially cut off. Beyond that there is some negative propaganda value in being identified as terrorist by the most powerful country in the world.... Some moral pressure will also be exerted on countries allowing their territory to be used as bases.... Unless there is recognition of the fact that political dialogue is the only track for resolving disputes and a firm decision is made to cut all contact with Harkat, it will not be the last Pakistan or India sees of it or the other outfits operating in Kashmir. A change of nameplate, a reshuffle of the pack, lying low for spell, these are what can be expected to deflect American interlocutors assuming Washington's interest in the matter goes beyond putting a name to a phenomenon. Calling a spade a spade is, of course, sensible. When it comes to the definition of terrorist groups, governments tend to give themselves some latitude--the U.S. list, for example, is open to modification. The effect is to leave terrorist organizations some breathing space.... Consistency of action is difficult to achieve when governments themselves are guilty of acts of omission or commission. The best way of putting terrorist groups out of action is to deal in good time with the political frustration that is their breeding ground." "Welcome, If Belated" In the words of the centrist Hindu (10/14), "The Clinton administration's decision to include the Harkat-ul-Ansar...and the dreaded...Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in a list of 30 'terrorist' organizations may prove a turning point in the region's collective effort to stamp out terrorism.... India's long and often frustrating campaign to expose the Pakistani sponsorship of the guerrilla campaign in Jammu and Kashmir has perhaps gained its first victory in the blacklisting of the Harkat.... It is, however, doubtful if the U.S. decision will in any way affect the Harkat's purse-strings which are controlled from the distant desert sands of Saudi Arabia.... "It may of course, be futile to expect Pakistan to respond positively to the U.S. action by closing down the training camps it is running. India will therefore look to the United States to initiate followup action and we have enough opportunities to seek this during the forthcoming visits of top officials of the Clinton administration, including Secretary of State Madeleine Albright. New Delhi will expect Washington to persuade and pressure its allies, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, to realize the folly of supporting terrorism and end their sponsorship of the guerilla campaign in Kashmir.... The primary objective of Washington is to insulate the country from such acts of terrorism.... Through its latest action, the United States has fired a timely salvo in the larger global fight against all forms of terrorism." "Double-Take On Terror" An editorial in the centrist Times of India maintained (10/11), "India has welcomed the U.S. declaration formally designating...Harkatul Ansar...as a terrorist outfit and the imposition of sanctions against it in regard to fund-raising in the United States and visas for its leaders.... Besides Pakistanis, Harkatul Ansar has thousands of foreign mercenaries who were...trained by the Pakistani Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) wing, which in turn received a great deal of technical assistance from the CIA.... The reluctance of the United States to issue this declaration earlier may have something to do with CIA's association with ISI in the 1980s in raising and training suchmercenaries during the Afghan War.... "Washington's indictment of Harkatul Ansar suggests a belated realization on its part that the Pakistani administration is powerless to control or influence the terrorist militias spawned in the region during the Afghan war. While welcoming this development it is difficult to overlook the failure of the Indian government to counter the information war on Kashmir and project to the world media the nature of terrorism in the Valley.... While Pakistan has projected Kashmir as an issue of self-determination and human rights violations, New Delhi has not responded with equal effectiveness in portraying Kashmir in the domestic and international media as a victim of international terrorism.... Our obligation goes far beyond expressing satisfaction on this preliminary step taken by the United States." "Recognize Terror" An editorial in the centrist Pioneer stated (10/11), "The United States' decision...affects only those organizations that canvass various forms of support within the United States.... The list...is by no means comprehensive, but it only reflects a determination to address the problem of terrorism. The legal measures which will be deployed as a result of this designation will limit themselves to addressing instances of private funding and other methods of tangible support. It leaves the question of state sponsored terrorism completely unaddressed.... Harkat-ul- Ansar's...patronage is well known, and as is known to have happened before, it would not be surprising if Harkat-ul-Ansar's name is changed.... "The thing to do would be to build up from this incremental intent to tackle the problem of terrorism