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PEACE & SECURITY REPORT
IPSI's Peace & Security Report (PSR) is a concise weekly e-publication intended to brief busy students, academics, advocates, and practitioners in the conflict management community 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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The 4th edition of the UN World Water Development Report (WWDR4) 



The 4th edition of the World Water Development Report (WWDR4), 'Managing Water under Uncertainty and Risk' was launched on the first day of the World Water Forum, in Marseille.

About
The WWDR4 aims to encourage all stakeholders both in and out of the 'water box' - water managers, leaders in government, civil society and businesses - to engage early in decision making processes to improve the quality and acceptance of decisions and the probability of successful implementation. It highlights that more responsible action by all water users has enormous potential to lead to better outcomes - but requires political, social, economic and technical responses at all levels of government, businesses and communities, from local to international.

What's new
In the World Water Development Report (WWDR) series, the WWDR4 represents a milestone. While providing a comprehensive assessment of the world's water resources it also introduces a strong thematic element. Building on the WWDR3 in the recognition of the externalities, the WWDR4 elaborates on the interactions between water and the drivers of change. The WWDR4 describes the major changes, uncertainties, and risks taking place in the world and their links to water resources. It gives account of the status and the trends related to water supplies, uses, management, institutions and financing; highlights regional hotspots, and addresses issues such as gender equality, water-related disasters, health and the role of ecosystems.

DOWNLOAD THE 4TH EDITION OF THE WORLD WATER DEVELOPMENT REPORT

Volume 1: Managing Water under Uncertainty and Risk

Volume 2: Knowledge Base

Volume 3: Facing the Challenges
Africa
ETHIOPIA: Government attacks rebel base in Eritrea
On March 17, the Ethiopian government carried out attacks on three suspected Ethiopian rebel military bases inside neighboring Eritrea. The attacks came a day after Eritrea called for UN action over a similar incursion earlier last week in Badme. The attacks were the first on Eritrean soil that Ethiopia has admitted to since the end of the 1998-2000 war that killed 70,000 people. Eritrea's Information Minister Ali Abdu has said his country will not be drawn into renewed hostilities. Ethiopia blames the rebels for killing five foreign tourists and kidnapping two others in its northern Afar region in January. Comment: Conflict over the delineation of Eritrea and Ethiopia's shared border has not been resolved since the end of the war. In 2002, the Hague-based Eritrea-Ethiopia Boundary Commission ruled that the border village of Badme belonged to Eritrea; the village remains under Ethiopian control, and Eritrea blames the international community and the UN for not enforcing the Boundary Commission ruling. (al Jazeera, Reuters AlertNet, Daily Ethiopia)

MALI: Soldiers attack presidential palace
On Wednesday, soldiers attacked Mali's presidential palace in Bamako in a successful coup attempt, marking a dramatic escalation of the protests over the president's handling of the northern Taureg insurgency. The mutinying soldiers also gained control of state-run radio and television in Bamako and forced them off the air. The soldiers believe that President Amadou Toumani Toure has not adequately armed the army, resulting in the loss of key garrisons in the north. Armored vehicles moved in to seal off the presidential palace, and soldiers loyal to the government exchanged gunfire with the renegade troops. On Thursday, a group of 20 soldiers announced on national television that Mali's constitution was suspended and its institutions were dissolved. The nation is now under the control of the military's National Committee for the Reestablishment of Democracy and the Restoration of the State, or CNRDR. Comment: Tuareg separatists seeking an independent homeland in Mali's northern region have advanced in recent weeks, seizing the key garrison town of Tessalit near the Algerian border. Returning heavily armed Tuareg fighters who fought alongside forces loyal to Muammar Gaddafi last year have strengthened the rebel movement. (All Africa, al Jazeera, Reuters, BBC, AP)

