Facets of Terrorism

FACETS OF TERRORISM

  This paper was read in INDIAN CRIMINOLOGY CONGRESS THE 1^ST INTERNATIONAL AND THE XXX ALL INDIA CRIMINOLOGY CONFERENCE OF INDIAN SOCIETY OF CRIMINOLOGY organised by University of Calcutta in February, 2007

Main Theme: Crime and Justice in a Changing World

Sub Theme: Facets of Terrorism

Introduction:

          After the 9/11 attacks on the world trade center, the total view of world towards terrorism has changed. The way in which terrorists committed this crime is showing the change in the form of activities, tactics, nature, application of means. Before this attack, normally kidnapping, air hijacking, bomb blasts, suicide bomb, assassination were used as tactics of terrorist activities. And it could be said that this attack had the combination of almost aforesaid tactics. The means, methods and weapons adopted by terrorist groups and organization take technology using hi tech facilities available in the form of communication system, transport and sophisticated armaments. For this, mostly highly educated intelligent youth power is used. They are victims of poverty, ethnic and religious ideology and vengeance.

          Facets of Terrorism includes not only definition, characteristics but also the deep discussion of psychological factors, ideology behind terrorist activities, new version of terrorism like cyber terrorism, nuclear terrorism, bio-terrorism, terrorists and terrorist profiles and prevention measures, laws and international conventions against the terrorist activities.        

      

             Definition of Terrorism

          Terrorism is a mode of violence involving the systematic use or threatened use of murder, injury and destruction to intimidate or shock a target group wider than the immediate victims, or to create a climate terror. --- Dictionary of Criminology

         

            On March 17, 2005, a UN panel described terrorism as any act: “intended to cause death or serious bodily harm to civilians or non-combatants with the purpose of intimidating population or compelling a government or an international organization to do or abstain from doing an act.”

                      There are many definitions of terrorism and controversies in the term. Simple definition is the unlawful use or threatened use of force or violence by a person or property with the intention of intimidating or coercing societies or governments, often for ideological or political demands.

           Historical Perspective of Terrorism

          When one studies the history of terrorism one is astonished to find that even though terrorism has accelerated in the last quarter of this century it has existed from times immemorial.

       Kautilya’s Arthshastra contains detailed techniques of assassination and terrorism. The assassination of Julius Casear in 44 B.C. can be considered an act of terrorism. In fact, the word assassination is derived from Arabic term ‘Hashish’. Historic references to the term terrorism first appeared during the “Reign of Terror” in French Revolution.

Horror Chart of Recent Terrorism Examples

1.September 11, 2001: Attack on World Trade

2.December 13, 2001: Attack on Indian Parliament

3.October 12, 2002: Car bomb exploded in Denpasar.

4.July 7, 2005: Bomb blasts in three underground trains in London

5.July 17, 2006: Serial bomb blasts in western local railway in Mumbai

Characteristics of Terrorism

          Each act of terrorism is distinct from any other such act, circumstances, agenda, motives, modus operandi, and scheming may all be diverse and therefore the features dominant under one type of terrorism may differ from others. Following are main facets of terrorism.

1. Terrorism is used to promote political goals.
2. Normally uses violence or threat of violence
3. The motivation may be to get publicity, exposure and sympathy for cause, to obtain the release of imprisoned terrorist, to discourage impending foreign governmental assistance programmes and foreign investments and to get ransom, which may be in cash or arms and ammunition.
4. Most terrorists take credit of what they have done. They may do this by contacting a newspaper or journalist before or after the act to explain their cause.

Psychological and Motivational Factors

1. Paranoia (a mental disorder characterized by delusions, hallucinations and progressive deterioration of personality), particularly in the case of charismatic leaders has been suggested by Hassel.(1977)
2. Lack of self-respect and consequent feeling of self worth acquired by terrorist.
3. Possony suggested that a combination of genetics and climate and conducive to terrorist leads behaviors.
4. Personal gain in terms of easy money, leadership, future chance of leadership, fame has also motivated quite a few terrorists.
5. Ideology, especially religious or ethnic ideologies have seen to be causal factors. Repeated lecturing and brain washing have led quite a few youth to embraces terrorism.

        If the terrorists are otherwise ordinarily, unremarkable people then one need to examine why have these normal people decided to engage in such an extreme activity as political violence. Once you are forced to throw away the terrorists are different model, then attention must be given to other areas. An important realization is that becoming involved in terrorism is a process. No body is born a terrorist. There is no bad gene at work here. Neither does anyone wake up one morning and decide that on that day they are going to start planting Bombs in public streets. Becoming a terrorist is in the first instance an issue of socialization. Any society will possess some minorities or disaffected groups who rightly or wrongly perceive that the world is treating them harshly. In some cases there are genuine and very substantial causes for grievance. Individuals who belong to or identify with such disaffected groups share in as sense of injustice and persecution. It is from such pools that individual terrorist emerge. The move from the disaffected to the violent extremist is usually facilitated by a catalyst event. Normally this is an act of extreme physical violence committed by the police or security forces or other rival group against the individual, family, friends or simply anyone they can identify with. The combination of sense of belonging to a beleaguered group combined with the experience of an art of extreme violence against either oneself or significant others is the impetus for some to engage in terrorism.

         

          Psychology offers real insight in the understanding of terrorism and in the search of an end to terrorist conflicts. It has to be focused on the crucial lessons in terms of educating with a mind to opening doors for improved prevention and more flexible resolution. The levels of ignorance, misconception and prejudice concerning terrorism that need to be overturned are immense, but in doing so there are genuine opportunities to achieve and safeguard peace and security for all.

         

Types of Terrorism:

          There are new tactics of terrorism in changing world i.e. cyber terrorism, bio terrorism, eco-terrorism, narco terrorism, state terrorism, etc.

         

Counter measures against the terrorism

          Fighting against terrorism is a war against false ideology. It is not an easy task. In the words of Paul Wilkinson, “Fighting terrorism is like being a goal keeper. You can make a hundred brilliant saves but the only shot that people remember is the one gets past you.” Since independence, India has faced terrorist movements in Punjab, Jammu & Kashmir and insurgent activities in North Eastern States, Tamilnadu, Bihar, Andhra, etc. To curb on these activities we have international treaties like International Convention for the Suppression of Terrorist Bombing, Hague Convention for Aircraft Hijacking, etc. In India, there were TADA, POTA, etc. These Acts are repealed. Now there are laws like Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Amendment Act, 2004, MCOCA (only for State of Maharashtra). Whether repeal of POTA is justifiable or not is another discussion. But, MCOCA Law is much similar to POTA and gets success in the State of Maharashtra.

          TADA and POTA were repealed because they were decided as anti-minority Acts. It is mere bogy of the politicians. The conviction rate of TADA cases is 0.9% but POTA got much success. Even The Maharashtra Control of Organised Crimes Act, 1999 (MCOCA) has similarities to the POTA.

          The word Terrorism has many shades and many colours. There is no global profile and taxonomy of terrorism itself though it has received quite intense attention from the governmental security agencies, the media and the policy makers. It would require immense understanding and a cohesive strategy involving all the above partners for combating the terrorism as is being faced by the world. It is not possible to provide a blanket prescription for ending terrorism but certain practical and workable guidelines can be spelt out for coordinating the governmental agencies and departments in its suppression. The popular local support a terrorist organization receives makes it more difficult to combat it in isolation. A multi-agency approach is therefore essential.