US embassy cable - 92LONDON37

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 LONDON 00037 
 
 
S/CT FOR BREELAND 
 
E.O. 12356:  N/A 
TAGS:        PTER, UK 
SUBJECT:     UNITED KINGDOM: 1991 ANNUAL TERRORISM REPORT 
 
REF: STATE 346420 
 
1.  FOLLOWING IS EMBASSY INPUT FOR THE UK PORTION OF THE 
1991 ANNUAL TERRORISM REPORT.  RESPONSES TO QUESTIONS 
POSED IN PARA 5 REFTEL ARE CONTAINED IN PARAS 3-10 BELOW. 
 
2.  EMBASSY SUGGESTS THAT THE FINAL REPORT INCORPORATE 
IN SOME FASHION THE FOLLOWING POINTS ON THE THREAT POSED 
BY TERRORISM TO THE UNITED KINGDOM: 
 
--   FOR TWO DECADES THE UNITED KINGDOM HAS FACED ONE OF 
     THE MOST DETERMINED, SOPHISTICATED AND LETHAL 
     TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS IN THE WORLD IN THE FORM OF 
     THE PROVISIONAL IRISH REPUBLICAN ARMY (PIRA) AND 
     ITS OFFSHOOTS, MOST NOTABLY THE IRISH NATIONAL 
     LIBERATION ARMY (INLA) AND THE IRISH PEOPLE'S 
     LIBERATION ORGANIZATION (IPLO). 
 
--   THE ANNOUNCED AIM OF THE PIRA IS TO BRING ABOUT THE 
     INCORPORATION OF NORTHERN IRELAND (AND THE REPUBLIC 
     OF IRELAND) INTO A NEW, RADICALLY SOCIALIST, UNITED 
     IRISH STATE.  ITS METHODS INCLUDE KILLING OF POLICE 
     AND BRITISH ARMY FORCES IN NORTHERN IRELAND, GREAT 
     BRITAIN AND THE EUROPEAN CONTINENT, AND BOMBING OF 
     SHOPS, FACTORIES AND TRANSPORTATION FACILITIES 
     THROUGHOUT THE UNITED KINGDOM. 
 
--   LARGELY IN RESPONSE TO PIRA ATTACKS, "LOYALIST" 
     TERRORIST GROUPS SUCH AS THE ULSTER VOLUNTEER FORCE 
     (UVF) AND ULSTER FREEDOM FIGHTERS (UFF) OVER THE 
     YEARS HAVE MURDERED HUNDREDS OF CATHOLICS SUSPECTED 
     OF "REPUBLICAN" SYMPATHIES. 
 
--   THE TOTAL NUMBER OF FATALTIES RESULTING FROM THE 
     NORTHERN IRELAND "TROUBLES" SINCE 1969 NOW EXCEEDS 
     3,000.  WHILE BOTH "REPUBLICAN" AND "LOYALIST" 
     PARAMILITARIES INSIST THEY TARGET ONLY SECURITY 
     FORCES AND TERRORISTS ON THE OTHER SIDE, MOST OF 
     THEIR VICTIMS HAVE IN FACT BEEN CIVILIANS. 
 
--   DIRECT ECONOMIC DAMAGES RESULTING FROM BOMBING AND 
     ARSON, WHILE WELL BELOW THE LEVEL OF THE EARLY 
     1970'S, STILL RUN INTO THE TENS OF MILLIONS OF 
     DOLLARS A YEAR, AND THE ECONOMIC COST OF LOST 
     INVESTMENT AND PRODUCTION IS MUCH HIGHER. 
 
--   PIRA IS BELIEVED TO HAVE ACQUIRED LARGE STOCKS OF 
     ARMS AND EXPLOSIVES FROM LIBYA. 
 
--   INCIDENTS AND THREATS OF TERRORISM OTHER THAN THOSE 
     FLOWING FROM THE NORTHERN IRELAND SITUATION ARE 
     RELATIVELY FEW, BUT NOT INSIGNIFICANT.  BRITISH 
     AUTHOR SALMAN RUSHDIE REMAINS UNDER THREAT FROM AN 
     ASSASSINATION ORDER BY THE LATE AYATOLLAH KHOMEINI, 
     AND REQUIRES CONSTANT POLICE PROTECTION.  IN 
     ADDITION, BRITISH PARTICIPATION IN THE LIBERATION 
     OF KUWAIT, AND THE ISSUANCE OF ARREST WARRANTS 
     AGAINST LIBYAN OFFICIALS IN THE 1988 BOMBING OF PAN 
     AM 103, HAVE INCREASED THE UK'S SUSCEPTIBILITY TO 
     ATTACK BY RADICAL ARAB GROUPS. 
 
3.  HOST GOVERNMENT PROSECUTIONS INVOLVING INTERNATIONAL 
TERRORISM AND/OR SIGNIFICANT ACTS OF DOMESTIC TERRORISM: 
 
--   SIKH MILITANT PARAMJIT SINGH SIDHU AND TWO 
     ACCOMPLICES WERE CONVICTED IN JULY 1991 OF 
     CONSPIRING TO CAUSE EXPLOSIONS IN THE UK. 
 