NIGERIA: Militant group ends talks with government
On Tuesday, Boko Haram spokesman Abu Qaqa in Maiduguri announced the group had "closed all possible doors of negotiation" with the national government. The negotiations were aiming to end the spate of attacks by Boko Haram that have killed hundreds, mostly in the majority Muslim north. This follows a similar move on Saturday by Dr. Datti Ahmed, president of the Supreme Council for Sharia in Nigeria, stating he was pulling out of negotiations because of alleged governmental insincerity. Boko Haram has claimed responsibility for deadly attacks in the northern region, including suicide bombings in Abuja, Jos, Maiduguri, Madalla and Kano. Comment: The group's stated goal is to dismantle the current government and establish Islamic Sharia law across the country split equally between Christians and Muslims; however, observers say recent arrests and deaths of senior figures have weakened the group. (All Africa, al Jazeera, Vanguard)

UGANDA: Video launched to counter online campaign
On March 17, Ugandan Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi launched an online response to the Kony 2012 viral campaign by a California-based non-profit organization, Invisible Children. The viral campaign calls for the arrest of Joseph Kony, leader of the Lord's Resistance Army, and it reached 100 million views in 6 days. In the response video, launched on Saturday and posted on YouTube, Mbabazi said he wanted to correct the "well intentioned" video, pointing out that "Joseph Kony is not in Uganda," and that the country was "not in conflict." Comment: Critics of Invisible Children have questioned its practices as an organization, and accuse it of not telling the whole story of the 20-year conflict in north and eastern Uganda. Prime Minister Mbabazi through the social networking site Twitter has urged people to come to Uganda and see the situation for themselves. (al Jazeera, France 24, All Africa)
 
Researched/Written by James Asuquo-Brown III
Americas
BRAZIL: Oil executives "barred" from leaving, face criminal charges
Last Friday, a Brazilian judge ordered 17 executives from American-based petroleum companies Chevron and Transocean to surrender their passports. Judge Vlamir Costa Magalh�es also granted a request from Brazilian prosecutors to have the executives detained as they await potential criminal charges for a November oil spill off the coast of Rio de Janeiro, which emitted an estimated 3,000 barrels of oil from cracks in the seafloor. Each individual could face up to 20 years in prison if found guilty. On Friday, the Brazilian Navy and Chevron also discovered oil surfacing near the Frade oil site. Chevron ceased production activities at the site and stated it will begin studies on the oil reservoirs in the region. Comment: Chevron has not issued a formal response to the charges, yet described responses to the November spill as an "overreaction." In December, Brazilian prosecutors filed a civil suit against Chevron for 20 billion reals, USD 11.2 billion, for damages incurred after the oil spill. The corporation is currently the largest foreign oil operator in Brazil. Brazil plans on becoming the fifth largest oil producer in the world by 2020; there is an estimated 50 billion barrels of offshore oil. (al Jazeera, NYTimes, CNN) 
 
COLOMBIA: FARC guerillas killed by Colombian troops 
On Wednesday, the Colombian government announced the deaths of 33 members of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and the capture of one member of the organization. Defense Minister Juan Carlos Pinzon called the deaths "one of the greatest blows in the last five years" against the guerilla group. The targeted deaths of FARC members were a direct response to the killing of 11 Colombian soldiers in the region of Arauca the previous weekend. FARC announced it will release 10 remaining government hostages on Monday. Comment: Under the Santos Administration, the Colombian government initiated new operations targeting armed and financial units of FARC rather than the group's leadership; previous tactics employed by the Colombian government focused on killing FARC's leadership, not disabling its infrastructure. FARC formed in the 1960s and has mostly sustained itself through drug trafficking and ransom monies. In December a hostage release was planned, but later postponed because of "alleged militarization" of FARC areas by government forces. (NYTimes, CNN, Latin American Herald Tribune) 
 
CUBA: "Ladies in White" released prior to papal visit 
On Monday, Cuban authorities released members of Ladies in White, Damas en Blanco, an advocacy group dedicated to the release of "all political prisoners" detained by the Cuban government. Thirty-six members of the group were arrested on Sunday en route to mass, 22 after the service, and 19 on Saturday while attempting to stage a march in Havana to commemorate "the ninth anniversary of the jailing of 75 political dissidents" in 2003. All detained members were released without formal charges being filed. The release comes a week prior to Pope Benedict XVI's anticipated visit to the island, during which the Pope is expected to discuss human rights issues in Cuba. Comment: Ladies in White formed nine years ago by family members of political dissidents and is deemed by the Cuban government as a counter-revolutionary force funded by the United States. Members attend weekly mass together and stage protests following the service. The Ladies in White received the Human Rights Defender Award from the U.S. for their efforts. (BBC, BBC, Latin American Herald Tribune) 
 
