AUTHOR:
TerrorismCentral Editorial Staff
TITLE:
TerrorismCentral Newsletter - November 10, 2002
SOURCE:
TerrorismCentral, November 10, 2002
TEXT:
This week our feature article provides a detailed look at one area of the Caucasus, the Chechen Republic. This concludes the 2-part series about this troubled mountain border region. Watch next week for a report on a meeting with Kevin Mitnick and his new book on social engineering.
CONTENTS:
NEWS HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK:
1. World
2. Africa
3. Americas
4. Asia Pacific
5. Europe
6. Middle East
7. South Asia
8. Cyberterrorism and Information Warfare
9. Finance
10 Human Rights
11. Law and Legal Issues
12. Narco-terrorism
13. Transportation
14. Weapons of Mass Destruction
15. Recently Published
FEATURE ARTICLE:
The Caucasus Part 2: The Chechnya Story
Hundreds of thousands of demonstrators rallied in Florence, Italy to protest war against Iraq. These followed a number of rallies in the US that attracted tens of thousands last week.
International environmental issues were raised in several forums this week. A conference on traditional and alternative medicines using herbs and spices, and other noninvasive remedies discussed how these techniques could be integrated with western medicine and contemporary needs. The United Nations (UN) called for limiting damage to the environment in conflict situations. And the annual Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CIRTES) began. Among other things, the CITES delegates are discussing the best way to ameliorate threats to fishing.
The UN unanimously approved a resolution requiring Iraq to
Key articles this week include:
Hoyos, Carola. Et al. “The UN Resolution on Iraq” special coverage in the Financial Times, November 9-10, 2002
Jorda, Michael J., “What might trigger a war with Iraq?” in The Christian Science Monitor, November 8, 2002
Schifferes, Steve. “War in Iraq and the economy” BBC News, November 8, 2002. Online at http://news.nnc.co.uk/2/hi/business/2420059.stm
United Nations. Security Council Unanimously Agrees to Return UN Weapons Inspectors to Iraq. Articles online include Kofi Annan’s remarks at http://www.un.org/apps/sg/sgstats.asp?nid=146, the text of the resolution http://www.un.org/News/dh/iraq/iraq-blue-e-110702-1198.pdf and information about the monitoring commission and the International Atomic Energy Agency http://www.iawa.org/worldatom/
Weisman, Steven. “U.N. Plans Immediate Test of Iraq Inspections” in The New York Times, November 10, 2002. (Includes a review of the final wording changes.)
See additional references regarding US plans for war in Iraq and new weapons and tactics in the Americas section below.
2. Africa
The government of Burundi and the rebel Forces for the defense of Democracy (FDD) deadlocked over ceasefire talks. The rebel National Liberation Forces (FNL) already pulled out of the talks. Fighting has continued and tens of thousands of refugees have fled their homes. Former President Jean-Baptiste Bagaza, is under house arrest on charges of planning a coup and assassination.
Cameroon and Nigerian leaders will meet to discuss the continued issues over the Bakassi peninsula, under UN auspices.
Government and rebel parties in the Democratic Republic of Congo are making progress in negotiations, reaching broad agreement on how to proceed in the transition to a power-sharing government. Meanwhile, plunder of resources in DRC was the topic of additional discussions in the UN Security Council, following the report last week of their continued illegal exploitation. For a sense of how unsettled the situation remains, read Declan Walsh’s article “Liberation turns to looting as anarchy reigns in Congo” in The Independent, November 7, 2002 online at http://news.independent.co.uk/world/africa/story.jsp?story=349977
Djibouti will host the command center for US special operations conducting military operations in the Horn.
Ghana’s ambassador to Russia was the latest victim of a series of racial attacks in Moscow.
The situation in Ivory Coast is fragile. Shantytowns in Abidjan are being demolished, causing massive displacement. Peace talks were suspended after a leading rebel was killed and efforts to restart the talks have been unsuccessful.
