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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. 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

Safe No More: Students and Schools Under Attack in Syria

Human Rights Watch

 

In Syria's brutal and protracted armed conflict, children have suffered alongside the rest of the population. Many have been killed and wounded as their hometowns have been transformed into warzones. They have endured torture and inhumane conditions in government detention. And they have been tested by severe shortages of humanitarian aid and inadequate medical care.

 

This report documents practices by government and opposition forces that threaten the lives of students, teachers, and school officials and endanger the learning environment. Human Rights Watch's findings are based on more than 70 interviews conducted between October and December 2012. Interviewees included 16 students, 16 educators, and 22 parents of schoolchildren, all of whom had fled Syria between March 2011-when the uprising began-and December 2012. A few of the interviews were conducted by Skype or telephone, but most were conducted in Jordan. Therefore, our findings reflect the experiences of families in the governorate of Daraa, where many of Jordan's Syrian refugees originate, as well as the experiences of those in the Homs, Damascus, and the Damascus suburbs governorates, from where others fled.

 

Read the Report >>

Africa 
MALI: Army clashes with Tuareg Rebels

On Wednesday, Malian troops clashed with rebels from the National Movement for the Liberation of the Azawad (NMLA) in Anefis, a village located in the northern part of the country. At least two people were killed, but the death toll is likely to rise. Both sides declared the Malian army succeeded in taking control of Anefis. Comment: Earlier this week, NMLA members arrested nearly 200 people on charges of having a darker skin color than most Tuareg. As a result, Malian Foreign Affairs Minister Ti�man Hubert Coulibaly accused the NMLA of ethnic cleansing in the region, and insisted it is the government's duty to protect Malian citizens. This is the first battle won by the national army without the help of French troops. The Malian army is reported to be moving towards the town of Kidal, a stronghold of NMLA, to regain control of the town before the presidential election on July 28. Some analysts fear the clash between the army and the Tuareg rebels could lead to more ethnic attacks throughout northern Mali. (BBC, Al Jazeera, France 24)    

 

NIGER: 22 suspected Islamist militants escaped from jail

On Saturday, three prison guards were killed and three others were seriously wounded as a result of a revolt inside a prison in the city of Niamey. Government officials initially claimed the prison break was unsuccessful, but on the following day, Nigerien Justice Minister Marou Amadou admitted 22 inmates had escaped from the jail and they all remain at-large. Some of the escapees are facing terrorism charges, such as Cheibane Ould Hama who is accused of killing four Saudis and a U.S. citizen. There are conflicting reports concerning this incident; while government officials believe weapons were smuggled inside the jail, local witnesses claim several men with their heads covered in turbans opened fire at the guards outside the jail. Comment: Some analysts argue the government purposefully misrepresented the facts in attempt to prevent panic in the capital. Indeed, Nigerien government officials initially reported all escapees were captured alive, and claimed the situation was under control. (France 24, BBC, Al Jazeera)

 

NIGERIA: Hezbollah weapons cache discovered in Kano

On May 30, the Department of States Services, Nigeria's primary domestic intelligence agency, and the national army claimed they discovered a home used by Hizballah militants to store weapons. According to Nigerian officials, Hizballah intended to use the weapons against Israeli and Western interests in Nigeria. Three Lebanese men have been arrested in connection with the illegal armory, and all have confessed to being members of Hizballah. The fourth suspect, a Lebanese man who owns the house, is still at large. Comment: Government officials are investigating a possible connection between Hizballah and Boko Haram, a local radical Islamist group in Nigeria. Attacks by the Boko Haram group have already killed thousands of Nigerians since 2009. Some analysts fear such collaboration between both groups would cause more deaths in the future. (BBC, France 24, Al Jazeera)

  

