TERRORISM REVIEW (SANITIZED)

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP85-01095R000100100002-2
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 29
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 22, 2010
• Sequence Number: 2
• Publication Date: August 9, 1984
• Content Type: REPORT

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Directorate of I It fig a Secret
Intelligence 11VIANIN HU
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on MARK ON
Review
Terrorism
Secret
GI TR 84-017
9 August 1984
Copy } 9 4
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Secret
Terrorism
Review)
9 August 1984
1 Perspective-UNITA's Foreign Hostages
5 Highlights
11 Angola: UNITA's Urban Terrorism Gambit
25 Sri Lanka: A New Direction for Tamil Terrorism?
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Review
Perspective UNITA's Foreign Hostages
Although many insurgent movements have seized foreign hostages during the
course of a conflict, the use of these terrorist tactics by UNITA is unusual in scale
and purpose. We estimate that UNITA has captured 250 to 300 foreigners over
the past 18 months. The most spectacular operations occurred in March 1983,
when UNITA seized 86 foreigners at Alto Catumbela, and in February 1984,
when it captured 77 at a diamond mine in Cafunfo. Such operations have been
designed to intimidate the foreign supporters of the Angolan Government and to
establish a basis for negotiations with foreign officials through which UNITA has
gained a degree of international recognition. These are typical insurgent
objectives. But UNITA's hostage-taking campaign has also been designed to
attract favorable foreign media attention. The use of terrorism for such a purpose
is unprecedented.
Major UNITA Hostage-taking
Operations, 1983-84
12 June 1984
Quibala
3 Americans, 8 Portuguese and Colombians
25 March 1984
Sumbe
10 Portuguese, 3 Bulgarians
23 February 1984
Cafunfo
46 Portuguese, 16 Britons, 15 Filipinos
December 1983
Cacolo
18 Portuguese, Brazilians, Spaniards,
Japanese, Poles, and Italians
13 November 1983
Cazombo-Cavungo
12 Portuguese, 5 Britons, 2 Canadians
September 1983
Cambondo-Calulo
27 Portuguese, Brazilians, and Spaniards
12 March 1983
Alto-Catumbela
66 Czechoslovaks, 20 Portuguese
Economic Sabotage. UNITA seeks to drive away foreign technicians, who provide
the expertise that the government desperately needs to revitalize the country's
economy and to ameliorate social conditions. The Czechoslovaks, at least, are
convinced that UNITA means business.
the few remaining Czechoslovak advisers have been withdrawn either to Luanda or
to areas far away from the fighting. many
foreigners from Eastern Europe and from Western firms and aid organizations are
now restricted to the major towns, especially Luanda, from which they can make
but a minimal contribution.
1 Secret
GI TR 84-017
9 August 1984
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Hostages of many nationalities attending
ceremony organized by leader of UNITA,
Recognition. UNITA insists on face-to-face negotiations for the release of
prisoners with governments it deems to have paid insufficient attention to its
interests. Recently a high-ranking British envoy traveled to Jamba to witness the
release of British prisoners amidst a well-rehearsed propaganda extravaganza. As
a condition for obtaining the release of its citizens, Czechoslovakia issued a
communique acknowledging direct negotiations with UNITA.
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praised as a disciplined, competent, and humane organization.
Publicity. UNITA tries to enhance its international image-tarnished by a
continuing reliance on South African support-by bringing in journalists to
interview foreign captives. The reports they subsequently file often indicate the
prisoners have praised the group's military organization and acknowledged that
they have been well treated. Doubt is cast on the Angolan Government's ability to
provide effective security. Government military forces are portrayed as
undisciplined, unreliable, and unwilling to stand and fight, while UNITA is
primarily on how much military success it enjoys.
Dubious Long-Term Benefits. UNITA's hostage-taking tactics have apparently
done little damage to the Angolan economy above what was already being
accomplished by UNITA's other acts of economic sabotage. Moreover, we believe,
as a means of extorting recognition and favorable publicity such tactics are likely
to be counterproductive once the novelty has worn off. In the long term, UNITA's
international reputation-like that of any other insurgent group-will depend
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Although these kidnapings have brought the insurgency some extra attention,
major Western news media still run stories on UNITA only infrequently.
Furthermore, the continued use of this tactic could turn international opinion
against UNITA. Should captives begin succumbing to the ordeal or should Cuban
or government forces recapture some of them, the resulting publicity could damage
or even destroy the image that Savimbi seeks to convey.
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Highlights
Alert Items US Mideast Missions Threatened. Beginning on 18 July, US diplomatic
installations in Tunis, Sanaa, and Jidda received threatening letters postmarked in
Tunis allegedly written by the Arab Revolutionary Brigades (ARB). The letters
allege that Mossad agents posing as US citizens operate out of US diplomatic
missions against Arab interests and warn that the group will "take action" unless
these agents are evicted. Subsequently, Tunisian authorities intercepted 20 more
such letters addressed to various US Embassies in the Middle East.
