| International Peace & Security Institute |
|
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.
|
|
Featured Report
U.S. Department of State: Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2011  Secretary's PrefaceThe world changed immeasurably over the course of 2011. Across the Middle East, North Africa, and far beyond, citizens stood up to demand respect for human dignity, more promising economic opportunities, greater political liberties, and a say in their own future. Often they faced tremendous odds and endured violent responses from their governments. The resulting upheavals are still unfolding today in places like Syria, where the regime has brutalized its own people. In Burma, after years of repression, the government has taken preliminary steps to allow reforms to begin. This year's Country Reports on Human Rights Practices chronicle these dramatic changes and the stories of the people defending human rights in almost 200 countries around the world.
|
Africa
MALI: Tuareg-Islamist rebel unity in northern Mali collapses
Plans for the creation of an Islamic state in the north of Mali collapsed on Tuesday between Ansar Dine (Defenders of Faith) and the Tuareg rebel National Liberation Front of Azawad (FNLA) over fundamental ideological differences. The declaration of a separate state entity came this weekend after weeks of discussions between the two sides, initially agreeing to the creation of a joint Council of the Islamic State of Azawad. However, an impasse in the final statement forming one entity keeps the al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb-backed Ansar Dine and the secular FNLA from agreeing to a concrete plan. Comment: The March 22 coup by Captain Amadou Sanogo and a group of low-ranking officers that ousted the government in Bamako opened the way for the Tuaregs, Ansar Dine, and criminal groups to occupy the north. Over the weekend, the transitional government of Mali and the West African regional bloc swiftly rejected the notion of a separate northern state, with ECOWAS reaffirming its earlier threat to "take all necessary measures to keep Mali intact." There is on-going fear shared by regional and Western powers that a breakaway state in the north could potentially become a terrorist safe haven for al-Qaeda. (All Africa, Agence France Press, France 24, Middle East Online, News 24, rfi)
SIERRA LEONE: Former Liberian President Charles Taylor sentenced to 50 years in jail
On Wednesday, the Special Court for Sierra Leone in The Hague sentenced Liberian ex-president Charles Taylor (aged 64) to 50 years in prison for aiding and abetting war crimes during the 11-year civil war in Sierra Leone. The court rejected the prosecution's original petition for an 80-year imprisonment. Although Taylor had played a substantial role in secretly instigating conflict, the judges did not believe he had complete effective command and control over the rebel forces in Sierra Leone. He will serve out his sentence in a high security prison in the United Kingdom. Comment: Throughout the trial, Taylor pronounced his "deepest sympathy" for the victims of atrocities, and emphasized the fact that he never knowingly assisted in the commission of crimes. He is the first head of state to be convicted by an international court since the Nuremburg trials after WWII. The sentence is seen as a precedent for future trials; as presiding judge Richard Lussick emphasized, the world is "entering a new era of accountability." (Al Jazeera, All Africa, France 24, Reuters)
SUDAN: Withdrawal of Sudanese Troops from Abyei confirmed and contested
Despite conflicting sources, on Tuesday evening the UN widely welcomed the Sudanese Armed Forces troop withdrawal from the disputed oil-rich region of Abyei. Administrative control of the region was officially handed over to the 4,000-strong peacekeeping mission United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNIFSA), who additionally confirmed the withdrawal of Sudan's armed forces. The decision to pull the military out of Abyei comes as talks over the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement are set to resume in Addis Ababa between Khartoum and the South. Comment: On Wednesday, South Sudan accused the north of redeploying "additional" troops into the region instead of departing, inconsistent with UN reports. Abyei was seized by Sudanese forces over a year ago after one of its convoys was allegedly attacked by Southern forces. This pull-out follows South Sudan's own removal of about 700 police officers in early May from the region. These actions are seen as constructive steps towards tough negotiations over the future of the oil industry and a defined border for the Sudans. (All Africa, France 24, Reuters, Sudan Vision Daily, The Associated Press)
|
Americas
ARGENTINA: Progressive transgender measure passes in Senate
