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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.
Featured Event 
Should We Forget the Past? 
Overcoming Historical Grievance During Transition
Africa 
COTE D'IVOIRE: Tensions flare following local elections

On Sunday, Ivorians peacefully participated in the first local and regional elections in more than a decade; however, on Monday evening tensions flared in Abdijan as the elections commission, known as the CEI, began announcing official results. Supporters of losing candidates took to the streets to stage demonstrations, which continued into Tuesday. Ten demonstrators were reported injured by police who forcibly broke up the protests using tear gas. Comment: These are the first elections run solely by the Cote d'Ivorian government since 2010, when election-related violence lasted for five months and resulted in 3,000 deaths. The UN organized and partly certified legislative elections in 2011. International observers are hoping these elections will set a precedent for free and fair elections that will continue into the 2015 presidential poll.  (France24, Reuters, Voice of America)

 

ETHIOPIA: "Anxious" to withdraw from Somalia

Speaking to parliament on Tuesday, Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn stated that Ethiopia is "anxious" to withdraw its troops from Somalia "as soon as possible." He further expressed concern that the African Union force in Somalia has not kept its promise to replace Ethiopian soldiers in parts of the country under AU control. To this end, last month Ethiopian troops unexpectedly withdrew from a town along the Ethiopian-Somali border, allowing al-Shabaab to retake the town. As Ethiopia is paying for the deployment of its troops, western diplomats have asserted that financial issues may be behind the sudden troop withdrawals. Comment: Ethiopian troops re-entered Somalia in 2011 to fight against al-Shabaab, joining Kenyan and African Union troops already in the area. At this time, the Ethiopian government had pledged to stay in the country until the Somalis ratified a new constitution and formed their own armed forces. (AFP, Reuters, Voice of America)

 

MALI: UN approves peacekeeping force

On Thursday morning, the UN Security Council unanimously approved a resolution proposed by France for the creation of a peacekeeping force to deploy to Mali on July 1, before the planned nationwide elections. The peacekeeping force, to be known as MINUSMA, will be composed of 12,600 troops and will assume authority from the UN-backed African Union force, AFISMA, which took over responsibility for Mali's security from the French. Most members of AFISMA will join MINUSMA and the French have also committed to support the mission if needed. Comment: MINUSMA's approval represents a new type of mission for UN peacekeeping forces, which are traditionally deployed only once a peace agreement has been reached. MINUSMA's mission is to stabilize key population centers, deter threats, and prevent the return of armed elements to Northern areas. Once it deploys, MINUSMA will be the third-largest peacekeeping mission, behind missions in the DRC and Darfur, and is expected to cost USD 800 million annually. (BBC, France24, Reuters)

 

NIGERIA: 187 killed in clash

Clashes last Friday between Boko Haram, a jihadist militant group based in northern Nigeria, and Nigeria's military, left at least 187 dead in a fishing community in the northeastern Borno state, a stronghold for Boko Haram. While reports differ as to why the fighting began, many residents fled to the nearby bush and returned to discover fire destroyed almost 40 percent of the village. Civilians have accused the Nigerian military of using non-combatants as human shields and intentionally lighting houses on fire, allegations the government has largely denied. Comment: This assault marks a serious escalation in the conflict between Boko Haram and Nigeria's government, which has been simmering since 2009. Militants reportedly used heavier weapons than in previous engagements, including RPGs and machine guns, and it may prove to be the deadliest attack since a bombing in Kono in January 2012. According to a tally conducted by the AP before Friday's attack, shootings, suicide bombings and other attacks carried out by the group since its founding in 2009 have killed at least 1,548 people. (Al-Jazeera, BBC, Reuters, NYTimes)

 

Researched/Written by Janene Sawers

Americas

PARAGUAY: Cartes wins presidential election

On Sunday, Horacio Cartes won Paraguay's presidential election over runner-up Efrain Alegre, returning the center-right Colorado Party to power. Although the election proceeded smoothly and there have been no reports of fraud, government officials reported isolated guerrilla attacks in the northern regions. Cartes ran on a platform of reducing poverty, decreasing youth unemployment, and battling corruption, while also promising to carry out agrarian reforms. Comment: Cartes, a wealthy businessman, claims to have transferred his interests in dozens of companies before the campaign began in order to avoid potential conflicts of interests. His sister now runs the family businesses which include soy and tobacco plantations, Paraguay's Banco Amambay, and the championship winning soccer team Libertad. At his first news conference Cartes stated, "In our government there won't be anything that isn't in the public interest, and none of my relatives will be in the administration." (AP, Reuters, Al Jazeera)

