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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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| Featured Article
Innovation in Policy: Allowing for creativity, social complexity and uncertainty in public governance
Nesta
 Today's global financial and social crises demand innovation not only in public services, but within the whole bureaucratic, administrative system of public governance. In order to respond effectively to a changing context of complexity and uncertainty, governments and other public service organisations need to consider innovating the processes and practices of public policy itself. There is a consistent need for actively bringing creative processes into policymaking and focusing more on creating valuable outcomes for citizens than only on projected and programmed outputs. Yet innovation introduces a different way of knowing (or not knowing), exploring and planning into governance which create tensions with the status quo.
This paper aims to frame discussion between policymakers, researchers and practitioners around the dilemmas and challenges involved in developing policymaking practices that can respond productively to the current crisis, state of uncertainty and wicked character of public problems. This creates the need for exploring and establishing new principles of decision making inspired by digital technology, social sciences, scientific experimentation and the creative arts in order to frame different possibilities and expectations of what governments can and should achieve.
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East & South Africa
MALAWI: Anti-gay laws suspended
On Monday, Justice Minister Ralph Kasambara announced that laws against same sex relationships will be suspended as parliament debates repealing the laws entirely. Malawi is one of the 37 African states that ban homosexuality, a crime that currently demands a prison sentence of up to 14 years. Kasambara states "if we continue arresting and prosecuting people based on the said laws and later such laws are found to be unconstitutional it would be an embarrassment to government." President Joyce Banda supports the suspension because decriminalization of same sex marriages could reduce the spread of HIV and AIDS. Amnesty International hails this announcement as a historic step forward. Comment: Decriminalizing same sex relationships first became a possibility in Malawi following international outcry over the arrest of two men in 2009 who wanted to get married. After this incident, many international donors withdrew their support from Malawi. Reactions to Monday's announcement have been very mixed in Malawi, but Gift Trapence, director of the Centre for the Development of People in Malawi, says "this is a good stepping stone but we want a total repeal of the sodomy laws for Malawi to align itself with international human rights standards." (The Guardian, Reuters, BBC)
SOMALIA: Suicide bombing at Mogadishu restaurant
Two individuals strapped explosives to their bodies and detonated just outside of the Sports Coffee restaurant in Mogadishu on Saturday, injuring ten people. The suicide bombers and the security guard who prevented the two bombers from entering the restaurant died in the explosion. Al Shabaab has not claimed responsibility, but they have been responsible for similar attacks in the past, including one on The Village Restaurant in September, where 18 people were killed. These attacks illustrate that the militant group is still capable of attacking the capital, despite being driven out late last year. Saturday's attack took place five kilometers from the presidential palace. Comment: Both The Village and Sports Coffee restaurants are owned by Ahmed Jama, a Somali who recently returned from London after training as a chef. Sports Coffee is a popular location for Somalis like Jama, who have recently returned from abroad due to the possibility of improved living conditions in Somalia. (All Africa, Reuters, AFP)
SOUTH SUDAN: UN human rights official expelled
A human rights official who was assessing the human rights situation in South Sudan was expelled last weekend by the state following accusations that she was producing inaccurate and unjustified reports. Government spokesman Barnaba Marial Benjamin stated the official was "reporting on human rights issues that she could not verify and has been publishing without justifications. This is unethical." Previous reports documented violence by the South Sudan Army and other security forces towards civilians since South Sudan gained independence, although the government has played down the scale of the incidents. Benjamin asserts that South Sudan stresses the importance of human rights through its constitution. Comment: UN officials such as Hilde Johnson of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan condemned the expulsion, claiming it is a "breach of the legal obligations of the Government of the Republic of South Sudan under the Charter of the United Nations." This is not the first time that the government of South Sudan is at odds with UN human rights investigators, as the former head of the human rights division of the UN in South Sudan was badly beaten in August 2011 by ten South Sudanese police officers. (All Africa, Al Jazeera, BBC)
Researched/Written by Sean Barrett
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West & Central Africa
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO: Rwandan forces kill Congolese soldiers
