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.

Human Rights Watch 

 

This 80-page report is based on visits to 50 sites of government air strikes in opposition-controlled areas in Aleppo, Idlib, and Latakia governorates, and more than 140 interviews with witnesses and victims. The air strikes Human Rights Watch documented killed at least 152 civilians. According to a network of local Syrian activists, air strikes have killed more than 4,300 civilians across Syria since July 2012.. 

 

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CHILE: Poet Pablo Neruda exhumed

On Monday, Chilean authorities exhumed Pablo Neruda´s remains as part of a high-profile investigation instigated by the Community Party to determine his cause of death. Neruda, who died 12 days after the 1973 military coup that ousted Chile's socialist president Salvador Allende and brought General Augusto Pinochet to power, was long believed to have died of prostate cancer. According to Neruda's Driver, Neruda died after receiving a suspicious injection at Santiago's Santa Maria Hospital. Comment: The investigation into Neruda's death follows other high-profile exhumations as part of a massive probe into 726 reported human rights violations that occurred during Pinochet's rule. In the years following the military coup, more than 3,000 "disappeared" are believed to have been killed by Pinochet's government.  (Al Jazeera, CNN, BBC)

 

COLOMBIA:  Walk for Peace

On Tuesday, political parties and civil society joined together in a nonviolent march to demonstrate unity in support of the ongoing peace process between the government and FARC guerillas. The demonstrations attracted large crowds in Bogotá, Cali, Barranquilla, and other Colombian cities. Supporters of former President Alvaro Uribe and large landholders are opposed to the ongoing peace talks, stating that FARC are stalling and have no intention of giving up their armed struggle. Comment: Previous efforts at peace negotiations between FARC and the Colombian government have yielded little positive progress. During the last peace talks from 1999-2002, former President Andrés Pastrana permitted FARC a demilitarized zone in order to facilitate negotiations, in which they reportedly trained fighters, set up camps to hold hostages, and built more than 25 airstrips used for drug trafficking purposes. In spite of this history, many Colombians believe that the conditions are ripe for a renewed peace process. (Reuters, El Tiempo, Noticias Caracol, BBC)

 

USA: Senate votes to consider gun control legislation

On Thursday, the United States Senate voted to begin a formal debate on what analysts consider to be the most significant gun legislation in more than two decades. 68 Senators voted in favor of considering laws that would potentially increase background checks, limit access to high-capacity magazines, and prohibit military-style rifles. The proposed bill also includes other measures, such as increased school security and penalties for those who sell weapons to convicted criminals and people prohibited to own firearms.  Supporters and challengers of the new legislation have included contentious amendments to the bill, including online background checks, as well as a requirement for all states to accept concealed-handgun permits of other states, even if that contradicts their own regulations. Comment: Relatives of the victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary School sat in the gallery that overlooks the Senate floor. Senator Christopher S. Murphy stated:  "You can't turn a corner in the Capitol this week without meeting a family of a gun violence victim. It's hard to say no to these families." The National Rifle Association, a gun rights organization said it would seek to penalize legislators that vote in favor of gun control measures. (NY Times, Washington Post, LA Times, NBC)

 

PHILIPPINES: Coral reef takes another hit

Shortly after the March 30 removal of the USS Guardian naval ship, which struck the Tubbataha coral reef on January 17, a Chinese fishing vessel strayed into the Sulu Sea on Monday and ran aground in the 239,700 acre large protected UNESCO World Heritage Site. The 12 fishermen aboard are being charged with poaching, damaging corals, attempted bribery, and carrying explosives; they could face 12 years of prison and up to USD 300,000 in fines. Since it is a private vessel, the Philippine government cannot charge the Chinese government for the cost of removal operations, but Manila plans to ask Beijing to help identify the owner. Comment: President Benigno Aquino III expressed dismay at the damage to the coral reef, as the Chinese vessel marks the seventh ship caught in the reefs since 2002. The U.S. Navy minesweeper caused 2,345 square meters of damage for which the Philippines fined the U.S. USD 1.5 million. Earlier this year, the Philippines filed a request to bring China before a UN arbitral tribunal over territorial disputes in the South China Sea (West Philippine Sea), in which China refused to participate. (AP, Aljazeera, Philstar)

 

THAILAND:  Violence increases in southern region after peace talks

Last Friday, Yala deputy governor Issara Thongthawat and her assistant governor Chaovalit Chaircek were killed in a roadside bomb attack.  On Monday, a deputy Prime Minister in the south suffered grenade attacks on his home, the second attempt on his life in a year, and later that same day bombs were found planted at the Yala Technical College. On Wednesday,another roadside attack killed two rangers in Pattani province. The recent increase in violence comes one week after the March 28 peace talks in Malaysia between the Thai government and leaders of the Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN) and Patani United Liberation Organization (PULO), two southern separatists groups. Comment: Leaders of BRN and PULO were given one month to bring members under control before the next talk on April 29, but analysts believe the recent violence is caused by other separatist groups who were not included in the peace negotiations. National Security Council Chief Paradorn Pattanatabut stated that acts of violence in the region are not unusual and not a sign of escalated conflict; however, members of the opposition Democratic Party criticized the government and the NSC for disregarding the violence as normal in a nine-year conflict that has claimed 5,000 lives. (Bangkok Post, Xinhua, National)

