[ks-open] Re: Definition of "Terrorism"

[Scott Evensen]

REPLY sends your message to the whole list
__________________________________________

>From the State Dept.
http://www.state.gov/www/global/terrorism/1999report/intro.html

No one definition of terrorism has gained universal acceptance. For the
purposes of this report, however, we have chosen the definition of terrorism
contained in Title 22 of the United States Code, Section 2656f(d). That
statute contains the following definitions:

*    The term "terrorism" means premeditated, politically motivated violence
perpetrated against noncombatant (1) targets by subnational groups or
clandestine agents, usually intended to influence an audience.

*    The term "international terrorism" means terrorism involving citizens
or the territory of more than one country.

*    The term "terrorist group" means any group practicing, or that has
significant subgroups that practice, international terrorism.


The U.S. Government has employed these definitions of terrorism for
statistical and analytical purposes since 1983.

(1) For purposes of this definition, the term "noncombatant" is interpreted
to include, in addition to civilians, military personnel who at the time of
the incident are unarmed or not on duty. For example, in past reports we
have listed as terrorist incidents the murders of the following US military
personnel: Col. James Rowe, killed in Manila in April 1989; Capt. William
Nordeen, U.S. defense attache killed in Athens in June 1988; the two
servicemen killed in the La Belle discotheque bombing in West Berlin in
April 1986; and the four off-duty U.S. Embassy Marine guards killed in a
cafe in El Salvador in June 1985. We also consider as acts of terrorist
attacks on military installations or on armed military personnel when a
state of military hostilities does not exist at the site, such as bombings
against U.S. bases in Europe, the Philippines, or elsewhere.


__________________________________________


Quotes from an ABC News report on the various definitions of terrorism used
by different Govt. agencies:

Even among U.S. governmental agencies, different definitions of terrorism
are used. 

The State Department's definition holds that only sub-national groups, not
states themselves, can commit acts of terrorism. It states the violence must
be politically motivated, but does not mention instilling or spreading fear.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency's definition includes the use of
illegal force or violence "for purposes of intimidation, coercion or
ransom," but does not require it to be politically motivated.

The FBI looks to the Code of Federal Regulations definition: "The unlawful
use of force and violence against persons or property to intimidate or
coerce a government, the civilian population, or any segment thereof, in
furtherance of political or social objectives."

The FBI has labeled as terrorists groups such as the Earth Liberation Front,
which has taken responsibility for destroying millions of dollars worth of
property, but claims to be nonviolent and avoid hurting people.

------------------

For what it's worth, I'm not sure you can come up with a generally accepted
definition and trying to find one that all here can agree on could be
impossible. 

Scott

> From: Ruediger Frank <rfrank@eplus-online.de>
> Reply-To: ks-open@iic.edu
> Date: Tue, 23 Oct 2001 22:41:08 +0200
> To: ks-open@iic.edu
> Subject: Definition of "Terrorism"
> 
> REPLY sends your message to the whole list
> __________________________________________
> 
> Dear list,
> 
> not reacting on a particluar message:
> 
> Could anybody hint on a source to find a generally accepted definition of
> "terrorism"? And on "state terrorism"? Or on official definitions by, say,
> the USA and the ROK? It is just that I have learned that in a discussion,
> particularly a controversial one, the language and terminology should be
> crystal clear. Otherwise, n people could in fact talk about n things and
> nobody would realize it.
> 
> I think this is of relevance to the list with regard to NK.
> 
> Thank you,
> 
> Ruediger Frank 
>