On November 3, two Congolese soldiers were killed in a shootout with Rwanda Defense Forces (RDF) after they allegedly entered Rwanda illegally; both parties dispute which forces opened fire first. Rwanda accused the DRC's armed forces of provocation, allegedly crossing the border to carry out a reconnaissance mission; however, a Congolese spokesman said the event was an isolated incident and occurred when soldiers crossed the border to buy beer. Comment: International donors have cut aid to Rwanda over UN allegations that it gives weapons and funds to M23 rebels in eastern DRC. Rwanda denies backing the rebels, but is widely seen as having supported armed groups in eastern DRC as a way of tackling Hutu fighters who fled there after the 1994 genocide. Both Rwanda and the M23 rebels, now known as the Congolese Revolutionary Army, are led by ethnic Tutsis. (Afrique en Ligne, BBC, AllAfrica, AFP)
MALI: Mali militants in Burkina Faso for talks
On November 2, one of the militant Islamist groups controlling northern Mali, Ansar Dine, sent delegations to Algeria and Burkina Faso to hold peace talks. Spokesman Sanad Ould Bouamama stressed that the negotiations were aimed at reaching clear-cut solutions that would grant the residents of the self-declared, internationally unrecognized Azawad region in northern Mali, all their rights. The delegation met with Burkinabé President Blaise Compaore, who is the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)-appointed mediator in the Malian crisis. Comment: On Tuesday, in the Burkinabé capital, Ouagadougou, Ansar Dine representatives declared that they would allow free passage to anyone in its territory wanting to deliver humanitarian aid. The group called for other fighters to join them in political dialogue, as military chiefs plot strategies to expel the extremists using force. (Al-Arabiya, Al-Monitor, AFP, BBC, AFP)
NIGERIA: Police arrest Biafra protestors
On Monday, Nigerian police arrested 101 alleged members of a secessionist movement based in the country's southeast. During the rally held at a football field in Mbanugo area of Coal Camp, Enugu, members of the Biafran Zionist Movement (BZN) wore vests bearing Biafra inscriptions and carried the flags of the Biafra, United States, and Israel as they sang pro-Biafra songs. BZN leader Benjamin Onwuka said the life and property of the Biafran people were no longer safe and guaranteed in Nigeria, hence their resolve to re-declare their independence effective November 5, 2012. Comment: In 1967, residents of southeastern Nigeria seceded from the country to form the nation of Biafra following massacres of Igbo people, who dominate the region. The 1967-1970 civil war that followed saw more than one million people die, many from starvation and disease. Since the war ended, sporadic attempts have been made to revive the Biafra movement, leading to arrests. (AllAfrica, Vanguard Nigeria, BBC)
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Americas
COLOMBIA: Bomb explodes during Halloween celebration
Last Wednesday, two were killed and 37 were injured after a bomb exploded near Pradera's town center where about 5,000 children gathered to celebrate Halloween. Seven children were hospitalized for serious injuries. The two deaths were likely the bombers, who were transporting a suitcase bomb on a bicycle when the bomb prematurely exploded. They are suspected drug traffickers affiliated with FARC who has significant influence in the region. Police suspect the bomb was intended for the local police station. Comment: Security forces are frequently attacked, and FARC advocates for a military withdrawal from the area in exchange for negotiations for a prisoner swap. Previous governments refused to negotiate, but this issue may be discussed in the current negotiations between FARC and the government in Oslo, Norway. (AP, BBC, Colombia Reports)
GUATEMALA: Earthquakes kills 48
On Wednesday, a 7.4 magnitude earthquake took place off the coast of Guatemala leaving 48 individuals dead after becoming trapped under rubble from a collapsed building. One of the deaths is an unidentified tourist, and 100 individuals are still unaccounted for. The earthquake also provoked landslides throughout the country, which shut down several roads. Comment: This earthquake was the strongest to hit Guatemala since the 7.5 magnitude earthquake in 1976, which claimed the lives of over 20,000 individuals. Smaller earthquakes occur frequently in Guatemala, often causing landslides. (BBC, AP, Reuters, Guatemala Times, Al Jazeera)
NICARAGUA: 1 in 5 voters denied right to vote
On Sunday, municipal elections took place in Nicaragua leading to the election of 134 Sandinista candidates out of 159 mayoral candidates. According to election watchdog groups, 20 percent of voters were turned away from the polls after their names were omitted from the voter registry. Following the election, the opposition Independent Liberal Party (PLI) accused the Sandinista party of rigging the election and post-election violence broke out throughout the country leading to the deaths of three protestors. Comment: The Sandinista party came to power in 1979 after toppling the corrupt dictator, Anastasio Somoza Debayle. The party was challenged by the U.S. backed Contra rebels in the 1980s, but has steadily gained control over municipal governments over the past decade. (BBC, AFP, AP, Nicaragua Dispatch)
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East Asia
LAOS: Groundbreaking ceremony held for dam
On November 7, Laos held a formal ceremony to mark the start of construction on a USD 3.5 billion hydropower dam to be built on the Mekong River. A Thai company is funding the project and almost all the electricity has been pre-sold to Thailand. The Laotian government hopes to complete the dam by 2019 and expects the dam will generate billions of dollars in revenue. Comment: The planned construction has drawn global criticism from activists who argue the dam could have negative environmental effects. The project is the first of a total of 11 dams that are expected to generate eight percent of Southeast Asia's power by 2025. (BBC, NY Times, Wall Street Journal)