 

TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO: Minister of Security resigns

On Sunday, Jack Warner, former FIFA vice president, announced his resignation as Minister of National Security in Trinidad and Tobago. His resignation came shortly after an ethics panel of the Confederation of North and Central American and Caribbean Football (CONCACAF) released a report accusing Warner and a former secretary-general of the group of bribery and fraud during their terms with the organization. Comment: According to the country�s law enforcement sources, for the past 2 years, the FBI has been investigating more than USD 500,000 in payments made by the Caribbean Football Union over the past 20 years to an offshore company headed by the former CONCACAF secretary general. (Reuters, Al Jazeera, CaribJournal)

 

REGIONAL: Nicaraguans arrest top U.S. fugitive

On Saturday, the Nicaraguan police arrested a U.S. man on the FBI's ten most wanted list for child pornography offenses. After his capture, Nicaragua handed him over to U.S. officials for extradition. Nicaraguan police arrested the suspect, former Washington teacher Eric Justin Toth, in Esteli, 150 km north of Managua where he had been living under a false identity. He used falsified documents to enter Nicaragua last October. Comment: Investigators said that in 2008, after being fired from his teaching job for possessing child pornography, Toth eluded authorities, even as pictures of him were constantly broadcast on news programs and billboards across the country. Toth was capture after a female tourist, who encountered and recognized him in a social setting, contacted the authorities. (Al Jazeera, Reuters, Info Sur, ABC Local).

 

Researched/Written by Ana Maria Rodriguez Contreras
East Asia

CHINA: Violent clashes in western Xinjiang province

On Wednesday, 21 people died in a violent clash between authorities and a group that has been described as "terrorists" in Kashgar, a city about 1,200 km southwest of Urumqi, the capital of Xinjiang. The incident began when three local officials reported a suspicious group of armed men were hiding in a house when the assailants abducted and killed the three officials, and later set the house on fire. The fighting continued until armed security forces arrived; 15 police and six assailants were killed, while eight suspects were captured alive. Despite labeling the group as "terrorists," no evidence of a connection to any terrorist organization has been released. Comment: Xinjiang, China's northwestern province is a troubled region home to nine million Muslim Uyghur's who complain of marginalization by the Chinese government, as well as restrictions on their culture and religion. The most recent conflict is the highest death toll in months; in July 2009, riots broke out killing 200 people in Urumqi. A Uyghur activist accused the police of starting Wednesday's conflict by shooting a youth while searching homes illegally. The U.S. State Department expressed concern over the incident and requested the Chinese government make moves to reduce tensions in the region. (AP, Xinhua, South Morning China Post)

 

JAPAN: Visit to war shrine stirs troubled waters

On Tuesday, 168 lawmakers visited the Yasukuni Shrine, a World War II memorial honoring 2.5 million dead soldiers, including 14 Class-A war criminals. It was the largest group of lawmakers to visit since 1987, when records of such visits began, and although Cabinet ministers did not attend the visit, it did include senior officials. The visit sparked anger and protest in China and South Korea, who perceive the shrine as a testament to Japan's denial of war crimes. On the same day, in a reportedly unrelated event, eight Chinese maritime surveillance ships entered waters near the disputed Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands in the East China Sea, while ten Japanese boats carrying members of the ultranationalist party also circled the islands; the Japanese Coast Guard prevented any ships from landing on the island. Comment: On Thursday, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe stated during a session of the Diet that Japanese ministers will not "yield to intimidation" and that visiting the shrine is a matter of freedom of expression. South Korean President Park Geun-hye stated that if the Japanese government takes a conservative stance and re-invokes historic grievances, it could jeopardize harmony in Asia. (NY Times, AJW, Japan Today)

 

