FORMED IN 1969, THE RED ARMY GROUP WAS THE FIRST TO USE BOMBS IN A POLITICAL STRUGGLE, TRIGGERING A SERIES OF UNSOLVED BOMB EXPLOSIONS IN 1974 AND A MYSTERIOUS BLAST 2 YEARS LATER IN JAPAN THAT KILLED TWO PEOPLE. THE GROUP'S NEFARIOUS ACTIVITIES HAVE ALSO INCLUDED THE OCCUPATION OF THE U.S. AND SWEDISH EMBASSIES IN KUALA LUMPUR IN 1975 IN A SUCCESSFUL BID FOR THE RELEASE OF FIVE COMRADES FROM JAPANESE PRISONS AND THE SEIZURE OF A JAPAN AIR LINES PLANE IN 1977. THE LATTER INCIDENT RESULTED IN JAPAN'S PAYMENT OF A $6 MILLION RANSOM AND THE RELEASE OF 6 IMPRISONED LEFT-WING EXTREMISTS. ALTHOUGH THE WHEREABOUTS OF THE RED ARMY'S LEADERSHIP IS UNKNOWN AND THE MAJORITY OF THEIR PERSONALITIES UNCERTAIN, A PRINCIPAL MEMBER DID SURFACE IN PALESTINE TO BUILD A WORLD PARTY AND AN INTERNATIONAL BASE FOR AIDING THE 'LIBERATION OF PALESTINE' AND THE EVENTUAL WORLD REVOLUTION. AFTER THE ARREST OF THE BULK OF ITS MEMBERS IN 1969, THE RED ARMY SET UP OPERATIONS IN THE ARAB WORLD, THEREBY EVADING THE JAPANESE POLICE WHO RECEIVED COOPERATION FROM FRIENDLY EUROPEAN COUNTRIES TO ARREST THE TERRORISTS. HOWEVER, CONFLICTS AROSE IN JAPANESE SOCIETY WHEN SOME OF THOSE ARRESTED IN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES INCLUDED PERSONS WITH NO DIRECT CONNECTION WITH THE RED ARMY GROUP. RED ARMY ATTACKS ARE DIRECTED PRIMARILY AGAINST THE JAPANESE GOVERNMENT AND CORPORATIONS, BUT MAJORITY OPINION IN JAPAN IS OPPOSED TO ACTION AGAINST HIJACKERS AT THE RISK OF HOSTAGES' LIVES. SUCH ACTIONS MIGHT INDUCE A FUTURE ESCALATION OF TERRORIST ACTS OR PERMANENTLY DAMAGE DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTIONS. NO REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (WJR)