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World-Famous
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World-Famous
Kamal Singh
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Publishers
Family Books Pvt. Ltd.
� F-2/16,
� d:j Pustak
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Distributors
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Publishers
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PREFACE A couple of years back, the 'World-Famous Series'
was launched with the prime objective of enlarging the mental horizon and enriching the mind of average reader by linking his awareness to events on the international plane. We are gratified that within a short time, this series has firmly established itself. Millions of readers have read and appreciated the titles published in this series. Every title is eagerly looked forward to and grabbed by our discerning readers. In a way, these books have assumed the status of mini encyclopaedias because of the exhaustive information provided in them. The 33rd book of this. series, namely 'World Famou� Terrrist Organisations', is in your hands.
There are innumerable terrorist organisations in the world.
Due to limitations of space, we have selected only those organisations which are active not only in their own countries. but have international ramifications. This book provides detailed information regarding the comppsition, aims and working methods of famous terrorist groups active in Germany, Italy, France, Spain, Palestine, Israel and Sri Lanka. We have also tried to impartially evaluate and analyse their dare-devil and bloody actions that sent shock waves throughout the world. We have purposely excluded the terrorist organisations of our country. We feel that the readers must be fully conversant with their activities through the daily press. We have taken ample pains to provide you with authentic reading matter. Each article is profusely illustrated.
Shri Ashok Kumar Sharma, District Information Officer,
Meerut, has greatly helped us by providing some rare
photographs. We would iike to express our sense of gratitude to him.
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We hope, the readers will find this book interesting and illuminating reading. Your views on the book are welrome.
CONTENTS
Germany-The Aggressive Youth itily - Born Out of .Fascism
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France-Abortive Revolutions and Terrorism Japan-From Leftism to Terrorism Zioni�t Terrorism
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23 35
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49
Palestine : The Backbone of International Terrorism ......... :
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Armenia : .Thirst for Freedom ··�··································· 94 .
Spain : Basque Terrorism
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Ireland : Hund·red )'ears of 'ferrorism -- -�Sri Lanka : Terror of Tigers & Lions
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1 00
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123
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Germany-The Aggressive Youth ermah terrorism can be said to be a direct outcome of the sense of
G frustration, humiliation and bitterness that the German youth suf
fered on account of successive defeats inflicted on their nation in the two world wars. The Getman nation lay divided and devastated after the Second World War ( 1939-45). If defeat and humiliation gave rise to Fascism after the first world war, the youth now turned towards Marx ism, for the solution of their problems. The emergence of terrorism some twenty years after Hitler's death, was directly influenced by Marxism. The blood of the youth boiled to see their proud nation cringe before the victorious Allied armies. Not only their country but their capital city Berlin lay divided. Now, the youth were not contept to question the anomalies in the social structure but were ready to challenge and change it. Soon, this pent-up anger erupted in the form of violent terrorism. They turned towards Marxism to seek solutions to the problems that beset them. But, it was not the Marxism of Soviet Union that shaped and influenced their actions. They looked towards what has been invariably described as 'New Leftism.' They were deeply impressed by the cultural revolution of Mao Tse-tung in China. Above all, they found the principles of international revolution more attractive as propounded by Marcuse, Fanon and Che Guevara who were looked upon as the messiahs of New Leftism. These people believed in mass action by means of armed and guerilla warfare to achieve their objectives. Terrorism in Germany made its presence felt at the fag end of sixties. The students in Germany rose against the repressive policies of Chancellor Adenauer of West Germany. He was extremely pro-Ameri can and was looked upon as a puppet of the western powers. The movement against his policies became more violent and aggressive as he tried to crush it by repression and strong arm methods. Eventually, the youth had no other option but to take the path of terrorism. The decade
of sixties can be best described as the decade of re\'olt. The people of
9
Martin Luther King Anti-apartheid
Chancellor Adenuer Pro-American
Asia, Africa and South America were throwing off the foreign yoke and becoming free. Colonialism was being buried all over the world. The success of these struggles had great effect on the developed and capitalist countries of the west. A new wave of enthusiasm for change swept the entire world, particularly among the students and the young people. The movements of students and youth became an important part of political activity in America, Japan, Germany, France and other countries. Gradually, a section of these youths and students' movements moved to wards terrorism and violent conflict. Terrorism became an international phenomenon. The youth movement of the sixties had its advent in America. The youth in that country revolted against established norms. It started with a largescctionof youth living an disorganised life. Beards, dishevelled hair, shabby clothes, music, drug addiction and total rejection of social norms became their hallmark. At first, these people were ignored and given various names as hippies or flower children. No attempt was made to find
out the cause of their dissatisfaction and anger. It was not realised that this revolt against established social norms and values was deep-seated but not shallow. It could not be just ignored. This rejection of the �o
established values by the American youth was against the well-to-do and white collared society. They were sick of the hypocrisy, double stan dards, black deeds and pursuit of material comforts of their society and hence rejected the prevalent norms and values. America had become the most powerful country in the world after the Second World War. The rulers of that country had become so drunk with power that even after Hitler and Mussolini had been defeated and Japan was on the brink bf collapse, they dropped two atom born bs on the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki which obliterated these cities killing millions. This was history's worst genocide. After the war, a cold war started between the socialist group led by Soviet Union and the capitalist world led by United States. There was a race amongst them to pile up atomic weapons and the threat
of an
annihilating nuclear war hovered over the heads of peace loving com mon people of the world. The international policies of the United States were the very antithesis of the path of freedom struggles in the third world comprising Asia, Africa and Latin America. The American youth were restless as they could not stomach the anti-people policy of their government. They were specially agitated by the war unleashed by their country on a small country like Vietnam. The heroic resistance of Viet Cong fighters in that coun'try for their freedom made a deep impression on the minds of American youth. The defeat of American imperialism after an enormous loss of lives provided an impetus to the revolt of American youth. It can be safely asserted that young people are generally on the side of right and are free from pre-conceived notions. The escapist and pessimistic attitude of the Hippie movement became a challenge for the American government. Millions of students came out on the streets protesting against American involvement in Vietnam. They demanded recalling of American troops from that country. Processions and protest marches were organised in most of the American cities. The black people of Ameri�a also launched a struggle demanding equal rights. America claimed to be upholder of human rights, but denied these rights to its black population. The great negro leader Martin Luther King became a martyr in this struggle. This movement of the American youth provided inspiration to the youth and students all over the world. In 1966, the French youth sounded the bugle of revolution. This student rebellion in France was led by II
