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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 conflict management practitioners 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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Why Peace Processes Fail: Negotiating Insecurity After Civil War

Dr. Jasmine-Kim Westendorf


IPSI's very own Jasmine-Kim Westendorf, Academic Director of the 2015 Bologna Symposium, has just published her first book!

Why do so many post-civil war societies continue to be characterized by widespread violence and political instability? Or, more succinctly, why do peace processes so often fail to consolidate peace? Addressing this question, Jasmine-Kim Westendorf explores how the international community engages in resolving civil wars-and clarifies why, despite the best of intentions and the investment of significant resources, external actors fail in their reconstruction efforts and even contribute to perpetuating the very conditions of insecurity and conflict that they are trying to alleviate.

Africa  
SOUTH SUDAN: President Kiir voices concerns, but signs peace deal with rebels
On Wednesday, South Sudan's President Salva Kiir gave in to international pressure and signed a peace deal with rebels the government has been fighting for 20 months. Kiir had previously asked for more time to negotiate and discuss the deal with his advisors, but the United Nations threatened sanctions if he did not sign the deal within two weeks. Rebel leader and former Vice President Riek Machar signed the agreement in Addis Ababa last week. Per the terms of the agreement, Machar is expected to return to his previous position in the government as vice president. Fighting between forces loyal to Machar and Kiir began in December 2013, when Kiir sacked Machar and accused him of plotting a coup. Machar denied those charges and quickly assembled a rebel force to fight the government. Comment: In the signing ceremony, Kiir expressed misgivings about the power-sharing agreement as well as command over the South Sudanese armed forces. The agreement stipulates that fighting will stop immediately, with soldiers confined to barracks for 30 days and foreign forces required to leave within 45 days. A transitional government will come into office in 90 days, and rule for 30 months while a Truth, Reconciliation, and Healing commission will investigate human rights violations. (BBC, The Star Online, News24)
 
SOMALIA: Rash of terrorist attacks kill dozens of civilians
A string of attacks across the country this week killed dozens of people. On Sunday, an explosion in Mogadishu killed five civilians and injured seven others. The attack reportedly occurred near the Internal Security Ministry, but no connection has been established nor has any group claimed responsibility. A military training base near the southern city of Kismayu was the target of another car bomb on Sunday. The Islamist militant group al-Shabaab took responsibility and claimed that 100 soldiers were killed. Somali police forces countered that only 16 soldiers were killed and 21 others injured. Another attack by al-Shabaab on Wednesday killed seven people. The group attacked a government convoy traveling near the Kenyan border in the Gedo region. Comment: Al-Shabaab has stepped up attacks in the capital and other Somali cities since losing considerable territory to African Union troops. The Somali government was criticized on Monday by UN envoy to Somalia Nicholas Kay for their efforts to impeach the president. Kay said that lawmakers should instead focus on the threat of al-Shabaab and on establishing fair and safe upcoming national elections. (Associated Press, Somali Current, Reuters 1, 2, Al Jazeera)
 
SIERRA LEONE: Last Ebola patient released from hospital
On Tuesday, Sierra Leone's last known Ebola patient, Adama Sankoh, was released from the hospital after having been cleared of the disease, which she contracted from her 23-year-old son after he traveled to the capital of Freetown. Although her son died from the disease, Sankoh's release was greeted with crowds celebrating outside the hospital. Officials hope that the small West African country may finally have eradicated the epidemic, which has gripped the country since the first case emerged in West Africa in December 2013. No new cases of the virus have been reported in the country for two weeks and neighboring Liberia has also been declared Ebola-free. Guinea is the last remaining country where cases are still cropping up. Comment: Sierra Leone experienced its first case in May 2014. Out of the 11,300 people who died from the epidemic, approximately 4,000 of those were in Sierra Leone. (Al Jazeera, BBC, AllAfrica)