--   PROSECUTION OF SUSPECTED TERRORISTS IN NORTHERN 
     IRELAND CONTINUES AT A HIGH LEVEL: 131 WERE TRIED, 
     AND 122 CONVICTED, OF TERRORISM-RELATED OFFENSES IN 
     THE FIRST THREE MONTHS OF 1991. 
 
4.  EXTRADITION OF SUSPECTED TERRORISTS FOR PROSECUTION: 
 
--   THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT REQUESTED EXTRADITION OF 
     CONVICTED PIRA BOMBER ANGELO FUSCO FROM THE 
     REPUBLIC OF IRELAND IN DECEMBER 1991; FUSCO IS 
     CURRENTLY ON BAIL PENDING AN EXTRADITION HEARING. 
 
--   PIRA BOMB-MAKER DESSIE ELLIS, WHO HAD SERVED EIGHT 
     YEARS IN THE REPUBLIC OF IRELAND FOR MAKING BOMBS 
     FOR USE IN NORTHERN IRELAND, WAS EXTRADITED TO 
     LONDON IN NOVEMBER 1990 ON SIMILAR CHARGES 
     CONCERNING THE 1980-81 BOMBING CAMPAIGN IN GREAT 
     BRITAIN.  IN OCTOBER 1991 ELLIS WAS ACQUITTED, 
     APPARENTLY HAVING CONVINCED A JURY THAT HE HAD 
     NEITHER KNOWN NOR INTENDED THAT HIS BOMBS WOULD BE 
     USED ON THE BRITISH MAINLAND. 
 
5.  SIGNIFICANT IMPEDIMENTS TO HOST GOVERNMENT 
PROSECUTION AND/OR EXTRADITION OF SUSPECTED TERRORISTS: 
 
--   AS A RESULT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT FORENSIC EVIDENCE 
     AND POLICE EXTRACTION OF CONFESSIONS, A NUMBER OF 
     PERSONS FORMERLY CONVICTED OF TERRORIST OFFENSES ON 
     THE BRITISH MAINLAND WERE RELEASED ON APPEAL DURING 
     1991. 
 
--   EXTRADITION OF SUSPECTED TERRORISTS FROM THE 
     REPUBLIC OF IRELAND REMAINS A CONTENTIOUS ISSUE, 
     DESPITE IMPROVEMENTS IN PROCEDURES AND MUTUAL 
     CONFIDENCE RESULTING FROM THE 1985 ANGLO-IRISH 
     AGREEMENT AND DUBLIN'S 1987 RATIFICATION OF THE 
     EUROPEAN CONVENTION ON THE SUPPRESSION OF 
     TERRORISM.  MANY IN IRELAND CONTINUE TO REGARD PIRA 
     ATTACKS IN THE UK AS "POLITICAL OFFENSES," AND 
     VIGOROUSLY OPPOSE THE EXTRADITION OF SUSPECTS IN 
     THESE CASES.  THEY ALSO CONTINUE TO QUESTION 
     WHETHER IRISH SUSPECTS CAN RECEIVE FAIR TRIALS IN 
     BRITAIN. 
 
--   ON NOVEMBER 15, 1991 THE IRISH SUPREME COURT DENIED 
     EXTRADITION OF TWO CONVICTED PIRA TERRORISTS WHO 
     WERE WANTED ON WEAPONS POSSESSION CHARGES IN THE 
     UK.  THE COURT RULED THAT UNDER EXISTING IRISH LAW 
     POSSESSION -- AS OPPOSED TO USE -- OF WEAPONS WAS A 
     POLITICAL OFFENSE.  THE IRISH GOVERNMENT 
     SUBSEQUENTLY PROMISED TO AMEND ITS LAWS TO CLOSE 
     THIS LOOPHOLE. 
 
6.  HOST GOVERNMENT RESPONSES OTHER THAN PROSECUTION: 
 
--   UK POLICY REMAINS STEADFAST IN REFUSING TO 
     COUNTENANCE ANY CONCESSION TO TERRORISM, AND IS 
     WHOLLY CONSISTENT WITH U.S. POLICY. 
 
--   UK OFFICIALS COOPERATED CLOSELY WITH THEIR U.S. 
     COUNTERPARTS IN INVESTIGATING THE 1988 BOMBING OF 
     PAN AM 103 OVER LOCKERBIE, SCOTLAND.  WARRANTS HAVE 
     BEEN ISSUED FOR THE ARREST OF TWO LIBYAN OFFICIALS 
     BELIEVED TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE BOMBING, AND THE 
     UK HAS JOINED THE U.S. IN DEMANDING CESSATION OF 
     LIBYAN SUPPORT FOR TERRORISM. 
 
--   THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT'S MAIN LEGAL TOOLS IN THE 
     FIGHT AGAINST TERRORISM ARE THE PREVENTION OF 
     TERRORISM (TEMPORARY PROVISIONS) ACT OF 1989 (PTA 
     AND THE NORTHERN IRELAND (EMERGENCY PROVISIONS) ACT 
     OF 1991 (EPA).  BOTH ACTS RE-ENACTED AND AMENDED 
     PROVISIONS OF EARLIER LAWS. 
 