Researched/Written by Pamela Dogbe

Americas

MEXICO: Mass abduction at a Mexico bar leaves 12 missing

On May 26, a mass abduction in a Mexico City bar resulted in 12 missing persons, seven men and five women.  A man, who allegedly escaped the kidnapping, reported to authorities that masked men armed with guns kidnapped the group in broad daylight from one of Mexico City's main avenues, Paseo de la Reforma.  Police have arrested three suspects in connection to the kidnappings, two male waiters who worked at the bar and one female who's relation is yet to be determined. Authorities currently have no other witnesses and have thus far be unable to question the bar's owner. Comment: Groups such as Amnesty International have criticized Mexican authorities, alleging that incidents similar to this have become commonplace.  Official statistics indicate that 26,000 people have gone missing since December 2006, with 20,000 investigations currently considered ongoing.  Relatives of the victims state that the police have been unresponsive to their pleas to help find the missing group because many are from Tepito, a poor area in Mexico. Relatives blockaded a street in Tepito in an effort to force immediate action on behalf of Mexican law enforcement. Analysts have deemed the situation "a national crisis" and have urged the Mexican government to commit resources to curb further crime and violence. (BBC, CNN, Washington Post) 

 

UNITED STATES: U.S. imposes new sanction on Iran

On Monday, President Obama signed an executive order authorizing new sanctions against Iran in an effort to pressure the government to abandon its nuclear program; the sanctions aim to weaken the country's currency, the rial, as well as hinder Iran's auto industry. The United States will now sanction any financial institution that continues to deal in the Iranian currency or retains large amounts of the rial outside of Iran. The U.S will also sanction any firm that sells goods and services to the Iranian auto industry, the second largest employer and contributor to the country's economy. Comment: These are the ninth set of sanctions imposed on Iran by the United States. Officials believe the executive order will render the rial virtually "unusable outside of Iran." These sanction come amidst Iran's unwillingness to cooperate with the UN's International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).  IAEA director general, Yukiya Amano, reported that Iranian officials have made changes to the Parchin military complex, the site where the country has been believed to have tested rockets, making it impossible for inspectors to adequately inspect the site and gain assurance that Iran's nuclear program is only engaging in peaceful activities. Iran contends that their nuclear capabilities are being used solely for power generation.  White House Spokesperson, James Carney, made it known that the opportunity for a diplomatic solution is still available but if Iran continues to be uncooperative in regards to its nuclear program, increasingly severe consequences will ensue. (Al Jazeera, BBC, CNN)

 

REGIONAL: OAS General Assembly targets drug control

On Tuesday, the Organization of American States (OAS) met to discuss the future of drug policy in regards to Latin America during the 43rd General Assembly meeting held in Antigua, Guatemala.  While other issues will be discussed during the congregation of the 35 member states, reducing the impact of the illicit drug trade remains the top priority.  The session provides a forum to discuss a report recently published by the OAS that considers decriminalizing specific drugs as part of a new drug control strategy.  Comment: At least 14 Latin American countries are pursuing new drug control policies that may include decriminalization or potential legalization of certain drugs (the most commonly mentioned is marijuana).  Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos and Guatemalan President Otto Perez Molina are among those who have supported new drug initiatives in an effort to mitigate organized crime and drug trafficking in their respective countries.  Analysts suggest that this new approach may indicate a shift away from previous anti-drug policies that focus heavily on law enforcement to a new adaptive public health strategy. (LA Times, ABC News, El Nuevo Herald)

 

Researched/Written by Carlos Camacho
East Asia

CHINA: EC imposes anti-dumping duties on Chinese solar panels

On Tuesday, the European Commission (EC) announced it would impose anti-dumping duties on solar products imported from China, claiming that Chinese panels are being sold below cost and reducing competition. The initial punitive duty of 11.8 percent applies to all Chinese solar panel imports as of June 6, and the duty will be raised to an average of 47.6 percent on August 6 unless there is a negotiated solution between China and the EC. If negotiations fail to resolve the dispute, the temporary duties will be extended for five years, starting in December 2013. Comment: This anti-dumping case is the biggest one undertaken by the Commission. The action could cause a great blow to the Chinese solar panel industry since Europe is China's major import market of solar products. Although the EC wants to use this opportunity to strengthen the European solar panel industry, many European companies disagree with the decision because they fear that the tariffs on green solar panels will negatively affect the environment. In an apparent response to the duties, China announced an anti-dumping investigation of European wine on Wednesday. (Xinhuanet, PV Magazine, South China Morning Post, The Wall Street Journal)

 