Researched/Written by  Melissa Mahfouz
East Asia
CAMBODIA: UN judge quits Khmer Rouge Tribunal
On March 19, Swiss judge Laurent Kasper-Ansermet announced he was leaving the UN backed tribunal because he believes his Cambodian counterpart, You Bunleng, has dodged attempts to investigate former members of the 1970s Khmer Rouge regime. Kasper-Ansermet was the second judge to resign; German judge Siegfried Blunk quit in October citing similar claims of government interference in the high profile cases. Comment: Critics and observers have claimed that the current government is hesitant to have further figures of the Khmer Rouge regime investigated, as several members of the former group have seats in parliament. Under the Khmer Rouge's four-year rule (1975-1979) two million Cambodians are believed to have died from starvation, overwork, or execution. (Bangkok Post, EuroNews, BBC)

MYANMAR: Foreign observers invited to monitor upcoming election
On March 21, Myanmar announced that they would invite the United States, European Union, and ASEAN countries to send observers to its April 1 by-elections to fill 48 parliamentary seats vacated over the past year; the Myanmar parliament has more than 600 seats overall. Some analysts believe that these invitations are to boost the Southeast Asian country's image as being committed to democratic reform and an attempt to gain international legitimacy, especially from the west. Comment: The 2010 election, which bought the Army's political allies to power, was compromised by widespread complaints of fraud and intimidation. (BBC , al Jazeera , WSJ)

SOUTH KOREA: Obama to visit demilitarized zone
President Barack Obama is set to visit the demilitarized zone for the first time on Sunday that separates the North from the South. His visit to the heavily secured border is part of a three-day trip to South Korea for a summit meeting in Seoul about nuclear security. Obama will also visit some of the 28,500 U.S. troops stationed in South Korea. Comment: This visit comes just as the U.S., South Korea, and Japan expressed dismay over North Korea's plan to put a satellite into orbit on a rocket. All three countries are concerned that the satellite launch is an attempt to develop a nuclear-armed missile; the United States has warned the move would jeopardize a food-aid agreement reached with Pyongyang earlier this month. (GP, Independent, CNN)
 

Researched/Written by Jared Bell

Europe & Central Asia
FRANCE: Gunman killed after seven-person shooting spree
After a 32-hour siege, police stormed Mohamed Merah's Toulouse apartment early Thursday morning, shooting and killing the 23-year-old. Merah is suspected of killing three French soldiers of Arab descent and four Jewish civilians in the Toulouse region over the past week and a half. Three of those killed were young children at a Jewish school. Comment: Merah allegedly carried out the killing spree in order to "avenge Palestinian children, and attack the French army because of its foreign interventions." The killings have prompted questions about how race relations in France will be affected, as well as what effect the incident will have on the upcoming presidential elections. (France 24, Deutsche Welle, BBC)

MOLDOVA: President elected after more than three years without head of state
Following over three years of political deadlock, the Moldovan Parliament elected Nicolae Timofti president on March 16. Timofti, a judge without an affiliation with any particular political party, was put forward as candidate for the post by the pro-Western alliance that currently holds the majority in Moldova's parliament. The newly elected president favors Moldova moving closer to Europe through democratic and economic reforms. Comment: The Moldovan Parliament had been unable to come to a consensus in the past three years since former president Vladimir Voronin of the Communist Party left office in 2009. The Communist Party staged peaceful protests in Chisinau following the election. (RFE/RL, BBC, Washington Post, Moscow Times)

RUSSIA: Oppositionist protesters detained at TV station
More than 100 protesters were detained on Sunday at a rally staged by opposition activists at the Ostankino television tower in Moscow. The demonstrators were gathered in protest of the airing of the documentary "Protests Anatomy," which details the opposition protests against the results of the December parliamentary elections and against president-elect Putin. The oppositionist leaders denounced the documentary as anti-opposition propaganda that shows protesters getting paid to demonstrate. Comment: State-owned NTV, which aired the documentary last week, has, along with other state-controlled media, long been accused of slandering the political opposition. Many Russians, however, consider NTV to have overstepped its bounds by targeting ordinary citizens. (RFE/RL, Ria Novosti, Washington Post)

