DATE= 10/8/97
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-221018
TITLE=U-S-TERRORIST GROUPS (L)
BYLINE=RON PEMSTEIN
DATELINE=STATE DEPARTMENT
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE ALBRIGHT HAS DESIGNATED 30
GROUPS AS TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS AND BANNED THEM FROM RAISING
MONEY IN THE UNITED STATES. V-O-A'S CORRESPONDENT RON PEMSTEIN
REPORTS FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT ON THE EFFECT OF THE LAW.
TEXT: IN JANUARY, 1995, PRESIDENT CLINTON SIGNED AN EXECUTIVE
ORDER BLOCKING FUNDS FOR 12 GROUPS THAT WERE ACCUSED OF USING
VIOLENCE TO DISRUPT THE MIDDLE EAST PEACE PROCESS. IN THE LATEST
ACTION, SECRETARY OF STATE ALBRIGHT IS ACTING UNDER A1996 LAW
THAT MAKES FUND RAISING FOR FOREIGN TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS A
CRIME. SHE HAS DESIGNATED THOSE SAME 12 MIDDLE EAST GROUPS AS
WELL AS 18 ORGANIZATIONS FROM OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD.
///ALBRIGHT ACT///
OUR GOAL IS TO MAKE THE UNITED STATES FULLY A NO SUPPORT
FOR TERRORISM ZONE. OUR MESSAGE TO ANYONE THAT COMES
INTO OUR COUNTRY,INTENDING TO RAISE MONEY FOR A
TERRORIST ORGANIZATION IS THAT YOU RISK GOING TO JAIL
AND OUR MESSAGE TO ANYONE WHO IS PART OF A TERRORIST
ORGANIZATION AND WHO WANTS TO ENTER THE UNITED STATES IS
YOU ARE NOT WELCOME HERE.
///END ACT///
A SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL SAYS 700 TO 800 THOUSAND DOLLARS
IN AMERICAN BANK ACCOUNTS FOR MIDDLE EAST GROUPS SUCH AS HAMAS
AND HEZBOLLAH AND KACH AND KAHANE CHAI HAS ALREADY BEEN BLOCKED
BY PRESIDENT CLINTON'S 1995 ORDER. THE OFFICIAL HAS NO ESTIMATE
ON HOW MUCH MORE MONEY WILL BE BLOCKED BY THE DESIGNATION OF 18
MORE GROUPS RANGING FROM THE KHMER ROUGE IN CAMBODIA TO THE TAMIL
TIGERS IN SRILANKA, THE KURDISTAN WORKERS PARTY IN TURKEY TO THE
SHINING PATH ANDTUPAC AMARU IN PERU.
THE STATE DEPARTMENT SAYS THE LIST OF 30 IS NOT FINAL AND OTHER
ORGANIZATIONS CAN BE ADDED AS NEEDED. NOTABLY ABSENT FROM THE
LIST WAS THE IRISH REPUBLICAN ARMY THAT HAS BEEN BLAMED FOR
TERRORIST ACTIONS IN BRITAIN.
SPOKESMAN JAMES RUBIN SAYS THE I-R-A'S RECENT CEASEFIRE
DECLARATION KEEPS THE GROUP OFF THE CURRENT LIST.
///RUBIN ACT///
THERE IS A STRONG BODY OF EVIDENCE DOCUMENTING HISTORIC
I-R-A INVOLVEMENT IN TERRORIST ACTIVITY. AS THE ACT
CALLS FOR, THE DESIGNATION OF ORGANIZATIONS THAT ENGAGE
IN TERRORIST ACTIVITY, THE SECRETARY OF STATE HAS TAKEN
NOTE OF THE JULY 19TH ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE I-R-A OF AN
UNEQUIVOCAL CEASEFIRE AS WELL AS THE SUBSEQUENT DECISION
BY THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT THAT THE CEASEFIRE WAS GENUINE
IN WORD AND DEED.
///END ACT///
THE SPOKESMAN SAYS THE SECRETARY OF STATE INTENDS TO KEEP THE
I-R-A'S STATUS UNDER REVIEW. THE STATE DEPARTMENT LIST IS
CERTAIN TO FACE CHALLENGE IN THE AMERICAN COURTS. ALREADY A
COURT IN SAN FRANCISCO HAS STOPPED THE DEPORTATION OF ARABS THAT
THE U-S GOVERNMENT HAS ACCUSED OF RAISING FUNDS FOR TERRORIST
ORGANIZATIONS IN THE MIDDLE EAST. WHILE THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT IS
CHALLENGING THIS RULING AS A PRECEDENT, ANY AMERICAN FACING
PROSECUTION UNDER THE NEW LAW IS LIKELY TO SUE THE SECRETARY OF
STATE. (SIGNED)
NEB/PT
08-Oct-97 4:40 PM EDT (2040 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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