Mauritania is accused of continuing to practice slavery, taking no steps to stop the practice although it has been banned for twenty years. Amnesty International (http://www.amnesty.org) has issues a report documenting the details.
Peace talks in Somalia have resumed.
South African authorities have identified suspected white extremists in connection with the recent Soweto explosions. John Carlin asks “Is this the end of the rainbow for South Africa?” in his article in The Independent, November 7, 2002 online at http://news.independent.co.uk/world/africa/story.jsp?story=349566 (Also see Law and Legal Issues, below.)
A major outbreak of Leishmaniasis, a serious parasitic disease, is a new and terrible byproduct of Sudan’s continuing war.
Eight suspects in the Tunisian synagogue bombing have been arrested in France.
Zambia has protested distribution by aid workers of genetically modified maize, which has been banned by the government.
The situation in Zimbabwe continues to deteriorate. According to the UN, the GDP is expected to contract by an additional 12 percent and inflation to rise to 200 by December. Officials have accused the US of planning an invasion and have instituted visas for British visitors, but have banned UK Prime Minister Blair from travelling there.
3. Americas
Canadians continue to face new, unexpected difficulties at the US border. See Clifford Krauss “On Border Ire, Canada Sayd: Blame U.S.” in The New York Times, November 8, 2002.
Colombia continues actions against local rebel groups. France helped negotiate the release of 879 hostages held by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). Right-wing paramilitaries continue their incursions in cities such as Medellin. And the impact of government actions against the rebels is having dramatic effects on the civilian population. See The Economist “Colombia’s conflicts: More order and less law” in the November 9, 2002 issue, Juan Forero’s article ”Colombia Takes Aim At Rebels In Its Cities” in The New York Times, November 4, 2002 and reports from the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (http://www.unhcr.org)
Nicaragua’s President and Vice President have been charged with fraud and theft, but since both positions are immune from prosecution, it is unclear how the cases could proceed. President Bolanos said he would give up immunity but has not done so.
The US assassinated a suspected senior al Qaeda member, Qaed Salim Sinan al-Harethi and five others, apparently including one American. They were killed by remote control using a hellfire missile shot from Florida and landing on the group’s car in Yemen. Use of this tactic is controversial, not least because US officials continue to say they are opposed to Israel’s use of “targeted killings”. (An article on this issue is forthcoming.)
US authorities have warned that the execution on November 14 of Mir Aimal Khan Kansi, convicted of the 1993 murder of two CIA operatives, could trigger a variety of terrorist attacks. Kansi asked that his death not be avenged.
Additional analysis of the radio communications systems in the World Trade Centers in New York City show that the electronic repeaters did not fail, as was previously suggested. For details, see Jim Dwyer and Kevin Flynn’s article “9/11 Tape Raises Added Questions On Radio Failures” in The New York Times, November 9, 2002
Following more violence in Venezuela, the OAS and others are helping to mediate talks between the government and its opposition.
4. Asia Pacific
At the end of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) meetings last week, the group appealed to western governments to stop issuing travel warnings that are unjustified and will adversely effect their economies. They have also pledged continued cooperation in the fight against terrorism.
Australian authorities deny targeting Muslims in a series of recent armed raids that had raised criticism from Malaysia, Indonesia and others.
At China’s Communist Party Congress, the Muslim Uighur ethnic group from the northwest has been generally banned as posing a security risk.
After releasing all of the people initially arrested in connection with the October 12 bombing in Bali, Indonesia, authorities have made new arrests and say they have additional leads. Early questioning of the suspects indicates ties to al Qaeda and targeting of Americans.
Also in Indonesia, the militant Islamic Defenders Front has renounced the use of violence.
The Malaysian state Kedah will install surveillance devices to deter political sermons in mosques.
New Zealand has cancelled a nighttime street carnival celebrating the opening of the news Lord of the Rings movie because of security concerns. Instead, there will be a daytime event.