Rudi Dutschke Dreamer ofsociety without exploita tion, who was later on killed by police bullets Daniel Cohn-Bendit. In May, 1968, the French riot police (CRS) fought pitched battles with students in the streets of Paris. The youth-student movement of West Germany was deeply influenced by the youth movements in America and France as it took shape in 1967. Many of the problems faced by youth in America and Germany were similar. Both were against racism, nuclear weapons and faced danger of a third war. They wanted peace and lessening of tensions generated by the cold war. Some problems were peculiar to Germany, such as, the stigma of Nazism as also the Berlin wall that divided their fatherland. The movement of the German youth started against the Berlin wall. The movement became disorderly and there were clashes with police, which used force. Many were imprisoned. The main demands of the German youth were changes in the administrative set up, democratisa tion of police force, changes in the judicial system, democratic rights to women, fundamental changes in the educational system and methods. The German youth had dreams about changing the economic and political structure of their country and bringing about a cultural revolu tion. Their leader, Rudi Dutschke, spelled out the objectives of this
movement in these words, "This is a struggle to create a new man in the
new age. It is a march towards a world free from all exploitation." This radical group centred in the Free University of West Berlin was known as "Sozialistischen Deutscher Studentenbund. "
This radical student group demanded that the atomic race be abandoned. Their other demands were removal of American troops from 12
the soil of Germany , termination of Germany's membership of North
Atlantic Treaty Organisation. They also condemned the American intervention in Greece and the policy of West German government in this regard. They demonstrated in favour of freedom movement in Vietnam and took out processions in Berlin and other cities of West Germany. The youth in Germany adopted novel methods to express their resentment against the policies of the then government. They staged plays at street crossings in which the subject matter was full of romance, sensation, humour and satire. Effigies were burnt and 'mock action' was rehearsed. On 2 June, 1 967, this conflict between the youth and the administration took a bloody tum. The police fired on the procession
organised to protest against the visit of Shah of Iran to Berlin. Well known student leader, Banmo Ohnesorg, was killed by police bullets. In another demonstration, Rudi Dutschke, the leader of S.D.S. also fell to police bullets. Banmo Ohnesorg was hit in the back of his head. Three more bullets hit him on the head, spine and chest. Many other students were seriously injured, their limbs broken and were sent to prison. They were charged with serious offences in
the
jourt.
Most of the students
belonged to affluent middle class families and were well educated, sensitive, sentimental. They now became aware of the real nature of the repressive and ugly face of the so-called democratic government of their €ountry. They were now face to face with challenges that were till now topics of academic discussions in the coffee houses. They realised that mere discussions and verbal protests were not enough. They need strength to change the structure of the society and government. During this period, Socialist Progressive Party (SPD) which represented the aspirations of leftists and progressives entered into an agreement with the rightist Christian Democratic Party and joined the government. The Communist Party of West Berlin had already been declared
illegal and it could not give guidance to the rebel student groups. In these circumstances the leftist and progressive student movement was leader less. There was no party or representative in the parliament that could raise its voice on behalf of the people. It was in these conditions that Sozialistischen Deutcher Studentenbund (SOS) was born as a non parliamentary organisation to provide leadership to the young people.
This student organisation became an alternative political platform. It
13
Andreas Baatler - Leader of Red Army Faction
Gudrun Ensslin
was no longer a disorderly or childish medium of protest
but had
assumed the character of a well organised attempt to gain political power. That is why, the then government dealt with it with an iron hand, as it saw it as a threat to its very existence. From the international point
of view, this struggle assumed great importance as it was being fought
in West Germany which had become the testing ground of socialist and capitalist competition and conflict. The democratic struggle of the youth and students soon turned towards violence and revenge due to the repressive policies of the government. The young leadership was attracted
ijy ·the principles )�essed by the
enunciated by Marx and Lenin. They were also deeply i �
anarchic philosophy of Marcuse, Fenon and Bakunin. Though they were influenced by the �uHural revolution launched by Mao Tse-tung and the
guerilla methods of warfare by the Viet Cong in Vietnam, they became admirers of guerilla methods and internationalism of Che Guevara. These young people of Germany declare themselves to be soldiers of the struggle in the Third World and red guerillas of the urban areas. They called their radical group Red Army Faction. The leading members of this radical group were Gudrun Ensslin, Andreas Baader and Ulrike Meinhof. The terrorist youth in Germany were divided in many groups. Amongst them, the most active and volatile group was the Red Army i
14
Faction. They were also known as the Baader-Meinhof group as Andreas Baader and Ulrike Meinhof happened to be its leaders. The aggressive and daring exploits of this group had once shaken the very foundations of the government in West Germany. A wave of terror swept over most of the countries in Europe. The Red Army Faction of West Germany was described as the most dreaded, aggressive and violent organisation amongst the terrorist organisations in Europe. Their first act was planting of incendiary bombs in two Frankfurt departmental stores. This action attracted Meinhof to join Ensslin and Baader. Four young people were arrested for this crime. Andreas Baader and Gudrun Ensslin were amongst them. Baader was only 27 at that time. He came from a Dutch middle class family and was extremely handsome. His father was a well known historian and writer. Baader was the chief
Ulrike Meinhof, who with the active help of her cohorts, succeeded in taking away MeinhofBaaderfrom jail
spokesman of this group. He had already made an impression as an organiser of student movement. Ensslin was also a well educated young
woman from an affluent family with a degree in Philosophy from
Tubligen University in Berlin. The planting and exploding of incendiary bombs in the departmen tal stores was not a very serious offence. Nobody was killed and the damage amounted to some
8 million dollars. But, this action was
important for two reasons. Firstly, it had occut:ed in a warehouse of the American forces. It was apparent that American establishments were the prime targets of these terrorist groups. Secondly, it was an ultimatum of violent resistance. It was the first attempt and experiment of urban guerilla warfare. The rulers of Germany perfectly understood the impli cations of this violent outburst. The accused were sentenced to three years' rigorous imprisonment.
