DATE=11/24/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-242116
TITLE=LATAM/TERRORISM (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=DAWN MAKINSON
DATELINE=BUENOS AIRES
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: THIRTY-FOUR MEMBERS OF THE ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN
STATES HAVE SIGNED A JOINT SECURITY TREATY AIMED AT COMBATTING
TERRORISM IN THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE. THE TREATY WAS SIGNED AT A
CONFERENCE IN MAR DEL PLATA, ARGENTINA -- AS WE HEAR FROM DAWN
MAKINSON.
TEXT: THE TREATY ESSENTIALLY POOLS RESOURCES. COUNTRIES WHICH
HAVE SIGNED IT WILL, AMONG OTHER THINGS, SHARE A DATA BASE ON
SUSPECTED TERRORISTS AND DEVELOP UNIVERSAL CRITERIA FOR CARRYING
OUT EXTRADITIONS. THE TREATY ALSO HAS IMPLICATIONS FOR
ACTIVITIES ASSOCIATED WITH TERRORISM. IT CALLS FOR ESTABLISHING
LAWS WHICH PROHIBIT MONEY LAUNDERING -- LAWS WHICH DO NOT EXIST
IN SOME LATIN AMERICAN NATIONS.
THE IMPETUS TO CREATE THIS JOINT EFFORT AGAINST TERRORISM BEGAN
WITH THE SUMMIT OF THE AMERICAS IN CHILE EARLIER THIS YEAR. AT
THAT POINT, ARGENTINA -- ONE OF THE STRONGEST PROMOTERS OF A
JOINT TREATY -- HAD ALREADY EXPERIENCED TWO TERRORIST ATTACKS.
THE UNITED STATES ALSO CAME TO THE MAR DEL PLATA CONFERENCE
STRONGLY SUPPORTING A JOINT TREATY FOLLOWING THE ATTACKS ON U-S
EMBASSIES IN AFRICA IN AUGUST. U-S OFFICIALS IN ARGENTINA SAY
WASHINGTON HAS INCREASED FUNDS TO COMBAT TERRORISM - AND WILL BE
STUDYING WAYS TO SEE HOW THE UNITED STATES CAN MAKE A GREATER
CONTRIBUTION TO THE O-A-S' FIGHT AGAINST TERRORISM.
DESPITE THE OVERALL TONE OF COOPERATION AT THE CONFERENCE, FEARS
OF TOO MUCH POLICING ARE BEING EXPRESSED. ABOUT 50 HUMAN RIGHTS
GROUPS WERE PRESENT AT THE CONFERENCE SITE TO WARN THAT WHILE THE
TREATY TARGETS THE CONTROL AND EXPULSION OF TERRORIST THREATS, IT
FAILS TO CLEARLY DEFINE WHAT A TERRORIST IS. THE FEAR OF THE
GROUPS IS THAT GOVERNMENTS MAY USE HEMISPHERIC BACKING ON THE
NEED TO FIGHT TERRORISM TO CONTROL DOMESTIC THREATS.
///REST OPT///
THERE IS ALSO A FEAR AMONG SOME GOVERNMENTS OF THE AMERICAS ABOUT
THE TREATY'S IMPLICATIONS FOR DEALING WITH DOMESTIC POLITICAL
STRUGGLES. COLOMBIA AND MEXICO ARE TWO NATIONS THAT WERE
RELUCTANT TO SIGN THE TREATY BECAUSE OF DOMESTIC POLITICAL
PROBLEMS. THOSE TWO NATIONS ALSO PUSHED FOR A CLEARER DEFINITION
OF WHAT A TERRORIST IS. (SIGNED)
NEB/DM/WFR
24-Nov-98 7:30 PM EST (0030 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.
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