and funding and broaden the scope to include those groups that operate from within the United States such as the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF).... From thence it would be a far simpler step to address the bigger question, that of state sponsored terrorism. Pakistan has publicly vouched support-- moral, diplomatic and otherwise--for terrorist activities in Jammu & Kashmir. It would be a singular failure if the U.S. were to miss the woods for the trees and not address the question of state sponsored terrorism implicit in the recognition that Harkat-ul-Ansar is a terrorist organization. After all terrorism does not thrive in vacuum. Geography and stated policies of Pakistan alone should be enough to establish culpability." "A Welcome Ban" According to the centrist Asian Age (10/11), "It was only when it came home to the U.S. administration and the other countries involved that the Harkat was behind the kidnapping and possible death, of the five tourists who disappeared from the Valley two years ago that U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright included it in her list of 30 banned organizations.... One can hope that the United States will use its self-declared fondness for justice and peace in the world to ensure that other terrorist groups operating from Pakistan are also brought under the purview of this act.... If President Clinton is serious when he says that 'the United States is committed to fight against those who speak the language of terror' then he must prove this by taking an impartial stand against all terrorist groups in the world.... In this particular case, Pakistan has been put on the defensive as it has been openly supporting the Harkat in the knowledge that it will not be taken to task.... Pakistan will lose little time in rapidly disassociating itself from the Hair cut, India is happy at having gained something, but it must not lose the opportunity to press for more." "Too Little, Too Late" The nationalist Hindustan Times opined (10/10), "The U.S. government's decision to specifically name certain outfits--Hamas, Hezbollah, Harkat-Ul-Ansar and the LTTE among them--as terrorist organizations was a welcome move in so far as it would help in identifying their true character. Equally important, it would also help in removing any ambiguities in the U.S. Government's own thinking about several of these organizations.... The State Department's...thinking about the Pakistan-based Harkat-ul-Ansar and the Tamil Tigers of Sri Lanka had been far from clear. In fact the U.S. government's decision to name Harkat-ul-Ansar as a terrorist organization had come at a time when this group's capability to unleash terrorist activities in Kashmir had been substantially reduced following the Indian forces' operations in the Valley.... "Thus, while commending the U.S. decision, it must be pointed out that it could have been more fruitfully timed. After all, why did the U.S. State Department have to dither so long when it had access to facts regarding the true character of this organization.... In fact, Harkat-ul-Ansar and some of the other equally virulent militant groups in the valley shared the same parentage. Yet, the U.S. government had not done enough to haul up the various elements promoting terrorist activities in the region. And at times the conduct of U.S. policies on the subject left one with the impression that it was using its anti-terrorist rhetoric selectively in order to subserve its current policy and tactical ends. Considering the high moral ground that the United States assumes in its policy pronouncements on the subject, it had often been found doing too little, too late." "De-fanged LTTE Now Looks Up To India" An analysis in the nationalist Hindustan Times (10/10) by Chennai correspondent P.K. Balachandran: "Ten years after it took on the might of the Indian Peace-Keeping Force (IPKF), spraying bullets and spewing propandistic venom with equal viciousness, and seven years after it triumphantly proclaimed the defeat of the 'world's fourth largest army' at its hands, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) is now sending feelers to India, seeking help. No, it does not want the IPKF back.... The LTTE wants India's 'moral support' for its fight for the Tamils' rights. Interestingly, in LTTE's addresses to India, the demand for an independent Tamil Eelam is brushed under the carpet in view of India's allergy to the concept. Clearly, this is a climb down from the bluff and bluster of the early 1990s.... The clock has been put back by ten years, as the LTTE is now precisely where it was a decade ago.... "The LTTE's sympathizers and propagandists who were clamoring for India's withdrawal from the scene ten years ago, are now saying that the Tamil question cannot be solved without third party involvement, and that the 'third party' must be India!... The West, on which they banked for years, has been giving them the cold shoulder, especially after the bombing of the Central Bank in colombo in January 1996. The United States on Wednesday dubbed the LTTE 'terrorist' and denied it entry into the United States and fundraising rights there.... While the LTTE wants India's