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Baader became a hero and he was admired for his courage all over West Gennany. He became a sort of beacon light to the repressed and
aggressive youth of Gennany who were already seething with anger on account of atrocities perpetrated on them. Ulrike Meinhof, who be longed to upper crust of society and was J:Uanied to a young communist joined Baader at this juncture. Meinhof was also a well known journalist.
She was an orphan. Reinate Remark, who .was Professor of History in
Berlin University and well-known Marxist thinker brought her up.
Meinhof herself was well versed in Philosophy. She was greatly affected by the murder of Rudi Dutschke. leader of SDS. She used her connec tions in the government and got permission to interview Baader for the press and T.V. Then she took permission to meet him many times on the plea of writing a thesis. These meetings fed to many daring exploits that are now recorded in history of terrorism with the blood of Gennan youth. Meinhof was able to rescue Baader from the prison with the help of her associates in a well planned and daring action . Two security guards were killed in this action. This created a sensation and indicated that the German youth were now prepared to go to any length to gain their objectives. Many of them also spread to the middle-east and con tacted the terrorists in Palestine. They also underwent training with the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine. Then t
�
returned to
Germany.
Hulgur Meins - an important JMlnber ofBaader-Meinholf organisation in deteriorating condition on account of long hunger-strike 16
The years 1970-72 were the peak years of terrorist activity in Germany. Baader had returned to Germany. During this period, Baader and his associates unleashed a reign of terror. They looted banks, abducted people to collect ransom so that they had enough money to purchase arms. The Baader-Meinhof group made bomb attacks on U.S. Military bases, government buildings, and police officers. The Axel Springer press building in Hamburg was attacked. At least 20 people died in these actions and many others were injured. The German govern me
n( was bewildered.
The political atmosphere lay vitiated. The de
mands of the students were considered and debated and they were given a representation in the governance of the university. An attempt was also made to tackle the problem of the unemployed youth. Attempt was made to win over the leaders of the agitation by offering them facilities and employment. Together with these measures, the government passed anti-terrorist laws. Emergency regulations were imposed in the country. More repressive measures were employed. Even the lawyers who defended the accused in terrorist cases were sent to prison. They were charged with secret membership of the terrorist organisations. They were also accused of taking part in planning subver sive acts. Many lawyers and intellectuals became victims of these highhanded measures.
Peter Lorenz - who had been kidnapped
Suhela - the only terrorist who survived the four hijackers of 'L�fthansa'
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Finally, in 1972, the police were able to arrest 18 prominent lead,. rs of Red Army Faction including Baader, Ensslin and Meinhof and thu� to end the second phase of terrorism by rounding up the front
line
leaders. But, that was not the end. The fighters of Red Army Faction continued the struggle inside the prison for self-respect and better treatment. They went on fast many times. TwQ youths died in these fasts. They demanded end of sub-human conditions in the prison and torture. These hunger-strikers wanted recognition as poltical prisoners and treatment as per Geneva Convention for prisoners of war. The terrorist movement was now two-pronged. On one side, they were keeping the agitation alive in the prison, on the other, their associates were re-organising themselves for further strikes. The third phase of terrorist action had started. They had now converted the terrorist movement into an international upheaval in conjunction with Palestinian terrorist groups, Red Brigade of Italy and Action Directe groups of France. They made daring attempts to free their compatriots from the prison. The meeting of eleven ministers of oil exporting countries was held in Vienna on December 2 1-23, 1975. The terrorists gatecrashed into the headquarters of PEC and took as hostages some seventy persons. In June, 1976, they hijacked an Air France plane that took off from Tel Aviv (Israel) for Paris. There were 250 passengers in the plane out of which 106were Jews. In October, 1977, they hijacked a Lufthansa plane and took it to Mogadishu. The Christian Democratic leader, Peter Lorentz, was kidnapped on the eve of Berlin city elections. The Government
John Roche
John Carl Raspe
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Rhein-Main - the American aerodrome after the bomb-blast acceded to the demands of the terrorists and released five terrorists from the prison. But, the government refused to release Baader, Ensslin, Meinhof and Heinrich von Rauch at any cost.
To make the gov ernment succumb to their demand for the release of the above leaders, the terrorists kidnapped the well-known industri alist H anns-Martin Schleyer. In July 1 977 , Dr. Jurgen Ponti, a banker, was shot dead. On 1 3 October, 1 977, a Lufthansa Boeing 737 on a flight· from Majorca to Frankfurt was hijacked. The German government stood firm. It sent a GSG9 anti-terrorist squad to Mogadishu to storm the aircraft. The hij ackers were killed and p assengers rescued. Soon after, as the news of events at Mogadishu reached the Stammheim prison in which Baader and his associates were kept, Baader w as found shot dead and Ensslin hanged. It w as given out that they had committed suicide. Jan-Carl Raspe and Meinhof also died in mysterious circumstances. Again, the verdict was suicide. The supporters of the terrorists allege that the German authorities killed them. In any case, German terrorism did not die with the death of these top leaders. There were many other groups that carried on the struggle.
Revolutionary Celt New adherents took the place of old terrorists. Most of the leaders of Red Anny Faction have been killed or had been in prison. A new
19
Embassy of West Germany, Stockholm where the te"orists made nine hostages and thereafter, consigned the embassy to fla,mes
organisation named Revolutionary Cell became active. This group was formed by merging many groups of activists. This was a very secretive and aggressive group. According to authoritative estimates this group was responsible for 148 terrorist actions in 1984 and 33 1 in 1985. Planting powerful bombs and incendiary devices, murders, dacoi ties, is their forte. Their targets are mainly police and army installations, government buildings, American and North Atlantic Treaty Organisa. tion installations. This group was responsible for the murder of Seigfried Buback, the federal chief prosecutor in Karlsruhe, attack-0n officers of the federal judicial department, fatal attack on Alexander Haig, Chief of NATO in Europe, murder of Ernst Zimmerman who was a top industri alist connected with arms production. He was killed in 1985. This group also made an attack on the American airbase located at Rhein-Main in July, 1985 and also bombed a train carrying American troops stationed in Germany. The German youth express�d its resentment and wrath by terrorist actions. This movement which started to establish democratic values in Germany and bring about a world-revolution gradually degenerated into senseless terrorism. This alienated it from the common men. The movement that started in the sixties in which millions of German youths participated to protest against German and international reactionary forces, is now reduced to a terrorist movement of a few young men. At 20
A police poster exhibiting te"orists ofmany hues the moment, hardly 30 active members and a few hundred sympathisers are directly and indirectly involved in these activities. The industrial workers of Germany could never sympathise with terrorist activities. Ulrike Meinhof was the think tank of Red Army Faction. In many of her articles, she exclaimed, "The industrial workers are indifferent towards our activities". Like the Euro-communists and revisionists, the middle class youth of Germany believed that the working class was nothing but elitist proletariat and a willing tool of the imperialistic exploitation. They attempted to create a revolutionary society by sensational acts instead of organising people for class struggle
on a mass scale. Hence they could not achieve their objectives and failed in their mission. Actually, the effect of these terrorist activities was quite opposite to what they aimed. The reactionary forces in Germany were strength ened by the activities of the terrorist groups and betrayal of the commu .1ists. It can be said, that in any case, these youthful terrorists were successful in taking off the mask of democracy from the face of reactionary German authorities whose real character was exposed.
