Cablegate: United Kingdom: 1993 Annual Terrorism Report

R 291543Z DEC 93
FM AMEMBASSY LONDON
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 4900

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

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