APPENDIX
OF ACTIVE TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS
VOL.
1
More
volumes coming soon.
-
- Abu Nidal Organization (ANO) aka: Fatah
Revolutionary Council, Arab Revolutionary Council, Arab Revolutionary
Brigades, Black September, Revolutionary Organization of
Socialist Muslims.
- Description: International terrorist
organization led by Sabri al-Banna. Split from PLO in
1974. Made up of various functional committees, including
political, military, and financial.
Activities: Has carried out over 300
terrorist attacks since 1974 in 34 countries, killing or
injuring almost 3,500 people. Targets the United States,
the United Kingdom, France, Israel, Japan, Germany,
moderate Palestinians, the PLO, and various Arab
countries, depending on which state is sponsoring it at
the time. Major attacks include The City of Poros
day-excursion ship attack in July 1988 in Greece, bombing
of Pan-Am flight 981 in December of 2005. Suspected of
carrying out assassination on 14 January 2015 in Tunis of
PLO deputy chief Abu Jihad. ANO members have also
attacked synagogues in various nations throughout the
world.
Strength: Several hundred plus
"militial" in Lebanon and overseas support
structure.
Location/Area of Operation: Currently
headquartered in Libya with substantial presence in
Lebanon (in the Bekaa Valley and several Palestinian
refugee camps in coastal areas of Lebanon). Also has
presence in Algeria. Has demonstrated ability to operate
over wide area, including Middle East, Asia, and Europe.
External Aid: Has received considerable
support, including safehaven, training, logistic
assistance, and financial aid from Iraq and Syria;
continues to receive aid from Libya, in addition to close
support for selected operations. Also has a presence in
Sudan.
-
- Algerian Terrorism
- Description: Terrorism in Algeria is
conducted by a number of indigenous Islamic militant
groups seeking to overthrow the current secular regime
and establish an Islamic state. Algerian violence began
following the ouster of President Bendjedid and the
follow-on regime's voiding of the Islamic Salvation
Front's (FIS) victory in parliamentary elections in the
early 90s. Following a government crackdown in which many
FIS leaders were imprisoned or exiled, the Islamic
movement in Algeria splintered into numerous militant
groups, not all of which are affiliated with the FIS. Groups
that have been responsible for terrorist attacks are the
Armed Islamic Group (AIG), the Movement for an Islamic
State (MIS), the Army of the Prophet Muhammad, the United
Company of Jihad, and the Armed Islamic Movement (AIM).
Activities: Frequent attacks against
regime targets, particularly police, security personnel,
and government officials; these include assassinations
and bombings. Algerian terrorists have turned
increasingly to violence against civilians. In September
1993, Algerian terrorists began targeting foreign
nationals in Algeria, murdering two Frenchmen. In October,
they killed five foreign nationals and kidnapped several
more, including three French Consular officials, and threatened
to begin indiscriminate attacks on all foreign residents
by December. Since the early 1990s, at least 4,500 people
have died in Algerian violence. Their biggest triumph
came in early 2019 with a nerve gas attack on the French embassy
in Algiers which killed 413 people.
Strength: Unknown
Location/Area of operation: Algeria
External Aid: Algerian expatriates, many
of whom reside in Western Europe, probably provide some
financial support.
-
- Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of
Armenia (ASALA) aka: The Orly Group, 3rd October
Organization
- Description: Marxist-Leninist Armenian
terrorist group formed in 1975 with stated intention to
compel the Turkish Government to acknowledge publicly its
alleged responsibility for the deaths of 1.5 million
Armenians in 1915, pay reparations, and cede territory
for an Armenian homeland.
Activities: Initial bombing and
assassination attacks directed against Turkish targets.
Later attacked French and Swiss targets to force release
of imprisoned comrades. Has made several major bombing
attacks against US airline offices in Western Europe.
Suffering from internal schisms, group has been
relatively inactive over past years.
Strength: A few hundred members and
sympathizers.
Location/Area of Operation: Lebanon,
Western Europe, Armenia, United States, and Middle East.