 

REGIONAL:  North Korea's neighbors brace for possible attack 

On Monday, North Korea (DPRK) withdrew all 50,000 workers from the Kaesong Industrial Complex, suspending operations for the foreseeable future. North Korea issued a warning to foreigners on the Korean peninsula to leave because of impending war, but diplomats remain in Pyongyang, and foreigners have not evacuated South Korea (ROK). South Korean Foreign Minister Yun Byung-sestated on Wednesday that the DPRK could test medium range Musudan missiles at any point; in response, U.S. and ROK forces raised the Watch Condition (Watchcon) level. Japan also increased military vigilance to the point that a city outside Tokyo prematurely tweeted that the DPRK had launched a missile.  Comment: The North Korean KIC laborers enjoy better standards of living than most of their fellow countrymen, but halted operations mean a huge economic loss that could negatively impact up to 200,000 North Korean citizens. After DPRK told foreign diplomats in Pyongyang their safety could no longer be guaranteed, the EU reminded North Korea of its obligation to protect diplomatic missions. On Monday, Chinese President Xi Jinping stated at the Boao Forum for Asia that no single actor should jeopardize the security of a region or the entire world "for selfish gains," a veiled reference to North Korea's recent actions. (Daily NK, South China Morning Post, NY Times, Telegraph)

 

FRANCE: Withdrawal of troops in Mali

On Tuesday, 100 French soldiers left Mali as France began the withdrawal of its troops; by the end of the year, France expects to withdraw all but 1,000 troops, who will remain as a "support force" to the African troops. According to the Paris-based French Centre for Intelligence Studies, French troops have killed an estimated 680 Islamist extremists since their deployment in January. On Thursday, Malian Prime Minister Diango Cissoko urged France to continue its military presence in the country. Comment: As France begins to reduce its presence, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon called for an 11,000-troop strong UN peacekeeping mission to ensure security in the region; African forces will contribute about 6,000 members of the mission. Malian national elections are set to be held in July, by which point France aims to have decreased its mission to 2,000 soldiers. (Reuters, BBC, France 24, Hurriyet Daily News, Saudi Gazette).

 

ITALY: Presidential election despite the absence of a government

On Tuesday, center-left leader Pier Luigi Bersani and center-right leader Silvio Berlusconi met to discuss potential presidential replacements for President Giorgio Napolitano's whose mandate ends on May 15; however, after hours of talks, sources reveal that no progress was made. Although the presidential mandate expires next month, party leaders did not discuss the possibility of forming a government coalition since neither party can agree which party to include in such coalition. It is uncertain if any agreement over a presidential election will provide the means for the formation of a government. Comment: Since the parliamentary elections in February, Italy has experienced a political deadlock between the major parties. With President Napolitano's mandate running out, he has no power to dissolve the parliament and call for new elections. Bersani and Berlusconi intend to start the presidential election process on April 18. (Reuters, Euronews, IGN).

 

SERBIA/KOSOVO: Intensified pressure to reach an agreement

On Monday, Serbia rejected an accord formed over six months of European Union (EU)-mediated negotiations between Serbia and Kosovo; however, both the Serbian and Kosovar prime ministers agree that an accord is still feasible if dialogue continues under EU mediation. The EU has increasingly pressured Serbia to normalize bilateral relations with Kosovo in order to start negotiations for EU membership. On April 16, the European Commission will issue a progress report that will evaluate the current situation between the parties in the forthcoming summit in June, thus putting further pressure on Serbian leadership to reach an agreement. Comment: The EU-brokered Kosovo deal ended without a solution to address the ethnic tensions in northern Kosovo, which have affected the bilateral relations since Kosovo declared independence in 2008. The unresolved issues concern representation in the police force and courts, as Kosovo refuses to grant the executive and judicial powers demanded by Serbia. (Reuters, France 24, Guardian, Al-Jazeera, Hurriyet Daily News)

 

RUSSIA: Tighter restrictions on NGOs

On Thursday, Russian NGOs demanded that President Vladimir Putin provide evidence to support his claim that Russian organizations have received USD one billion from foreign sponsors. These demands come in response to a series of nationwide NGO inspections since March. The increased regulation followed Russia's main independent electoral watchdog, Golos, being accused of failing to register as a "foreign agent" after being granted overseas funding. Last year, a new law granted authorities tools to monitor and control the NGO sector in Russia tightening regulatory oversight of NGOs that engage in political activities and receive foreign sponsoring. Comment: Lilia Shibanova, the head of Golos, argued that the organization has not received overseas funding since the passing of the law. President Putin  expressed the belief that "NGOs could be used as fronts for foreign meddling in Russian affairs." (AP, RIA Novosti, Euronews)