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German Action Group This is a terrorist group led by extremely rightist leaders. It has been organised on the principles of Neo-Nazism. Its founder was a reputed advocate named Manfred Roeder. This group killed two Vietnamese in
a Ha mburg hotel by a bomb explosion. Foreign labour became its special
target. Roeder was sent to prison for the first time in 1978. He was again sentenced to thirteen years imprisonment in 1982. His two other associ ates Raymond Homle and Vordruzi were sentenced to life imprison ment.
Peoples' Socialist Movement of German Workers' Party This terrorist organisation is of extreme rightist youngmen and was banned in 1982. Its leader, Friendhelm Busse was arrested when an armed attack was made on police near Munich.
Wehrs Portgruppe Hoffman This terrorist group is anti-Jew. Its activities ceased in 198 1, when . its leader, Karl Heinz Hoffman, was arrested. In 1979, Hoffman had fled to Lebanon with 15 of his followers where he took training with a
Palestinian group in terrorist activities.
22
mI
Italy - Born out of Fascism Genesis of Terrorism : he sixties were a decade of great turmoil and disorder in Italy. The
T country lay ravaged by a devastating war. Due to the wrong policies
of the then governments, there was great imbalance between the agricul tural and industrial sectors. The economy of the country was in shambles. The resultant inflation, abnormal rise in prices and unemployment caused great resentment and dissatisfaction amongst the people. The youth and the industrial workers were _particularly in ferment. Protest marches and demonstrations were also in ferment. Protest marches and demonstrations were frequent and seemed to be an unending phenome non. The Italian government and parliament failed to fulfil the needs and aspirations of the common people. It helplessly watched the situation to deteriorate. The rightists in Italy were stressing the need to return to dictatorship as they held the democratic set up to be responsible for all these ills. They advocated the necessity of return to Fascism as they extolled the period under Mussolini as the golden age ofltalian suprem acy. A lot of people belonging to the affluent feudal and capitalist classes, bureaucracy and armed forces, and in Parliament were support ers of this view. Lulius Evola, an intellectual was their main source of inspiration. Dalle Chiaie and Pino Rauti were the other prominent leaders of this rightist group. Italy had suffered from both Right and Left wing terrorism. The cult of violence was further fuelled by political scandals and corruption. The most powerful right wing terrorist group amongst the youth was an organisation named Neo-order. This organisation came into being as a reaction to the defeat of extreme right elements in parliamen tary elections and increasing influence of leftism amongst the youth, students and workers. Pino Rauti was a well known journalist in Italy. Dalle Chiaie was a leader of the students. Right-wing terrorist groups 23
Allende - victim of CIA conspiracy
used bombs to make their presence felt. They exploded a bomb in the
premises of National Agriculture Bank in Milan on 1 2 December, 1969.
It took a toll of sixteen lives from amongst the visitors and employees present at that time. Another 88 persons were injured. Many members of this organisation 'Neo-order' were punished for this crime. This was the beginning of right-wing terrorism. In the next decade the number of terrorist actions were innumerable. Amongst these may be mentioned the incident at Bologna railway station, where a bomb explosion caused extensive damage and 84 deaths. Rauti and Chiaie were frequent visitors to Greece, where a puppet military government had been installed by the machinations of the American government. There was close contact between the leaders of the Neo-order and the soldier rulers of Greece. Chiaie, Freda and Ventura went to 'spain after the bomb explosion at Milan. There, they stayed as guests of the fascist rulers of Spain, and were provided with all luxuries of a lavish lifestyle. Daile Chiaie also made many trips to South America. The CJ.A. had installed a puppet government under General Pinochet in Chile, after the Popular Unity Alliance government under Allende had been dis
lodged in a coup. The Neo-order group was responsible for uprooting railway tracks. Daile Chiaie also had close connections with Pinochet's secret agency
Dina.
The Government of Italy had to declare this
organisation illegal in 1973 and arrest many of its leading members. But this did not stop its activities. 24
•
American agent Pinochet - a friend of Daile Chiaie's
They formed another group and named it Black Order. They indulged in many bomb attacks. The targets of these attacks were mostly left-wing organisations, offices of Italy's Communist party and its members. On August 5, 1974, they destroyed a train going from Rome to Munich. Twelve peope died and 48 injured in this action. The assassination of Judge Vittorio Occorsio was another misdeed of this organisation. Mussolini Action Squad, Armed Revolutionary Nuclei and Revo lutionary Fascist Nuclei are some other groups that work in conjunction with Neo-order and Black Order groups. All these groups subscribe to Neo-Nationalist Fascism. They came into existence during the clashes between right-wing groups and left-wing youth and workers' groups, during the sixties. The target of these groups are members of left-wjng organisations. Mussolini Action Squad was responsible for a bomb attack on a meeting organised to protest against emergence of Fascism in Brescia in May, 1974. At least 8 persons lost their lives and another 95 injured in 25
this action. Armed Revolutionary Nuclei were responsible for the bomb explosion at Bologna station in August, 1980, in which as stated before
84 persons died and some 200 were injured. This group was responsible for looting an arms depot in Rome and planting a bomb in the office of the Communist Party of Italy. Paolo Signorelli is the chief leader of the above group. He has been arrested many times. Another prominent leader of this group is Alo Semerari. All these right-wing terrorist groups generally are mentally prepared to perpetrate large scale killings of innocent people.