MYANMAR: Government urges probe into attack on its workers in Malaysia

After one Myanmar migrant worker was killed and another man and a woman were injured in separate attacks by gangs of Malaysian youths in the northern suburbs of Malaysia's capital Kuala Lumpur, the Myanmar government expressed its concerns for the safety of its citizens who live in Malaysia. On Wednesday, Myanmar's Foreign Minister U Zin Yaw called on Malaysian authorities to immediately investigate all the attacks targeting migrant workers from Myanmar and take legal actions against responsible persons; Yaw also asked the Malaysian Ambassador to provide adequate protection for Myanmar citizens in Malaysia. Comment: Malaysia has long been a refuge for millions of migrant workers from the region, including Burma, Bangladesh, and Indonesia. The ethnic violence in Buddhist-dominated Myanmar between Muslims and Buddhists appears to have spilled over into Muslim-majority Malaysia. According to the Myanmar embassy, there are an estimated 430,000 Myanmar migrant workers in Malaysia; 300,000 are legal workers, while 40,000 are illegal and 90,000 are in various processes of refugee status. (Reuters, Oman Tribune, Al Jazeera, The Nation)

 

PHILIPPINES: U.S. to keep Philippines leftist rebel groups on terror list

While commending the Philippines for maintaining strong cooperation with the United States against terrorism, the U.S. government cautioned that official corruption and resource and personnel constraints had prevented the country from processing anti-terror activities. The Philippine government said on Wednesday that it respects the decision to continue to include two Philippine groups on the U.S government's list of foreign terrorist organizations (FTO): the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army guerrillas (CPP-NPA) and the Abu Sayyaf, Group (ASG), which is the Islamic separatist militant groups operating in the southern Philippines. The leftist CPP-NPA has been on the list since 2002 and Abu Sayyaf since 1997. After failing to rebuild the peaceful relationship between the Aquino government and the CPP-NPA through dialogue, the NPA continued its struggle against the Philippine government, while the government is still looking for a new approach to end the leftist insurgency. Comment: The Philippines and the United States are close allies in Southeast Asia region, and the United States is a powerful backer of the Philippines government. The island nation relies on U.S. support and intervention for both internal and external issues, such as the dispute regarding islands in the South China Sea between Beijing and Manila. The United States is also a key collaborator on the implementation of the Philippines Internal Peace and Security Plan, which facilitates a military-to-civilian shift in internal security operations. (Xinhuanet, Inquirer, ABCNews)

 

Researched/Written by Miaomiao Shao
Europe & Central Asia

FRANCE: UNESCO Peace Prize for French President Hollande

On Wednesday, President Hollande was awarded the annual Felix Houphouet-Boigny Peace Prize by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) for his decision in January to send French forces to combat the insurgents occupying the northern part of Mali. The prize was established in 1989 to honor those who have significantly contributed to international peace and stability efforts. As the 4,000 French soldiers begin their withdrawal, France plans to hand over the matter of maintaining security in northern Mali to local forces as well as UN peacekeepers. Comment: Some analysts have responded that the decision to award President Hollande this prize was "cynical" due to the unresolved issues in Mali. President Hollande is expected to donate the USD 150,000 cash prize to two relief organizations, one for women and the other for wounded veterans. (BBC News, UNESCO, Washington Post)

 

GEORGIA: NATO speaks on Russo-Georgian border dispute

On Wednesday, NATO chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen criticized Russian forces for setting up fences along the border between Georgian break-away region South Ossetia and Georgia. Meanwhile, the Georgian Interior Ministry briefed foreign officials stationed in Georgia that the 'borderization' was a source of instability for the region and affected the livelihood of locals. Chief Rasmussen confirmed that NATO's decision in 2008 about future Georgian membership was still valid, so long as the membership criteria are met. Comment: In addition to his criticism of Russia, Chief Rasmussen also cautioned Georgia on its recent arrests of dozens of former officials, including the former Prime Minister Ivane Merabishvili, in what opposition parties have declared a "witch-hunt." Combined with last Friday's statement by Georgian Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili promising talks and downplaying the dispute as a matter of "'misunderstanding' rather than 'policy'," the Russo-Georgian relations remain unstable. (Civil Georgia, Reuters, Radio Free Europe)

 