Researched/Written by Kaitlin Demchuk
Americas 
EL SALVADOR: Supreme Court declares gangs 'terrorist groups'
On Monday, El Salvador's Supreme Court declared gangs and their financial supporters to be terrorist organizations. The Court said the well-known Mara salvatrucha or MS-13 gang and any other gang that attempts to claim powers that belong to the state would be considered terrorists. It defined terrorism as the organized and systematic exercise of violence.  Due to the law, authorities can charge MS-13 and other groups under anti-terrorism laws, which carry harsher sentences. Terrorism charges carry maximum penalties of up to 60 years, compared to up to 20 years for homicide or up to 50 years for aggravated homicide. After weeks of increasing gang violence, residents reportedly reacted positively to the court's ruling. Comment: El Salvador's government rejected as many as four recent attempts by street gangs to negotiate. As evidenced by Tuesday's arrests of gang members reportedly preparing C4 and dynamite explosives for an attack on the attorney general and government institutions, analysts believe the refusals, combined with the court's ruling, will lead to increased violence and terrorist activity. (Al Jazeera America, Star Tribune, ABC News)
 
URUGUAY: Restrictions on teachers' right to strike
The Uruguayan government has declared education an essential public service, Education and Culture Minister Maria Julia Mu�oz said, after a series of strikes and labor actions by teachers. "The government and the Education and Culture Ministry have an obligation to ensure that all children and teenagers in the country attend class, and for that reason we are declaring all services related to teaching essential," Mu�oz said. The measure will be in effect for 30 days starting on Wednesday and applies to elementary and high schools, and the Trades University. The executive order reclassifying teaching as an essential service makes it mandatory for employees to report to work. After the executive order was announced, teachers, students, and union leaders demonstrated outside the Labor Ministry and the Executive Office Building in Montevideo. Teachers are seeking a starting salary of 30,000 pesos (USD 1,039) a month, up from the current 21,000 pesos (USD 727) and demanding an increase in funding for public elementary, secondary, and higher education. Comment: The right to strike, guaranteed in the Uruguayan Constitution, can be restricted if a service is declared essential to ensure human life, safety, or health. The strikes coincide with the parliamentary debates over the budget for the next five years involving adjustments in the wages of state officials; the strikes affect around 350,000 children enrolled in primary public schools and almost 30,000 students in secondary public schools. (La Prensa, TeleSur TV, Fox News Latino, EFE)
VENEZUELA:  Temporarily closes border with Colombia
Last Thursday, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro ordered the border with Colombia closed for at least 72 hours after three military officers were injured in the frontier city of San Antonio del T�chira. Venezuelan authorities claim that the officers were conducting a raid against "extraction contraband." According to the Venezuelan government, 40 percent of the country's subsidized goods cross the border into Colombia and are sold at higher prices. As part of a government crackdown against contraband, Venezuela closed the border in Tachira during night hours, deployed more troops, and toughened jail sentences for smuggling. It has also introduced a fingerprint-scanning system to restrict the amount of any single product shoppers can buy.  In the past year, government anti-smuggling operations have led to more than 6,000 arrests for smuggling and more than 28,000 tons of seized food. This is the first time that Maduro has issued a border closure between the two nations since he took office in 2013. Comment: Caracas and Bogota have a history of disputes over border crossings largely attributed to the drug trade, smuggling, and gang violence along the frontier. Analysts believe that the border closure, although temporary, will increase diplomatic tensions between the two countries. (El Pais, The Guardian, International Business Times, VOA News)

Researched/Written by 
East Asia & Pacific 
CHINA: Government considers prisoner amnesty
Chinese lawmakers are considering an amnesty bill that would affect a small percentage of the country's estimated 1.6 million prisoners. If adopted, the measure would make convicts who fought against the Japanese occupation and/or the Kuomintang eligible for release, along with prisoners over 75 years-old and those convicted while under 18, so long as their sentence was three years or less. Li Shishi, director of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee's legislative affairs commission noted that the "public should not be afraid," as prisoners convicted of serious crimes such as murder, terrorism, corruption, or "endangering national security" would remain incarcerated. The measure was introduced in the "spirit of the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II." Comment: Some observers have noted that the real effect of the potential pardon on China's prison population and overall incarceration rate will be minimal. Beijing-based China analyst Zhang Lifan told reporters that the measure represents "leniency on the surface, but only a small number of prisoners will benefit." Specifically, high-profile political prisoners such as Nobel laureate Liu Xiabo will remain in state custody even if the measure is passed. (Xinhua, South China Morning Post, CCTV, International Business Times)
 