Little is known of the ARB, but we suspect this name has been used by elements of
the Abu Nidal Group. That group, however, has not sent unauthenticated
warnings before conducting past operations and generally has avoided attacking
US targets. Thus, if the letters are authentic, they indicate a disturbing new
departure for the rou .
years of experience with unauthenticated
threatening letters such as these suggest that the chance they reflect an actual
threat is extremely low.
Secret
GI TR 84-017
9 August 1984
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Key Indicator El Salvador: Insurgents Turning to Terrorism. Unable to regain the tactical
initiative in the countryside, the guerrillas have increased their attacks on small
towns and economic targets-especially agricultural and transportation facilities
and public utilities.
some guerrilla units have renewed the practice of executing captured
The guerrillas are also trying to create a climate of terror in the capital and other
cities. Earlier this week, the insurgents reportedly were warning citizens in eastern
El Salvador of an impending "war of blood" against the key city of San Miguel.
The guerrillas are probably resorting to these tactics because they are having
difficulty organizing their planned fall offensive and want to divert Army troops
from attacking their strongholds. Such strikes against civilian and economic
targets and the resurgence of terrorism in the capital suggest a growing disregard
for public sentiment-as well as a greater interest in getting headlines in the
foreign media.
Significant Developments Red Sea: Merchant Vessels Damaged by Mines. Since 27 July, as many as 20
merchant vessels, including three East German ships, have been damaged by
underwater mines in both the northern and southern sections of the Red Sea.
On 1 August an anonymous phone caller told the AFP (French news agency) office
in Paris that Islamic Jihad had placed 190 mines in the Bab el Mandeb Strait and
the Gulf of Suez. Iranian radio subsequently announced that the mining proves
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"the movement's capability to pursue colonialism everywhere," and said Islamic
Jihad had warned that it will "mine all the ports and shipping lanes in the Islamic
region if the arrogant powers insist on their plots against the interests of the
Islamic nation."
On the other hand,
Libyan military inventory is known to include several types of nautical mines. The
Ghat, a Libyan arms carrier, left the Ethiopian Red Sea port of Assab on 22 July
and would have had an opportunity to deposit the mines before passing through the
Suez Canal in late July.
El Salvador: FMLN Bank Robbery. In the San Salvador suburb of Soyapango, an
attempted bank robbery turned into a major hostage situation. Four men claiming
to be members of the FMLN took over the Banco Agricola Comerical after an
Army patrol foiled their robbery attempt. One bank guard was killed, and about
100 people who were in the bank were held hostage. The robbers soon released
three children and seven women. Later they released the other hostages, all
unharmed. The Spanish Government offered the perpetrators temporary asylum in
its Embassy, but no country was willing to accept them on a permanent basis.
After the search for a protecting country proved fruitless, the would-be robbers
surrendered.
India: Airport Blast Kills 29. On 2 August a bomb exploded at the Madras
airport in southern India, leaving at least 29 dead and more than 30 others
wounded. It is believed to have been the work of Sri Lankan Tamil separatists who
intended the bomb to go off in Colombo.
The radical Eelam People's Revolutionary
Liberation Front (EPRLF) is seen as the likely perpetrator, although all the Tamil
groups have denied responsibility
Venezuelan Skyjacking Ends With Death of Terrorists. Late on 29 July, a
Venezuelan DC-9 was hijacked en route from Caracas to Curacao of the
Netherlands Antilles. During the 30 hours they controlled the flight, the two
hijackers forced the plane to land in Trinidad, Aruba, and finally Curacao. They
were members of the Democratic Movement for the Liberation of the Haitian
People (MDLPH), a small Haitian exile group dedicated to the overthrow of the
Duvalier regime.
Originally, the hijackers demanded $3 million and a variety of arms from the
Venezuelan Government in exchange for the release of 82 hostages, but they
released some hostages in return for the fulfillment of lesser demands. Early on 31
July, Venezuelan commandos stormed the aircraft, killing both terrorists and
releasing all remaining hostages safely. Since the leader of the MDLPH was killed
in the incident, this probably signals the end of the group.
Iran: Skyjackers "Surrender" to Evident Sponsors. In Tehran, the three Arab
hijackers who diverted an Air France flight on 31 July released the passengers
unharmed and surrendered to Iranian authorities on 2 August. The hijackers had
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demanded the release from French prisons of five terrorists convicted of an
assassination attempt on former Iranian Premier Bakhtiar, but the French
Government refused to cooperate.
A statement released by the hijackers was attributed to the "Islamic Organization
for the Liberation of Jerusalem," a hitherto unknown group. Available evidence,
however, suggests that Iran was behind the hijacking. Released passengers claim
that the submachineguns, explosives, and handguns which the terrorists
brandished in Tehran were not seen during the plane's previous stops in Geneva,
Beirut, and Cyprus-suggesting they were given the weapons after arriving in
Tehran. Lebanese Druze leader Walid Jumblatt, however, has since asserted that
Shia sympathizers gave the hijackers the weapons during their stopover in Beirut.