RUSSIA: Russian missiles to Syria, a week of contradictions

Following the end of the EU arms trade embargo for the Syrian opposition last week, Russia noted the possibility of sending ground-to-air S-300 missiles system to Syria, which would fulfill a contract made years ago. President al-Assad's then declared that the delivery of Russian anti-air missiles had already taken place, leading to contradictory media reports throughout the weekend. The consensus now is that despite President al-Assad's assertion, the S-300 variant appears not to have been sent. Comment: The contract to send the S-300 missile system, a highly advanced series of sensors and detectors to obtain locations of combat aircrafts that can then be intercepted by ground based missiles, dates back to 2010.The delivery could take months to fulfill. Nonetheless, the system could threaten air forces in Turkey and Israel if positioned in Syria. Russia has promised the delivery could be hastened if need be, giving them an edge in further negotiations on Syria. (Russia Beyond the Headlines, Radio Free Europe, Reuters)

 

TURKEY: Mass protests continue unabated

On Thursday, Taksim Square in Istanbul witnessed the seventh consecutive day of protests. What started as a protest against the redevelopment of an Istanbul park has expanded into mass anti-government demonstrations throughout Turkey's major population centers. Protests continue despite Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc meeting with activists and apologizing for the initial response of police at Gezi Park. With police backing off and unions entering the fray, the violence is expected to calm down in the days to come. Comment: Prime Minister Erdogan's public statements about the protests provoked unflattering comparisons to Syrian President Al-Assad; declaring Twitter a "'menace' that spreads 'lies'," as well as considering "domestic extremists" and "foreign powers" to be behind the disproportionate spillover of a protest with humble beginnings. (Hurriyet Daily News, BBC News, Reuters)

 

Researched/Written by Takumi Imagawa

Middle East & North Africa 

EGYPT: Backlash for democracy promotion

On Monday, a Cairo court convicted 43 Egyptian and foreign employees of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) of working without a license and receiving foreign funds, with prison terms ranging from one to five years. Except for one American, all 27 foreigners had left the country on bail before the start of the trial and were sentenced in absentia. Five organizations, predominantly working in the field of democracy promotion, will be closed as a result of the verdict, including the U.S.-based International Republican Institute and the National Democratic Institute. The trial had dragged on for more than a year after Egyptian authorities had raided several NGO offices in December 2011. Comment: The verdict is based on a law stemming from the Mubarak era. A draft for a new NGO law presented by President Morsi to the Shura Council, the country's upper house, was heavily criticized by the U.S. State Department and human rights organizations last week for imposing too much government control and restrictions. The sentence of a political activist on Monday to six months in jail for insulting the president adds to concerns over the government's commitment to civil liberties and human rights. Opposition to the Islamist-dominated government is also reflected in last Sunday's ruling of the country's Supreme Constitutional Court, which declared the Shura Council and the Constituent Assembly invalid on grounds of unconstitutional electoral laws. (Al Jazeera, Al Arabiya, Daily News Egypt, Al Jazeera, Daily News Egypt, Daily News Egypt)

 

SYRIA: Regime defeats rebels in battle for strategic city of Al Qusayr

Both state television and Syrian rebels confirmed the recapture of Al Qusayr by the Syrian army on Wednesday after more than two weeks of besiegement and heavy fighting. Iran, a close ally of Assad and supporter of Hizballah, whose fighters are backing Syrian government troops, congratulated the Syrian army and people for their victory over the "terrorists." In a first reaction, the Syrian National Coalition, the opposition umbrella group, announced that the "Free Syrian Army commits to carrying on with the fight for freedom and justice." At least five rockets launched from Syria hit a Hizballah stronghold in Eastern Lebanon only a few hours later. Comment: The loss of Al Qusayr means a serious setback for the rebels, who relied on the Western border town for supply of weapons and fighters. Pressure on the international community to act might also increase as tests conducted by Britain and France show that the nerve agent sarin has been used in Syria. The United States and Russia are still pressing for "Geneva 2" peace talks; however, the conference had to be postponed to July since both sides "are not ready," according to a statement by UN envoy Lakhdar Brahimi on Wednesday. (Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera, Khaleej Times, Al Arabiya, Al Arabiya, Syrian Coalition (Press Release)

 

