UNITED KINGDOM: 1993 ANNUAL TERRORISM REPORT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 LONDON 22928 S/CT FOR REAP E.O. 12356: N/A TAGS: PTER UK SUBJECT: UNITED KINGDOM: 1993 ANNUAL TERRORISM REPORT REF: STATE 317207 ¶1. FOLLOWING IS EMBASSY INPUT FOR THE UK PORTION OF THE 1993 ANNUAL TERRORISM REPORT TO THE CONGRESS. RESPONSES ARE KEYED TO QUESTIONS POSED IN PARA 4 REFTEL. ¶2. PROSECUTIONS INVOLVING INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM AND/OR SIGNIFICANT ACTS OF DOMESTIC TERRORISM: -- HMG CONTINUES ACTIVELY TO PROSECUTE MEMBERS OF IRISH REPUBLICAN AND ULSTER LOYALIST TERRORIST GROUPS FOR ATTACKS IN NORTHERN IRELAND AND GREAT BRITAIN. SINCE OCTOBER 1992, MORE THAN 20 PERSONS HAVE BEEN ARRESTED FOR ATTACKS AND OTHER TERRORIST ACTIVITIES IN GREAT BRITAIN, AND SEVERAL HUNDRED IN NORTHERN IRELAND. ¶3. EXTRADITIONS AND REQUESTS FOR EXTRADITION: -- HMG CONTINUES ITS EFFORTS TO OBTAIN EXTRADITION OF PROVISIONAL IRISH REPUBLICAN ARMY (PIRA) CONVICTS JAMES SMYTH AND KEVIN ARTT FROM THE UNITED STATES. ¶4. SIGNIFICANT IMPEDIMENTS TO HOST GOVERNMENT PROSECUTION AND/OR EXTRADITION OF SUSPECTED TERRORISTS: -- INTIMIDATION OF JUDGES, JURORS AND WITNESSES HAS BEEN A SIGNIFICANT PROBLEM IN NORTHERN IRELAND. AS A RESULT, MOST TRIALS OF TERRORIST SUSPECTS THERE ARE CONDUCTED WITHOUT JURIES (IN "DIPLOCK COURTS"), AND THE IDENTITY OF WITNESSES CAN BE WITHHELD FROM THE DEFENSE. -- QUESTIONS ABOUT THE RELIABILITY OF CONFESSION AND FORENSIC EVIDENCE IN TRIALS OF PIRA SUSPECTS IN ENGLAND IN THE 1970'S CONTINUE TO INFLUENCE PROSECUTORS NOT TO BRING CASES TO TRIAL UNLESS THE EVIDENCE IS OVERWHELMING, AND MAKE JURORS RELUCTANT TO CONVICT. CURRENT COURT GUIDELINES ENABLE A JUDGE, AT HIS DISCRETION, TO REQUIRE DISCLOSURE TO THE DEFENSE OF ALL EVIDENCE AGAINST THE ACCUSED, WHETHER OR NOT IT IS INTENDED FOR PROSECUTION USE. POLICE HAVE BEEN RELUCTANT TO PROSECUTE CASES IN WHICH INTELLIGENCE SOURCES AND METHODS MIGHT THUS BE COMPROMISED. ¶5. RESPONSES OTHER THAN PROSECUTION: -- HMG COOPERATED CLOSELY WITH THE USG IN TRYING TO PERSUADE LIBYA TO SURRENDER FOR TRIAL THE TWO SUSPECTS IN THE 1988 BOMBING OF PAN AM 103 AND THE 1989 BOMBING OF UTA 772. IT WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN OBTAINING UNSC APPROVAL OF STRONGER SANCTIONS AGAINST LIBYA. -- HMG DEPLORED THE ATTACK ON THE WORLD TRADE CENTER IN NEW YORK. -- BRITISH AND POLISH OFFICIALS COOPERATED IN THE NOVEMBER 24 INTERCEPTION IN NORTHEAST ENGLAND OF A HUGE CLANDESTINE ARMS SHIPMENT DESTINED FOR THE LOYALIST ULSTER VOLUNTEER FORCE (UVF). ¶6. MAJOR COUNTERTERRORISM EFFORTS: -- ON DECEMBER 15, THE BRITISH AND IRISH GOVERNMENTS ISSUED A JOINT STATEMENT ON NORTHERN IRELAND, CALLING ON PIRA TO END ITS CAMPAIGN OF VIOLENCE AND OFFERING IT FULL PARTICIPATION IN POLITICAL DISCUSSIONS ON THE FUTURE OF THE PROVINCE AFTER IT DEMONSTRATED RENUNCIATION OF TERRORISM. -- POLICE AND OTHER OFFICIALS IN NORTHERN IRELAND CONTINUED TO CRACK DOWN ON LOYALIST AND REPUBLICAN PROTECTION, FRAUD, SMUGGLING, MONEY-LAUNDERING AND VIDEO PIRATING RACKETS. THESE ACTIVITIES REPORTEDLY NOW CONSTITUTE THE MAIN SOURCES OF INCOME FOR TERRORIST GROUPS. -- THE UK PARTICIPATES ACTIVELY IN INTERNATIONAL COUNTERTERRORISM FORA, COORDINATING ITS ACTIVITIES CLOSELY WITH THE U.S. AND OTHERS. IT ALSO PROVIDES COUNTERTERRORISM ASSISTANCE AND EXPERTISE TO NUMEROUS GOVERNMENTS ON A BILATERAL BASIS. ¶7. HOST GOVERNMENT SUPPORT FOR INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM: -- THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT PROVIDES NO SUPPORT FOR ANY INTERNATIONAL TERRORIST ORGANIZATION, AND COOPERATES CLOSELY WITH THE U.S. IN APPLYING PRESSURE ON GOVERNMENTS THAT SUPPORT OR CONDONE TERRORISM. -- HMG CONTINUES TO RESIST PRESSURE FROM OTHERS IN EUROPE TO RESTORE NORMAL RELATIONS WITH STATE SPONSORS OF TERRORISM. IT HAS NO MISSION IN BAGHDAD, TRIPOLI OR PYONGYANG, AND ONLY A SKELETON STAFF IN TEHRAN. ¶8. STATEMENTS IN SUPPORT OF A TERRORIST-SUPPORTING COUNTRY: -- THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT HAS MADE NO SUCH STATEMENTS. ¶9. SIGNIFICANT CHANGES SINCE 1992 IN THE HOST GOVERNMENT'S ATTITUDE TOWARD TERRORISM: -- THERE HAS BEEN NO SUCH CHANGE. HMG REMAINS ADAMANTLY OPPOSED TO TERRORISM IN ALL FORMS. SEITZ