In any case, the hijackers-who were driven away from the scene in a Mercedes
limousine-have applied for and apparently been granted political asylum in Iran.
Although Iran has denied arming the hijackers, its behavior toward France
suggests its complicity. After the hijackers surrendered, Iranian President
Khamenei made a speech in which he condemned the French refusal to free the
five imprisoned terrorists.
Spain: Iranian Terrorism Revealed. When the Spanish police arrested four
Iranian terrorists on 23 July, they-not only forestalled a plot to attack or hijack a
Saudi airliner in Madrid, they also gathered enough evidence to charge the group
with responsibility for the following five incidents:
? A bombing at the Iraqi Cultural Center in Madrid on 21 September 1982, which
caused considerable damage but no casualties.
? An attempt to bomb the French Consulate in Barcelona on 27 January 1983.
The bomb had been placed in the waiting room, but French police moved it
outside to the street moments before it exploded, causing only minor damage and
no injuries.
? A rocket grenade attack which destroyed two vehicles parked in front of the US
Embassy in Madrid on 4 February 1983.
? The bombing on 5 April 1983 in Madrid of a part of Rentir Park that is
frequently used as a meeting place by activist anti-Khomeini Iranian emigres.
Two persons were injured.
? A rocket grenade attack against a Kuwaiti airliner at the Madrid airport on 13
September 1983. The grenade missed.
The terrorist operations were at least facilitated by the Iranian Embassy. One of
the four arrested terrorists worked for the Embassy, and Spanish authorities have
photographs of all four of them meeting with a certain attache who has
consequently been expelled. The group may also have had some connection to two
members of the Iranian-sponsored Dawa Party who were arrested at Rome airport
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on 18 May 1984 for illegal possession of plastic explosives; they were bound for
Madrid. Spanish and French police are investigating the possibility that the four
terrorists may also have been involved in operations in France.
France: European Space Agency Headquarters Bombed. In Paris, a powerful bomb
exploded in the headquarters of the European Space Agency, causing serious
damage to the building and slightly injuring seven people. The attack occurred less
than 48 hours before the scheduled launch of a rocket containing two
communications satellites. The Ciro Rizzato Combat Unit of Action Directe (AD)
claimed responsibility for the attack, the fifth AD bombing in the last month. The
group is obviously striking back in response to the recent arrests of several AD
members.
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Angola:
UNITA's Urban
Terrorism Gambit
The National Union for the Total Independence of
Angola (UNITA) has long employed terrorism
selectively against the Marxist regime of the Popular
Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) to
augment its more traditional guerrilla tactics.
UNITA, which hopes to force the regime into a
power-sharing arrangement, believes terrorism will
help it undermine the regime's ability and will to
prosecute the war. Until lately, UNITA had focused
its efforts in rural areas and provincial towns. Since
April of this year, however, UNITA has markedly
amplified its use of terrorist tactics in urban areas,
targeting both regime officials and foreign nationals
supporting the government. UNITA has avoided
causing indiscriminate casualties among the local
population.
UNITA's Rationale
In April, UNITA-which controls roughly one-third
of Angola and operates in more than another third-
announced that it would open a major urban terrorism
campaign in the big towns. An urban terrorism
campaign would complement UNITA's longstanding
terrorist tactics of kidnaping foreign workers and
advisers and destroying foreign-owned property in
both urban and rural areas of Angola. According to a
communique, the new operations were intended to
destroy the center of Angola's economic
infrastructure, eliminate MPLA officials and Cuban
advisers, and create insecurity in the remaining
bastions of regime forces. UNITA leaders have since
further explained the goals of their urban terrorist
campaign:
? UNITA hopes to undermine foreign support for the
Luanda regime. UNITA has publicly labeled
Luanda's Cuban, Soviet, and East German backers
as the main roadblocks to a political solution in
that after its most spectacular attack-the
destruction of a Cuban residence in Huambo City
with a car bomb on 19 April 1984-Cuban and
Angolan forces engaged in a three-hour firefight
ended only by the intervention of a senior Angolan
officer.
? UNITA leaders have indicated they want to wage
their campaign throughout Angola, thereby
demonstrating UNITA's reach. UNITA leader
Jonas Savimbi has threatened that if the regime
continues to refuse to negotiate, UNITA will
conduct terrorist operations in Luanda by yearend.
? Jonas Savimbi believes there is a split in the regime
between hardliners bent on a military solution and
others willing to negotiate with UNITA. He may
hope terrorism will either deepen this division or
reduce the intransigence of the hardline faction.
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GI TR 84-017
9 August 1984
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Recent Operations
While we do not know how many victims UNITA's
terrorist attacks have claimed, the Cubans apparently
have borne the brunt of UNITA's urban attacks thus
far. UNITA has also killed a number of regime
officials, and the Soviets may have suffered some
casualties. UNITA has kidnaped citizens of many
countries, including the United States, the United
Kingdom, Czechoslovakia, Bulgaria, and Portugal.