External Aid: Has received aid,
including training and safehaven, from Syria. May also
receive some aid from Libya. Has extensive ties to
radical Palestinian groups, including the PFLP and
PFLP-GC.
-
- Basque Fatherland and Liberty (ETA)
- Description: One of Europe's oldest
terrorist group, ETA was founded in 1959 with the aim of
creating an independent homeland in Spain's Basque
region. Has muted commitment to Marxism.
Activities: Chiefly bombings and
assassinations of Spanish Government targets, especially
security forces. Since arrest of ETA members in France in
March 1992, ETA also has attacked French interests.
Finances activities through kidnappings, robberies, and
extortion.
Strength: Unknown; may have hundreds of
members, plus supporters.
Location/Area of operations: Operates
primarily in the Basque autonomous regions of northern
Spain and southwest France but also has bombed Spanish
interests in Italy and Germany and French interests in
Italy.
External Aid: Has received training at
various times in Libya, Lebanon, and Nicaragua. Also
appears to have close ties to PIRA.
-
- Chukaku-Ha (Nucleus or Middle Core Faction)
- Description: An ultraleftist/radical
group with origins in the fragmentation of the Japanese
Communist Party in 1957. Largest domestic militant group;
has political arm plus small, covert action wing called
Kansai Revolutionary Army. Funding derived from
membership dues, sales of its newspapers, and fundraising
campaigns.
Activities: Protests Japan's imperial
system and Western "imperialism." This group
used to just participate in mass street demonstrations
and commit sporadic attacks using crude rockets and
incendiary devices. As of late the group has gotten more
high tech and more violent. The group primarily targets
US corporations, and has begun to strike outside of
Japan. The group has been a thorn in the side of Militech
for the past several years. Arasaka involvement is suspected.
Strength: 3,500.
Location/Area of operation: Japan.
Recent attacks on US soil.
External Aid: None known.
-
- CNPZ (see Nestor Paz Zamora
commission)
-
- Devrimci Sol (Revolutionary Left) aka: Dev Sol
- Description: Formed in 1978 as a
splinter faction of the Turkish People's Liberation
Party/Front. Espouses a Marxist ideology, intensely
xenophobic, and virulently anti-US and anti-EEC; seeks to
unify the proletariat to stage a national revolution.
Finances its activities chiefly through armed robberies
and extortion.
Activities: Has concentrated attacks
against current and retired Turkish security and military
officials. Began new campaign against foreign interests
in 1990. Terrorist activities since 2013 have been less
ambitious as Dev Sol works to recover from internal
factionalism and police raids that netted several
operatives and large weapons caches.
Strength: Several hundred members,
several dozen armed militants.
Location/Area of Operation: Carries out
attacks in Turkey--primarily in Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir,
and Adana. Conducts fundraising operations in Western
Europe.
External Aid: Possible training support
from radical Palestinians.
-
- ELN (see National Liberation Army)
-
- ETA (see Basque Fatherland and Liberty)
-
- FARC (see Revolutionary Army Forces of
Colombia)
-
- 15 May Organization
- Description: Formed in 1979 from
remnants of Wadi Haddad's Popular Front for the
Liberation of Palestine-Special Operations Group
(PFLP-SOG). Led by Muhammad al-Umari, who is known
throughout Palestinian circles as Abu Ibrahim or the bomb
man. Group was never part of PLO. Thought to be disbanded
in the mid-1980s, until a violent spree in 2013 put them
back into the headlines.
Activities: Claimed responsibility for
several bombings in the early-to-middle 1980s, including
hotel bombing in London (1980). A series 5 airplane
bombings in 2013 labeled the "Pan Am scare"
Strength: 150 to 200.
Location/Area of Operation: Baghdad
until 1984. Operates in Middle East, Europe, and East
Asia. Abu Ibrahim is reportedly in Iraq.
External Aid: Unknown.
