| International Peace & Security Institute |
PEACE & SECURITY REPORT
IPSI's Peace & Security Report (PSR) is a concise weekly e-publication intended to keep busy students, academics, advocates, and practitioners in the conflict management community briefed on pertinent global news, events, and trends. Meticulously researched and written by IPSI, the PSR empowers us all to take a step back from our immediate deadlines each Friday and gain a greater understanding of the week's global events. |
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Africa BURUNDI: Fears of renewed violenceBrutal
killings over the last several weeks are generating fear of a return to
civil war in Burundi. The government is blaming the violence on
bandits, but the mutilations -- including decapitation and machete
wounds -- bare the hallmark of the Forces for National Liberation (FNL)
rebels. Ex-FNL leader Agathon Rwasa appealed to the UN to intervene and
prevent the return to violence. Comment:
Burundi's 12-year civil war, which ended in 2005, left over 300,000
Burundians dead. Turmoil in the country is increasing after allegations
of fraud in elections held earlier this year. (Angola Press, AFP, Reuters, IRIN)COTE D'IVOIRE: Continued post-conflict developmentForeign
Minister Jean-Maria Kacou Gervais appealed to the UN General Assembly
on September 29 for increased aid for development leading up to next
month's presidential election. The Security Council approved an
additional 500 troops to secure the election on September 28, a day
after the African Union announced it would send a delegation to assess
the situation and decide a course of action "to further contribute to
process for a way out of the crisis." Comment:
The elections, repeatedly delayed since 2005, are now scheduled for
October 31. Both the UN and Ivorian government identify the elections as
vital to post-conflict development in the country. (Accra Mail, Afrol News, UN News Service)LIBERIA: Tackling corruption in the lead up to the 2011 electionsPresident
Sirleaf met with UN Secretary General Ban during last week's high-level
UN General Assembly meeting. The two discussed the importance of
tackling corruption, and Ban lauded Liberia's efforts to address human
rights issues and massive debt. Sirleaf, during her address of the
General Assembly, called next year's elections a "turning point" in
post-conflict Liberia. The U.S. envoy to Liberia stressed the importance
of a diligent and competent media, and pledged U.S. support for media
development in preparation for next year's elections. Comment:
Liberia's emergence from civil war to stability is an example for many
states in the region. Continued progress on transparency and fighting
corruption will further solidify the fragile but progressing democracy.
On September 15, the UN Security Council extended its mission in Liberia
for a year. (The Informer, UN News Service, Relief Web, Liberian Journal)SOMALIA: TFG and AMISOM increasing battle against al ShabaabSomalia's
Transitional Federal Government (TFG) and the Ugandan-led African Union
Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) began to retake the Bakara Market, an al
Shabaab stronghold, on September 24. AMISOM commanders are calling for
an additional 20,000 troops to support the 8,000 troops already in
Mogadishu. On September 23, Kenyan President Kibaki called for UN
involvement in Somalia. On September 25, a moderate Islamic party left
the TFG, further throwing the coalition government's future into
question just days after the prime minister resigned. Comment:
Somalia continues to be a major source of conflict across East Africa.
During a September 29 address at the UN, Ethiopia accused Eritrea of
intentionally destabilizing Somalia by supporting al Shabaab, and Uganda
threatened to pull out its troops over allegations in a forthcoming UN
report on the conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo. AMISOM's
advances, if continued, are welcome news for the struggling TFG. (The Montor, Afrol News, AFP, RFI, Accra Mail)UN: African Leaders Call for Permanent Seat on UNSCAfrican
leaders at the UN General Assembly meeting on September 24 called for
reform of the UN Security Council (UNSC). Zimbabwe's President Mugabe
called the current permanent members -- China, France, Russia, the UK,
and the US -- hypocrites for promoting democracy while denying Africans a
place at the table. Liberian President Jonathan called reform in line
with the UN's central role to global governance. Other African leaders
also stressed the need to reform the UNSC. Comment:
the UNSC has been reformed once, adding four non-permanent members in
1965, even though the 192 member-states of the UN is nearly quadruple
the 51 founding states. In February, the African Union endorsed South
Africa's bid to gain a permanent seat on the UNSC. (UN News Service, Business Daily, Al Jazeera, Bua News)
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Americas
COLOMBIA: A turning point in the conflict?