Some recent UNITA terrorist operations are
described below:
? On 19 April in Huambo City, UNITA detonated a
car bomb outside a building housing Cubans and
possibly Soviets. The regime admitted that 14
Cubans were killed and 66 wounded and that 10
Angolans were also killed. A UNITA communique
claimed that 200 Cubans and at least two Soviet
military officers were killed. A TASS dispatch after
the blast stated that about 100 had died, suggesting
that the Luanda regime has significantly
understated the casualty figures. A UNITA
communique said this bombing initiated its
terrorism campaign.
? UNITA claims that its commandos attacked the
residences of regime officials in Huambo City on 25
May, killing a number of officials and destroying
their homes.
on 6 June UNITA
bombed a Cuban residence in Matala, killing five
Cubans. On the same day in Sao Joao, UNITA
commandos set off two bombs, including one in the
Angolan Oil Company Commissioner's office, that
killed three Cubans and 12 Angolans.
Civilians Not Targeted
Thus far in its urban campaign, UNITA apparently
has tried to avoid casualties among Angolan civilians.
We know of no urban attacks that were intended to
cause large numbers of civilian casualties. Almost all
deaths among the urban population appear to have
resulted from attacks on military, government, or
foreign targets.
In cases where UNITA has directed terror at the
populations of provincial towns, it has sought to instill
fear through destruction of property rather than
indiscriminate killing. For example, on 18 May 1984
UNITA reportedly attacked four villages in central
Angola, burning some 300 houses, destroying more
than 40 other buildings including the hospital, and
damaging all industrial and commercial property.
Government defenders suffered about 40 casualties,
and another 30 civilians were killed or wounded, but
they were probably incidental victims of crossfires
rather than deliberate victims of willful murder. F
UNITA's Capabilities for Urban Terrorism
We believe UNITA possesses the capabilities
necessary to wage a widespread and effective urban
terrorism campaign. UNITA has a large cadre of
well-trained and well-motivated guerrillas, who have
already demonstrated the ability both to attack 25X1
provincial towns openly and to infiltrate urban regions
undetected.
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Prospects
Largely because its forces are not strong enough to
capture and hold major urban centers-most
importantly the capital-UNITA is likely to increase
the intensity and geographic scope of its terrorism
campaign over the next six months. UNITA
apparently calculates that only terrorism directed at
the ruling party and its Soviet Bloc sponsors will
induce the regime to negotiate a power-sharing
arrangement. While continuing its efforts to kill
Cubans and lower level regime officials, UNITA will
probably increasingly target Soviets and East
Germans, and may attempt to assassinate one or more
senior regime officials. Kidnapings of other foreign
nationals and the destruction of foreign property
probably will continue, although the success of this
tactic in inducing foreigners to leave the provinces is
reducing the number of targets.
Regardless of public relations costs, UNITA is likely
to pursue its terrorist tactics at least until its leaders
determine what effect the attacks are having on
policymaking in Luanda. UNITA's leadership
appears resigned to a negative response to its
terrorism campaign in the West. When pressed by
Western interlocutors, Jonas Savimbi acknowledges
the damage to UNITA's image and claims that in
principle he also sees the targeting of civilians as
reprehensible. He stresses, however, that terrorism is
a tool needed by UNITA in its struggle, and that
UNITA is not hurting ordinary Angolans. UNITA's
leaders may hope that by avoiding casualties among
the populace and exploiting favorable press coverage
of their hostage releases they can mute negative
publicity in the West.
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Sri Lanka:
A New Direction for
Tamil Terrorism?
Tamil separatists are increasingly using terrorist
tactics in their antigovernment campaign, and
broadening their list of targets to include US and
Israeli citizens and facilities. The Tamils believe the
United States and Israel are colluding with the
Sinhalese (Buddhist) dominated government in
Colombo in its hardline efforts to pacify the largely
Tamil (Hindu) north. One response to these
developments has come from India, which appears to
be cutting back its support to the Tamil groups-an
action that could eventually force the Tamils to seek
new patrons.
The Tamil Extremists
Tamil radical groups have been responsible for most
of the terrorist incidents in Sri Lanka in recent years:
? The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) are
the most violent of the Tamil terrorists. This group
has been responsible for some 120 of the 175
assassinations that have taken place since the mid-
1970s, mostly on the Jaffna Peninsula. Founded in
1974 and led by Velupillai Prabakaran, its 50
hardcore members are very well armed and
disciplined (since mid-May, four of its leaders have
taken cyanide when faced with capture). This group
claimed credit for the killing of 13 soldiers in July
1983 which led to subsequent bloody communal
rioting.
? The People's Liberation Organization of Tamil
Eelam (PLOTE) has about 2,000 members, making
it the largest separatist organization. Its hard core
of 50 to 75 extremists has been responsible for the
deaths of about 20 persons, including seven police
and military personnel. Its leader, Uma
Maheswaran, has been feuding with LTTE's
Prabakaran since 1980.
? The Tamil Eelam Liberation Organization (TELO),
founded in 1974, has killed several policemen and
Tamil informers. It is currently led by Sri
Sabaratnam, who succeeded to that post after most
of the previous leaders of the group had been
rounded up by Sri Lankan security forces.
