DIGEST OF FOREIGN TERRORISM AND POLITICAL VIOLENCE

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 06563996
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: March 16, 2022
• Document Release Date: September 8, 2016
• Case Number: F-2016-00651
• Publication Date: February 1, 1988

Approved for Release: 2016/08/23 C06563996
Directorate of
Intelligence
yr
�SsEcret-_
Digest of Foreign Terrorism
and Political Violence
A Reference Aid
0
LDA 88-10488
GI 88-10016
February 1988
Copy 0274
Approved for Release: 2016/08/23 C06563996
 Approved for Release: 2016/08/23 C06563996
told press that his men have been trained in Lebanon under agreement with PLO
... he and his forces responsible for kidnaping of two US citizens in Sri Lanka in
May 1984 ... he released them unharmed
Eelam Revolutionary
Organization of Students
(EROS)
Sri Lanka
Egypt's Revolution
(Egyptian Revolution;
Thawrat Masr)
Egypt
Eritrean Liberation
Front (ELF)
Ethiopia
Eritrean
Liberation Front/
United Organization
(ELF/UO)
Ethiopia
Tamil insurgent group active since mid-1970s ... approximately 800 members...
specializes in explosives and urban terrorism ... since late 1986 has been
informally allied with Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam.
Leadership
V. Balakumar (Bank Bala) ... date and place of birth unknown ... has given
group's allegiance to now dominant LTTE without fighting that has often
accompanied LTTE's drive to take control of insurgent movement ... based in
Madras, India, 1980-early 1987 ... now in Sri Lanka.
Small, secretive group opposed to Mubarak regime and Egyptian ties to Israel ...
probably has ties to Libya ... primarily targets Israelis in Cairo, including attack
on four Israelis at Cairo International Fair in March 1986 and murder of Israeli
diplomat in August 1985 ... probably responsible for attack on US diplomats in
Cairo in May 1987 ... surviving member of team that hijacked Egyptair plane in
November 1985 claimed to have worked for group, although other evidence points
to Abu Nidal Organization ... no known connection to illicit drug trade.
Moderate, pro-Arab, mostly Muslim insurgent group ... established 1961 but now
extremely fragmented ... membership 5,000 ... sometimes cooperates with other
Eritrean insurgent groups in guerrilla warfare and political activity in pursuit of
independence for Eritrea ... operates in southwest and central Eritrea
Abdallah Idris . . . born circa 1943, Eritrea ... secretary general of ELF�Revolu-
tionary Council, a small ELF faction, since March 1982 ... seized control of ELF-
RC in 1982 and imprisoned many leftist leaders, including then Secretary General
Ahmed Nasser ... has since been unable to unify ELF-RC or negotiate mergers
with other small Eritrean groups ... other Eritrean insurgent leaders believe he is
cooperating with Ethiopian Government ... Muslim ... member Beni Amer
ethnic group... received military training in Syria and is effective field
commander, according to Embassy officials ... was head of ELF-RC Military
Bureau for most of 1970s.
Breakway ELF faction comprising moderate and radical Muslim factions plus
splinter group called People's Liberation Forces�Revolutionary Council ... estab-
lished 1985 ... estimated membership 2,000, including some 1,200 combat troops
... sometimes conducts joint paramilitary and political ventures with other
Eritrean insurgent groups ... supported by and would align with moderate Arab
states
41
ThltveL
Approved for Release: 2016/08/23 C06563996