moral support, with tacit consent to the use of Tamil Nadu as a military and supply base again, the Tamil people rue the day the IPKF left." PAKISTAN: "Terrorism's Honor Roll" An op-ed piece by Mr. M. Asad Durrani in the centrist national News(10/15), "'Strike terror into the hearts of your enemies and those who are the enemies of allah.' We had always believed that through this injunction the faithful were commanded to build up strength, to put the fear of God into their enemies. For any military thinker it is simply the concept of deterrence. But then there are those who understand terror a little better. The Islamic concept of Jihad, we are told, is based on terrorism. If that be so, we congratulate Harkat-Ul-Anwar (HUA) for the recognition it has received, from those who consider themselves the cat's whiskers on terrorism and Jihad, as one of the leading Mujahideen groups. We believe it was the famous hostage act of July '95...that won these laurels for the organization. We are however a bit confused at the Harkat's unhappiness over its inclusion in this distinguished list, and are at a loss to credit for this operation. It was an extraordinary feat.... Before the kidnapping, the Indians were in great deal of trouble in and on Kashmir. They had repeatedly failed to hold, whatever passes as 'elections' since 1989, and were under considerable Western and constitutional pressure to do so.... The hostage affair changed it all. Overnight we found 'understanding' for the Indian predicament. Their opponents, who we believed were freedom fighters, turned out to be ruthless barbarians who abducted innocent foreigners and chopped off their heads." "The Axis Of Americanism, Hinduism And Zionism" An editorial in the radical, pro-Iran Muslim (10/12), "One of the messages of the Americans has been recently sent through both American and Pakistani media. The U.S. Secretary of State declared that Harakatul Anwar (HUA) was a terrorist organization. Planted stories in the media, gave much more. The bottom line is that Pakistan was supporting HUA militarily and financially.... Implicit in this leak is that Pakistan has to give up supporting the Kashmiri uprising or it would be enlisted as a country sponsoring terrorism. If such condition is applied to Pakistan, the consequences are grave including complete ban on capital flow to Pakistan by all international donors.... Pakistan is not without options. There are plenty of them. Each option would definitely work against the interests of the United States. Again, each option would lead to the radicalization of Pakistan and the entire Muslim world against Americanism, Zionism and Hinduism." SRI LANKA: "LTTE Responds With Atrocities In Sri Lankan Capital" In editorial comment, the English-language, independent Islandstressed (10/15): "Early yesterday morning Velupillai Prabakaran delivered his message to the world. The question political analysts will be asking after yesterday's bombing is: Why did the LTTE commit this atrocity soon after the United States put them on the list of international terrorit organizations? Perhaps it is not a question for political analysts, but for psychiatrists. To understand a megalomaniac's mind is not an easy task. Prabakaran has committed acts which have proved disastrous to his organization. One was the assassination of former Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi...(which) certainly turned tables on him. The support from many quarters across the Palk Strait ceased with that ghastly killing. It put the stamp of terrorism on the LTTE which has pretended to be a liberation organization and got away with it. "Our understanding of yesterday's attack is that Prabakaran was telling the United States of America that he does not give a damn about being called a terrorist and he would continue to unleash violence till his objectives are achieved.... So far, only three countries have taken decisive action to curb LTTE terrorism: India, after the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi, Canada, in recent times, and the United States last week... Prabakaran and his cronies will decide to commence negotiations in a meaningful way...only when they see the writing on the wall. The big powers, if they are genuinely concerned about the welfare of all Sri Lankans, should stop mollycoddling this despicable terrorist. He will repeat many such crimes as he did yesterday unless such action is taken." "Both U.S., Sri Lanka Will Benefit" A commentary in the English-language, independent Sunday Leaders(10/12) said, "The designation of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) as a terrorist organization in terms of U.S. law, along with 29 other similar organizations, has been entirely a matter of safe- guarding U.S. interests. But the fact that Sri Lanka will benefit by the decision immensely is both to be welcomed and hailed as a symbolic victory." "Peace Process May Speed Up" A report in the English-language, independent Islands (10/13) said: "After several bloody setbacks, Sri Lanka's army appears to be winning its battle against Tamil Tiger rebels which together with diplomatic gains could lead eventually to peace talks, analysts said. A decision