NORTH KOREA/SOUTH KOREA: Governments agree to reduce tensions in wake of clashes
Officials from Pyongyang and Seoul announced Tuesday that they have reached a deal to "reduce tensions" after a series of incidents on their shared border. The talks were held at the Panmunjom "truce village" inside the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) that separates the two countries. As part of the agreement, North Korea has expressed "regret" for the wounding of two South Korean soldiers earlier this month when they activated what the South claimed was a North Korean landmine. For its part, Seoul has agreed to cease broadcasting propaganda across the DMZ via arrays of loudspeakers. Last week the two nations exchanged cross-border artillery fire, though Pyongyang has denied any involvement. Comment: Despite ongoing negotiations, South Korean officials announced that the North was engaging in potentially alarming military maneuvers both at sea and on land. As many as 20 North Korean amphibious landing craft and 50 submarines were thought to be at sea in the region. A Pentagon spokesperson told reporters that while the United States is aware of the North Korean military maneuvers, they have "not been at a level that is high enough to cause alarm." (Yonhap, BBC, Washington Post, Radio Free Asia)
 
THAILAND: Hong Kong journalist detained in Bangkok over protective gear
Hong Kong-based photojournalist Anthony Kwan Hok-chun was arrested while attempting to board a flight home from Bangkok on Sunday for possessing "military equipment" without a license. The items in question included a protective vest and a helmet. Hok-chun has been released on bail, but is barred from leaving the country. While Hok-chun has yet to be formally charged, the investigation is ongoing and he may face weapons charges. Hok-chun was reporting on the recent bombings in Bangkok. The Foreign Correspondent's Club of Thailand (FCCT) issued a press release Monday urging the government to refrain from pressing charges against the photojournalist, arguing that "Body armor and helmets used by journalists are not offensive weapons and should not be treated as such." The statement went on to note that many news organizations require their correspondents to have access to protective equipment when reporting in potentially dangerous areas. Comment: The FCCT also noted that similar action has not been taken against Thai journalists wearing protective equipment under potentially dangerous conditions. Some analysts are concerned that this incident is potentially emblematic of an increase in government-fostered xenophobia in the country since the military coup in 2014. (Bangkok Post, South China Morning Post, The Nation, BBC)

Researched/Written by Leet Wood
Europe & Central Asia
ARMENIA/AZERBAIJAN: Shelling between sides in Nagorno-Karabakh leaves several dead
On Tuesday, gunfire between Azerbaijani forces and Armenian-backed separatists in the breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh resulted in casualties on both sides.  Azerbaijan's Defense Ministry announced that three of its soldiers were injured during an alleged sabotage attempt by Armenian forces on August 22, while the de facto Defense Ministry in the breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh stated that Azerbaijan's forces shelled military positions inside its border.  Five Armenian soldiers and four Azerbaijani soldiers were reportedly killed in the clashes, with more than 20 injured on both sides.  It is unclear who initiated the violence, and reports of casualties have yet to be verified by outside sources.  Comment:  Armenia and Azerbaijan have been locked in a cold conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh, a region that seceded from Azerbaijan following the breakup of the Soviet Union in the early 90s.  The ensuing war between the Armenian-backed separatists in Nagorno-Karabakh and Azerbaijan claimed approximately 30,000 lives before a ceasefire was signed in 1994.  This is some of the worst violence seen in the region since the downing of an Armenian helicopter re-kindled fear of an escalation to the conflict last November. (RFERL, Today'sZaman, DeutscheWelle)
 
AUSTRIA:  Dozens of refugees found dead inside truck
On Thursday, up to 50 refugees were found dead inside a truck located on a parking strip in the Burgenland state of Austria.  The bodies inside the vehicle, which had Hungarian license plates and was registered to a Romanian citizen, were decomposing at the time of the discovery, so it is unclear how long the migrants had been dead or how exactly they died.  Comment: The discovery was made as German Chancellor Angela Merkel met with several leaders from the Balkan states to discuss how to deal with the current migrant crisis in Europe.  Countries which took part in the talks included Macedonia and Serbia, two of the countries which have witnessed massive numbers of refugees attempting to get into the EU crossing their borders.  Hungary has become the EU's main entry point for migrants, as it is a member of the Schengen zone.  Approximately 28,300 refugees have applied for protection status in Austria in the first half of the year alone.  Many of them are coming from war-torn Syria. (Al Jazeera, Euronews, Deutsche Welle)
 
