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TERRORISM, DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL - THE WEST GERMAN EXPERIENCE (FROM DISORDERS AND TERRORISM - REPORT OF THE TASK FORCE ON DISORDERS AND TERRORISM, 1976 - SEE NCJ-39469)

NCJ Number
62725
Author(s)
H BLEI
Date Published
1976
Length
10 pages
Annotation
THE STUDENT MOVEMENT IN THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY IS CONSIDERED, AND OFFICIAL RESPONSES TO TERRORISM INVOLVING THE CRIMINAL CODE AND LEGISLATION ARE NOTED.
Abstract
THE STUDENT MOVEMENT WAS PARTICULARLY ACTIVE IN THE 1960'S. IN 1967, THERE WERE MASSIVE DEMONSTRATIONS BY BOTH SUPPORTERS AND OPPONENTS OF THE SHAH OF IRAN WHEN HE VISITED WEST BERLIN. AFTER THEIR TRIAL AND PERIOD OF SENTENCE, STUDENTS ASSOCIATED WITH THESE DEMONSTRATIONS FLEW TO A MIDDLE EAST COUNTRY WHERE THEY RECEIVED INTENSIVE TRAINING IN VARIOUS FORMS OF GUERRILLA WARFARE. THE GROUP THEN DISPERSED, WITH INDIVIDUALS RETURNING TO GERMANY, AND BEGAN TO ORGANIZE SAFE HAVENS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY AND TO ESTABLISH CACHES OF ARMS AND EXPLOSIVES. IT WAS NOT UNTIL 1972 THAT A DECISIVE GOVERNMENT ANTI-TERRORIST CAMPAIGN WAS MADE. LOCAL AND NATIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AUTHORITIES WERE EFFECTIVE IN CONTROLLING TERRORISM AND IN DETECTING TERRORIST GROUPS. INCREASED COOPERATION AND INTELLIGENCE SHARING BETWEEN THE TWO LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT HAVE RESULTED IN THE COMPUTERIZATION OF MUCH DATA ABOUT TERRORIST GROUPS AND HAVE MADE IT DIFFICULT FOR TERRORISTS TO OPERATE EFFECTIVELY. LEGISLATION HAS BEEN PASSED TO MAKE THE PROSECUTION OF CERTAIN TERRORIST ACTIVITIES MORE EFFICIENT. SUBSTANTIVE CRIMINAL LAW IS SPECIFIC IN TERMS OF OFFENSES AND PERSONS WHO MAY BE CHARGED. AMENDMENTS TO THE CODE OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE IN 1975 HAVE STIPULATIONS REGARDING THE REMOVAL OF DEFENDANTS AND THE EXCLUSION OF COUNSEL FROM THE TRIAL OF TERRORISTS. A SPECIAL LAW ENFORCEMENT BRANCH AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL DEALS WITH TERRORISM. TERRORISTS ARE TREATED AS RELATIVELY PRIVILEGED INMATES IN THE CORRECTIONAL SYSTEM, ALTHOUGH A CODE OF CRIMINAL CORRECTIONS IS TO BE IMPLEMENTED. PROSPECTS FOR CONTROLLING TERRORISM IN THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY PRIMARILY LIE IN COOPERATION WITH OTHER COUNTRIES. (DEP)