? The Eelam Revolutionary Organization (ERO) was
founded in 1974. Seventeen of its members were
subsequently trained by the PLO in Lebanon
between 1976 and 1980. Roughly one year ago, a
dissident group of members repudiated ERO's
leader, Eliyathamby Ratnasabapathy, and founded
the Eelam Revolutionary Organization of Students
(EROS).
? The Eelam People's Revolutionary Liberation Front
(EPRLF) is the youngest of the radical groups,
having been founded in August 1983 after the
communal riots. Its current strength is unknown,
but its armed offshoot, the People's Liberation
Army, was the group responsible for the well-
executed kidnaping of a US AID couple in Jaffna in
May 1984.
Press reports indicate that TELO, EROS, and the
EPRLF formed an alliance in Madras, India, in the
spring of 1984. The combined groups would have
about 2,000 members, making them about the same
size as PLOTE.
these groups have very fluid memberships composed
largely of young, educated, disenchanted Tamil males
from the Jaffna Peninsula. The leaders continually
form and break alliances. Rivalries among them are
often very strong.
Sympathy for the separatist cause is widespread
among the Tamils both in Sri Lanka and in India,
where they are concentrated in the state of Tamil
Nadu, but serious divisions based on differing
ideology, caste, and religious ties have so far
prevented them from forming an effective united
front. Disputes over leadership and policy have led to
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Karnataka
Kerala
Andhra
Pradesh
Tamil Nadu
First-order administrative
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the group.
the assassination of leaders of rival factions, public
executions of faction members judged to be of
questionable reliability, and the arrest of several
prominent terrorists in Madras (capital of Tamil
Nadu) on charges of public brawling. Madras police
raided the headquarters of TELO in mid-June and
found that the group's leader was keeping two TELO
members bound and gagged in a back room. Upon
release, the two said that he had been interrogating
them on their contacts with rival groups and planned
to execute them as an example to other members of
The primary source of funds and support for all these
groups is the local population in the Tamil-dominated
areas of northern and eastern Sri Lanka. Some money
is donated by sympathizers; a considerable amount is
extorted by the extremists. Over the past several
years, Tamil Tiger groups have also robbed banks,
offices, trains, and other public institutions all over
the northern part of the island, amassing large stocks
of captured weapons and explosives, and collecting
several million dollars in gold, jewelry, and foreign
currency.
most of the
arms and explosives used by the Tamil terrorists have
come from captured stocks. Nevertheless, foreign-
made materials are beginning to turn up in increasing
amounts. Recently, the government found explosives
being shipped from India to Jaffna in its patrols of the
Palk Straits.
Lebanon.
Foreign Support
The most radical factions of the Tamil separatist
movement have claimed for several years that they
have been receiving extensive foreign support.
Although a number of independent sources have
corroborated some of these claims, we believe many of
them to be outdated or overstated. In general,
information on this subject is vague and not well
substantiated. For example,.the leader of the EPRLF
said in an early June interview that his group had
been trained by the PLO in Lebanon, but we know of
only 17 Tamils to have received such training and
none after 1980. For more than two years, the PLO
has been in no position to provide such training in
Tamil groups have also claimed to receive aid from
the Provisional IRA, the Libyans, and, more recently,
the East Germans.
Indian Involvement
The Tamils' most valuable source of foreign support
has traditionally been India. From the earliest days of
the Tamil separatist struggle, Tamil Nadu has been a
sanctuary for Tamil radicals fleeing the island. The
state's large Tamil population has provided its 25X1
"oppressed" brethren with food and shelter, and
sometimes with arms. As the separatist struggle grew
more violent in the mid-1970s with the birth of the
Tiger groups, sentiment within Tamil Nadu for more
official support also grew, and by the early 1980s the
state government-presumably with support of New
Delhi-was running refugee camps and providing
military training for would-be guerrillas. Last year's
communal riots that eventually left hundreds of
Tamils dead at the hands of the majority Sinhalese
and more than 100,000 others homeless led Indian
Tamils to put more pressure on their government to
increase support for the separatists.
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New Tamil Tactics
Since the late 1970s the Tamil separatists had focused
their attacks mainly on government targets and, less
frequently, on members of the majority Sinhalese
population. And they had confined their operations
largely to the Tamil-dominated north and east. Since
early May, however, new tactics have been evident:
? On 11 May, guerrillas of the hitherto obscure
EPRLF kidnaped an American couple from a US
AID water project in the Jaffna area, accused them
of being CIA agents, and threatened to kill them
unless the government paid a ransom and released
20 Tamil prisoners from Sri Lankan jails. After
appeals from Indian Prime Minister Gandhi and the
chief minister of Tamil Nadu, which had been
designated by the terrorists as the site for the
ransom payment and the prisoner release, they freed
the couple unharmed. None of the kidnapers'
demands were met.
? On 14 June, the US Embassy received a letter
threatening both the Embassy and the newly opened
Israeli Interests Section. The letter was signed only
with the phrase "Tamil Eelam Tigers," a generic
term used by many of the more radical Tamil
separatist groups.