TUNISIA: National Constituent Assembly completes constitution-drafting process

On Saturday, the President of the National Constituent Assembly (NCA), Mustapha Ben Jafaar, signed the third and final draft of Tunisia's new constitution, bringing a fifteen-month-long drafting process to an end. Adoption of the draft, which requires approval by two-thirds of the assembly's members, would pave the way for parliamentary and presidential elections, thus replacing the interim government under President Moncef Marzouki that has been in power since December 2011. Comment: The NCA, elected in October 2011 and dominated by the moderate Islamist al-Nahda party, is divided on a range of issues, notably on the role of religion in public life, women's rights, and the form of government Tunisia should have. Previous plans by al-Nahda to declare Islam as "the main source of legislation" was met with heavy resistance and violent protests by secular parties and civil society groups. The proposition was subsequently dropped, as well as constitutional provisions to prohibit blasphemy. In a statement, Amnesty International recognized improvements over previous drafts but criticized insufficient protection of some basic rights, such as the provision that freedom of expression can be restricted through national laws if the government views the rights and reputation of others at risk. (Al Arabiya, Magharebia, Amnesty International

 

Researched/Written by Anke Rehfeld

South Asia

AFGHANISTAN: U.S. Soldier pleads guilty to massacre, many unsatisfied

On Wednesday, U.S. Army staff sergeant Robert Bales plead guilty to the murder of 16 Afghan civilians, nine female and seven male, including both adults and children, which occurred on March 11 of last year.  The guilty plea removes the possibility of Bales receiving the death penalty; a jury will decide later this year whether his life sentence will be with or without parole. This ruling has frustrated the victims' families, many of whom had been calling for the death penalty.  The BBC quotes one man whose mother, uncle and cousin were killed, "The criminal is not being punished. We want him to be dealt with as his deeds deserve." Comment: As the most significant war crimes trial to come out of U.S. involvement in Afghanistan, the ruling on the Bales trial will likely color the future of U.S./Afghan relations.  Post-traumatic stress disorder, alcohol, and drug use have been raised as contributing factors during the trial and may lead to further questions about military culture.  (BBC, Huffington Post, New York Times)

 

BANGLADESH: Fallout continues from textile factory collapse

The April 24 building collapse, which has killed over 1100 individuals, continues to cause fallout within Bangladesh. On Wednesday, protesters who had gathered near the ruined factory to demand compensation were dispersed by police with tear gas. In addition, U.S. lobby group Making Change have flown two victims of the collapse to join striking Wal-Mart staff in protesting the company's annual meeting in Arkansas on Friday.  Meanwhile, Simco Group, the supplier who owns the collapsed factory, has been "red listed" by Wal-Mart with many other retailers following suit, and reports orders being only half what they were six months ago.  Comment: Massive casualties from the April 24 collapse brought poor working conditions into the international limelight, but the best way to address this issue is still being debated and may affect textile supply chains throughout South Asia.  Initial response to public outcry has been large companies severing ties with those suppliers with poor working conditions, but some commentators suggest that staying and improving conditions through the continued relationship would be more responsible. (Guardian, New York Times, Reuters)

 

PAKISTAN: Sharif elected Prime Minister, speaks out against drones

Nawaz Sharif was sworn in on Wednesday evening as the new Prime Minister of Pakistan and begins his term with a strong mandate, having received over five times the votes of his closest rival.  A veteran of Pakistani politics, Mr. Sharif was first elected in 1993 and again in 1997, but was removed from office and exiled during Gen. Musharraf's 1999 coup, only returning to Pakistan in 2007.  In a post-election speech, Mr. Sharif highlighted political corruption and continued U.S. drone strikes among the challenges facing Pakistan. Comment: Sharif campaigned on a platform that would limit U.S. influence within Pakistan, and his call to end drone strikes was central in his first speech as Prime Minister.  Analysts are divided as to whether this is simply rhetoric to appease public resentment, or whether it represents a radical break from current Pakistani/U.S. relations.  (Al Jazeera, Dawn, New York Times) 

 

Researched/Written by Thomas Oldfield

June 7, 2013
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In This Issue
Featured Article
Africa
Americas
East Asia
Europe & Central Asia
Middle East & North Africa
South Asia

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John Prendergast, IPSI Advisor and Founder of the Enough Project, writes in POLITICO: "Susan Rice and Samantha Power, up close"
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Fatou Bensouda, ICC Prosecutor and IPSI faculty, urges UN Security Council to "take action to end impunity in Darfur."
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