HUNGARY:  Border officials clash with refugees at border with Serbia
On Wednesday, border officials met refugees attempting to cross the border with Serbia into Hungary with violence.  Officers were witnessed firing tear gas at the crowds and rounding up some 300 to 400 people while addressing them through loudspeakers.  The clashes allegedly occurred after hundreds of migrants refused to be fingerprinted before crossing over the border. In response to the rising number of refugees attempting to cross the border, Hungary's government announced that it will deploy approximately 2,100 police officers to support officials along the border with Serbia.  The government is also considering deploying the military to deal with the situation. Comment:  Fingerprinting would mean that the refugee's asylum applications would be finalized and they would not be permitted to leave Hungary, according to a reporter from Al Jazeera. Many of the migrants are seeking to enter wealthier EU states such as Germany and the UK by crossing over into the borders of eastern and southern EU member countries which share generally open borders with these states. (Euronews, DailyNewsHungary, AlJazeera)
 
KOSOVO/SERBIA:  Landmark agreement signed
The governments of Serbia and Kosovo on Wednesday signed an agreement seen by many as an important step in normalizing ties between the countries.  The agreement, which has been touted as a "landmark achievement" by the European Union's foreign policy chief, Federica Mogherini, established local powers for 10 regions in Kosovo with Serb majorities, and also gave Kosovo its own international phone code.  Other areas of the agreement dealt with issues of energy supply and the use of a bridge in the town of Mitrovica in north Kosovo.  This agreement was viewed by many officials within Kosovo as de facto recognition by Serbia of Kosovo's independence, which it declared in 2008 after a brief but violent war with Serbia in the late 90s. Comment:  The compromise between the two countries is also viewed by many officials in both countries and the EU as an important step in the EU integration process.  In order to become a member state, Serbia is required to normalize ties with Kosovo as one of the stipulations of a 2013 EU brokered agreement. (BalkanInsight, BBC, euobserver)

 Researched/Written by Matthew Brainovich
Middle East & North Africa 
IRAN/UNITED STATES: Iranian activists launch campaign in support of nuclear deal
This week, Iranian pro-democracy activists launched an online video campaign in support of the Iran nuclear deal. In the videos, activists urged the U.S. Congress to accept the deal and refuted opponents' claims that the deal would legitimize the human and civil rights abuses of the Iranian regime. Many of the activists who posted videos have been imprisoned in Iran for their work or their participation in pro-democracy movements, and some are forced to live in exile. One of the campaign's organizers, Mohammadreza Jalaeipour, said, "these video messages show that those who have paid the highest prices for the cause of democracy and human rights in Iran are supporting the deal."  Comment: The nuclear deal was established last month after lengthy international negotiations. The highly-partisan U.S. Congress will vote on the deal in mid-September, with President Barack Obama vowing to veto any attempts to reject the deal. (Reuters, The Guardian, The Washington Post)
 
LEBANON: Cabinet fighting stalls resolution of trash crisis despite protests
Hundreds protested the government in Beirut over the weekend as the city's ongoing trash crisis remains unresolved. The "You Stink" campaign called for an end to the trash problem and for the resignation of the Lebanese cabinet. Security forces clashed with protestors on Sunday, injuring hundreds and killing at least one civilian. On Tuesday the cabinet had an emergency meeting to find a solution to the month-long trash crisis, but six Hezbollah members and their allies walked out of the session after several hours. The cabinet then rejected the bids by private companies to start collecting city waste. Comment: The garbage crisis began when the city's largest landfill reached maximum capacity and shut down in July. Private companies have attempted to win city contracts to collect the mounting piles of garbage, but many protestors are demanding that the government instead resume the duty. The crisis highlights the sectarian differences within the Lebanese government. (Al-Arabiya, Daily Star, Al Jazeera, Reuters, Associated Press)
 