? On 28 June, the hotel housing the new Israeli
Interests Section (of the US Embassy) was bombed.
? On 30 June, a local Tamil US AID employee was
approached by three Tamil-speaking men and
offered a bribe to allow an unidentified package-
perhaps a bomb-to be delivered to the AID offices.
extremists since last summer's riots.
It has not been established that these events were
related to each other, nor even that they were all
terrorist events. Nevertheless, they do suggest that
Tamil terrorists may have changed-or be in the
process of changing-their targeting practices. If
there is a new terrorist focus on US and Israeli targets
in Colombo and the north, it was probably fueled by
increasing Tamil resentment over the perceived
cooperation of the US Government with the Sri
Lankan Government in its crackdown on Tamil
The local press may have ignited the necessary
animosity by announcing the opening of the Israeli
Interests Section, which is to coordinate the efforts of
Israeli antiterrorist advisers who have come at the
request of Colombo. The press speculated that the
United States may have played an important role in
bringing this about. Further suspicions of US motives
were raised when the press revealed that President
Jayewardene intended to discuss the terrorism
problem during his visit to the United States in mid-
June. The 14 June threat letter and a public vow by
the leader of the EPRLF to conduct further
kidnapings of Americans were timed to coincide with
Jayewardene's trip.
in the wake of India's
own communal troubles in June, Gandhi may have
also realized that India's policy toward the Tamils
represented a two-edged sword: armed and trained
Tamils might prove difficult to control, and Indian
support for Tamil terrorism could render hollow its
own charges of a "foreign hand" in India's terrorist
problems. The Colombo bombing on 28 June may also
have figured in Gandhi's decision to curtail support,
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the Sri Lankan
Government intends to continue seeking a primarily
military solution to the terrorism problem and will not
make any major concessions at the communal
reconciliation talks. If Tamil separatists continue to
identify the United States and Israel with this
basically hardline approach, further attacks on US
and Israeli facilities in Sri Lanka may be
forthcoming. There is no evidence at this point to
suggest that the Tamils are likely to extend their
terrorist attacks to US targets outside the countryr-
At the same time, recent events indicate that two of
the more radical Tamil groups intend to carry their
terrorism into the capital. On the night of 2 August, a
suitcase bomb thought to have been the work of the
EPRLF exploded at Madras airport, killing at least
29 persons and wounding more than 20 others.
Evidence strongly suggests that the bomb had been
destined for Colombo aboard an earlier Air Lanka
flight.
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Chronology
Highlights at the front of this publication are not included.
Below are described noteworthy foreign and international terrorist events and
counterterrorism developments that have occurred or come to light since our last
issue. Events and developments that have already been described in the
Late June 1984 Iran: Bomb Explodes at Soviet Embassy
In Tehran, a bomb exploded at the Soviet Embassy, causing serious injuries to the
child of a Soviet diplomat. The attack occurred while the Soviet Deputy Minister
for Energy was visiting Iran to negotiate the pumping of natural gas to the Soviet
claimed responsibility for the attack.
France: Action Directe Bombs Bank
In Paris, a bomb exploded at a bank, causing only slight damage. Action Directe
10 July 1984 Jamaica: Firebombing
In Buff Bay, a constituency office of the opposition People's National Party (PNP)
was destroyed by a firebomb. This is probably part of ongoing political violence
between the PNP and the ruling Jamaica Labor Party
11 July 1984 France: Bombing Injures Basque Refugee
In a Saint-Jean-Luz bar, three people, including a Spanish Basque refugee, were
injured from a bomb explosion. No group has claimed responsibility, but press
reports indicate the Antiterrorist Liberation Group (GAL) is suspected.
Lankan security personnel.
Sri Lanka: Important Terrorist Slain
In Jaffna, the third-ranking leader of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam
(LTTE) was slain when he failed to stop his motorcycle on orders of a special task
force. The LTTE has been responsible for the assassinations of more than 100 Sri
31 Secret
GI TR 84-017
9 August 1984
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14 July 1984 Northern Ireland: Two Soldiers Killed by Landmine Explosion
A landmine explosion killed two members of the Ulster Defense Regiment as they
patrolled a country road within sight of the Irish border. Soldiers who rushed to
the scene were ambushed with automatic gunfire from nearby woodlands across
the border in Ireland. No group has claimed credit for the attack, but the
Provisional Irish Republican Army (PIRA) is believed responsible
Zaire: Terrorists Arrested
Near Kinshasa, the Zairian Army captured three members of the Congolese
National Movement/Lumumba Faction (MNC/L) who had entered Zaire
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Mid-July 1984 Italy: New Leftist Group Responsible for Recent Bombings
On 14 July at Comiso Air Station (a US base), a bomb explosion damaged
facilities of an Italian construction firm doing contract work. No injuries were
reported. On 27 July in Rome, a bomb exploded outside the home of a senior
official of the Italian Merchant Marine Ministry injuring his wife and son. The
following evening in Selenia, two bombs exploded at an electronics company, but
no one was hurt. A previously unknown group called the Communists Fighting
Against Imperialism and Armaments claimed responsibility for all three attacks.