Argentina's new transgender measure passed late last week unanimously in the Senate. The law requires medical practitioners to provide free hormone therapy or gender reassignment surgery to those who seek treatment, including individuals under 18 years old. This measure allows the estimated 22,000 transgender people in Argentina to alter their gender on official documents without receiving psychiatric diagnosis or surgery, as well as use public services, stay in school, use medical facilities and find gainful employment, which are currently difficult endeavors without state identification documents. The measure does not solve all problems of discrimination in the largely Roman Catholic society, where transgender individuals are still vulnerable to discrimination and violence. President Kirchner is expected to sign the measure into law this month. Comment: Argentina was the first Latin American country to legalize gay marriage two years ago. This law accompanies other recent legal rulings that include the decriminalization of abortion in cases of rape and another that gives the terminally ill the right to choose to end their own lives. (New York Times, Buenos Aires Province Ministry of Health, AG Magazine, Global Voices)
HONDURAS: Protests against string of journalist murders
Protesters took to the streets in Tegucigalpa and other major cities on Honduras' Journalist Day in response to a string of murdered journalists, the most recent murder being Ángel Alfredo Villatoro on May 15. After being reported missing for six days, Villatoro was found shot twice in the head, blindfolded by a red cloth and dressed in an old uniform of the Cobras Squadron of the National Police with red socks. Protestors wore yellow hats and shirts to symbolize members of the press. The movement expressed frustration with police and other judicial officials' failures to ensure public safety. Comment: An estimated twenty journalists have died violently since 2009 in Honduras alone, and all of the murders remain unsolved. The Inter American Press Association identifies Honduras as one of the most dangerous places in the hemisphere to be a journalist. (La Prensa, Tiempo, La Prensa, BBC)
PERU: Protests trigger state of emergency
Protest escalation stemming from a continued two week strike over the Tintaya copper mine prompted authorities to declare a state of emergency for thirty days in Espinar. On Monday, local company offices were burned, workers kidnapped, four protesters killed, and 20 civilians and 76 police injured. Residents are demanding an investigation into and compensation for local environmental pollution as a result of mining operations by Xstrada. Tintaya is Peru's third-largest copper mine, producing 90,000 metric tons a year and is expected to expand by 1.47 billion USD by the end of August to increase capacity by 78 percent. The Minister of the Environment, Manuel Pulgar Vidal, called for a dialogue to create a participatory monitoring plan that considers the environmental impact of the region. Comment: Environmental protests in other areas of Peru have succeeded in halting mining projects for other multi-national companies, such as Newmont Mining Corp (NEM), Anglo American Plc (AAL), and Southern Copper Corp (SCCO). (Bloomberg, La Republica, Andina, Radio Nacional, Xstrata)
|
East Asia
CHINA: Protests follow violent death of factory worker
Over 1,000 migrant laborers rioted in the eastern Chinese province of Zhejiang in response to the violent death of a factory worker this week. 19-year-old Yang Zhi was reportedly engaged in a heated dispute with his employer over his wages when the confrontation between the men turned violent, ending with Yang's death. Coworkers took to the streets, protesting at a local government building and overturning cars as they demanded legal action against Yang's assailant. Police were eventually dispatched to disperse the crowd, and the violence ended shortly after Yang's family received nearly 300,000 Yuan in compensation. Comment: China's ruling Communist Party confronts thousands of incidents of civil unrest every year. These demonstrations are often interpreted by observers as a challenge to China's authoritarian leadership, though China has shown marked resilience in coping with them. (Reuters, BBC, Global Post, NY Times)
NORTH KOREA: Severe drought grips peninsula
North Korean state media confirmed Wednesday the country is experiencing the worst drought of the last five decades, raising concerns of possible food shortages. The international community has sporadically provided North Korea with food aid in return for concessions regarding its military policy and nuclear weapons program; however, diplomatic backlash from widely condemned missile tests last month weakened the prospects of future humanitarian assistance from the United States. Comment: The U.S. halted food aid to North Korea in 2009. A deal between North Korean and American officials would have resulted in a resumption of aid this year, but the U.S. terminated the agreement after North Korea's April rocket launch, which the U.S. asserts had military applications. (Asia Times, Guardian, CNN)
THAILAND: Myanmar opposition leader Suu Kyi in Mahachai
