/*SHORT TITLE: Codebook for HOSTAGE File */
DESCRIPTIONS OF VARIABLES IN HOSTAGE FILE
The HOSTAGE file lists characteristics peculiar to incidents involving the
taking of hostages, skyjackings, kidnappings, and takeovers of non-aerial
means of transportation. Incidents which would have been hostage
situations are included, although hostages may have all died and/or escaped
at the initial scene of the attack. The non-terrorist hijackings included
in the SKYJACK file are not included.
Target of Terrorist Demands:
YR. Date of start of incident--year
The beginning of the incident is considered to be the date at the
scene of the incident in which it first became apparent to individuals
other than the initiators that a terrorist event was taking
place. ITERATE data sets issued prior to July 2003 are coded with two
digits for years (i.e. 68=1968, 69=1969......00=2000, 01=2001).
Values:
1968 1968
1969 1969
.
.
2002 2002
MO. Date of start of incident--month
See description for variable 1.
Values:
01 January
02 February
.
.
12 December
99 Unknown month
DAY. Date of start of incident--day
See description for variable 1.
01
.
.
31
99 Unknown day
IN_NUM. incident code number
A unique two-digit code number. This number is assigned to each
discrete incident that occurs on a given day. Specific incidents
may thus be accessed by calling up the first eight digits of an
entry for an incident, i.e., YRMODAYIN_NUM.
00
01
.
.
99
H2. Number of hostages
Individuals who successfully escape their captors-to-be at the beginning of
an attack are considered to have never been captured, and an entry of 000
appears. Those who escape after having been captured, or who are released
during negotiations by their captors, are considered to have been hostages
for part of the time, and are included in the tally. All passengers and
crew members, save the initiating terrorists, in a skyjacking are
considered hostages. Terrorists in a barricade and hostage situation,
although unable to freely come and go, are not considered hostages.
Terrorists whose release from prison was demanded, and who join the
initiating group during the incident voluntarily are not considered to be
hostages, and are not included in the tally.
Values:
000-998 Actual number of hostages
999 Unknown, indeterminate, although it is known that
hostages were taken
H3. Number of hostages that escaped during the incident after
being secured by terrorists
Values:
000-997 Actual number
998 Unknown, but some known to have escaped
999 Unknown
H4. Target of Demands 1
This variable includes governments and other entities (corporations,
private individuals, and even other terrorist groups). Whenever a specific
entity was called upon to perform a specific task, whether it be to fly a
plane to a new destination, pay a ransom, or release prisoners, an entity
is coded.
Values (In addition to country codes used in Variable 4 of the COMMON
file, the following entity codes are used.):
007 Business, corporation
008 Family
009 Other organization
012 Individual, e.g. pilot
013 Newspaper
H5. Target of Demands 2
Values:
(same as Variable 4 above)
H6. Target of Demands 3
Values:
(same as Variable 4 above)
H7. Number of governments/entities upon whom demands were made
This variable includes governments and other entities (corporations,
private individuals, and even other terrorist groups). Whenever a specific
entity was called upon to perform a specific task, whether it be to fly a
plane to a new destination, pay a ransom, or release prisoners, an entity
is coded.
Values:
0-7 Actual number
8 Irrelevant, demands were not made
9 Unknown, but demands were placed upon some entities
H8. Were demands made upon host nation
The host nation is considered to be the location in which the incident began.
Values:
1 Yes
2 No
9 Unknown
Negotiation Behavior:
H9. Demand #1: Media announcement
Values:
0 Terrorists did not demand media coverage
1 Newspaper statement
2 Radio statement
3 Television statement
4 Circulate propaganda statement, medium unspecified
5 Unknown as to exact type of medium
6 Mix of above
9 Unknown
H10. Demand #2: Political change
Values:
1 Yes
2 No
9 Unknown
H11. Demand #3: Non-Robin Hood ransom
A Robin Hood ransom is a philanthropic demand--the terrorist group does not
directly receive the money or other item of value demanded. Herein, only
the group's organization coffers receive the proceeds.