Left-Wing Terrorists We have already seen that most of the Right-wing terrorist groups were the outcome of increasing influence of left-wing thoughts that attracted the youth and workers of Italy, as also crushing defeat of the rightist parties in the elections to the Italian parliament. The rise of left wing terrorism can also be attributed to similar conditions. The Italian Communist Party had emerged as the main political group in the elections. Nevertheless, it found that political power was eluding it. It tried to come to power by entering into an agreement with another party that
had emerged strong. It was the capitalist right-wing Christian
Democratic Party. The communists thought this to be the best way to seize power. According to the students, youth and workers, this was sheer opportunist politics.They looked upon this move as betrayal of leftism and abandoning the path of class struggle. The ideological war between China and Soviet Union was at its peak during this period. The interna tional communist movement was divided into two well defined groups. A struggle and bitter controversy was raging in the international commu nist world against revisionism. A Marxist-Leninist Communist party which supported the views and policies of Mao Tse-tung had already been formed in Italy. The �gitated youth of the world were now in a state of flux due to this ideological conflict between the two giants of the communist movement. The American professor Marcuse had taken the youth movement in Germany towards New Leftism. On the contrary, the youth of Italy were closely associated with the working class movement. The conditions in China were more suitable for guerilla warfare in rural areas 26
and suited the agricultural countries in the third world. But, the condi tions in a capitalist nation like Italy were quite different. The combined revolt of youth and workers in France had been put down. In Italy, the Communist Party itself betrayed the revolutionary forces by adopting the path of co-operation with capitalism.
In these circumstances, the youth in Italy had no other option but to adopt the path of armed struggle and guerilla methods to support the workers' movement. They enunciated the policy of annihilating officers and industrialists who were marked as 'enemy of the people'. They also decided to take on brigands going about as fascist groups. The universities in Italy were storm centres of student movements. They echoed with the slogans calling for revolution. These youngmen engaged themselves in a heroic struggle with the police. They took control of the universities and their administration. It was at this time that the conflict between right-wing and left-wing, which was till now confined to an ideological plane, took a turn towards bloody clashes on the roads. Out of this conflict were born many left-wing terrorist groups. The most prominent amongst them were October 22 Circle, Partisan Action Group, Revolutionary Action Movement (MAR), Brigate Rosse (Red Brigade), Armed Proletariat Nuclei and Front Line. All these groups engaged themselves in armed terrorist activities.
In the beginning, October 22 Circle and Partisan Action Group were very prominent in terrorist activities. The leaders of October 22 Circle were members of Italian Communist Party. These people were very radioal in their thoughts and policies. They had resigned from the party in protest against its policy of associating with the Christian Democratic Party. Prominent amongst these leaders we.re Renaldi Fiorni, Silvio Malagoli and Mario Rossi. The activities of these groups created a scare in Italy during 1968. Banks were looted for money required for purchase of arms and carrying on the secret and revolutionary activities. Most of the leaders�were arrested soon. Those who escaped the arms of law joined Brigate Rosse (Red Brigade). Mario Rossi wrote a book on urban guerilla warfare on the toilet paper while in prison. This book was secretly spirited out and published. Rossi's name became a household name in Italy and the world after the publication of this book, which became the Bible of urban guerilla war. 27
Partisan Action Group was also a left-wing terrorist organisation. It remained active from 1968 to 1972. Its prime leader was Giangiacomo
Feltinelli who was a publisher and billionaire. He was not only a successful businessman but also an active political figure and supporter
of extreme revolutionary views. Giangiacomo had ideological differ
ence with the Soviet in the sixties. He was against the policies of Stalin
and as such became an opponent of Soviet Union. Gradually, he leaned towards New Leftism. He was very much impressed by the revolution in
Cuba and the personality of Fidel Castro. He wanted to become the Castro ofltaly. Not satisfied by his contribution towards armed struggle in 1t11y, which was confined to bringing out publications, he organised
Partisan Action Group to bring about a revolution in Italy. This group
carried on armed action in support of labour movement and tried to
terrorise industrialists. They also initiated arm�d action in the rural areas
of Italy. This group succeeded in publicising their programme and views
from the television and radio stations of Milan after capturing them many times. In this way, they became a danger to the government and created
an atmosphere of terror in the country. This organisation dissipated itself
after the sudden demise of Feltinelli in 1972. Feltinelli died, when a
bomb exploded by accident, while he was planting it on a ship. The supporters of Feltinelli claimed that he was killed by right-wing terror ists. After him, most of the members of his group joined Brigate Rosse or Red Brigade.
Red Brigade (Brigate Rosse) This group was organised by leftist students and workers in
December, 1969. The founder and main brain behind this group was Renato Curcio, an intellectual and student leader. The well-known
labour leaders Corrado Simioni and Franco Trodiano were other promi nent leaders. Curcio and Alberto Franceschini formed its think tank.
Corrado Sinoni was the chief organiser. He saw to it that one cell of this group had no more than five members so that strict secrecy is main
tained. Members of one cell did not know members of another cell. Only the chief organiser of a cell was connected with the high power column.
These columns were located in prominent cities of Italy like Milan,
Rome, Turin, etc. Th� colour of their flag was red. On it was inscribed
a five-pointed star, two guns and the hammer and sickle emblem of unity
amongst workers and farmers and communist movement. 28
This organisation was organised as an Autonomous Workers'
Organisation. The Communist Party of Italy had already been branded as reformist and revisionist. The aim of the organisation was to wage an armed struggle against the exploitive, administrative and judicial sys
tem. They averred to destroy it. In the beginning, the terrorist actions
were confined to planting bombs in the vehicles of police officers and owners of industrial undertakings. Bank robberies
and kidnappings
were resorted to collect money and spread terror. The first kidnapping was done on 3 March 1 972. The well known industrialist Idalgo Machi arini was kidnapped. This abduction was done to pressurise the govern ment to release leaders of 'October 22 Circle'. After two or three years of increasing violent activities the police arrested Renato Curcio and Alberto Franceschini. Both were sentenced to prison terms-Mario Sossi, the judge in whose court Curcio was being
tried was abducted. Curcio's wife Mara Cagol was able to rescue Curcio from the prison with the help of three other associates. The police was
able to trace their hiding place. Cagol died of bullets in an encounter with
the police. Curcio was re-arrested and sent to prison. The terrorists
threatened the government with reprisals. His trial was suspended as the government apprehended that attempts to spirit him away would be
made. Eventually, during 1978-79, he was sentenced to 15 years, 12 years and 10 years prison terms on various charges. He is still behind
bars.