  

 

Researched/Written by Caroline Larsson

EGYPT: Clashes between Coptic Christians and Muslims

On Monday, violence between Coptic Christians and Muslims outside of St. Mark's Cathedral in Cairo left two Christians dead and 89 other Coptics and Muslims injured. The fighting spiraled out of a brawl between Coptics and Muslims that resulted from an attempted government protest by a group of Coptic Christians. The Coptic Christians were forced to barricade themselves within the cathedral as the mob outside hurled rocks and firebombs inside. When the police arrived they threw tear gas into the cathedral, stirring panic within and cheering outside. The fighting occurred a day after the funerals of the four Coptic Christians who were killed in clashes with Muslims in El Khusus on Friday. President Mohammed Morsi condemned the attack on the cathedral, saying that any attack on it was an attack on him personally. Comment: Coptic Christians make up around 10 percent of Egypt's 84 million people. The attacks against Coptic Christians have increased since the ousting of Murbarak two years ago. There is a growing fear amongst the Coptic community that their freedom of worship will be compromised by the power of Islamic political parties, such as the Muslim Brotherhood. (Saudi Gazette, Al Arabiya, Al Jazeera)

 

IRAN: Nuclear talks end without an agreement

Meetings between the P5+1 and Iran over the weekend in the Kazakh city of Almaty ended without an agreement on the future of Iran's nuclear program. The P5+1 presented a proposal that would limit Iran's uranium enrichment process to only the 20 percent level, a level far below that need to construct a nuclear weapon. In response, Iran made a counter-proposal emphasizing its right to enrich uranium; the details of the counter-proposal were not given. No future talks were scheduled, but Secretary Kerry stressed that nuclear talks would continue. On Tuesday, Iran opened two uranium mines and a new production facility in Arkadan. Comment: After the weekend meetings, Israeli Strategic Affairs Minister Yuval Steinitz insisted that if Iran does not change the course of its nuclear program, military action may be needed within the next couple weeks to a month. On Monday, Secretary Kerry officially confirmed that the U.S. supports Israel with regards to Iran's nuclear program, saying that although the door is still open for diplomatic talks, these diplomatic processes will not stand in the way of the choices that need to be made to prevent nuclear weapons from going to the wrong hands. (Tehran Times, Jerusalem Post, Al Jazeera, Al Arabiya)

 

IRAQ/SYRIA: Islamic State of Iraq confirms al-Nusra Front is an extension

On Tuesday, the Islamic State of Iraq (ISI), the al-Qaeda affiliate, confirmed that Syria's al-Nusra Front is part of its network. The al-Nusra front is a Syrian jihadist group fighting against Assad. First gaining notoriety by its deadly suicide bombings in Damascus and Aleppo at the beginning of the conflict, al-Nusra has become a formidable force in Syria's two-year civil war. ISI's head, Abu Bakra;-Baghdadi, also confirmed that the two groups will now go under the name "The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant." Analysts have long thought that ISI was providing personnel and economic aid to al-Nusra's efforts. Comment: This week's confirmation comes as al-Qaeda leader Ayman Al-Zawahiri urged Syrian rebels on Sunday to establish an Islamic state in Syria. U.S. officials, however, are considering ISI's move as "hijacking" the Syrian conflict to strengthen its domestic purposes in Iraq. (Daily Star, Al Arabiya, Saudi Gazette)

 

QATAR: Summit set to implement strategic plan to aid Darfur

A summit of 400 delegates from donor countries and aid groups met in Doha on Sunday to begin to discuss the implementation of a strategic plan to rebuild Sudan's Darfur region. The two-day summit sought to raise USD 7.2 billion over the next six years for developmental construction, which would include upgraded water facilities, roads, agricultural technology, and other infrastructure measures. The aim was to move away from the current aid strategy that involves simple food hand-outs and emergency aid. Great Britain pledged to give 16.5 million dollars for the next three years, while Qatar pledged to give 500 million dollars to the developmental programs. Comment: Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Hamd bin Jassem al-Thani is quoted as saying, "Peace time has begun in Darfur. A peace that will be protected by development, not by force." In response to the summit, protests broke out in several refugee camps as demonstrators called for increased security measures, not humanitarian assistance. The African Union-United Nations Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) also reported that the Sudanese Liberation Army's Minni Minnawi faction "attacked and seized" several towns, forcing citizens and refugees to seek protection at aid and peacekeeping bases. (Qatar News Agency, Al Arabiya, Al Jazeera, Saudi Gazette)

 

Researched/Written by Kevin Coughlin