Values:
0000-9996 Actual amount in $10,000 intervals
9997 Amount greater than $99,960,000
9998 Unknown, but some ransom was demanded
9999 Unknown if any ransom was demanded
H12. Demand #4: Robin Hood ransom
A Robin Hood ransom is a philanthropic demand--the terrorist group does not
directly receive the money or other item of value demanded. The group may
specify the beneficiary.
Values:
0000-9996 Actual amount in $10,000 intervals
9997 Amount greater than $99,960,000
9998 Unknown, but some ransom was demanded
9999 Unknown if any ransom was demanded
H13. Demand #5: Release prisoners
Values:
001-996 Actual number whose release was demanded
997 More than 996
998 Unknown, but some asked for
999 Unknown
H14. Demand #6: Safe haven for a destination
Values:
1 Yes, demand was made
2 No, demand was not made
9 Unknown
H15. Demand #7: Safe passage out of the location
Values:
1 Yes, demand was made
2 No, demand was not made
9 Unknown
H16. Demand #8: Other demands
These demands do not include those items previously mentioned, as well as
ransom payments or "creature comforts" during incidents, such as food,
drink, blankets, and medicines for perpetrators and hostages.
Values:
1 Yes, demand was made
2 No, demand was not made
9 Unknown
H17. Terrorist behavior in negotiations
Values:
1 Lessened one or more demands without increasing any
2 No changes in demands by terrorists
3 Replaced demands with others
4 Increased one or more demands without decreasing any
5 Mixed behavior - i.e. increased one or more while decreasing
one or more
8 Irrelevant, negotiations were not conducted
9 Unknown
H18. Allowed sequential release of hostages
Values:
0-7 Actual number of times hostages released
8 Unknown, but some sequential release of hostages
9 Unknown
H19. Allowed deadline to pass without engaging in action
threatened
Values:
0-6 Actual number of deadlines allowed to pass
7 None, demandees conceded before deadline
8 Unknown, but at least one deadline set and allowed to
pass
9 Irrelevant, no deadlines set
H20. Number of deadlines where the threat was carried out
Values:
0-6 Actual number of deadlines following which terrorists
followed through
7 None, demandees conceded before deadline
8 Unknown, but at least one deadline set and was followed by
threatened behavior
9 Irrelevant, no deadlines set
Results of Negotiations:
H21. Terrorist negotiation success
Values:
1 Received some of their demands
2 Received all of their demands
3 Received none of their demands
8 Irrelevant, no demands made
9 Unknown
H22. Type of target negotiator
This variable refers to the identity of the individuals who conducted the
negotiations with the terrorists in response to their demands. In cases
where codings of 1, 2 and/or 3 may be applicable to the same individual,
the lowest numerical value should be used. Category 6 includes clergymen,
individuals with a great public following, newsmen, nongovernmental
leaders, and even nominal terrorist groups who put pressure on the
initiators to alter their behavior during the incident.
Values:
1 Host government official, including police
2 Victim government official
3 Foreign government official
4 Corporate official
5 Private parties, including family
6 Prominent opinion leader
7 Other
8 Irrelevant, negotiations were not established
9 Unknown, indeterminate
H23. Number of target negotiators
Values:
1-7 Actual number
8 Irrelevant
9 Unknown, indeterminate
H24. Response of target
The Bangkok Solution refers to the agreement made by the four Black
Septembrists who took over the Israeli Embassy in Bangkok on December 28,
1972, and Thai officials which allowed the terrorists safe passage from the
scene in return for release of their hostages and the dropping of their
other demands. This outcome has subsequently been used successfully as a
precedent for other negotiation situations.