Researched/Written by Kate Elci

Middle East & North Africa
EGYPT: Coptic Pope Shenouda III dies at age 88
Coptic Orthodox Pope Shenouda III died on Saturday at the age of 88 and was buried on Tuesday at Wadi al-Natroun, a fourth-century monastery located in Beheira province in the northwest Nile Delta. Tens of thousands attended the funeral procession at St. Mark's Cathedral in Cairo, including senior figures in the Egyptian Security Council of the Armed Forces, Egypt's military transitional government. Bishop Pachomious of the Nile Delta province of Beheira took over papal duties for two months until a council of senior clergy meet to choose a new pope, state television said. Comment: Named Pope of Alexandria in 1971, Shenouda led the Copts, estimated at 10 percent of Egypt's population of 85 million, for four decades. He was hailed by both Egyptian Copts and Muslims as being an advocate of religious tolerance. The SCAF Chairman, Field Marshal Mohamed Hussein Tantawi, declared Tuesday a day of national mourning and Egypt's military rulers expressed the hope on their Facebook page that his wish of "preserving the unity of Egypt and the unity of its social fabric" would be achieved. (BBC, Egyptian Gazette, al Jazeera)

IRAQ: Shia protest unfair living standards, 46 die in string of al-Qaeda attacks
Up to a million followers of Iraqi cleric Moqtada al-Sadr took to the streets on Monday in the southern city of Basra marking the anniversary of the 2003 U.S. invasion of Iraq and attacking Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki for his record on jobs, public services, and corruption. On Tuesday, extremist groups struck eight cities in just under six hours, killing 46 people and wounding 200. Among the targets were Shia pilgrims in the holy city of Karbala, police headquarters in Kirkuk, and security forces and government officials in Baghdad. The Islamic State of Iraq, al-Qaeda's Iraqi arm, has claimed responsibility in a statement posted on a website on Wednesday which hailed the bombers as "Sunni lions." Comment: Both the protests and attacks targeted the upcoming March 27-29 Arab League summit, the first in Iraq in more than 20 years and the first ever hosted by a mainstream Shi'ite Arab ruler. The Iraqi government vowed not to be scared off from hosting the summit to prove it is moving toward normalcy after years of war. (Reuters, BBC, al Jazeera)

SYRIA: UN Security Council backs Syria Peace Plan
The UN Security Council on Wednesday endorsed Kofi Annan's diplomatic plan to stop violence in Syria, open the door to humanitarian relief, and prod the Syrian government and opposition into talks on a political settlement. A nonbinding statement, approved by the 15 Council members and read at a formal meeting spells out Annan's six proposals which include a cease-fire first by the Syrian government, a daily two-hour halt to fighting to evacuate the injured and provide humanitarian aid, and inclusive Syrian-led political talks "to address the legitimate concerns of the Syrian people." In an attempt to appease China and Russia, which have vetoed past attempts at condemnation of the Assad regime, the plan sets no specific timetable for a political transition and does not threaten specific measures against Syria if the regime fails to comply with the Annan plan. The decision is non-binding and falls short of a formal resolution, although western and Arab League governments have expressed hope that it will pressure Assad into negotiations. Comment: Annan met with Assad on Saturday and Sunday, and has sent a team to Damascus to discuss implementation of his proposal. The Security Council's decision came as government forces shelled Harasta and Arbeen, two Damascus suburbs. The UN estimates that 8,000 have died in the conflict, although numbers are hard to verify due to Syria's control of media outlets within the country. (BBC, CBS, Washington Post) 