On Tuesday, opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi left Myanmar to visit a foreign country for the first time in over twenty years. Thousands of Burmese migrant workers, most of whom had left their country of origin seeking greater economic opportunity in neighboring Thailand, turned out in the Thai city of Mahachai to hear her speak optimistically about the political reform currently underway in Myanmar. Suu Kyi promised to advocate for them in Myanmar's new political process, stating that "history is always changing." Comment: Myanmar has been undergoing a cautious transition to democracy after decades of authoritarian rule. Suu Kyi, a Nobel Peace Prize recipient who had been placed under house arrest by the military regime for over 15 years, won a seat to the new legislature following an open election in April. (Washington Post, MSNBC, Al Jazeera)
|
| Europe & Central Asia
AZERBAIJAN: Alleged terrorist plot against Eurovision thwarted
On May 30, Azerbaijani officials announced security services disrupted a potential major terrorist attack on the Eurovision Song Contest. At least 40 people were arrested and police seized a weapons cache containing assault rifles, machine guns, hand grenades, and explosives. The suspects are allegedly part of an organization based out of the Caucasus and planned on attacking the Eurovision contest venue and major hotels housing foreigners. Comment: Azerbaijan has been the target of terrorist activities by groups with ties to both al-Qaeda and Iran, and the Ministry of National Security announced it had apprehended approximately 20 terrorists in an operation in early April. According to the BBC, there has been no independent confirmation of the plot. The competition was the largest cultural event in the country since the fall of the Soviet Union, attracting more than 100 million viewers worldwide. (RFE/RL, BBC, Al Jazeera)
DENMARK: Two arrested for planning terrorist attacks
Two Danish brothers of Somali origin were arrested on May 28 on charges of conspiracy to commit a terrorist act. Danish intelligence services allege the brothers were in the preparation stage, discussing possible targets, methods, and weapons to use. One of the men is believed to have received training from al-Shabaab in Somalia. Comment: Currently, the suspects face charges of possessing illegal firearms while the government builds its case to try them for conspiracy to commit a terrorist act. Authorities announced that they do not believe a terrorist attack was imminent, although found it necessary to intervene. Danish intelligence arrested three men on similar charges one month earlier. Denmark has been a potential target of Islamist groups since a Danish newspaper published political cartoons of the prophet Mohammed. (AP, Copenhagen Post, CNN)
FRANCE: ETA commander arrested
In a joint operation, French and Spanish authorities arrested suspected Basque separatist leader Oroitz Gurruchaga Gogorza in southewestern France on June 1. Gogorza was traveling with an alleged deputy, and was traveling in a stolen car with fake license plates at the time of his arrest. Authorities suspect the two were in the area to help recruit new members to join ETA. Comment: In October 2011, ETA announced an indefinite ceasefire, however the group has yet to relinquish its weapons. The group is responsible for approximately 850 killings in the last 50 years; nearly 400 of its senior members have been arrested since 2008. (CNN, Reuters, AFP/DPA)
Researched/Written by Daniel Pechtol
|
Middle East & North Africa
EGYPT: Pending presidential runoff election sparks protests
On Monday, roughly 2,000 protesters gathered in Tahrir Square to demonstrate discontent with the alleged injustice of Egypt's first democratic presidential election. A pending runoff election between the Muslim Brotherhood's Mohamed Morsi and Hosni Mubarak's last Prime Minister Ahmed Shafiq is set for June 16-17. Election Commission Chief Faruq Sultan stated that seven appeals filed by other presidential candidates were rejected, since supposed electoral irregularities did not affect the outcome of the final vote. Unidentified assailants set fire to the headquarters of presidential candidate Shafiq. Comment: Reactions to the pending runoff election indicate a dramatic rift between the political poles. Protester Ahmed Bassiouni in Tahrir Square stated, "The choice can't be between a religious state and an autocratic state. Then we have done nothing." On June 11, Egypt's Supreme Constitutional Court is expected to determine the constitutional validity of the Political Isolation Law. If this is passed, senior officials from Mubarak's government will be prohibited from running for office. (Egypt Independent, Al Jazeera, UPI)
IRAN: Virus 'Flame' detected in Iran, new wave of cyber espionage
