US embassy cable - 93LONDON22928

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 LONDON 22928 
 
 
S/CT FOR REAP 
 
E.O. 12356: N/A 
TAGS:  PTER, UK 
SUBJECT:  UNITED KINGDOM:  1993 ANNUAL TERRORISM REPORT 
 
REF:  STATE 317207 
 
1.   FOLLOWING IS EMBASSY INPUT FOR THE UK PORTION OF 
THE 1993 ANNUAL TERRORISM REPORT TO THE CONGRESS. 
RESPONSES ARE KEYED TO QUESTIONS POSED IN PARA 4 REFTEL. 
 
2.   PROSECUTIONS INVOLVING INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM 
AND/OR SIGNIFICANT ACTS OF DOMESTIC TERRORISM: 
 
--   HMG CONTINUES ACTIVELY TO PROSECUTE MEMBERS OF 
     IRISH REPUBLICAN AND ULSTER LOYALIST TERRORIST 
     GROUPS FOR ATTACKS IN NORTHERN IRELAND AND GREAT 
     BRITAIN.  SINCE OCTOBER 1992, MORE THAN 20 PERSONS 
     HAVE BEEN ARRESTED FOR ATTACKS AND OTHER TERRORIST 
     ACTIVITIES IN GREAT BRITAIN, AND SEVERAL HUNDRED IN 
     NORTHERN IRELAND. 
 
3.   EXTRADITIONS AND REQUESTS FOR EXTRADITION: 
 
--   HMG CONTINUES ITS EFFORTS TO OBTAIN EXTRADITION OF 
     PROVISIONAL IRISH REPUBLICAN ARMY (PIRA) CONVICTS 
     JAMES SMYTH AND KEVIN ARTT FROM THE UNITED STATES. 
 
4.   SIGNIFICANT IMPEDIMENTS TO HOST GOVERNMENT 
PROSECUTION AND/OR EXTRADITION OF SUSPECTED TERRORISTS: 
 
--   INTIMIDATION OF JUDGES, JURORS AND WITNESSES HAS 
     BEEN A SIGNIFICANT PROBLEM IN NORTHERN IRELAND.  AS 
     A RESULT, MOST TRIALS OF TERRORIST SUSPECTS THERE 
     ARE CONDUCTED WITHOUT JURIES (IN "DIPLOCK COURTS"), 
     AND THE IDENTITY OF WITNESSES CAN BE WITHHELD FROM 
     THE DEFENSE. 
 
--   QUESTIONS ABOUT THE RELIABILITY OF CONFESSION AND 
     FORENSIC EVIDENCE IN TRIALS OF PIRA SUSPECTS IN 
     ENGLAND IN THE 1970'S CONTINUE TO INFLUENCE 
     PROSECUTORS NOT TO BRING CASES TO TRIAL UNLESS THE 
     EVIDENCE IS OVERWHELMING, AND MAKE JURORS RELUCTANT 
     TO CONVICT.  CURRENT COURT GUIDELINES ENABLE A 
     JUDGE, AT HIS DISCRETION, TO REQUIRE DISCLOSURE TO 
     THE DEFENSE OF ALL EVIDENCE AGAINST THE ACCUSED, 
     WHETHER OR NOT IT IS INTENDED FOR PROSECUTION USE. 
     POLICE HAVE BEEN RELUCTANT TO PROSECUTE CASES IN 
     WHICH INTELLIGENCE SOURCES AND METHODS MIGHT THUS 
     BE COMPROMISED. 
 
5.   RESPONSES OTHER THAN PROSECUTION: 
 
--   HMG COOPERATED CLOSELY WITH THE USG IN TRYING TO 
     PERSUADE LIBYA TO SURRENDER FOR TRIAL THE TWO 
     SUSPECTS IN THE 1988 BOMBING OF PAN AM 103 AND THE 
     1989 BOMBING OF UTA 772.  IT WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN 
     OBTAINING UNSC APPROVAL OF STRONGER SANCTIONS 
     AGAINST LIBYA. 
 
--   HMG DEPLORED THE ATTACK ON THE WORLD TRADE CENTER 
     IN NEW YORK. 
 
--   BRITISH AND POLISH OFFICIALS COOPERATED IN THE 
     NOVEMBER 24 INTERCEPTION IN NORTHEAST ENGLAND OF A 
     HUGE CLANDESTINE ARMS SHIPMENT DESTINED FOR THE 
     LOYALIST ULSTER VOLUNTEER FORCE (UVF). 
 
6.   MAJOR COUNTERTERRORISM EFFORTS: 
 
--   ON DECEMBER 15, THE BRITISH AND IRISH GOVERNMENTS 
     ISSUED A JOINT STATEMENT ON NORTHERN IRELAND, 
     CALLING ON PIRA TO END ITS CAMPAIGN OF VIOLENCE AND 
     OFFERING IT FULL PARTICIPATION IN POLITICAL 
     DISCUSSIONS ON THE FUTURE OF THE PROVINCE AFTER IT 
     DEMONSTRATED RENUNCIATION OF TERRORISM. 
 
--   POLICE AND OTHER OFFICIALS IN NORTHERN IRELAND 
     CONTINUED TO CRACK DOWN ON LOYALIST AND REPUBLICAN 
     PROTECTION, FRAUD, SMUGGLING, MONEY-LAUNDERING AND 
     VIDEO PIRATING RACKETS.  THESE ACTIVITIES 
     REPORTEDLY NOW CONSTITUTE THE MAIN SOURCES OF 
     INCOME FOR TERRORIST GROUPS. 
 
--   THE UK PARTICIPATES ACTIVELY IN INTERNATIONAL 
     COUNTERTERRORISM FORA, COORDINATING ITS ACTIVITIES 
     CLOSELY WITH THE U.S. AND OTHERS.  IT ALSO PROVIDES 
     COUNTERTERRORISM ASSISTANCE AND EXPERTISE TO 
     NUMEROUS GOVERNMENTS ON A BILATERAL BASIS. 
 
7.   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. 
 
--   HMG CONTINUES TO RESIST PRESSURE FROM OTHERS IN 
     EUROPE TO RESTORE NORMAL RELATIONS WITH STATE 
     SPONSORS OF TERRORISM.  IT HAS NO MISSION IN 
     BAGHDAD, TRIPOLI OR PYONGYANG, AND ONLY A SKELETON 
     STAFF IN TEHRAN. 
 
8.   STATEMENTS IN SUPPORT OF A TERRORIST-SUPPORTING 
COUNTRY: 
 
--   THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT HAS MADE NO SUCH STATEMENTS. 
 
9.   SIGNIFICANT CHANGES SINCE 1992 IN THE HOST 
GOVERNMENT'S ATTITUDE TOWARD TERRORISM: 
 
--   THERE HAS BEEN NO SUCH CHANGE.  HMG REMAINS 
     ADAMANTLY OPPOSED TO TERRORISM IN ALL FORMS. 
 
 
SEITZ