PHILIPPINES: Kidnapped mayor freed after ransom paid
On Monday, Jeffrey Lim, the Mayor of Salug town in Zamboanga del Norte Province, was freed seven months after being kidnapped by at least 10 armed men suspected to be linked to Islamist group Abu Sayyaf. Lim was released after his father fulfilled a USD 31,453 ransom demand. He had originally been kidnapped on April 2. Comment: Abu Sayyaf has been responsible for abductions in the past, but targeting political figures is rare. Lim was unharmed after the ordeal. (Inquirer, Irrawaddy, Philstar, Xinhua)
SOUTH KOREA: Nuclear plant investigations lead to shutdowns
On November 5, the South Korean government announced that it had discovered five nuclear reactors were operating with thousands of forged quality warranties and falsely certified parts. Two reactors were subsequently shut down and are not expected to open again until January of next year. South Korea's Nuclear Safety and Security Commission has set up a team of 58 private and public investigators to inspect all the country's reactors. Comment: About 30 percent of South Korea's electricity is generated by nuclear plants, and analysts fear that the closure of the two plants could lead to power shortages. Authorities stressed that the parts involved were non-crucial and posed no safety risks. (Korea Times, Yonhap, AP, Reuters)
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Europe & Central Asia
TURKEY: Former Israeli commanders tried in absentia
On Tuesday, an Istanbul court began the prosecution in absentia of four retired Israeli commanders accused of "inciting murder through cruelty and torture" for the killing of nine Turkish nationals on board the Mavi Marmara aid ship in 2010. Israeli marines clashed with pro-Palestinian activists when they stormed the ship to enforce a naval blockade of the Gaza Strip. Israeli Foreign Minister Spokesman Yigal Palmor claimed proceedings were a "show trial with a kangaroo court." Comment: Israel claims its blockade of the Gaza Strip reduces Palestinian bombing of Israeli cities and prevents Hamas from obtaining weapons. The UN has reported the blockade as legal, but the force used by the marines as "excessive and unreasonable." Relations between the nations have been strained by the incident, and a former Israeli envoy to Ankara claims the trial will have a "devastating effect on Turkish public opinion of Israel." 500 passengers on board the Mavi Marmara are expected to testify throughout the trial. (BBC, Guardian, Reuters)
TURKEY: Kurdish rebels set off car bomb in Semdinli
On Sunday, a car bomb aimed at an armored police car exploded in the Eastern city of Semdinli, killing an 11 year-old boy and injuring at least 20 others. Prime Minister Erdogan reported, "This cowardly attack was right next to a place where weddings are held. Unfortunately there were civilian losses." No party has claimed responsibility for the attack, but it is thought to have been perpetrated by members of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK). Comment: The PKK is an outlawed party and listed as a terrorist organization in Turkey, the EU, and the U.S. The eastern region of Turkey, near the borders of Iran and Iraq, has seen an increase in violence in recent months because of an attempt to establish an ethnic homeland for the Kurdish people. It is believed that there are several thousand fighters belonging to the PKK based in the mountains of nearby Iraq. (BBC, Reuters, Todays Zaman)
UKRAINE: "Rigged polls" fuel protests
Protestors gathered in front of the election commission headquarters on Monday, claiming "fraudulent" parliamentary elections last month. Authorities deny the claim and warn police are ready to disperse the "illegitimate" rally. Questions on the validity of the October 28 vote have arisen from the failure of the government to release final results more than a week after polls closed. Yulia Tymoshenko's Fatherland opposition party said it was "ready to declare" the new parliament invalid if it continued the "falsification of the electoral process." Comment: The monitoring mission from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) claims the voting process on October 28 occurred without problems; however, international observers say the election was marred "by abuse of power and the excessive role of money." The mission reports that state money was used by the party in power creating an unfair advantage, and that the leader of the Fatherland opposition party was jailed and banned from running in the election. (Al Jazeera, BBC, Reuters)
Researched/Written by A. Max Jones
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Middle East & North Africa
BAHRAIN: Explosions kill two and wound five, government blames Hezbollah
On Monday morning, a series of five bomb blasts killed two foreign workers - an Indian and a Bangladeshi - and wounded five others in the Qudaibuya and Adliya districts of Manama. Authorities arrested four suspects on Tuesday and are accusing the Hezbollah militant group for the attacks. Information Minister Samira Ibrahim bin Rajab said the perpetrators were following "principles" set by Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khameni. She also claimed 19 pro-Iran satellite news channels were urging their supporters in Bahrain to undermine the government. Comment: Some opposition activists believe the attacks were committed by forces working for the government in order to justify the recent clampdown on opposition gatherings and may be in preparation to implement martial law. The Bahraini government has previously accused Iran of instigating civil unrest in the county, which the Shiite Islamic Republic and Hezbollah deny. On Wednesday, Bahraini authorities revoked the citizenship of 31 opposition activists for "undermining state security." (Al Jazeera, Reuters, BBC)