MYANMAR: EU lifts sanction; political prisoners freed

The European Union (EU) decided on Tuesday to lift sanctions on Myanmar, except for the sale of arms and equipment that can be used for internal repression. The next day, President Thein Sein released 93 prisoners, 59 of whom were political detainees. An estimated 300 political prisoners remain behind bars, although the official stance of the government denies the existence of political prisoners. Comment: In April 2012, economic sanctions were suspended after Myanmar's transition to a civilian government in 2011. Catherine Ashton, EU foreign policy chief, stated that human rights, democracy, poverty, and peace remain important issues in Myanmar. Some opposition leaders and activists accuse the government of releasing political prisoners to show progress, while detaining many for leverage in economic negations. State Department spokesman Patrick Ventrell applauded the release, but called for the freedom of all political prisoners. The U.S. has suspended sanctions, but has not lifted them completely. (AP, Irrawaddy, Mizzima)

 

Researched/Written by Melissa Newcomb
Europe & Central Asia

FRANCE/LIBYA: Diplomatic mission attacked

On Tuesday, a car bomb exploded outside of the French embassy in Tripoli, wounding two French guards, injuring several residents in the neighborhood, and causing extensive damage to buildings. The attack was condemned as an act of terror by French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius, although no group has claimed responsibility. There are speculations that the incident relates to the presence of France in Mali, where the French have been fighting Islamist rebels since January. Comment: Under former President Nicolas Sarkozy, France was the forefront of NATO-led airstrikes that toppled Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, and this is the first attack on a diplomatic mission in Libya since the Benghazi attack on the U.S. mission last year. In a separate incident on Tuesday, a gunman began shooting outside of the French embassy in Yemen; no one was reported injured. (France 24, Reuters, BBC, Al Jazeera, Hurriyet Daily News)

 

ITALY: Reelected President appoints new Prime Minister

On Wednesday, deputy leader of the center-left Democratic Party, Enrico Letta, was summoned by newly reelected President Giorgio Napolitano to form a government in an effort to end two months of political deadlock. Mr. Letta initiated talks with party leaders on Thursday to form a cabinet that can gain cross-party support. Since the parties across the political spectrum differ on multiple issues, a coalition government would have to be the broadest possible kind. Comment: Mr. Letta is the youngest Prime Minister in Italian history, and he pledged to change the course of European politics on austerity. A new administration would draw the Democratic Party into an alliance with the center-right People of Freedom Party, and a vote of confidence has the potential to be passed early next week. (BBC, Reuters, Telegraph, FT)

 

SERBIA/KOSOVO: Historic accord facing protests

On Monday, the Serbian government approved the European Union (EU) mediated accord aiming to normalize the relationship between Serbia and Kosovo. In response, protestors in Belgrade took to the streets claiming that the accord betrays Serbia by granting Kosovo authority over the northern region, while yielding autonomy to the Serb minority in the north Kosovo. The 15-point plan initialed by both prime ministers last Friday could mean the entry of Serbia into the EU if accession negotiations are approved at the EU summit in June. Comment: The accord was reached after 10 rounds of EU-brokered talks, and the implementation process will face hurdles due to resistance by Serbs in north Kosovo and Serbia. EU foreign policy Chief Catherine Ashton, who brokered the accord, sees the deal as a breakthrough while stressing that the accord is "being done for the people and not to them." (AP, BBC, Al Jazeera, Deutsche Welle)

 

Researched/Written by Caroline Larsson

Middle East & North Africa 

EGYPT: Government pushes through with controversial law

On Wednesday, the Islamist-led government went through with a controversial judicial law that would drop the retirement age from 70 years to 60 years, affecting nearly 13,000 of the country's judges; the law would also prevent the judiciary from overturning presidential decrees from last year. The secular-minded judges are seen by many civilians as a buffer zone between them and the Islamist government. This law is part of President Mohamed Morsi's campaign against the judiciary and the country's Supreme Constitutional Court for "plotting conspiracies" against his administration. Comment: The controversies surrounding the judicial law show the polarization of the country between those who support and those who oppose the Muslim Brotherhood. Wednesday's events come as President Morsi announced on Saturday that he would reshuffle his cabinet, including his Justice Minister Ahmed Mekki. (Al Jazeera, Al Arabiya, Daily Star)

 