by the United States to include the LTTE on its list of 30 'foreign terrorist organizations' last week could speed up the process, they added." "U.S. Pressure On LTTE" A report in the English-language, government-run Daily News (10/13) held, "The U.S. government is expected to persuade its allies in Europe, particularly Britain, Germany, and France, to close down Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) offices and assist their security intelligence counterparts to mount surveillance on LTTE international operatives. The United States is also expected to dissuade the Sri Lankan government from negotiating with the LTTE and also assist the Sri Lanka military to engage the LTTE." "LTTE Makes The List" A report in the English-language, independent Weekend-Expresscommented (10/12), "A member of a democratic Tamil party said that the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) would now try to establish close links with the anti-American forces throughout the world. They do have links with some groups in the Middle East, Asia, India and the Far East. Now they will try to forge links with most of the terrorist organizations in the U.S. list. Most of the banned groups have access to arms suppliers and those links will be useful to the LTTE. They may try to get closer to the Colombian terrorists who are involved in international drug trafficking. The Libyan and Iranian terrorist groups are in the forefront of anti-American campaigns which include violent attacks on U.S. citizens and properties. The bombing of the World Trade Centre and the resultant anti-terrorism pitch in North America prompted Washington to campaign against global terrorism with more vigor and it has helped when Sri Lanka put forward its request to name the LTTE as a terrorist organization. "A former diplomat said that the credit for the U.S. decision should go largely to Justice Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris who made this request during his last visit to Washington and put forward the case in a very convincing manner and the report sent by the U.S. Embassy in Sri Lanka clinched the issue. 'The role of the foreign ministry and our mission in Washington is very mediocre although they jump to get the credit now,' the former diplomat said." LATIN AMERICA PERU: "The International Struggle Against Terrorism" Conservative, influential El Comercio opined (10/10), "Adding to the anti-terrorism global net, and in an attitude that should be imitated, the U.S. Government has dictated a series of measures to create obstacles against subversive groups of Latin America, Europe and the Middle East. It is, indeed, a positive U.S. initiative which should be followed by the international community." "Extinguished Species" A column written by Deputy Managing Editor Jorge Morelli in pro- government Expreso (10/9) read, "Finally the United States has declared it a crime to 'provide funds, arms or any other form of support' to terrorist organizations. It is a crucial victory against terrorism, as a consequence of a law passed after the Oklahoma City attack. The United States has requested every country to take measures to reduce 'the space where terrorism grows' until it transforms itself into a 'extinguished species.' With regard to Peru, it will be a pleasure, and (especially) to erase forever from our memory that infamous (MRTA) individual in Europe who was able to give messages to (his MRTA) Japanese residence kidnappers. There will never be any one like him again, on this earth." AZERBAIJAN: "List Will Hardly Eradicate Terrorism In General" Independent Ayna/Zerkalo commented (10/11): "The new list has considerably expanded the circle of those organizations which go under the American anti-terrorist legislation. No doubt, these measures will reinforce the security of U.S. citizens. However they will hardly lead to a complete eradication of terrorism. Many organizations listed as terrorist in the United States, are quite legal in other states, including those countries that are members of the Council of Europe and the European Union." ITALY: "Washington Includes Spain's ETA On List But 'Absolves' Irish IRA" A report from Madrid in centrist, top-circulation Corriere della Sera(10/10) noted: "This is the first time that Washington has openly labeled the Spanish ETA as a terrorist organization, and the novelty was received with great satisfaction in Madrid.... The State Department list includes quite a variety of organizations, but does not include the IRA, who knows whether temporarily or permanently. Negotiations on Northern Ireland are currently under way, and IRA has been put by the Americans, for the time being, among the organizations which are pending. Mrs. Albright was clear: 'The IRA can be added to the black list if the truce in Northern Ireland is broken.' And the State Department spokesman reiterated that the list could be revised any moment. An invitation to the allies to behave like the United States, suspending economic aid and logistical support to the terrorists, came from President Clinton." ## For more information, please contact: U.S. Information Agency Office of Public Liaison Telephone: (202) 619-4355 10/16/97 # # #