Police believe the group might be composed of former members of the ultraleftist
Autonomia Operaia.
18 July 1984 Spain: Bombing of Government Office
In Valencia, the Catalan separatist group Terra Lliure claimed responsibility for
two bombs that exploded in a government office. There were no injuries.
Spain: Burning of French Car
In Alsasua, suspected members of Basque Fatherland and Liberty (ETA) burned a
French-registered car.
19 July 1984 Spain: Shooting of Civil Guard
In Vizcaya, a civil guard was shot and killed by suspected members of ETA.
Belgium: Air Zaire Office Bombed
In Brussels, a bomb severely damaged the office of Air Zaire. No group claimed
responsibility, but a number of Zairian opposition groups are active in Belgium.
The terrorists may have been adherents of the Congolese National
Movement/Lumumba Faction or the National Front for the Liberation of Congo,
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20 July 1984
group has claimed responsibility.
South Africa: Attacks on Colored Politicians
Near Johannesburg, firebombs exploded at the homes of four colored (mixed-race)
politicians running for election to the new Colored chamber of Parliament. No
the explosives.
South Africa: Bombs Disrupt Commuter Trains
In Durban, two bombs placed in signal boxes halted commuter rail traffic in
Indian and black suburbs during the morning rush hour. Police found two
unexploded bombs nearby. The African National Congress (ANC) probably set
suspect the Taiwan Independence Movement.
Brazil: Overseas Chinese Leader Murdered
In Sao Paulo, the Vice President of the Overseas Chinese Social Center was killed
by a single shot to the neck from a silenced 6.35-caliber automatic pistol. He was
the second pro-Taiwan overseas Chinese community leader in Sao Paulo to be
killed in this manner this year. No individual or group has claimed responsibility
for the assassinations, but both the Sao Paulo police and the Chinese community
occurred throughout the afternoon. No injuries were reported.
Sri Lanka: Bombings Mark Tamil Anniversary
In Jaffna, a series of bomb blasts occurred as 'Tamils held demonstrations to mark
the first anniversary of the bloody ethnic violence that occurred last year. The first
explosion took place at the bus station early in the morning; other explosions
caused no casualties.
Colombia: Honduran Consulate Bombed
In Barranquilla, the 19th of April Movement (M-19) claimed credit for bombing
the Honduran Consulate to protest Honduran and US support of military
operations against the Sandinista regime. The bomb damaged radio equipment but
there is now an acute shortage of water downstream.
India: Canal Sabotaged
In Punjab, a 650-meter gash along the bank of the Khakra main canal has been
blamed on Sikh extremists. Crops were badly damaged by the ensuing flood, and
have been responsible.
Burma: Rangoon Explosion Wounds 10
In the Kemmendine Township of Rangoon, a young boy touched and thereby
detonated an apparently boobytrapped handgrenade lying on a garbage heap. The
explosion injured seven children and three adults. The Chinese-made grenade was
the same type used in Rangoon on 21 November 1983 when three persons died and
11 were injured. Authorities suspect the Kawthoolei Muslim Liberation Army, a
newly created group which has ties with the Karen National Union (KNU), may
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22 July 1984 Iraq: Kurdish Dissidents Release Hostages
In Iraq, the Kurdish Democratic Party (KDP) released six hostages-three
Frenchmen, a West German, an Austrian, and a Turk-after negotiations with
unidentified Austrians and representatives of the Catholic Church.
Consulate, causing minor structural damage but no injuries.
Colombia: ELN Bombs Chilean Consulate
In Medellin, National Liberation Army (ELN) terrorists bombed the Chilean
24 July 1984 India: Special Courts for Terrorist Trials
For the next six months, the Punjab State has been declared a "terrorist-affected
area." The state has been divided into three judicial zones to facilitate holding
speedy trials of accused terrorists. Special courts have been set up at Jullundur,
Patiala, and Ferozepore.
left (Sendero Luminoso) have been blamed by their enemies.
Peru: Marxist Leader Assassinated
The Mayor of Huancayo, a member of the United Left (a Marxist party that
operates within the system), was shot to death by unidentified individuals. No
group has claimed credit, and elements of both the extreme right and the extreme
25 July 1984 Spain: Policeman Slain
In Lequeitio, a policeman was shot and killed by suspected members of ETA.
Guadeloupe: Four Killed in Bombings
In Basse-Terre and Point-a-Pitre, two car bomb explosions killed four people who
apparently had been engaged in emplacing the bombs when they detonated
prematurely. Authorities suspect they were members of the Caribbean
Revolutionary Alliance.
claimed responsibility for the attack.
Israel: Palestinians Fire Rockets Into Northern Israel
Two Katyusha rockets were fired from Lebanese territory into the Bet She'an area
of northern Israel. No casualties were reported. The Palestinian Struggle Front
US Embassy, Hizballah is widely believed to be responsible.