SYRIA: Self-proclaimed Islamic State blows up ancient temple
On Tuesday the self-proclaimed Islamic State (IS) released images of the destruction of the Baalshamin Temple in Palmyra. The 2,000-year-old Roman-era temple was allegedly destroyed for being a pagan temple. The images showed the temple rigged with explosives and one showed the area from a distance under a large plume of smoke. The explosion is believed to have taken place on Sunday. This follows the murder of an elderly antiquities specialist in Palmyra last week. Analysts believe he was killed because he would not disclose where the Syrian government had hidden ancient artifacts in the weeks before IS captured Palmyra in May. Comment: The incident is the latest in IS's attack on Syria's heritage. Throughout Syria and Iraq, IS has destroyed shrines, ancient buildings and artifacts, saving only those that they sell for profit on international markets. The group demolishes structures and items that it considers to be tools of idolatry and heresy that do not belong in their self-styled caliphate. (Associated Press, Al-Arabiya, Reuters)
 
Researched/Written by Marlee Clayton
South Asia
AFGHANISTAN: Spike in violence continues as gunmen kill coalition troops in Helmand Province
Two coalition troops were shot and killed in their Humvee in an insider "green-on-blue" attack in southwestern Afghanistan on Wednesday. Coalition forces subsequently killed the two attackers, who were wearing Afghan military uniforms. The coalition has not confirmed the nationality of the two dead men, but they are believed to be American troops who were at Camp Bastion in Helmand to help train Afghan forces. The attack is the second green-on-blue attack on coalition forces this year and comes days after three civilian contractors were killed when an explosives-laden vehicle attacked their convoy in Kabul. Comment: Helmand province has been a hotbed of Taliban activity this year, with the group particularly strong in the north. Earlier on Wednesday, the Taliban seized the strategic district of Musa Qala in northern Helmand. Per the New York Times, coalition forces are set to provide air support for the Afghan military's operation to take the district back. (ToloNews, The Washington Post, The New York Times)

INDIA/PAKISTAN: Pakistan withdraws from September meeting in New Delhi on illegal drug trade
On Wednesday, Pakistan withdrew from an early September meeting with India and other Southeast Asian nations over the problems posed by the robust regional narcotics trade. The meeting, which is being held under the auspices of the Colombo Plan, will be hosted in New Delhi on September 11. Pakistan had been invited after reportedly expressing interest in attending the meeting, during which India is planning to share information it has about Pakistani drug lords. Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and Myanmar are among the countries expected to attend the summit. Comment: In its note apprising India of its withdrawal from the narcotics talks, Pakistan reportedly did not give a reason for its decision. The cancellation comes just days after the Pakistani government called off talks between India and Pakistan's national security advisors; however, the commanders of Indian and Pakistani forces along the disputed Kashmir border reportedly still plan to proceed with a previously-arranged September 9 meeting. (Express Tribune, Reuters India, Economic Times)

NEPAL: Proposed constitutional reforms spark deadly protests
Protests over Nepal's new proposed draft constitution turned deadly on Monday when protesters in Tikapur broke curfew and attacked local police officers. Reports conflict over how many people died in the clashes, but the latest estimates state that eight police officers and three civilians perished. The police officers were reportedly attacked with knives and spears, and some reports say that one officer was covered in kerosene and set on fire. The protesters in Tikapur, which is the Kailali district of Western Nepal, were members of the Tharu ethnic group, which had been pushing for lawmakers to include a province for them when they redistrict Nepal as part of the new constitutional negotiations. When the newest version of the draft constitution was presented to Nepal's parliament on Monday without a separate province for the Tharus, thousands of protesters took to the streets. Comment: Nepal has been plagued by protests in recent weeks by Tharus and other minority ethnic groups, who feel they have been marginalized throughout Nepal's history. The Nepalese government responded to the violence by announcing an indefinite curfew, and revealed plans to deploy the army to Kailali to keep the peace. Work on Nepal's new constitution began in 2008, two years after the end of the country's bloody Maoist insurgency. (The New York Times, The Himalayan Times, The Guardian, Hindustan Times)

Researched/Written by Lawson Furguson
August 28, 2015
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