Values:
1 Capitulation
2 Stalling, with compromise on demands
3 Bangkok solution
4 No compromise, no shootout with the perpetrators
5 Shootout with the terrorists
6 Government doublecross
7 Massive nationwide search for terrorists, with no compromise or
capitulation by government regarding terrorist demands
8 Irrelevant, negotiations were not established, no demands made,
no direct confrontation engaged
9 Unknown, indeterminate
H25. Amount of ransom paid
Include both types (Robin Hood and non-philanthropic) of ransom paid.
Values:
0000-9997 Actual amount in increments of $10,000
9998 Unknown, but some ransom paid
9999 Unknown
H26. Source of ransom payment
Values:
1 Government
2 Corporate
3 Family
4 Other, including public collections, private sources
5 No ransom paid
6 Indeterminate, but ransom paid
7 Indeterminate if ransom was paid
8 Irrelevant, no ransom demanded
9 Unknown
H27. Number of prisoners released
Values:
000-996 Actual number
997 More than 996
998 Irrelevant
999 Unknown, but some prisoners were released
H28. Ultimate destination of released prisoners
The stopping-over and refuelling points of released prisoners is not
included. Their quasi-permanent destination at the end of the incident is
entered.
Values:
(same as those used in Variable 4 of COMMON file)
H29. First hostage's fate
Cases in which hostages are released without the levying of demands are
coded as 01.
Values:
01 No damage or casualties, hostages released, no target capitulation
02 No damage or casualties, hostages released, capitulation or
compromise by targets
03 Victims killed, no target capitulation
04 Victims killed, capitulation or compromise by targets
05 Damaged material, no target capitulation
06 Damaged material, capitulation or compromise by targets
07 Victim killed while attempting escape after initial capture
08 Victim successfully avoided capture
10 Victim successfully avoided capture after incident began
11 Hostages killed in shootout
12 Hostages killed, no provocation, during negotiations
13 Hostages killed during negotiations, deadline had passed
14 Hostages rescued by authorities
15 Incident forestalled by authorities before initiation
16 Victim escaped after initial capture
98 Irrelevant
99 Unknown, indeterminate
H30. Second hostage's fate
Values:
(same as Variable 29)
H31. Duration of incident in hours
Coding should be from the time hostages were seized to the time that
hostages' ultimate fate was determined.
Values:
00-96 Actual hours
97 More than 96 hours
98 Irrelevant
99 Unknown
H32. Duration of incident in days
See caveat for #31.
Values:
000-996 Actual number of days
997 More than 996 days
998 Irrelevant
999 Unknown
Other Nations Involved in Incident:
H33. Number of nations denying safe haven request
Such nations refer to those suggested by any negotiator as a final
destination for the perpetrators.
Values:
0-7 Actual number
8 Irrelevant
9 Unknown
H34. First nation denying safe haven request
Values:
(same as used in Variable 4 of COMMON file)
H35. Second nation denying safe haven request
Values:
(Same as used in Variable 4 of COMMON file)
H36. Number of nations granting safe haven request
Such nations are those willing to grant the terrorists safe haven in their
territory, rather than those nations willing to allow the terrorists to
leave their territory to reach a safe haven.
Values:
0-7 Actual number
8 Irrelevant
9 Unknown
H37. First nation granting safe haven request
Values:
(Same as used in Variable 4 of COMMON file)
H38. Second nation granting safe haven request
Values:
(same as used in Variable 4 of COMMON file)
H39. Number of nations with ancillary involvement in incident
Ancillary involvement refers to a relation to the event not previously
mentioned elsewhere, e.g. as target, victim, host, or breeder of the
terrorists. Such ancillary involvement may include being a refuelling
point for the escape vehicle, the site of a ransom payment, an additional
source of demands, a mediator, a negotiator, a covert initiator of the
specific incident, etc.
Values:
0-8 Actual number
9 Unknown
H40. First ancillary nation
Values:
(same as used in Variable 4 of COMMON file)
H41. Second ancillary nation
Values:
(same as used in Variable 4 of COMMON file)