November 17 Terrorist Group

Case Study Paper Assignment

IR 6629 The Theory and Practice of International Relations

NOVEMBER 17 TERRORIST GROUP

INTRODUCTION:

Terrorism has been one of the hottest topics in the current world affairs. The whole world is threatened by terrorist attacks of different types by different terrorist organizations. The terrorist groups have been using various strategies to pressurize the world to fulfill their demands. Their strategies include bomb blasts, murders, kidnapping and damage to property. Currently Al Qaeda is the most talked about Islamic terrorist organization that has changed the face of the world since September 11, 2001. The group has forced many countries to change their foreign policy. However to think that terrorists are always Muslims is wrong. There are a number of non Muslim terrorist organizations that are using destructive tactics to accomplish their goals. Among the non Islamic groups the most deadly terrorist organization is considered to be November 17 which has its bases in Greece.

In this paper I aim to discuss the origins of the November 17 terrorist group. My reason for selecting this group is that it is interesting to know that the group has been declared the most deadly terrorist group in Europe despite the fact that it has a very small strength. I intend to discuss the aims, objectives, strength and strategies of this group. I will try to compare it with other non terrorist organizations in Greece seeking similar goals. I will discuss the reasons which have led to the success or failure of the group in achieving its targets. At the same time the role of the government in countering terrorism will also be discussed. Towards the end I will discuss some strategies that might prove beneficial at local as well as at international level in countering their attacks.

DESCRIPTION:

It is stated in an online article by the US Department of State (n.d.) on different terrorist groups that November 17 is a terrorist organization in Greece. The group a.k.a. Espanastatiki Organosi 17 Noemvri is a revolutionary leftist group which first came into being in 1975. The group got its name from a 1973 student uprising in Greece which resulted in the death of 25 students. The students were protesting against the ruling military junta. An online report by Council on Foreign Relations (2007) states that the group has a strong disliking for America, West and Capitalism. The article on terrorist groups by the US Department of State (n.d.) says that the group is anti- Greek establishment, anti Turkey, anti NATO and anti United States.

AIMS:

Reading the above paragraph the aims and objectives of this terrorist group becomes clear. N 17 demand elimination of the US bases from Greece, removal of military forces of Turkey from Cyprus and an end to friendly relationship of Greece with the US, NATO and the European Union.

The BBC news report "November 17 Group: Small but Deadly" (2000) states that N 17 terrorist group is an anti western group and it has supported this stance following the end of the cold war. Analyzing the attacks one can clearly see that the group aims to discourage western countries and the US from having any diplomatic ties with Greece. This is evident from the fact that the group has targeted many British, US and European people and institutions. A prominent case in this regard is that of the British Brig. Saunders. Saunders was murdered as he was on his way to attend a meeting about providing arms to the Greek government. The group also does not support Greek participation in NATO and the European Union.

The BBC report (2000) further adds that November 17 group is also anti capitalist. On numerous occasions N 17 has initiated a popular uprising against the middle and upper classes in Greece. Upholding their ideology a gunman of N 17 group killed a former governor of State Bank in 1994.

STRENGTH:

The BBC article (2000) states that many observers are of the view that the group has a very small strength of approximately 25 members. It is also believed that the members are related to one another. The small strength and family relations are considered to be one of the reasons why the group has been able to work with impunity for over the past three decades. In 2002 the police got a major breakthrough when they arrested the first member of the N17 group. A year later almost 15 members of the group were convicted for various crimes and the leader along with several other prominent members of the gang were given multiple life sentences.

ACTIVITIES:

According to the BBC report (2000) the group's activities first came under spotlight when in 1975 they killed an American CIA chief, Richard Welch, in Athens as he was returning from a party. Welch was shot dead by a 45 caliber pistol which later became a trademark of the group. The group accepted the responsibility of his murder and stated that Welch was killed because he supported Greek military dictatorship. The group has accepted approximately 21 murders which also include the murder of four Americans. Some recent attacks by the group are mentioned below:

* In 1989 the group stole rockets from the military depot.

* In 1990-91 the group involved itself in several attacks on US and UK business interests during Gulf War. According to Takis Minhas report (2001) the companies that were targeted include Proctor & Gamble, IBM, Citibank, BP, Alico, American Express, Nationalen Nederlanden, McDonalds, General Motors, Midland Bank, Chase Manhattan Bank and Banque National de Paris.

* In 1992 the Greek finance minister was targeted as his car was attacked by rockets.

* In 1994 they were successful in killing the former governor of the State Bank. They also tried to blow up a British aircraft carrier. The plan was unsuccessful.

* In 1997 the group again gained success by killing a British shipping tycoon Costis Peraticos.

* In 1999 German embassy in Athens was targeted by a bomb.

According to the US Department of State information on terrorist groups (n.d.) the group supports itself largely through bank robberies.

MAJOR BREAKTHROUGH:

On June 29, 2002 the Greek police managed to arrest a member of the N 17 group. According to an on line report by KATHIMERINI titled "Judgment Day for N 17" (December 17, 2003) the arrest was made due to an unsuccessful operation on part