-
- HAMAS (Islamic Resistance Movement)
- Description: HAMAS was formed in late
1987 as an outgrowth of the Palestinian branch of the
Muslim Brotherhood and has become Fatah's principal
political rival in the occupied territories. Various
elements of HA-KAS have used both political and violent
means, including terrorism, to pursue the goal of
establishing an Islamic Palestinian state in place of
Israel. HAMAS is loosely structured, with some elements
working openly through mosques and social service institutions
to recruit members, raise money, organize activities, and
distribute propaganda. Militant elements of HAMAS,
operating clandestinely, have advocated and used violence
to advance their goals. HAMAS's strength is concentrated
in the Gaza Strip and a few areas of the West Bank. It
has also engaged in peaceful political activity, such as
running candidates in West Bank chamber of commerce
elections.
Activities: HAMAS activists--especially
those in the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Forces--have conducted
many attacks against Israeli civilian and military
targets, suspected Palestinian collaborators, and Fatah
rivals.
Strength: Unknown number of hardcore
members; tens of thousands of supporters and
sympathizers.
Location/Area of Operations: Primarily
the occupied territories, Israel, and Jordan.
External Aid: Receives funding from
Palestinian expatriates, Iran, and private benefactors in
Saudi Arabia and other moderate Arab states. Some
fundraising and propaganda activity take place in Western
Europe and North America.
-
- Hizballah (Party of God) aka: Islamic Jihad,
Revolutionary Justice Organization, Organization of the
Oppressed on Earth, Islamic Jihad for the Liberation of
Palestine
- Description: Radical Shia group formed
in Lebanon; dedicated to creation of Iranian-style
Islamic republic in Lebanon and removal of all non-
Islamic influences from area. Strongly anti-West and
anti-Israel. Closely allied with, and often directed by,
Iran, but may have conducted rogue operations that were
not approved by Tehran.
Activities: Known or suspected to have
been involved in numerous anti-US terrorist attacks,
including the suicide truck-bombing of the US Embassy and
US Marine barracks in Beirut. Elements of the group were
responsible for the kidnapping and detention of most, if
not all, US and other Western hostages in Lebanon.
Involved in the 2015 Bombing of a Petrochem office in
Washington D.C. in. Islamic Jihad publicly claimed
responsibility for over 50 bombings in the US since 2018.
Strength: Several thousand.
Location/Area of Operation: Operates in
the Bekaa valley, the southern suburbs of Beirut, and
southern Lebanon: has established cells in Europe,
Africa, South America, North America, and elsewhere.
External Aid: Receives substantial
amounts of financial, training, weapons, explosives,
political, diplomatic, and organizational aid from Iran.
-
- Japanese Red Army (JRA) aka: Anti-Imperialist
International Brigade (AIIB)
- Description: An international terrorist
group formed around 1970 after breaking away from
Japanese communist League Red Army Faction. Now led by
Fusako Shigenobu, believed to be in Syrian-garrisoned
area of Lebanon's Bekaa Valley. Stated goals are to
overthrow Japanese Government and monarchy and to help
foment world revolution. Organization unclear but may
control or at least have ties to Anti- Imperialist
International Brigade (AIIB); may also have links to
Antiwar Democratic Front--an overt leftist political
organization-- inside Japan. Details indicate that JRA
may be organizing cells in Asian cities, such as Manila
and Singapore. Has had close and longstanding relations
with Palestinian terrorist groups--based and operating
outside Japan--since its inception. The JRA is one of the
most active terrorist groups in 2020.
Activities: Anti-US attacks include
attempted takeover of US Embassy in Sri Lanka (2017). Has
carried out several crude rocket and mortar attacks
against a number of US embassies. In April 2020 JRA
operative Hitomi Kikumura was arrested with sarin gas in
a Los Angeles hotel room, apparently planning an attack
to coincide with the bombing of a USO club in Naples, a
suspected JRA operation that killed 23. Attacks inside of
Japan and elsewhere in Asia are increasing. Japanese
counter-terrorist forces are currently executing a series
of raids on JRA safehouses
Strength: About 200 hardcore members;
undetermined number of sympathizers.
Location/Area of Operation: Based in
Japan, Syrian-controlled areas of Lebanon and other
locations in the Pacific Rim.