IRAQ: Two days of heavy violence

On Tuesday, a raid on Sunni protestors in Hawija, near Kirkuk, sparked two days of deadly clashes between government forces and protestors, killing at least 100 people. Tuesday's raid was on a camp where Sunni protestors were demonstrating their grievance of being marginalized by the Shia-led government. In response to the attack on the camp, protestors attacked army checkpoints in the region. Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki created a fact-finding mission to investigate how the incident developed. Comment: Iraqi Parliament Speaker Osama al-Nujaifi referred to the actions of the government forces as a "flagrant violation of the constitution." According to preliminary reports by Sunni officials, the government forces were unprompted in firing upon the peaceful protestors. Until the fact finding mission is complete though, uncertainties will continue to surround the clashes. (Saudi Gazette, Al Jazeera, Al Arabiya)

 

SYRIA: "Massacre" just outside of Damascus

On Sunday, after five days of fighting, Assad's forces stormed the suburb of Jdeydet al-Fadel, killing at least 85 people, including women and children. Many of those reported dead were killed execution style at a makeshift hospital in the suburb. The storming of Jdeydet al-Fadel was a part of Assad's major offensive against those rebels who were inching closer to the capital; however, opposition forces had pulled out of the suburb on Saturday. Comment: The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reports that the death toll could be as high as 250 while another report says that over 100 were killed. Conflicting death tolls is not surprising since foreign correspondents are not allowed in the country. The pro-Assad Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) made no mention of civilian deaths; instead, focus was placed on how many terrorists were killed. (Al Arabiya, Al Jazeera, Daily Star, SANA)

 

Researched/Written by Kevin Coughlin

South Asia

AFGHANISTAN: Negotiations with Taliban for kidnapped hostages

On Sunday, inclement weather forced a NATO-contracted helicopter to make an emergency landing in eastern Afghanistan, where the 11 passengers were subsequently captured by the Taliban; the hostages include eight Turkish engineers, two Russian pilots, and one Afghan. Negotiations are underway between Taliban and tribal leaders in the Logar province.  According to Rais Khan Sadiq, the deputy head of Logar police, there are no plans to rescue the hostages while negotiations continue, although he confirmed they were moved to a safer district, Hezarak, in the neighboring province of Nangarhar. Comment: Civilian helicopter flights are crucial for linking supplies and workers to remote bases, and a number of Turkish engineers have been captured and held in Afghanistan in recent years. Western hostages are also in Taliban custody, including 25-year-old U.S. Army Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl, who has been held for almost four years. About 1,800 of Turkey's NATO forces serve in Afghanistan and both countries have a close relationship. (Pajhwok,Reuters, Huffington Post, BBC)

 

BANGLADESH: Building collapse kills over 100

At least 100 people died and more than 600 injured when an eight-story building collapsed in Rana Plaza in the Savar district near Dhaka on Wednesday.  Fire crews say there were about 2,000 workers in the building, and a mission is underway to rescue the remaining people still trapped in the wreckage. The owners had ignored several cracks in the walls and prior warnings to prohibit workers from entering the building, which contained many garment factories, a bank, and a market. One of the workers was assured by the management that the cracks were not an issue an hour before the building collapsed. Comment: Building fires and collapses are not uncommon in Bangladesh where much construction is in violation of building codes. In 2010, a four-story building collapsed in Dhaka resulting in 25 deaths, and another collapse in 2005 killed 64 people. Additionally, last November, about 100 people died in a fire at a garment factory, drawing international attention and public uproar about safety standards and working conditions. (The Daily Star, Al Jazeera, BBC)

 

INDIA: Police corruption in 5-year-old girl's rape case

Delhi police were under scrutiny on Monday for allegations that police officers tried to bribe the family of a 5-year-old rape victim against filing a case against an officer who was captured on video slapping a female protester. Protesters claim that the rape could have been avoided if police responded to initial concerns from the girl's parents about their neighbor. The 5-year-old girl, found on April 17, two days after being kidnapped, raped, and held in captivity by her neighbor in New Delhi, is currently in a hospital recovering from injuries. Three officers, including the offender, are suspended, and two male suspects have been arrested. Comment: Recently, there has been an increase in rapes against women in India, causing anger and criticism of authorities by protesters who are calling for stricter anti-rape laws. This assault comes after the brutal rape of and subsequent death of a 23-year-old student on a bus in New Delhi in December. (Deccan Chronicle, Reuters, CNN)

 

Researched/Written by Angela Mughal

April 26, 2013
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