International Terrorism (FALN) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

International Terrorism (FALN) - Essay ExampleThe FALN was intimately sprightly during the seventies and 1980s, but their activities have drastically declined in the last two decades. In the FALNs Communiqu 1 of October 26, 1974, their Central bidding states that they have been advocating an armed revolution since 1969 for the purpose of eliminating yanki colonialism from Puerto Rico, by committing acts of violence in the US and against US interests in Puerto Rico (Puerto Rican Armed Forces of National Liberation, 1974, p.2). The reference to yanki colonialism refers to the capitalistic dominance of Puerto Rico by the influence of the US economy. At this time they acknowledged the bombing of major US corporations, as well as bombings of section stores and the Newark NJ Police Department in the spring of 1974. By late 1979, the FALN had become Puerto Ricos most world-shaking terrorist group and according to Francis (1979), About 75 actions and at least five deaths resulted from F ALs sic terrorism, the most solid being the Fraunces Tavern bombing in New York City on January 24, 1975, in which four died. In 1977-78, FALN carried out nineteen bombing actions in the continental U.S. (p.14). The decade of the 1980s would see an increased visibleness of the FALN as they continued their untrained movement advocating independence for Puerto Rico.The 1980s would see the FALN become the most impending terrorist organization in this hemisphere, but by the end of the decade they had subsided in their activities. In March of 1980, FALN terrorists seized the friar preacher Republics embassy in Bogot Columbia and issued a statement threatening to attack nuclear power plants within the US (Sater, 1981, p.vi). Through the 1980s, the FALN worked with other Latin American terrorist groups and struck targets throughout the region, in Puerto Rico, and on the US mainland. In the 1980s the FALN claimed credit for more than 100 bombings at mainland train stations, airports, an d multinational corporations as well as US government installations in Puerto Rico (Morris, 1995, p.57). In 1980-1981, several key members of the FALN were arrested and convicted of multiple serious federal crimes that resulted in their incarceration for as long as 50 years (Kushner, 2003, p.129). During 1982 and 1983, the group conducted sporadic bombings, most notably the 1982 New Years Eve attacks in New York City (Kushner, 2003, p.129). After further arrests in 1982 and 1983, and a 1985 raid on FALN headquarters in Puerto Rico, the activities of the FALN almost completely subsided (Kushner, 2003, p.130). During their period of activity, the FALN was blamed for nearly cd bombings, 18 deaths, and millions of dollars in property damage (Hewitt, 2000, p.28). The FALN is noted as being one of the most violent organizations to ever operate on the US mainland. MembershipAn evaluation of the FALNs membership includes the numbers, their motivations, and the outside influences that fac ilitated their activities. During the FALNs most active period, the membership rose to well over 100 active members, and retained a membership of approximately 120 members after the arrests of the 1980s (Hewitt, 2000, p.33 Kushner, 2003, p.1