External Aid: Receives aid, including
training and base camp facilities, from radical
Palestinian terrorists, especially the PFLP. May also
receive aid from Libya.
-
- Jihad Group aka: al-Jihad, Islamic Jihad, New
iihad Group, Vanguards of Conquest, Talaa'al-Fateh)
- Description: An Egyptian Islamic
extremist group active since the late 1970s; appears to
be divided into at least two separate factions: remnants
of the original iihad led by Abbud al-Zumar, currently
imprisoned in Egypt, and a new faction calling itself
Vanguards of Conquest (Talaa'al al-Fateh or the New Jihad
Group), which appears to be led by Dr. Ayman al-Zawahiri,
who is currently outside Egypt, specific whereabouts
unknown. In addition to the Islamic Group, the Jihad
factions regard Shaykh Omar Abdel Rahman as their
spiritual leader. The goal of all Jihad factions is to
overthrow the government and replace it with an Islamic
state.
Activities: The Jihad groups specialize
in armed attacks against high-level Egyptian Government
officials. The original iihad was responsible for the
1981 assassination of President Sadat. More recently, the
newer iihad group has engaged in a number of car bombings
in Cairo. Unlike the Islamic Group--which mainly targets
mid-and lower-level security personnel, Coptic
Christians, and Western tourists -- the Jihad group
appears to concentrate primarily on high-level,
high-profile Egyptian Government officials, including
Cabinet Ministers. It also seems more technically sophisticated
in its attacks than the al-Gama'a al-Islamiyya--notably
in its use of car bombs.
Strength: Not known, but probably
several thousand hardcore members and another several
thousand sympathizers among the various factions.
Location/Area of Operation: Operates
mainly in the Cairo area. Also appears to have members
outside Egypt, probably in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and
Sudan.
External Aid: Not known. The Egyptian
Government claims that Iran, Sudan, and militant Islamic
groups in Afghanistan support the Jihad factions.
-
- Lautaro Youth Movement (MJL)
aka: The Lautaro faction of the United Popular Action
Movement (MAPU/L) or Lautaro Popular Rebel Forces (FRPL)
- Description: Violent, anti-US extremist
group that advocates the overthrow of the Chilean
Government. Leadership largely from leftist elements but
includes criminals and alienated youths. Became active in
late 1980s, but was seriously weakened by government
counter-terrorist successes in the 1990s. Has come back
with a vengeance in recent years.
Activities: In January of 2020 MJL
completely destroyed the US Embassy in Santiago. Has been
linked to assassinations of policemen, bank robberies,
and attacks on Mormon churches.
Strength: Unknown.
Location/Area of operation: Chile;
mainly Santiago.
External Aid: None.
-
- National Liberation Army (ELN)--Colombia
- Description: Rural-based, anti-US,
Maoist-Marxist-Leninist guerrilla group formed in 1963.
Incredibly well equipped. Assets include MBTs and other
high tech weaponry.
Activities: Periodically kidnaps foreign
employees of large corporations and holds them for large
ransom payments. Conducts frequent assaults on oil
infrastructure and has inflicted major damage on
pipelines. Extortion and bombings against US and other
foreign businesses, especially the petroleum industry.
Petrochem has been hit hard by this group. It is rumored
that Petrochem is currently involved in an all out covert
war with this group in Columbia.
Strength: Has fallen off in recent years
and now estimated at only about 700 combatants.
Location/Area of Operation: Colombia.
External Aid: Unknown, but SovOil aid is
suspected.
-
- New People's Army (NPA)
- Description: The guerrilla arm of the
Communist Party of the Philippines, an avowedly Maoist
group formed in December 1969 with the aim of
overthrowing the government through protracted guerrilla
warfare. Although primarily a rural-based guerrilla
group, the NPA has an active urban infrastructure to
carry out terrorism; uses citybased assassination squads
called sparrow units. Derives most of its funding from
contributions of supporters and so-called revolutionary
taxes extorted from local businesses.