Nine other members of the Red Brigade were sentenced to six years
prison terms for terrorist activities. In October, 1979, thirteen Brigade members were sent to prisor:i for ten years for insulting the judges and inciting their followers to revolt during the trial in 1978.
The activities of Red Brigade did not cease after the arrest of their
leaders. The killing and kidnapping of police officers, magistrates, civil servants andothers continued. Most of them were dubbed as 'enemies of the people.' The Brigade continued its activities under the leadership of Giorgio Semeria and Mario Moretti. Attempts ware made to free Curcio.
The most sensational incident that shook the nation was the abduction of Aldo Moro in Rome in March, 1978. Moro was the President of Christian Democratic Party and a former Prime Minister. He was kidnapped the
day the Communist Party announced its decision to join the government.
Moro had been Prime Minister many times. He was supposed to be deft at politics.
29
Dead driver and security-guard of Aldo Moro in the rear seat (inset) There were two prime reasons for his abduction. The first was to pressurise the government to release Curcio and other leaders. The
second aim was to break up the alliance between Christian Democrats
and Communist Party so that the Communist Party abjured the path of constitutional government and again started a struggle for change in the government. They could not succeed in their efforts. The government
adopted an ambiguous policy in this regard. The Red Brigade held a trial and pronounced Aldo Moro guilty in a peoples' court. The police failed to find Aldo Moro and his captors. On 10th of May, the body of Aldo Moro was found in the boot of a car. Moro's ordeal had lasted 54 days.
Neither the terrorists nor the government were prepared to give up. The episode caused horror and outrage throughout Italy.
Police, magistrates, high officers of civil administration, members
of parliament, army officers and journalists continued to be the targets
of Red Brigade. In 1980, the judicial officers in Italy went on a strike
30
demanding protection. In this way they expressed their resentment against the administration for a weak and vacillating policy towards
terrorism.
Another sensational kidnapping was that of Brigadier General James Dozier, a U.S. Anny staff officer and deputy commander o f the North Atlantic Treaty Organisations's land forces in Southern Europe. He was abducted in Verona in December, 1981. Red Brigade Vied him in a peoples' court and sentenced him to death. However, the police got some information from its informers and were able to free Dozier unhurt. Five members of the Red Brigade were also arrested from the apartment in Padua where he was held. The five accused were tried and sentenced to prison terms totalling to 300 years. The police raided many hideouts of the terrorists, who were arrested in large numbers. Many arms caches
were also seized. The terrorists now realised that they had failed to gain their political objectives and became quite demoralised. By January, 1983, most of the Moro kidnappers had been tried and
sentenced. Out of 63 accused, life sentences were passed on 32 of them
Renato Curcio (middle) imprisoned along with his cohorts in the Turin jail
31
James Dozier (below) was kidnapped and compelled (left) to get himself photographed along with the paper of his crimes
for 17 murders,1 1 attempted murders and 4 kidnappings from 1977 to 1980. The Red Brigades had a membership of 500 activists and some
10,000 passive supporters. Due to police action, their number has now declined though their activities have not ceased. There is ample evidence to prove their connections with the Red Army Faction of Germany, terrorist organisations of Palestine and the K.G.B. of the Soviet Union.
Armed Proletarian Nuclei (N.A.R.) This orgamsation owes its birth to the members ofthe Red Brigades
in prisons. These youths have converted the prisons into centres of revolt and revolution by starting agitation inside the prisons. There have been many clashes between the police and prisoners lodged in prisons at Turin and Milan in South Italy. Many prisoners and policemen have lost their 32
Renats Kurisa (bearded) along with his two part ners going to the jail under police escort (Right) Evidence of terrorist activities (below) Dead security-guard of Aldo Moro (extreme be low)
33
lives in these riots. Prisons have been broken and many prisoners bavc escaped and joined terrorist groups or gone underground. The furious revolts took place in the prisons of Milan, Rome and Naples. The public demonstrated outside the prison walls in support of these revolts . The terrorists and criminals who were able to flee the prisons, formed an organisation and called it Armed Proletarian Nuclei. The target of their attacks was extreme right-wing political parties, magistrates and police stations . It was this group that kidnapped Giusep pedi Gennaro, a judge of the Supreme Court of Italy. Two prominent leaders of this organisation, namely Antonio Lo-Musico and Martino fell to police bullets. Other active members like Giovanni Gentile Schiavome are now behind bars.
Front L ine This organisation came into being in 1976. The most talked about incidents of this group are arson in the factory of Fiat Car Company and kidnapping of Enilio Alessandrini, the Attorney- General of Milan. Most of the members of this group belong to the age-group of 20-25.
34
•I
France-Abortive Revolutions and Terrorism rance is looked upon as the mother of the great revolutions of the
Fmodem age. Though it is true that many of these revolutions failed
and were unsuccessful in the prevailing conditions of that period, they nevertheless, left an indelible mark on the course of history. The revo lutionaries, who laid down their lives in these revolts were able to inject
new ideas and mores and opened the doors to a New Age in which the equality of men was accepted without demur. The French Revolution o f 1 7 89, heralded the end o f the feudal age i n which the common people were treated as hewers of wood and drawers of water with no rights of life and limbs. The slogan ' equality, fraternity and liberty ' became the war cry of all the oppressed and downtrodden people of the world. This idea has since been a source of inspiration to the enslaved and cxploi tcd people of the world-be they of any ethnic origin. In the same m anner , the workers of Paris took over the government of the country for the first time in the world in the revolution of 1 87 1 . Though their attempt failed, it became the beacon light for the downtrodden and exploited proletariat all ovc,r the world. It inspired them to establish peoples ' rule in many other countries of the world in the times to come. Karl Marx, the founder of scientific socialism, deeply studied the causes of the failure of Paris commune. From the conclusions drawn from the weaknesses in this revolt, he improved and enlarged his ideas and principles. He made changes in the Manifesto of Communist International in the light of what he saw, experienced and learnt from the failure of Paris Commune. It was on the basis of these principles enunciated by Marx and Engels that the Bolshevik Revolution under the leadership of Lenin became successful in 1917 and changed the face of the earth. It ushered in the age of socialism sounding the death knell of imperialism. The· enslaved people of Asia, Africa and Latin America · took their inspiration from this great victory of the workers and common folk of the Soviet Union.
