DATE=4/22/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-230057
TITLE=GERMANY / TERRORISM (L ONLY)
BYLINE=KYLE KING
DATELINE=BONN
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO: THE DISBANDING OF GERMANY'S ONCE-FEARED "RED ARMY FACTION"
TERROR GROUP IS BEING GREETED WITH A MIXTURE OF RELIEF, 
SKEPTICISM AND ANGER.  FROM BONN, VOA'S KYLE KING REPORTS.

TEXT:  ONE LEADING GERMAN NEWSPAPER RESPONDED TO THE RED ARMY 
FACTION ANNOUNCEMENT WITH AN EDITORIAL QUESTIONING WHY THE GROUP 
HAD NOT APOLOGIZED FOR ITS ACTIONS?

THE RED ARMY FACTION -- ALSO KNOWN AS THE "BAADER-MEINHOF GANG" 
-- ANNOUNCED MONDAY THAT IT HAD DECIDED TO GIVE UP ITS ARMED 
STRUGGLE AND DISBAND.   THE STATEMENT SAID THE GROUP HAD FAILED 
TO DEVELOP FROM ITS ORIGINS AS A PROTEST MOVEMENT AND ESTABLISH A
POLITICAL BASE.

ONE MEMBER OF THE GERMAN PARLIAMENT WHO ACTED AS A DEFENSE LAWYER
FOR THE GROUP IN THE 1960S, SAID HE DOUBTED THE SINCERITY OF THE 
GROUP'S PROMISE TO DISBAND.

FORMER GERMAN CHANCELLOR HELMUT SCHMIDT SAID ANY LIVING MEMBERS 
OF THE ORGANIZATION SHOULD BE BROUGHT TO JUSTICE FOR THEIR REIN 
OF TERROR.

THE RED ARMY FACTION DEVELOPED FROM A GROUP FOUNDED BY ANDREAS 
BAADER AND ULRIKE MEINHOF IN THE LATE 1960'S.  OVER THE YEARS ITS
MEMBERS CARRIED OUT A WAVE OF BOMBINGS, KIDNAPPINGS AND 
ASSASSINATIONS THAT CLAIMED MORE THAN 50 LIVES, AND SHOOK THE 
GERMAN ESTABLISHMENT.

THE GROUP CAPTURED WORLD HEADLINES IN 1977 WHEN IT KIDNAPPED 
INDUSTRIALIST HANNS MARTIN SCHLEYER -- A FAILED ATTEMPT TO FORCE 
THE RELEASE OF SEVERAL JAILED R-A-F MEMBERS.

PALESTINIAN TERRORISTS THEN STAGED A SPECTACULAR AIRLINE 
HIJACKING TO BACK THE R-A-F DEMANDS, BUT THE HIJACKING ENDED WHEN
GERMAN COMMANDO'S STORMED THE PLANE AT MOGADISHU AIRPORT.  THE 
TERRORISTS LATER KILLED THE INDUSTRIALIST AND THE JAILED 
TERRORISTS WERE REPORTED TO HAVE COMMITTED SUICIDE.

WITH MOST OF ITS ORIGINAL MEMBERS EITHER DEAD OR IN JAIL, GERMAN 
AUTHORITIES SAID LAST YEAR THAT THEY BELIEVED THE GROUP HAD 
BECOME A SPENT FORCE.  (SIGNED)

NEB/KBK/PCF

22-Apr-98 10:21 AM EDT (1421 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.