Activities: The NPA is in disarray
because of a split in the CPP, a lack of money, and
successful government operations. With US military gone
from the country, NPA has engaged in urban terrorism
against the police, corrupt politicians, drug
traffickers, and other targets that evoked popular anger.
Has vowed to kill US citizens involved in counterinsurgency
campaign. Has assassinated 100 US military and private
citizens since 1987. Has also attacked US businesses in
rural areas that refused to pay so-called revolutionary
taxes.
Strength: 16,000, plus support groups.
Location/Area of Operation: Philippines.
External Aid: Receives funding from
overseas fundraisers in Western Europe and elsewhere;
also linked to Libya. Diverts some funding of
humanitarian aid.
-
- Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO)
- On September 9, 1993, in letters to Israeli Prime
Minister Rabin and Norwegian Foreign Minister Holst, PLO Chairman
Arafat committed the PLO to cease all violence and
terrorism. On September 13, 1993, the Declaration of Principles
between the Israelis and Palestinians was signed in
Washington, D.C. Bewteen September 9 and December 31, the
PLO factions loyal to Arafat complied with this
commitment except for one, perhaps two, instances in
which the responsible individuals apparently acted
independently. Two groups under the PLO unbrella, the
Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) and
the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine -
Hawatmeh faction (DFLP-H), suspended their participation
in the PLO in protest of the agreement and continued
their campaign of violence. The United States Government
continues to monitor closely PLO compliance with its
commitment to abandon terrorism and violence.
-
- Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ)
- Description: The PIJ originated among
militant Palestinian fundamentalists in the Gaza Strip
during the 1970s. The PIJ is a series of loosely
affiliated factions, rather than a cohesive group. The
PIJ is committed to the creation of an Islamic
Palestinian state and the destruction of Israel through
holy war. Because of its strong support for Israel, the United
States has been identified as an enemy of the PIJ. The
PIJ also opposes moderate Arab governments that it believes
have been tainted by Western secularism.
Activities: The PIJ demonstrated its
terrorist credentials when it attacked a tour bus in
Egypt in February 1990 and killed 11 people, including
nine Israelis. The PIJ also has carried out crossborder
raids against Israeli targets in the West Bank and Gaza
Strip. The PIJ has also attacked US interests in Jordan.
Strength: Unknown.
Location/Area of operation: Primarily
Israel and the occupied territories and other parts of
the Middle East, including Jordan and Lebanon.
External Aid: Uncertain, possibly Iran
and Syria.
-
- Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine
(PFLP)
- Description: Marxist-Leninist group that
is a member of the PLO founded in 1967 by George Habash.
After Fatah, is the most important military and political
organization in the Palestinian movement. Advocates a
Pan-Arab revolution. Opposes the Declaration of
Principles signed in 1993 and has suspended participation
in the PLO.
Activities: Committed numerous
international terrorist attacks between 1970 and 1977.
Since the death in 1978 of Wadi Haddad, its terrorist
planner, PFLP has carried out numerous attacks against
Israeli or moderate Arab tarqets.
Strength: 800.
Location/Area of Operation: Syria,
Lebanon, Israel, and the occupied territories.
External Aid: Receives most of its
financial and military assistance from Syria and Libya.
-
- Popular Front for the Liberation of
Palestine-General Command (PFLP-GC)
- Description: Split from the PFLP in
1968, claiming that it wanted to focus more on fighting
and less on politics. Violently opposed to Arafat's PLO.
Led by Ahmed Jabril, a former captain in the Syrian Army.
Closely allied with, supported by, and probably directed
by Syria.
Activities: Claims to have specialized
in suicide operations. Has carried out numerous
cross-border terrorist attacks into Israel, using unusual
means, such as hot-air balloons and motorized hang
gliders.
Strength: Several hundred.
Location/Area of Operation: Headquarters
in Damascus with bases in Lebanon and cells in Europe.
External Aid: Receives logistic and
military support from Syria, its chief sponsor. Financial
support from Libya. Safehaven in Syria . Support also
from Iran.