Researched/Written by Colleen Michelle Rossmiller 

South Asia
AFGHANISTAN: U.S. troops will maintain presence until 2014
General John R. Allen, U.S. Commander for operations in Afghanistan, held a press conference in front of Afghan legislators on Tuesday, remarking on the effects of Army Sergeant Robert Bales's shooting spree that left 16 Afghan civilians dead. "I believe the campaign is on track," said Allen, ensuring that the March 11 shooting incident will not affect the U.S. timetable for the war in Afghanistan. The current timetable for U.S. troops in Afghanistan maintains a military presence until 2014, with a reduction of 23,000 "surge troops" this September. Afghan President Hamid Karzai asked President Obama last week to remove all U.S. troops from Afghan villages, which would effectively restrain troops to military bases. President Karzai, as well as the Taliban, has also criticized the U.S. investigation into the incident, which claims Bales acted alone in the shootings. Comment: Robert Bales, who was charged today with 17 counts of murder, is currently in custody at Fort Leavenworth in Kansas. Bales's lawyer, John Henry Brown, plans to travel to Afghanistan to collect evidence himself after questioning how the government will prove Bales guilty, since "there's no forensic evidence [or] confessions." (AP, Al Jazeera, NYTimes, Guardian, Washington Post)

PAKISTAN: Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline emphasizes strain in U.S.-Pakistani relations
Pakistani Defense Minister Chaudhry Ahmed Mukhtar voiced support for a joint Iranian-Pakistani gas pipeline, despite impending Western sanctions against Iranian oil. "We are trying to complete the project as early as possible," he said, adding that Pakistan has "very strong relations with Iran." Political leaders across Pakistan, including Baluchistan Governor Nawad Zulfiqar Ali Magsi, bolstered support for the project, dismissing U.S. criticism. The pipeline, which could cost up to USD 1.5 billion, was initially to be financed by the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC), but ICBC recently revoked their interest in providing assistance to the project. Pakistani Petroleum Secretary Ijaz Chaudhry on Tuesday mentioned that Gazprom, a Russian Energy supplier, would be visiting Pakistan in the near future to consider fully financing the pipeline. Comment: A recent Pakistani parliamentary review of relations with the U.S. concluded that the U.S. must extend an "unconditional apology" for its drone campaign in order for Pakistan to restore functioning diplomatic ties. (NYTimes, The Tribune, Dawn)

SRI LANKA: UN proposal could reopen investigation into human rights violations
Demonstrations in Colombo this past week focused on a U.S.-led proposal that would allow the UN to reopen an investigation on human rights violations committed during Sri Lanka's civil war. Sri Lankan President Rajapaksa supported an investigation into human rights violations in 2009 - a government initiative called the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) - which concluded that the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) were largely responsible for the civilian deaths in question. Many international human rights activists have voiced support for the new resolution, echoing Human Rights Watch Geneva director Julie De Rivero's statement that the resolution "sends a strong signal to Sri Lanka ... to hold those responsible for abuses on both sides." Comment: The civil war, which lasted from 1983 until 2009 and left over 40,000 civilians dead in its final two years, ended the Tamil rebels' quest for a separate state on the island of Ceylon. Indian Minister of State for External Affairs Praneet Kaur confirmed India's support for the UN proposal, emphasizing the need for "genuine reconciliation" in Sri Lanka. (AFP, The National, WSJ)

Researched/Written by Tarek J. Nasser

March 23, 2012
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In This Issue
Featured Article
Africa
Americas
East Asia
Europe & Central Asia
Middle East & N. Africa
South Asia
IPSI News 
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IPSI Ruth Wedgwood
Ruth Wedgwood, IPSI Advisor, states that the "Arab Spring won't last unless there's Persian Spring."  Read Speech >>

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IPSI News 
IPSI Ruth Wedgwood
Betty Bigombe, IPSI Advisor and State Minister for Water in Uganda, says that Uganda may not achieve the MDG of 89 percent access to clean water by 2015.  
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Cameron M. Chisholm

Dr. I. William Zartman 
Dr. P. Terrence Hopmann 
Alexander Little 
George Foote
Pamela Aall 
Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah
Betty Bigombe 

Dr. Francis Deng
Jan Eliasson
Gareth Evans 
Dr. Ted Robert Gurr
Amb. Jacques Paul Klein
Peter Kyle 
Dr. Jean Paul Lederach
Jeffrey Mapendere
John Marks 
Susan Collin Marks 
Dr. Joyce Neu

Dr. Valerie Rosoux 
William Stuebner 
Dr. Ruth Wedgwood

Dr. Craig Zelizer

 

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