--   UNDER THE PTA, THE HOME SECRETARY (OR THE SECRETARY 
     OF STATE FOR SCOTLAND OR NORTHERN IRELAND, AS 
     APPROPRIATE) MAY EXCLUDE PERSONS SUSPECTED OF 
     INVOLVEMENT WITH TERRORISM FROM ANY PART OR ALL OF 
     THE UNITED KINGDOM.  POLICE MAY DETAIN SUSPECTED 
     TERRORISTS WITHOUT CHARGE FOR 48 HOURS, AND FOR A 
     FURTHER FIVE DAYS WITH THE APPROVAL OF THE 
     APPROPRIATE CABINET SECRETARY.  IN THE FIRST THREE 
     QUARTERS OF 1991, 1,232 PERSONS WERE DETAINED UNDER 
     THE PTA, AND 440 EXTENSIONS BEYOND 48 HOURS WERE 
     GRANTED. 
 
--   THE 1991 EPA CONSOLIDATED ALL THE COUNTERTERRORISM 
     PROVISIONS OF PREVIOUS LAWS THAT APPLIED 
     EXCLUSIVELY TO NORTHERN IRELAND.  IT INTRODUCED NEW 
     OFFENSES OF DIRECTING A TERRORIST ORGANIZATION AND 
     POSSESSION OF ITEMS INTENDED FOR TERRORIST 
     PURPOSES, AND GAVE AUTHORITIES NEW POWERS TO 
     EXAMINE DOCUMENTS FOUND IN TERRORISM-RELATED 
     SEARCHES, TO SEIZE EQUIPMENT USED TO REOPEN CLOSED 
     BORDER CROSSINGS, TO INVESTIGATE THE FINANCING OF 
     TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS, AND TO CONFISCATE THE 
     PROCEEDS OF TERRORIST-RELATED ACTIVITIES. 
 
7.  MAJOR COUNTERTERRORISM EFFORTS UNDERTAKEN IN 1991 BY 
THE HOST GOVERNMENT: 
 
--   IN ORDER TO ERADICATE DISCRIMINATION AGAINST 
     CATHOLICS IN NORTHERN IRELAND, WHICH FUELS SUPPORT 
     FOR THE PIRA, THE GOVERNMENT HAS VIGOROUSLY 
     ENFORCED THE 1989 FAIR EMPLOYMENT (NORTHERN 
     IRELAND) ACT.  IT HAS ALSO INVESTED LARGE SUMS IN 
     INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENT AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT 
     PROJECTS IN THE PROVINCE. 
 
--   THE GOVERNMENT HAS DECLARED PIRA, INLA, IPLO, UVF 
     AND UFF TO BE "PROSCRIBED ORGANIZATIONS." 
     MEMBERSHIP IN THEM IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE, AND 
     DIRECT BROADCASTS BY THEIR SPOKESMEN ARE NOT 
     ALLOWED ON ELECTRONIC MEDIA. 
 
--   IN RESPONSE TO AN INCREASE IN TERRORIST ATTACKS BY 
     LOYALIST GROUPS IN NORTHERN IRELAND, THE ROYAL 
     ULSTER CONSTABULARY IN OCTOBER ESTABLISHED A 
     SPECIAL POLICE UNIT TO COORDINATE INVESTIGATION OF 
     THESE ATTACKS.  THE GOVERNMENT HAS ALSO AUGMENTED 
     THE RUC AND BRITISH ARMY FORCES IN NORTHERN IRELAND 
     TO COUNTER THE RECENT UPSURGE IN TERRORISM THERE. 
 
--   THE UNITED KINGDOM PARTICIPATES ACTIVELY IN SEVERAL 
     INTERNATIONAL COUNTERTERRORISM FORA, COORDINATING 
     ITS POSITIONS AND ACTIVITIES CLOSELY WITH THE U.S. 
     AND OTHERS.  IT ALSO PROVIDES COUNTERTERRORISM 
     ASSISTANCE AND EXPERTISE TO NUMEROUS GOVERNMENTS ON 
     A BILATERAL BASIS. 
 
8.  SIGNIFICANT HOST GOVERNMENT SUPPORT FOR 
INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM: 
 
--   THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT PROVIDES NO SUPPORT FOR ANY 
     INTERNATIONAL TERRORIST ORGANIZATION, AND 
     COOPERATES CLOSELY WITH THE U.S. IN APPLYING 
     PRESSURE ON GOVERNMENTS THAT SUPPORT OR CONDONE 
     TERRORISM. 
 
9.  PUBLIC STATEMENTS IN SUPPORT OF TERRORIST-SUPPORTING 
COUNTRIES: 
 
--   THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT HAS MADE NO SUCH STATEMENTS. 
 
10.  SIGNIFICANT CHANGES SINCE 1990 IN HOST GOVERNMENT 
ATTITUDE TOWARD TERRORISM: 
 
--   THERE HAS BEEN NO SUCH CHANGE.  THE GOVERNMENT 
     REMAINS ADAMANTLY OPPOSED TO TERRORISM IN ALL FORMS. 
 
 
SEITZ