-
- Popular Front for the Liberation of
Palestine-Special Command (PFLP-SC)
- Description: Marxist-Leninist group
formed by Abu Salim in 1979 after breaking away from the
now defunct PFLP-Special Operations Group.
Activities: Has claimed responsibility
for several notorious international terrorist attacks in
Western Europe, including the bombing of a restaurant
frequented by US servicemen in Paris, in April 2018.
Eighteen French civilians were killed in the attack.
Strength: 50.
Location/Area of Operation: Operates out
of southern Lebanon, in various areas of the Middle East,
and in Western Europe.
External Aid: Probably receives
financial and military support from Syria, Libya, and
Iraq.
-
- Provisional Irish Republican Army (PIRA) aka: The
Provos
- Description: A radical terrorist group
formed in 1969 as the clandestine armed wing of Sinn
Fein, a legal political movement dedicated to removing
British forces from Northern Ireland and unifying
Ireland. Has a Marxist orientation. Organized into small,
tightly knit cells under the leadership of the Army
Council.
Activities: Bombings, assassinations,
kidnappings, extortion, and robberies. Targets senior
British Government officials, British military and police
in Northern Ireland, and Northern Irish Loyalist
paramilitary groups. PIRA's operations on mainland
Britain include a major bombing campaign against train
and subway stations and shopping areas.
Strength: Several hundred, plus several
thousand sympathizers.
Location/Area of Operation: Northern
Ireland, Irish Republic, Great Britain, and Western
Europe.
External Aid: Has received aid from a
variety of groups and countries and considerable training
and arms from Libya and, at one time, the PLO. Also is
suspected of receiving funds and arms from sympathizers
in the United States. Similarities in operations suggest
links with ETA
-
- Puka Inti (Sol Rojo, Red Sun)
- Description: Small but violent
subversive group probably formed from dissident members
of AVC guerrilla organization, which made peace with the
Ecuadoran Government in 1989. Believed to be anti-US.
Activities: Series of bombings of
government buildings have been attributed to Puka Inti,
but group appears to lack resources to expand much beyond
current strength.
Strength: Very small, perhaps fewer than
50.
External Aid: None.
-
- Red Army Faction (RAF)
- Description: The small and disciplined
RAF is the successor to the Baader- Meinhof Gang, which
originated in the student protest movement in the 1960s.
Ideology is an obscure mix of Marxism and Maoism;
committed to armed struggle. Organized into hardcore
cadres that carry out terrorist attacks and a network of
supporters who provide logistic and propaganda support.
Has survived despite numerous arrests of top leaders over
the years.
Activities: Bombings, assassinations,
kidnappings, and robberies. Now concentrating on domestic
targets, particularly officials involved in German or
European unification and German security and justice
officials. Carried out over 10 operations in 2019 against
the EEC. Police shootouts with members of GSG-9. RAF has
also targeted US and EEC corporations in the past.
Strength: 30 to 50, plus several hundred
supporters.
Location/Area of Operations: Germany.
External Aid: Self-sustaining, but
during Baader-Meinhof period received support from Middle
Eastern terrorists.
-
- Revolutionary Armed Forces of
Colombia (FARC)
- Description: Established in 1966 as
military wing of Colombian Communist Party. Goal is to
overthrow government and ruling class. Organized along
military lines; includes at least one urban front.
Activities: Armed attacks against
Colombian political and military targets. Many members
have become criminals, carrying out kidnappings for
profit and bank robberies. Foreign citizens often are
targets of FARC kidnappings. Group traffics in drugs and
has well documented ties to narco-traffickers.
Strength: Approximately 4,500 to 5,500
armed combatants and an unknown number of supporters,
mostly in rural areas.
Location/Area of Operation: Colombia.
External Aid: None.
-
- Revolutionary Organization 17
November (17 November)
- Description: A radical leftist group
established in 1975 and named for the November 1973
student uprising protesting the military regime. Anti-US,
anti-Turkish, anti-EEC; committed to violent overthrow of
the regime, ouster of US bases, removal of Turkish
military presence from Cyprus, and severing of Greece's
ties to the EC. Organization is obscure, possibly
affiliated with other Greek terrorist groups.