On Tuesday, a complex and dangerous computer virus labeled "Flame" was detected in Iran and other areas in the Middle East, prompting UN agency International Telecommunications Union to release a serious cyber warning against possible critical infrastructure attacks. Russian based anti-virus firm Kaspersky discovered the espionage malware, which has been infiltrating computers for at least two years. The complexity, widespread geographic infiltration, and behavior of the virus indicate it was designed by multiple programmers in the interest of a nation-state; Iran accused Israel and the U.S. for developing and unleashing the virus. Comment: Computer Expert Roel Schouwenberg claims that those who designed Flame also created the virus Stuxnet, which is believed to have been developed by Israel and the U.S. to sabotage Iranian nuclear centrifuges. (CNN, AP, Al Jazeera, Reuters)
SYRIA: Massacre in Houla sparks international condemnation, 108 killed
On May 25, according to local activists and witnesses in Houla, a two-phased attack consisting of Syrian government artillery fire followed by door-to-door operations, killed roughly 108 people, including 49 children. The UN human rights office reports that most of the victims were shot at close range, with fewer than 20 killed by artillery fire. Witnesses claim the pro-government militia known as Shabiha, who reportedly work at times in concert with Assad government forces, were responsible for the attack. The Syrian government maintains that armed "terrorist groups," their term for rebels, carried out the killings. Comment: The massacre in Houla sparked international outrage, provoking many countries to expel Syrian ambassadors and diplomats in protest. Late Tuesday, UN observers found 13 bodies in the Assukar area with evidence indicating some were shot in the head from close range. This past Thursday, activist groups reported that government forces recommenced shelling the area of Houla. Kofi Annan, the joint UN-Arab league envoy, while meeting in Damascus on Monday to reestablish his six-point peace plan, said that the Syrian conflict has now reached a "tipping point." (Reuters, CNN, AP, Al Jazeera)
|
South Asia
AFGHANISTAN: NATO kills senior al-Qaeda leader in Kunar province
On Tuesday, a NATO spokesperson stated that Sakhar Al-Taifi, al-Qaeda's second-in-command, was killed in a precision air strike in Afghanistan's Kunar province, close to the Pakistan border. Al-Taifi had commanded foreign insurgent groups in the area and organized attacks against NATO and the Afghan National Army. He was responsible for supplying weapons and transporting insurgents across borders. Comment: Documents found in Osama bin Laden's compound after the raid that resulted in his death contained letters in which he advised other members to use Kunar province as a base of operations due to its rough terrain. Kunar is known for being a safe haven for other local and regional insurgent groups. (Al Jazeera, Hindustan Times, BBC)
NEPAL: Prime Minister calls for elections in November
On Monday, Nepal's Constituent Assembly, which was elected in 2008 after a decade long civil war and charged with writing a new constitution, failed to resolve disagreements over the creation of federal states in the country. Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai has stated that the Constituent Assembly will be disbanded and replaced by a caretaker government until another assembly is picked in the November 22 elections. Opposition groups stated that they will not support a Bhattarai-led caretaker government and are demanding his resignation. Comment: The failure to create a new inclusive constitution is a major set-back to stability in post-conflict Nepal. A new constitution was an important part of the peace deal with the Maoist insurgents who wanted to create up to 14 different ethnic states. The issue of creating federal states has divided the multi-ethnic country and may be the impetus for renewed violence. (BBC, Al Jazeera, New York Times)
PAKISTAN: Shakil Afridi arrested over alleged ties with militant group
Dr. Shakil Afridi was tried last week in a closed-door tribal court system and sentenced to 33 years in prison for working with U.S. intelligence officials to set-up a fake vaccination program that helped locate Osama bin Laden. On Wednesday, however, court documents revealed to the media indicated that Dr. Afridi was sentenced for anti-state activities, allegedly for providing medical care to militant group Lashkar-e-Islam. Comment: On Thursday morning, Lashkar-e-Islam issued a statement claiming that they do not have any ties with Dr. Afridi and, in fact, want to kill him. Lashkar-e-Islam demanded he pay two million rupees in compensation to tribesmen in the Khyber province for alleged malpractice. Dr. Afridi's case has caused further friction between the U.S. and Pakistan. Last week, a U.S Senate panel cut 33 million USD (1 million USD for every year of Afridi's sentence) of foreign aid to Pakistan in response to his arrest and trial. (DAWN, BBC, Al Jazeera, Reuters, International Herald Tribune)
Researched/Written by Nishat Jafreen
|
|
|
|
|
IPSI Leadership
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 About Us >> ___________________ |
|
