-Caveat Lector- Arab News SAUDI ARABIA'S FIRST ENGLISH LANGUAGE DAILY
In Prison With Carlos the Jackal Othman Tezghart, Al-Majalla Published on 16 March 2003 PARIS, 16 March 2003 — International terrorist Ilyich Ramirez Sanchez is better known as Carlos the Jackal. He has been in a French prison since 1994, and spoke to Al-Majalla magazine, a sister publication of Arab News, in an exclusive interview. In the wide-ranging interview spanning two weeks, the world’s most wanted terrorist of the turbulent 70s — who executed many a PLO operation — spoke of his childhood, love won and lost, his family, his Moscow education, his support for the Palestinian cause and his conviction that he will be killed on his release from incarceration. Carlos grew up in a socialist environment. His family had moved from the suburb to Caracas, Venezuela after the country became rich in oil. “My mother was a very loving, intelligent housewife,” he said. “My father was an educated political activist who specialized in international law. He was a supporter of revolutions.” His most memorable childhood moments were his first trip on an airplane, the birth of his sister and her death after just three months, the nationalization of the Suez Canal and the subsequent attack on Egypt. His childhood dream was revolution, and his role models included Stalin, Che Guevara, Gamal Abdul Nasser, Fidel Castro, Mao Tse-tung and “my father” — all men who struggled for their countries and had visions that traversed beyond their national frontiers. Carlos’ most important memory of his life in Moscow was “my love story with the mother of my son, my expulsion from the Venezuelan Communist Youth Movement, my expulsion with my brother and 15 other Venezuelan students from the university in Moscow and the attempt to recruit me by the Russian KGB.” He was ousted from the Venezuelan Communist movement because he supported the idea of military struggle against Commander Douglas Bravo. When in Moscow, he knew students from all over the world. “I also knew some Soviet citizens from different backgrounds.” Carlos said he knew Refat Aboown, who was his classmate in Moscow. He was a secret fighter and he always wanted to remain that way. “But most Palestinian students were from the Fatah movement.” When and how did he become a Muslim? “In October 1975 I was training and supervising a group of commandos who were all Muslims. We were launching an operation against the Zionists in South Africa. It was a difficult operation and we all expected to die. They told me to become a Muslim so I would join them in paradise if I died. I was very touched, and later I did convert.” Carlos first visited France in August 1967. “It was empty of local people because of summer holidays. Most stores were closed but it was beautiful and I loved it. “I have a great ability to adapt and it is my nature to love people. That’s why I feel comfortable wherever I go. Cities I liked the most, other than my hometown Caracas, are London, Moscow, Budapest, Amman, Damascus, Paris and Beirut.” Carlos said he had “only four major” love affairs. “Whenever I remember those women, I fall in love with them again.” If Carlos has a life after his imprisonment, he will spend it in Caracas. But he says his chances of release are slim. “Barring a direct intervention by my government to release me and respect for my civil rights, I do not see any possibility of freedom — except through military action. Since the enemy does not respect his own rules, then there is no way that I will be released by a court of law. I’m fighting a legal battle just because I like to defend my principles.” In any case, Carlos is certain that he will be freed only to be killed by his enemies. According to him, the French authorities made repeated attempts to encourage him to jump jail after they arrested him but he was too smart not to fall into their trap. Given another chance, would he try to escape from prison? “I will never participate in any such attempt even if political prisoners planned it. I’m not going to put my life in danger with an attempt that could lead to my capture by my enemies. I’m sure that I’ll leave this prison one day after I get compensation for my suffering. This will not happen until there is a military operation planned from outside the prison, not inside.” How was he drawn to the Palestinian issue? Was he influenced by the Palestinians who studied with him in Moscow? “I first knew about the Palestinian issue in 1965. I was in Caracas at the time. My father worked as a legal consultant to a Palestinian businessman named Bashar. He told us lots of stories about events in Jerusalem in 1948 when the United Nations divided Palestine. I was 15 years old at the time and very sympathetic to the Palestinian cause because I hated the fate that befell them. My first contact with the PLO was in November 1966 in London. I had limited contacts with Palestinians when I was in Moscow. I was only interested in the Palestinian cause because of the unjust treatment they received under the occupation army. The revolutionary movement of the Palestinians also impressed me.” The Palestinian personalities who impressed him most were Haj Abdulkader Al-Hussaini, who was the leader of Palestinian resistance inside Palestine; Lebanese leader Antwan Saadah, founder of the Syrian nationalist party, who initiated the idea of fighting against Zionism; Ezaldeen Al-Kassam and Faisal Al-Hussaini, most popular resistance fighters; Gamal Abdul Nasser, the Egyptian leader who gave confidence to the Arab world to fight against Zionism; Wadee Haddad Abo Hani, who had the strategic vision of suicide attacks; Yasser Arafat, world leader of Palestinian resistance; and Sheikh Ahmad Yassin, founder of Hamas. He said he wrote his autobiography and put it in a secret place before he was arrested. It will, he says, be his legacy for his children. (Part II on Sunday) Features 16 March 2003 Copyright © 2003 ArabNews All Rights Reserved. Forwarded for your information. The text and intent of the article have to stand on their own merits. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. section 107, this material is distributed without charge or profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving this type of information for non-profit research and educational purposes only. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Do not believe in anything simply because you have heard it. Do not believe simply because it has been handed down for many genera- tions. Do not believe in anything simply because it is spoken and rumoured by many. Do not believe in anything simply because it is written in Holy Scriptures. Do not believe in anything merely on the authority of teachers, elders or wise men. 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