Colombian
President Santos called the large scale military operation that killed
Mono Jojoy, a senior Revolutionary Armed Forces (FARC) commander, on
September 22 a 'turning point' in the anti-guerilla battle. The
President has since ordered security forces to intensify their assaults
on the rebel group. President Santos stated that potential dialogue
between the government and the FARC is dependent on an unconditional
cease fire and the release of all hostages. Comment:
The Colombian President stressed these raids as "the beginning of the
end of the FARC." However, the FARC stated they will continue to fight
for "democratic peace with social justice" and are prepared to seek a
"political solution" to Colombia's five-decade long internal conflict,
but will not engage in dialogue under unilateral conditions. (BBC, BBC, El Tiempo, El Nuevo Herald)
ECUADOR: Protests by security forces
On
September 30, 150 Ecuadorian air force troops seized Quito's
international airport runway and national police officers waged protests
in cities throughout the country against the government's new law which
plans to end bonuses and other benefits for civil servants and the
military. Ecuadorian President Correa denounced the protests as an
attempted coup and declared a state of emergency. The head of Armed
Forces Joint Command, General Luis Ernesto Gonzales, said troops remain
loyal to the President despite the current unrest. Comment:
Ecuador has a history of political instability, and three presidents
between 1996 and 2006 have been toppled due to economic protests.
Ecuador has experienced relative peace and security since President
Correa came into power in 2006. (BBC, AP, AFP, El Universal)
MEXICO: 30 suspected Gulf cartel members captured by marines
On
September 29, Mexican officials announced that marines captured 30
suspected Gulf cartel members and seized more than 50 guns, two
shoulder-fired rocket launchers, 21 grenades, and ammunition during a
two-day raid in the northern border of Mexico. Comment:
Since December 2006, drug-gang violence has claimed over 28,000 lives
in Mexico. President Calderon has deployed thousands of troops and
federal police in response to the increase in attacks and gang related
assassinations and activities. (AP, El Nuevo Herald, El Universal)
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East Asia
BURMA: Burma to free Aung San Suu Kyi
The
Burmese government announced that Nobel Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi will
be released from house arrest at the end of the current sentence on
November 13. The democracy activist has been held under detention since
1990. The announcement comes as Burma prepares for its first elections
in 20 years. The government also stated that Suu Kyi will be allowed to
vote in the elections slated for November 7. However, her party, the
National League for Democracy is boycotting the polls. Comment:
The decision to release Suu Kyi follows closely on the heels of the
U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon's appeal for the release of political
prisoners. He stated that their release was necessary to provide
credibility to the elections. The international community is criticizing
the elections as a sham process designed to keep the current junta in
power. Under the new constitution, 25 percent of the seats would be
reserved for the military. Analysts state that Suu Kyi's release would
signal the military government's confidence over a transition to a new,
semi-civilian rule. (CS Monitor, Channel NewAsia, UKPA, VOA, CNN)
JAPAN: Japan accepts Burmese refugees
18
Burmese refugees arrived in Japan from Thailand. Japan agreed to accept
refugees under a UN-backed program and is the first Asian country to do
so. A total of 90 refugees belonging to the Karen ethnic group of Burma
are expected to be resettled in Japan. The refugees had fled
persecution in Burma and were living for 10 years in a camp in
north-western Thailand. They will undergo a six-month orientation in
Tokyo as part of which they will be taught Japanese and provided job
placement services. Comment:
Japan is one of the highest donors to refugees overseas but has so far
remained averse to welcoming asylum seekers. It is criticized for
accepting fewer refugees than other developed nations. Only 531 refugees
were allowed to stay in Japan last year. The government stated that if
the integration of these refugees goes well, it will consider accepting
more asylum seekers in the future. (BBC, Asahi Shimbun, The Diplomat)
NORTH KOREA: Kim-Jong Il appoints son to key party positionKim
