Anti-terror bill seeks stiff sanctions vs terrorists

Days after the commemoration of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the CNMI House of Representatives adopted a legislative measure that seeks to define and criminalize acts of terrorism, which may entail penalties of up to life imprisonment.

Fifteen congressmen unanimously approved 14-207—the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2004—except for Reps. Janet Maratita, Ray Yumul, and Benjamin Seman, who were absent in yesterday’s session.

The bill seeks to amend the Commonwealth Code’s criminal law to include a new chapter on anti-terrorism, which will define and penalize acts of terrorism and related crimes.

House Rep. David M. Apatang introduced the bill, which was endorsed by the Judiciary and Government Operations committee for approval in yesterday’s session.

“Although certain federal laws seek to curb the incidence of terrorism, there are no corresponding Commonwealth laws that facilitate the prosecution and punishment of terrorists in Commonwealth courts,” the committee said.

“Presently, there is no criminal penalty in the Commonwealth for a person who solicits or raises funds for, or provide other material support or resources to those who commit or encourage the commission of horrific and cowardly acts of terrorists,” it added.

The committee said passage of the bill into law would support national efforts to curb terrorism, after the 9/11 event resulted in heightened security throughout the United States, especially in international ports of entry.

The bill defines terrorism as one that pertain to “activities that involve a violent act or acts dangerous to human life that are in violation of the criminal laws of the Commonwealth and are intended to: (i) intimidate or coerce a civilian population; (ii) influence the policy of a unit of government by intimidation or coercion; or (iii) affect the conduct of a unit of government by murder, assassination, or kidnapping.”

The bill proposes a penalty of life imprisonment without parole for the offense of murder as an act of terrorism. The penalty will also apply to the offense of kidnapping, if the person committing the offense voluntarily releases the victim alive and uninjured and in a safe place prior to trial.

For acts of terrorism that may be committed through any sexual offense and kidnapping, the bill proposes a maximum penalty of 15 years imprisonment. Other offenses that will constitute an act of terrorism may entail a maximum imprisonment term of 10 years.

The measure also defines and penalizes soliciting or providing support for an act of terrorism. For providing material support or resources exceeding $1,000 dollars in total value, an offender faces a maximum prison term of 15 years, according to the bill. Otherwise, the bill provides for a maximum 10 years imprisonment.

The bill also seeks to criminalize terroristic threatening against those who threaten to commit an act of terrorism that may cause “a reasonable expectation of fear.” It proposes to punish this offense by imprisonment of not more than 10 years.

The legislative measure also wants to penalize the act of hindering prosecution of terrorism by a maximum of 20 years imprisonment.