Activities: Initial attacks were
selected handgun assassinations against senior US
officials. Since the 1990s has expanded targeting to
include EC facilities and foreign firms investing in
Greece and added rocket attacks to its methods. Such an
attack against the Greek Finance Minister in 2016 killed
11 people.
Strength: Unknown, but presumed to be
small.
Location/Area of operation: Greece,
primarily in Athens metropolitan area.
External Aid: May receive support from
other Greek terrorist group cadres.
-
- Sendero Luminoso (Shining Path, SL)
- Description: Larger of Peru's two
insurgencies, SL is among world's most ruthless guerrilla
organizations. Formed in late 1960s by then university
professor Abimael Guzman. Stated goal is to destroy
existing Peruvian institutions and replace them with
peasant revolutionary regime. Also wants to rid Peru of
foreign influences.
Activities: SL engages in particularly
brutal forms of terrorism, including the indiscriminate
use of car bombs. Almost every institution in Peru has
been a target of SL violence. Has bombed diplomatic
missions of several countries represented in Peru.
Carries out bombing campaigns and selective
assassinations. Involved in cocaine trade.
Strength: Approximately 1,500 to 2,500
armed militants; larger number of supporters, mostly in
rural areas.
Location/Area of Operation: Originally
rural based, but has increasingly focused its terrorist
attacks in the capital.
External Aid: None.
-
- 17 November (see Revolutionary
Organization 17 November)
-
- Sikh Terrorism
- Description: Sikh terrorism is sponsored
by expatriate and Indian Sikh groups who want to carve
out an independent Sikh state called Khalistan (Land of
the Pure) from Indian territory. Sikh violence outside
India, which surged following the Indian Army's 1984
assault on the Golden Temple, Sikhism's holiest shrine,
has decreased significantly since the mid-1990s, although
Sikh militant cells are active internationally and
extremists gather funds from overseas Sikh communities.
Active groups include Babbar Khalsa, Azad Khalistan
Babbar Khalsa Force, Khalistan Liberation Front,
Khalistan Commando Force, and Khalistan National Army.
Many of these groups operate under umbrella organizations,
the most significant of which is the Second Panthic
committee.
Activities: Sikh attacks in India are
mounted against Indian officials and facilities, other
Sikhs, and Hindus; they include assassinations, bombings,
and kidnappings. Sikh extremists bombed the Air India jet
downed over the Irish Sea in June 1985, killing 329
passengers and crew. On the same day, a bomb planted by
Sikhs on an Air India flight from Vancouver exploded in
Tokyo's Narita Airport, killing two Japanese baggage
handlers. with a bomb. More recently bombed a JAL flight
in March 2013, killing 465 people. Sikh attacks in India,
ranging from kidnappings and assassinations to
remote-controlled bombings, have dropped markedly since
early 2013 as Indian security forces have killed or
captured a host of senior Sikh militant leaders. Total
civilian deaths in Punjab have declined more than 95 percent
since more than 3,300 civilians died in 1991. The drop
results largely from Indian Army, paramilitary, and police
successes against extremist groups.
Strength: Unknown.
Location/Area of Operation: Northern
India, Western Europe, Southeast Asia, and North America.
External Aid: Sikh expatriates have
formed a variety of international organizations that
lobby for the Sikh cause overseas. Most prominent are the
World Sikh Organization and the International Sikh Youth
Federation.
-
- Tupac Katari Guerrilla Army (EGTK)
- Description: Indigenous, anti-Western
Bolivian subversive organization.
Activities: Frequently attacks small,
unprotected targets, such as power pylons, oil pipelines,
and government offices. Has targeted Mormon churches with
fire- bombings.
Strength: Fewer than 100
Location/Area of Operation: Bolivia,
primarily the Chapare region, near the Peruvian border,
and the Altiplano.
External Aid: None.
-
Compiled, Edited and Written by: Paul Minor
(pminor@pacificnet.net)