IRAQ: Car bomb kills 27 during army recruitment event
On Tuesday, a car bomb killed 27 and injured more than 40 people as potential new recruits were congregating at the entrance of an Iraqi army base in Taji. The attack that left 19 soldiers dead appeared to be targeting the young men attending an army recruitment day. No group has claimed responsibility for the bombing, but the al-Qaeda affiliated Sunni militant group, the Islamic State of Iraq, has claimed it was behind past attacks on army bases. Less than 24 hours earlier, another bombing at an army patrol site near the army base in Taji wounded eight. Also on Monday, a car bombing in the outskirts of Baghdad killed four in the mainly Shiite district of al-Ubaidi. Comment: Army recruitment events have been targeted by militants in the past, including a 2011 suicide bombing in crowd of police recruits that killed 50 in the city of Tikrit. (Al Jazeera, BBC, YaLibnan)
SYRIA: Heavy fighting continues amidst international talks, 162 killed on Monday
According to the Local Coordination Committees of Syria, at least 162 people were killed across the country from heavy fighting on Monday, including 53 civilians, 85 soldiers, and 54 rebels. Government aerial and artillery attacks bombarded rebel strongholds in southern Damascus, resulting in an estimated 28 deaths. A suicide bomber, which Syrian Observatory for Human Rights claims was from the al-Nusra Front, killed at least 50 Syrian soldiers at a checkpoint in the Hama province. At least 20 rebel fighters were killed by government air bombardment in northern Idlib province. Comment: On Tuesday, British Prime Minister Cameron announced Britain and its allies will deal directly with rebel military leaders in order to help "shape the opposition" into a unified force. A Turkish official speaking anonymously said NATO members have discussed the possibility of protecting a safe zone inside the country with Patriot missiles. On Wednesday, to forge a more unified front against Assad, nearly 420 members of the Syrian National Council (SNC) met in Doha to choose two leadership bodies and a President, and to incorporate 13 other groups into the SNC. (Al Jazeera, Reuters, Daily Star, CNN, Al Jazeera)
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South Asia
AFGHANISTAN: At least 18 killed in bomb attack
On November 8, at least 18 people, including 10 civilians, were killed in three attacks in Afghanistan's south and east. A roadside bomb killed 10 civilians who were driving to a wedding in the Musa Qala district of Helmand province. Another roadside bomb killed five soldiers in the Badpakh area of Laghman, a province in the east. In the third attack, a suicide bomber on a motorbike detonated his explosives at a police station in Kandahar city, killing three policemen and wounding four. This is the highest number of deaths in the country since the Eid bombings. Comment: Violence has been increasing across the country as the deadline of 2014 looms for most foreign combat troops to exit Afghanistan, leaving the 350,000-strong Afghan security forces in control. (Reuters, Gulf News, AP)
PAKISTAN: Government requests that Switzerland reopen graft case against Zardari
On Monday, Pakistan's Prime Minister, succumbing to pressure from the country's Supreme Court, asked Swiss authorities to reopen a corruption case against President Asif Ali Zardari. The court gave Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf until November 14 to submit the request, threatening to charge him with contempt of court or face disqualification if he did not comply. Ashraf's predecessor was declared in contempt of court in June and disqualified from holding the post of Prime Minister. Comment: This issue has contributed to the tension building between the government and judiciary, contributing to political instability. Prolonged instability would further distract the government, which has failed to tackle a range of important issues from insurgencies to crippling power cuts. (Reuters, India Today, Indian Express)
SRI LANKA: Chief Justice faces impeachment
On Tuesday, the Sri Lankan Parliament formally began the process to impeach Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake when Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa, brother to the President, accepted the motion. Bandaranayake, Sri Lanka's first woman chief of the Supreme Court, faces fourteen charges, including improper conduct, amassing wealth and property, and non-declaration of assets. Last month Bandaranayeke declared the Divineguma Bill to be in violation of the constitution, as it divested powers usually held by the provinces. Comment: Opposition politicians say the government has moved against Bandaranayake because it was indignant she hampered the passage of the Divineguma Bill, which centralizes previous development funds. The Bill would place powers to spend about LKR 80 billion on development within a single Ministry controlled by Basil Rajapaksa, also brother of President Mahinda Rajapaksa. (BBC, Reuters, The Hindu)
Researched/Written by Maanasa Reddy
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IPSI News
IPSI Faculty and ICC Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda says Libya should not grant amnesty for war crimes committed during last year's uprising.
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IPSI News
IPSI Advisor and UN Deputy Secretary General Jan Eliasson believes the UN system must come together to promote rule of law activities.
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