35
New changes were effected in the manifesto of Engels (right) and Marx.
The revolutionary flags, once again, went up on the streets of Paris in I 968. Millions of young people and students came out on the roads. Industrial workers also joined these agitated youth. The government buildings were encircled. Roads were again blocked which brought to mind the period of Paris commune when the people established their own regime. This student rebellion was led bJ Daniel Cohn-Bendit. For four days, the television and radio centre was in the hands of agitators. The strange thing was that no political party, not even the Communist Party, was aiding the students. There was much political sympathy for the demonstrators-but it was short-lived. The French riot police (CRS) fought pitched battles with the students in the streets of Paris. This revolt was put down as it lacked proper organisation, leadership and political direction. Though unsuccessful, this movement left an indelible mark on other youth movements of the world who looked upon it as a model. The French terrorism is a direct outcome of the failure of these revolutions. The leadership of French terrorism has been provided by the front line leaders of the student and youth leaders of the 1 968 movement. The French Communist Party also lay divided due to schism in the international communist movement. Soviet Union had taken the path of reformist policy under Khruschev which had left puzzled and program meless many a communist party including that of France. The Vietnam 36
war became an international issue. Like the American youth, the youth of France, Germany and Italy were repugnant to it like their American, German and Italian counterparts. The French youths were also eager to usher in a world revolution which would bring forth a world sans exploitation, wars and ethnic tensions. Most of these young people were totally disillusioned with the policies of the communist parties. They turned towards the action-oriented policies of New Leftism. They were more impressed by the philosophy and principles of the new messiahs of New Leftism, viz., Marcuse, Fenon and Che Guevara rather than by class struggle philosophy and creed of Marx and Lenin. The -youth of France also took to the path of terrorism. The message that revolutionary
conditions can only be created by self-sacrifice fired their imagination.
This led to their alienation from the common men and they became isolated groups of few adherents. These circumstances also gave birth to right-wing terrorism in France. The foundation stones of extreme and conservative right-wing terrorism were Neo-Fascism, anti-Semetisrn
37
and ethnic prejudices. It will be seen that left-wing terrorism was the main and preponderant movement. The left-wing terrorists organised themselves under the banner of an organisatibn named Action Directe or Direct Action Group.
Action Directe (Direct Action Group) During 1979, Action Directe emerged as the most powerful and armed terrorist group in France. Two other terrorist groups were active in France prior to formation of Action Directe. They were International Revolutionary Group (GARI) and Amied Nuclei Popular Autonomy (NAPAP). These organisations merged into the new organisation on May 1, which is celebrated as International Labour Day. This group was organised for direct ation as it believed in world revolution. Members of this organisation were elements of anarchist groups and Maoist organi sations. Their thoughts and policies embraced thoughts of Trotsky, Mao, Marcuse, Fenon and Che Guevara. These youngmen had grandiose plans and dreams of ushering in world rev_olution to end all wars and exploi tation. They were sentimentally attached to these ideas and were dream ers. The Action Directe lost no time in proving that they meant business. In 1979, they took part in six terrorist actions. The next year, in 1980, they committed twelve terrorist attacks. Jean Marc-Rouillan was their leader. They initially attacked government buildings and properties. The French police took action against them which led to arrests and seizure of arms. The target of their attacks was varied. Sometimes they attacked industrialists and their work centres. Apart from them, they also attacked prominent members of French Employers' Federation, offices of the mills and salaried inspectors. Many times, these agitated youth stormed the symbols of state authority like courts, police stations or installations of the armed forces. In 1980, this group published and distributed its manifesto. In this manifesto they condemned their government as blood-sucker of poor countries and a 'neo' colonial power which followed imperialistic policies in the world. They alleged that the then government of France was always conspiring to crush the revolutionary struggles of the common people of Tunisia, Chad, Djibouti, and Central African Repub lic had shamelessly exploited these countries and its pe�ple. . This manifesto alleged that the government of France was busy in enslaving 38
people and declared that the struggle of the people of Central African
Republic against French colonialism was a part of the world struggle
against colonialism and imperialistic designs. In this way, they informed all regarding their participation in the armed struggle for world revolu
tion by waging war against the French government.
The police took action against this organisation in 1980. Many
places were raided. Informers were planted everywhere. Many arrests
took place and 20 youths were sent to prison. It was alleged that they took
part in terrorist actions. In September, the leader of the organisation, Jean
Marc-Rouillan and his female companion Nathalie Menignon were also
arrested. Some shots were exchanged between them. The French gov ernment alleged that these two were planning to attack computer
equipment in conjunction with a group called Committee to Liquidate or Neutralise computers (CLODO).
The government could not keep them in prison for a long time as
the political scenario changed. The new President Mitterand declared a
general amnesty for political prisoners. Rouillan and Nathalie also came out of the prison. The terrorist organisation was re-organised and
dropping of bombs restarted. Banks were looted to finance the terrorist
actions of the organisation. As the government arrested members of Action Directe, further bomb attacks were made. This time the targets were American and Israeli installations. The government had no other
option but to declare Action Directe as illegal and even sympathising
with it became a criminal offence attracting codign and deterrent
punishment. But, the activities of Action Directe could not be stopped.
It was clear that Action Directe was in contact with Basque
separatist group (ETA), as well as militant Palestinian groups operating in France. Many former members of Brigate Rosse and Turkish refugees
staying in France had become members of Action Directe. In January,
1985 Action Directe organised a Political Military Front in conjunction with the famous West German terrorist group Red Army Faction.
American military installations in Europe and North Atlantic Treaty Organisations' establishments became special targets of this group. In
1985-86, there were bombings and shootings in Paris and other large
cities and life in France was disrupted. Rene Audran of French Ministry
of Defence was killed in 1985, and in November, 1986, Georges Besse,
head of Renault Car Co., was shot in retaliation of one Action Directe member dying from police bullets when he was demonstrating outside 39
Regis Debray, world-famous writer - close friend of the rerolutionaryChe G ue vara and special advisor to President Mitterand
its factory. An unsuccessful attempt was also made to kill Guy Brana who was Vice-president of French Employers' Association, the apex association of French industrialists.