Jong-Un, youngest son of Kim Jong-Il, was made a four star general and
appointed as Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission at the
first Korean Workers Party Conference since 1966. Kim Jong-Un, widely
regarded as the successor to his father, is in his late-20s and was
educated in Switzerland. A North Korean delegation was reportedly sent
to China to brief Chinese officials about the meeting. Comment:
Meanwhile, military-level talks on Thursday between South and North
Korean officials ended without any progress. The South Koreans demanded
an apology for the sinking of their warship in March this year. North
Korea has repeatedly denied any involvement in the ship-sinking
incident. Comment:
Analysts state that Kim Jong-Un's speedy appointment is result of his
father's failing health and the stage is now set for a smooth
transition. It now remains to be seen if the western educated Un is more
reform oriented than his predecessors. (The Australian, Telegraph, CNN, BBC)
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Europe & Central Asia EUROPE: Terrorist plot in Europe
Security
officials in Europe announced the presence of a terrorist threat to
soft targets across the continent, similar to the Mumbai attacks of
September 2008, predicting coordinated strikes on tourist locations,
banks, or hotels. The threats have been deemed "credible but not
specific" and thought to be still in the planning stages, preventing
officials fromraising terror alert levels. Comment:
This week is the three year anniversary of a Danish newspaper
publishing cartoons of the Prophet Muhammed. In addition, approximately
twenty predator drone strikes were launched in Afghanistan this month. (AP, The Guardian, The Washington Post) THE HAGUE: ICTY calls for arrest of last criminals of war On
Wednesday, the president of the International Criminal Tribunal for the
former Yugoslavia (ICTY) called for the arrest of two remaining
fugitives, Ratko Mladic and Goran Hadzic. Mladic is accused of
orchestrating the 1995 massacre in Srebrenica which killed 8,000
Muslims, while Hadzic is sought for the forcible removal and execution
of thousands of Croatians between 1991 and 1993. The tribunal is
scheduled to shut down in 2014. If the two are not caught by then,
local courts will handle their cases. Comment:
One of the conditions the EU set forth for Serbian integration into the
Union is full cooperation with the ICTY. Should the final two
fugitives be prosecuted, it would go a long way for Serbia's case to
join the EU. (Southeast European Times, Canadian Press, EMG)
RUSSIA: Russian soldiers kill 15 militants On
Wednesday, Russian security officers killed up to 15 suspected
militants is Daegestan. The operation highlights a recent uptick in
counter-terrorist activities in the area, and is said to be the biggest
success in the last month. Comment:
Last week, scores were killed in suicide blasts in the region. The
region is also close to Sochi, site of the 2014 Winter Olympics, giving
Moscow reason to be proactive in the region. (BBC, Reuters, ITAR-TASS)
RUSSIA: SCO concludes counter-terrorism drills A
counter-terror training exercise held by the Shanghai Cooperation
Organization concluded this week with President Medvedev declaring the
organization is key to development and stability of the region. The
goal of the organization is to fight extremism, separatism, and
organized crime and drug trafficking in the region. Comment:
President Medvedev also arrived in China on September 26 where he
stressed Chinese-Russian relations are a high priority. (ITAR-TASS, Xinhua, People's Daily)
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Middle East & North Africa IRAN / U.S.: Sanctions against Iran officials
On
September 29, U.S. President Obama ordered economic sanctions against
eight Iranian officials for alleged human rights abuses during the 2009
elections. This is the first time the U.S. has targeted Iran with
sanctions on human rights abuses. The executive order will freeze all
U.S. assets held by any of the eight Iranian officials and will deny
them visas to the U.S. Comment:
The 2009 election protests were the largest seen in Iran since the
Islamic Revolution of 1979. The Iranian government is accused of
suppressing the uprising through extra-judicial killings, torture, and
rape. (BBC, Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty, AFP, BBC)
ISRAEL: Israeli military seizes peaceful vessel
A
group of Jewish activists set sail on September 26 from northern Cyprus
in hopes of breaching Israel's blockade on the Gaza Strip. On September
28, Israel's military reported the vessel was peacefully seized.
