SUDAN: 1990 ANNUAL TERRORISM REPORT

UNCLAS KHARTOUM 11358 S/CT FOR BREELAND E.O. 12356: N/A TAGS: PTER SU SUBJECT: SUDAN: 1990 ANNUAL TERRORISM REPORT REF: A) STATE 355397, B) KHARTOUM 7788, C) KHARTOUM 11253 ¶1. THE 1990 TERRORISM REPORT FOR SUDAN IS AS FOLLOWS. ¶2. THE ACROPOLE TERRORIST BOMBING CASE WENT THROUGH A SERIES OF POSTPONEMENTS, WITH THE NEXT HEARING NOW SCHEDULED FOR JAN. 22, 1991 (REF C). MANY OF THE POSTPONEMENTS, INCLUDING THE MOST RECENT ONE, INVOLVED CONSULATIONS AND NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE VICTIMS' FAMILIES. THE FAMILIES SUBMITTED STATEMENTS DURING THE YEAR INDICATING WHETHER THEY WOULD PARDON THE TERRORISTS, WITH OR WITHOUT COMPENSATION ("DIYYA"),AS WELL AS THE AMOUNT OF DIYYA DEMANDED. THE COURT ANNOUNCED IN 1989 THAT IF ANY FAMILY REFUSED TO PARDON THE TERRORISTS, THEY WOULD BE EXECUTED. SOME COMMENTS BY LEGAL AUTHORITIES IN 1990 SUGGESTED THAT LONG-TERM IMPRISONMENT OF THE TERRORISTS MIGHT BE POSSIBLE, ALTHOUGH THIS WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE CHOICES MADE AVAILABLE TO THE FAMILIES. ¶3. THE GOVERNMENT UNDERTOOK NO MAJOR COUNTERTERRORISM EFFORTS IN 1990. ¶4. THE PLO CAMP NEAR SUDAN'S RED SEA COAST, OCCUPIED SINCE THE EVACUATION OF BEIRUT IN 1982, WAS REPORTEDLY EVACUATED IN 1990 (REF B). NO OTHER TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS HAVE BEEN REPORTED TO HAVE CAMPS IN SUDAN. SUDAN EXTENDS DIPLOMATIC RECOGNITION TO THE PLO, WHICH MAINTAINS AN EMBASSY IN KHARTOUM. PLO CHIEF YASSER ARAFAT VISITED SUDAN SEVERAL TIMES IN 1990. ¶5. THE GOVERNMENT MADE NO PUBLIC STATEMENTS IN 1990 IN SUPPORT OF A TERRORIST-SUPPORTING GOVERNMENT ON A TERRORISM ISSUE. ¶6. ALTHOUGH THE GOVERNMENT IS NOT A SPONSOR OF TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS, IT HAS A CLOSE RELATIONSHIP WITH IRAQ AND INCREASING CONNECTIONS WITH IRAN. IN 1990 THE GOVERNMENT SIGNED AN "INTEGRATION AGREEMENT" WITH LIBYA. AS A RESULT OF THE AGREEMENT, COL. MUAMMAR QADHAFI VISITED KHARTOUM IN OCTOBER. THIS AGREEMENT PERMITS MUCH EASIER ACCESS TO SUDAN BY LIBYANS. SUDANESE AND NORTH KOREAN OFFICIALS EXCHANGED VISITS DURING THE YEAR. THE OUTBREAK OF THE PERSIAN GULF CRISIS IN AUGUST PRODUCED MORE INTENSIVE PAN-ARAB AND PAM ISLAMIC COMMENTARY IN THE GOVERNMENT-CONTROLLED MEDIA, CREATING A MORE RECEPTIVE CLIMATE FOR ANTI-WESTERN ACTIONS IN SUDAN. CHEEK