Lebanon: Christians Abducted by Hizballah
In Beirut, two prominent Lebanese Christians including the press spokesman for
former President Chamoun were abducted near the Green Line. According to the
being Israeli operatives.
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27 July-1 August 1984 Colombia: Terrorists Assassinate Government Officials
On 27 July in Tulua, a Conservative Party official was shot and killed. On
1 August in Medellin, a parliamentary deputy of the Liberal Party was killed by
two gunmen. Both of the victims were members of President Betancur's coalition
government. No group has claimed credit.
Late July 1984 Somalia: More Terrorist Attacks
In Hargeisa, the Somali National Movement (SNM) bombed the regional
headquarters of the ruling party and claimed to have destroyed the city's radio and
telephone center. The attacks were a continuation of the extremely active
terrorism campaign in Hargeisa begun by the SNM in June.
attack on 15 June by the Antiterrorist Liberation Group (GAL).
France: GAL Victim Dies
In Bordeaux, a leading member of ETA died from burns sustained in a bombing
Spain: ETA Hits Another French Target
In Renteria, suspected members of ETA hurled a gasoline bomb into a Renault
automobile showroom. The showroom was damaged, but there were no injuries.F
Israel: Kach Members Convicted of Terrorism
In Jerusalem, three members of Rabbi Meir Kahane's extremist Kach movement
were convicted of involvement in anti-Arab terrorism. On 20 July, Yehuda Cohen
received an 18-month sentence for plotting to attack Jerusalem's Temple Mount
early this year. Later in the month, Yehuda Richter-the number-two candidate
on Kach's list for the Knesset elections-and Mat Leibovitz were convicted of
involvement in the March shooting attack on a bus in Ram Allah. Leibovitz
received a sentence of 39 months in jail with 33 additional months suspended,
while Cohen still faces charges of setting fire to Arab buildings and vehicles. The
main trial of 20 suspected Jewish underground terrorists has been postponed until
mid-September.
was responsible for the blasts.
Namibia: SWAPO Attacks Continue
In Namibia, bombs exploded outside two shops and damaged two buses parked
near a school. The South-West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO) probably
already in possession of firearms and explosives.
Sudan: Authorities Net Terrorist Team
In Sudan, security officials arrested four Sudanese members of a Libyan-
sponsored terrorist team. The team's target list included the US Embassy, the
Sudanese President and Vice President, Libyan opposition figures, and various
economic and military facilities. The sweeping nature of the targeting suggests
operational planning had not proceeded very far, though the terrorists were
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30 July 1984 Italy: Journalist Kidnaped by Terrorists
In Nuoro, members of the left extremist Sardinian Movement (MAS) kidnaped a
journalist and forced him to interview MAS leader Mele Annino. After the
interview, the journalist was released unharmed.
Sri Lanka: Tamil Leaders Miss Meeting
In Jaffna, an attack on a railroad station by Tamil youths throwing hand bombs
caused several leaders of the moderate Tamil Liberation Front (TULF) to miss
their train to Colombo. The train left early for its own protection. Police fought off
the youths, and no one was injured in the assault. The TULF leaders were to meet
and formally consider President Jayewardene's proposal to create a second
chamber of Parliament as a means of addressing Tamil demands for a bigger voice
in government.
such ruling by a court in the Irish Republic.
Ireland: Extradition of Accused Irish Terrorist
The Irish Supreme Court ordered the extradition to Northern Ireland of Seamus
Shannon for questioning in connection with the 1981 murders of Sir Norman
Stronge (a former Speaker of Stormont, the province's legislature) and Stronge's
son. The Provisional IRA had claimed credit for the killings. This is the second
Committees-two separatist organizations banned by the central government.
Corsica: Major Arms Cache Discovered
In Bastia, police discovered a major arms cache containing antitank rockets and
mortar shells, as well as printing equipment and documents belonging to the
Corsican National Liberation Front (FLNC) and the Council of National
1 August 1984 Lebanon: Israel Attacks Palestinian Camp
Israeli helicopters and gunboats launched an attack on a Palestinian camp in the
Nahr al-Barid area near Tripoli, Lebanon. Radio reports indicate the Palestinians
suffered several casualties, while the Israeli forces returned safely to their bases.
3 August 1984 Jordan: US Embassy Truck Bombed
In Amman, a US Government truck parked at the rear of the US Embassy
commissary warehouse was destroyed by a small bomb. The explosion apparently
had been timed to explode early in the morning when no one normally is present.
Three Jordanians including a small child happened to be driving past at the time of
the explosion, however, and sustained minor injuries. No one claimed credit for the
bombing, but the modus operandi closely resembles that of two bombings of
American facilities in Amman in May 1983.
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5 August 1984 Belgium: Bombing at Palace of Justice
In Antwerp, a bomb explosion caused extensive damage to the Palace of Justice.
Police believe the bomb was planted by members of ETA in retaliation for the 14
July extradition of two Basque separatists from Belgium to Spain. There were no
injuries.
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