However, the activists said they were treated harshly and some were
shocked with a taser gun. Five Israeli activists were released from
police custody on September 29 while others were deported. Comment:
Nine people on board a Turkish ship trying to reach the Gaza Strip were
killed by Israeli commandos earlier this year. Israel states that its
naval blockade prevents weapons from being smuggled to Hamas militants. (BBC, BBC, Al Jazeera) SYRIA: Reaching out to Israel
U.S.
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Syrian Foreign Minister Walid
al-Moallem met in New York on September 27 to discuss renewed
negotiations between Syria and Israel. The Syrian Foreign Minister
expressed willingness to restart negotiations only if Israel is
"committed to the conditions of the peace process" - the end to the
occupation of parts of the Golan Heights. Comment:
The U.S. is committed to a comprehensive peace in the Middle East, and
is now turning to Syria for help. However, the U.S. warned Syria against
taking destabilizing measures in Iraq or Lebanon, and discouraged
attempts to undermine the stability of either country. (Al Jazeera,Ynet News, AP)
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South Asia
INDIA: Court in India orders holy site "to be divided"A
court in India on Thursday stated that a holy site in the town on
Ayodhya, 350 miles east of New Delhi, should be divided between Hindus
and Muslims. The verdict ruled that Hindus will get control of the main
area of the disputed land and the rest of the area is to be divided
between Muslims and a Hindu sect. The Indian Government deployed 200,
00,000 security personnel in the run-up to the verdict in sensitive
areas near Ayodhya to prevent violence and made 10,000 preventive
arrests. Thousands of policemen were also deployed in major cities like
Mumbai and Hyderabad. In 1992, a 16th century mosque which stood on the
disputed land was torn down by Hindu extremists. Comment:
The destruction of the mosque in 1992 set off riots throughout the
country which killed more than 2,000 people making it the worst
religious violence seen in India since its Partition in 1947. Hindus
claim the land to be the birthplace of Lord Rama whereas the Muslims are
calling for the mosque to be rebuilt. (BBC, TOI, AP)PAKISTAN: NATO helicopter strikes inside Pakistan, kills three Pakistani border troops NATO
is Afghanistan admitted that its helicopter entered Pakistani territory
and fired on suspected militants. Three Pakistani border patrol troops
were killed and three more injured in the firing. NATO maintains that it
entered Pakistani airspace in self-defense after allegedly being fired
upon by armed individuals across the border. Pakistan closed the Torkham
crossing, a vital supply route for NATO, in protest of the incident and
called such violation as "unacceptable". Comment:
Analysts state that the incident will further complicate the already
fraught relations between the US and Pakistan. Moreover, there are
reports of a tacit agreement between the two countries on the drone
strikes, which have increased in the past months, in Pakistani
territory. Both sides have however denied such an agreement. The US has
had limited success in convincing Pakistan to do more to root out Afghan
Taliban and Al-Qaeda fighters from its territory. (BBC, CS Monitor, FT, NPR) SRI LANKA: Sri Lankan president endorses imprisonment for former army generalSri
Lankan President Rajapaksa on Thursday approved the two-and-half year
jail term for the former army head General Sarath Fonseka. The decision
endorses a verdict by a military tribunal on September 17 that found
Fonseka guilty of fraud in defense procurement deals. Under the
Constitution, Fonseka will lose his Parliamentary seat and cease to be a
lawmaker. The General is has denied all charges and is expected to
appeal the decision of the military tribunal in a civilian court. Comment:
Opposition parties have stated that charges against Fonseka are
politically motivated. Rajapaksa and Fonseka were both hailed as heroes
following the defeat of the Tamil rebels which ended the 25-year old
civil war. However, they fell out after Fonseka unsuccessfully contested
in the elections against the incumbent Rajapaksa. (AP, Reuters, BBC)
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