Arab Communist Organization
Encyclopedia
The Arab Communist Organization – ACO (Arabic: Munazzamatu al-Shuyu’i al-Arabi) or Organisation Communiste Arabe (OCA) in French
was a short-lived, underground terrorist group which operated briefly in both Lebanon
and Syria
during the mid-1970s.
do not reveal a clearly devised strategy or objectives.
attempts targeting American and British civilian and economic interests in Lebanon, at times claiming that its actions were either carried out in protest for US Secretary of State
Henry Kissinger
's 1974 diplomatic Middle Eastern Tour or to force British-owned Lebanese companies to distribute freely large amounts of food to impoverished local families. It is still unclear who financed and armed the ACO though the most likely suspect at the time would have been the Palestinians (either the mainstream PLO or the Rejectionist Front
factions), who certainly provided weapons, explosives and training at their Bekaa Valley facilities. When the Lebanese civil war
finally broke out in April 1975, it seems that the group opted for not joining the Lebanese National Movement
and took no part in the savage street battles at Beirut
and elsewhere. Instead, they shifted their attention to Syria
, where their leaders were arrested and tortured in July that year and then sentenced to life in prison by Syrian courts.
in retaliation for the arrests, Syrian and Lebanese Authorities succeeded in dismantling the group's cells in both Syria and Lebanon, which resulted in the sharp decline of their activities afterwards.
The group's last known attack took place in 1977, and nothing was heard of them until August 2002 when Damascus finally bowed to the pressure of international Human Rights
organizations and released Haytham Na'al on reasons of ill-health resulting from torture
suffered while in prison – his comrades Imad Shiha and Faris Murad, as well as several other former ACO militants, remain however in custody. This faction is no longer active.
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
was a short-lived, underground terrorist group which operated briefly in both Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
and Syria
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
during the mid-1970s.
Origins
Of unknown strength and apparently led by a trio of Syrian radical activists – Imad Shiha, Haytham Na'al and Faris Murad – the ACO was formed in Lebanon on August 1974, and its membership presumably included both Lebanese leftist militants and left-wing Syrian anti-Baathist dissidents.Political Beliefs
Although ostensibly Marxist-Leninist in ideology and seemingly based in Lebanon, the ACO's own activities in the Middle EastMiddle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
do not reveal a clearly devised strategy or objectives.
Activities
The group focused mainly on bomb attacks and extortionExtortion
Extortion is a criminal offence which occurs when a person unlawfully obtains either money, property or services from a person, entity, or institution, through coercion. Refraining from doing harm is sometimes euphemistically called protection. Extortion is commonly practiced by organized crime...
attempts targeting American and British civilian and economic interests in Lebanon, at times claiming that its actions were either carried out in protest for US Secretary of State
Secretary of State
Secretary of State or State Secretary is a commonly used title for a senior or mid-level post in governments around the world. The role varies between countries, and in some cases there are multiple Secretaries of State in the Government....
Henry Kissinger
Henry Kissinger
Heinz Alfred "Henry" Kissinger is a German-born American academic, political scientist, diplomat, and businessman. He is a recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize. He served as National Security Advisor and later concurrently as Secretary of State in the administrations of Presidents Richard Nixon and...
's 1974 diplomatic Middle Eastern Tour or to force British-owned Lebanese companies to distribute freely large amounts of food to impoverished local families. It is still unclear who financed and armed the ACO though the most likely suspect at the time would have been the Palestinians (either the mainstream PLO or the Rejectionist Front
Rejectionist Front
The Rejectionist Front or Front of the Palestinian Forces Rejecting Solutions of Surrender was a political coalition formed in 1974 by radical Palestinian factions who rejected the Ten Point Program adopted by the Palestine Liberation Organization in its 12th Palestinian National Congress ...
factions), who certainly provided weapons, explosives and training at their Bekaa Valley facilities. When the Lebanese civil war
Lebanese Civil War
The Lebanese Civil War was a multifaceted civil war in Lebanon. The war lasted from 1975 to 1990 and resulted in an estimated 150,000 to 230,000 civilian fatalities. Another one million people were wounded, and today approximately 350,000 people remain displaced. There was also a mass exodus of...
finally broke out in April 1975, it seems that the group opted for not joining the Lebanese National Movement
Lebanese National Movement
The Lebanese National Movement or Mouvement National Libanais in French, was a front of parties and organizations active during the early years of the Lebanese Civil War...
and took no part in the savage street battles at Beirut
Beirut
Beirut is the capital and largest city of Lebanon, with a population ranging from 1 million to more than 2 million . Located on a peninsula at the midpoint of Lebanon's Mediterranean coastline, it serves as the country's largest and main seaport, and also forms the Beirut Metropolitan...
and elsewhere. Instead, they shifted their attention to Syria
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
, where their leaders were arrested and tortured in July that year and then sentenced to life in prison by Syrian courts.
Decline and demise
Although the ACO promptly carried out a series of bombings in DamascusDamascus
Damascus , commonly known in Syria as Al Sham , and as the City of Jasmine , is the capital and the second largest city of Syria after Aleppo, both are part of the country's 14 governorates. In addition to being one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, Damascus is a major...
in retaliation for the arrests, Syrian and Lebanese Authorities succeeded in dismantling the group's cells in both Syria and Lebanon, which resulted in the sharp decline of their activities afterwards.
The group's last known attack took place in 1977, and nothing was heard of them until August 2002 when Damascus finally bowed to the pressure of international Human Rights
Human rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
organizations and released Haytham Na'al on reasons of ill-health resulting from torture
Torture
Torture is the act of inflicting severe pain as a means of punishment, revenge, forcing information or a confession, or simply as an act of cruelty. Throughout history, torture has often been used as a method of political re-education, interrogation, punishment, and coercion...
suffered while in prison – his comrades Imad Shiha and Faris Murad, as well as several other former ACO militants, remain however in custody. This faction is no longer active.
External links
- http://www.start.umd.edu/start/data/tops/terrorist_organization_profile.asp?id=3936