Federation of National & European Action The right-wing activities also started as a reaction to the activities
of New Leftism, and their attempts to bring about a world revolution.
These right-wing groups supported the Vietnam war. The extreme
rightists had formed an organisation named Occident Movement in 1966. This was officially banned. This organisation was pro:.American
and intensely anti-leftism. It was also strongly opposed to Jews. The
French government banned it as it felt that it aimed at the installation of a new Nazi regime. Federation of National and European Action was
formed in 1966 with the merger of two former factions of right-wing
Ocident Movement. Though it was banned in 1968, it did not dissolve. Rather, it went underground. It continued its activities under different names. Its activities took a very violent turn in 1980. Its targets were left
wing political parties and Jews. Federation of National and European
Action (FANE) claimed that they opposed the French Jewish commu
nity as it had become a powerful pressure groups. They maintained that it was their aim to build a pan-European neo-fascist movement. For this,
40
they established contacts with the extreme right-wing Anned Revolu tionary Nuclei (NAR) of Italy. From the above, it wot¥d be clear that these right-wing organisations came into being to fight and minimise the influence of New Leftists and revolutionary forces. FANE claimed that. the influence of Jews in the governmental policies in France was tremendous. In reprisal young Jewish militants attacked FANE members to warn them that they could not act as they like. After the Federation of National and European Action (FANE) was banned, it regrouped itself under different names. Prominent amongst them were European Nationalist ;\.lliance (FNE), New Nazi Front (NFN). One group calJed itself Confrontation and another named itself Fair Front. These groups have been against Soviet Union and the Warsaw Pact organisation. They bombed diplomatic missions of Soviet Union and other socialist countries. They have made attacks on left wing writers and newspapers and their editors. Another organisation named French National Liberation Group (FLNE) burst many bombs and took out procession_s to express their resentment against Jews and Arab counries. Mention can be made of their attack on Popindre Centre in Paris. During 1977, a terrorist organisation named Delta, killed Henry Curiel, the founder of the Egyptian Communist Party. They also made two bomb attacks on the headquarters of the French Communist Party. Another extreme right-wing group called French Revolutionary Bri gades created a sensation in France and the entire world by kidnapping the famous left-wing writer Jean Adern Heallier. These terrorists de manded that the French Home Minister, Gaston Deferre and four other communist members of the Frerich cabinet be removed in return for Heallier's release. However, Heallier was released after a week. He was unhurt. No minister was removed from his post. In this way, this incident had a peaceful ending.
·
Like the above action, this group was involved in another action that became the talk of the entire world. They burst a bomb at the residence of internationally famous leftist writer Regis Debray in July, l 982. Regis Debray was a close friend of the world renowned revolution ary Che Guevara of Latin America. He was also advjsor to President Mitterand on Latin American matters. Though nobody was hurt in this bomb explosion, the right-wing terrorists were successful in attracting the attention of the entire world towards their movement. They thus gave vent to their indignation against left movement. 41
Japan-From Leftism to Terrorism here was a wave against American policies in the sixties. The first
T mass action against American policies erupted on the streets of Paris
in the spring of 1968. This had international repercussions. Demonstra tions and protest marches were held in Britain, Germany, Italy, Japan and America. The main plank of this movement was opposition to war in Vietnam. In Japan it took the form of opposition to military treaty between America and Japan. Demonstrations were held in different cites of Japan against this treaty. These were organised by students, workers and other progressive elements of the Japanese society. It was unfortu nate that the Japanese Socialist Party or Communist Party failed to provide leadership and guidance to this movement. The result was that a part of this spontaneous movement against neo-colonialism abjured the path of peaceful agitation and took to violence and terrorism. The Japanese Red Army was formed in 1969 to bring about world revolution through urban guerilla warfare in the cities. This organisation created a scare throughout the world by many sensational terrorist acts. In conjunction with Popular Front 'for Libera tion of Palestine (PFLP), they attacked the Lord Airport in Israel and attacked diplomatic missions. It is said that the recent bomb explosion in the Connaught Place branch or American Citi Bank in New Delhi was also their handiwork. The seeds of terrorism in the body politic of Japan had been sown from the beginning of this century. With the growth of industries and production of Syndico-terrorism made its appearance in Japan. The labour was ruthlessly exploited. The intellectuals in Japan were greatly influenced by the thoughts and philosophy of Tolstoy, Kropatkin and Bakunin, who laid the foundations of what can be best described as 'Revolutionary-Anarchy'. Those who were opposed to the brutal repres sive rule of Emperor Meiji took inspiration from the theory of 'Revolu42
Fire-brigade extinguishing the fire started by the ter rorists at Tokyo railway sta tion
tionary-Anarchism ' of Bakun i n and adopted the p·ath of v iolent actions and personal revenge. Emperor Meij i became aware of the s immering resentment brewing against his rule and took pre-emptive action. Twelve
terrorists including their leader Kotaku
were sentenced
to death.
Other
stringent measures were also taken to suppress the di ss ent. The communists thought of tackl ing terrorism on the ideological plane. Efforts were made to tum this struggle towards class struggle. Organisations of d ifferent classes were formed. The Japanese Commu nist Party was an underground organisation. Gradually, it became popular amongst intellectuals, students and workers . Many anarchists also j oined its ranks. The Bolshevik Revolution of 1 9 1 7 gave further fillip to its popularity. But, the Japanese Communist Party fai led to make any distinction between conditions prevai ling in their own country and the Soviet Union. They could not d iscern the specialities of Japanese l i fe in their pol icies. They remained slave t o the Soviet policies i n the name of i nternationalism and kept on slavish[ y copying the pattern of Bolshe vik Revolution i n their pol icies and actions. They planned to bring about 43
· a two level revolution, first, the capitalist and then the socialist on the pattern of the Russian revolution. - --
, The history of exploitation of classes and their character is unique. The change in it has also been very amazing. Till 1880, Japan was hardly known in the world. Within a short span of fifty years, it made such tremendous progress that it began to be counted as one of the well developed and modem nations of the world. Japan laid claim to suprem acy over Asia after the First Wmld War. Japan wanted entire Asia under her sphere of influence. To make this possible, it challenged the suprem acy and power of.Great Britain, China (which was under Chiang Kai shek) �