DATE=11/24/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-242116
TITLE=LATAM/TERRORISM (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=DAWN MAKINSON
DATELINE=BUENOS AIRES
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:   THIRTY-FOUR MEMBERS OF THE ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN 
STATES HAVE SIGNED A JOINT SECURITY TREATY AIMED AT COMBATTING 
TERRORISM IN THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE.  THE TREATY WAS SIGNED AT A 
CONFERENCE IN MAR DEL PLATA, ARGENTINA -- AS WE HEAR FROM DAWN 
MAKINSON. 

TEXT: THE TREATY ESSENTIALLY POOLS RESOURCES.  COUNTRIES WHICH 
HAVE SIGNED IT WILL, AMONG OTHER THINGS, SHARE A DATA BASE ON 
SUSPECTED TERRORISTS AND DEVELOP UNIVERSAL CRITERIA FOR CARRYING 
OUT EXTRADITIONS.  THE TREATY ALSO HAS IMPLICATIONS FOR 
ACTIVITIES ASSOCIATED WITH TERRORISM.  IT CALLS FOR ESTABLISHING 
LAWS WHICH PROHIBIT MONEY LAUNDERING -- LAWS WHICH DO NOT EXIST 
IN SOME LATIN AMERICAN NATIONS.  

THE IMPETUS TO CREATE THIS JOINT EFFORT AGAINST TERRORISM BEGAN 
WITH THE SUMMIT OF THE AMERICAS IN CHILE EARLIER THIS YEAR.  AT 
THAT POINT, ARGENTINA -- ONE OF THE STRONGEST PROMOTERS OF A 
JOINT TREATY -- HAD ALREADY EXPERIENCED TWO TERRORIST ATTACKS.  
THE UNITED STATES ALSO CAME TO THE MAR DEL PLATA CONFERENCE 
STRONGLY SUPPORTING A JOINT TREATY FOLLOWING THE ATTACKS ON U-S 
EMBASSIES IN AFRICA IN AUGUST.  U-S OFFICIALS IN ARGENTINA SAY 
WASHINGTON HAS INCREASED FUNDS TO COMBAT TERRORISM - AND WILL BE 
STUDYING WAYS TO SEE HOW THE UNITED STATES CAN MAKE A GREATER 
CONTRIBUTION TO THE O-A-S' FIGHT AGAINST TERRORISM.

DESPITE THE OVERALL TONE OF COOPERATION AT THE CONFERENCE, FEARS 
OF TOO MUCH POLICING ARE BEING EXPRESSED.  ABOUT 50 HUMAN RIGHTS 
GROUPS WERE PRESENT AT THE CONFERENCE SITE TO WARN THAT WHILE THE
TREATY TARGETS THE CONTROL AND EXPULSION OF TERRORIST THREATS, IT
FAILS TO CLEARLY DEFINE WHAT A TERRORIST IS.  THE FEAR OF THE 
GROUPS IS THAT GOVERNMENTS MAY USE HEMISPHERIC BACKING ON THE 
NEED TO FIGHT TERRORISM TO CONTROL DOMESTIC THREATS.

                         ///REST OPT///

THERE IS ALSO A FEAR AMONG SOME GOVERNMENTS OF THE AMERICAS ABOUT
THE TREATY'S IMPLICATIONS FOR DEALING WITH DOMESTIC POLITICAL 
STRUGGLES.   COLOMBIA AND MEXICO ARE TWO NATIONS THAT WERE 
RELUCTANT TO SIGN THE TREATY BECAUSE OF DOMESTIC POLITICAL 
PROBLEMS.  THOSE TWO NATIONS ALSO PUSHED FOR A CLEARER DEFINITION
OF WHAT A TERRORIST IS. (SIGNED)

NEB/DM/WFR 

24-Nov-98 7:30 PM EST (0030 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.