North Korea has said it will consider undertaking additional development and testing of nuclear arms should discussions over their program fail, but that the existing nuclear agreement was not void.
Thailand has increased security measures following information that militants in Jamaah Islamiyah may have planned the Bali bombing from Thailand and that there could be other al Qaeda connections and other plots.
5. Europe
Belgium is featured in a new World Report in the Financial Times. “Belgium: Corporate survivors, high taxes, diamonds, tourism and sporting triumphs” was published on November 8, 2002 and is available online at http://www.ft.com/belgium2002
A UN peace proposal for Cyprus will be presented to Greece and Turkey this week.
France’s Sangette refugee camp was closed to new arrivals at the beginning of the week and already the mayor of Calais has called for it to be reopened in face of new immigrants sleeping rough; the reason the camp was originally opened.
Eight people were detained by French authorities near Lyon in connection with the Tunisian synagogue bombing, including the brother of the truck driver.
Georgian authorities secured the release of kidnapped British banker Peter Shaw, following a gun battle with the kidnappers in the Pankisi Gorge.
Germany is investigating claims that Red Army Faction (Baader-Meinhof Gang) leader Ulrike Meinhof’s brain was removed for study following her 1976 suicide. Her daughter has asked for the return of the brain for burial with the rest of the body, and asks why evidence of a possible tumor that could have affected her behavior had been suppressed.
Italy hosted hundreds of thousands of anti-war protesters in Florence, demonstrating their opposition to war in Iraq.
Russian authorities report the current death toll from the Moscow theater siege as 128, including five from gunshot wounds.
Turkey has remained calm and seems ready to adapt to two-party government, not an 8-party coalition, following the landslide election in favor of the Islamist-based Justice and Development (AK) Party.
Another Turkish prisoner, Serdar Karabulut of the People’s Revolutionary Liberation Party/Front (DHKP/C), has died on hunger strike. He is the 58th hunger striker to die since the protests against prison conditions began two years ago.
Ukrainian officials have been unable to disprove the sale of military systems to Iraq. US authorities say that Ukrainian authorities are not cooperating in the investigation.
UK Home Secretary David Blunkett caused widespread consternation by a strongly worded warning that Britain faces dirty bombs, poison gas and suicide attacks. Less than an hour after the report was released it was withdrawn for a less strongly worded version, saying an administrative error had led to the release of an earlier draft.
Northern Ireland’s warring loyalist paramilitaries, the Ulster Defence Association (UDA) and Loyalist Volunteer Force (LVF) have said their feud is over and blamed Johnny “Mad Dog” Adair for having fueled the dispute with erroneous information that led to three deaths in eight weeks.
The political crisis with the continued suspension of the power-sharing government is being addressed in a series of meetings and review of the Good Friday Agreement, while violent attacks continue around the region, including a crucifixion-style impaling attack.
6. Middle East
Women from 18 countries attended the Women’s Summit in Jordan. They discussed civil rights and the enfranchisement of women.
In the Gaza strip, Israeli forces killed two Palestinians in Rafah, and a Palestinian gunman shot dead to Israelis in a Jewish settlement. An International Committee of the Red Cross official was kidnapped then freed.
Iran’s political struggle over reform proceeds, with parliament approving a bill giving President Mohammed Khatami the ability to suspend judicial rulings he considers in violation of the constitution and removing the right of the Guardians Council to veto electoral candidates. The parliament has also approved a draft law to put the same blood money value no a non-Muslim life as that for a Muslim. Women will still be rated at half that of men.
Iranian officials arrested and deported one of Osama bin Laden’s sons along with around twenty others who had entered the country illegally.
Israel will have early elections in January, after Prime Minister Sharon was unable to come to terms with far right parties. A suicide bomber killed two and injured 30, in a shopping mall near Tel Aviv. Amnesty International issued a report documenting war crimes committed during Israeli incursions in the West Bank last spring. (http://www.amnesty.org)
In Jordan, preachers from the political wing of the Muslim Brotherhood, the Islamic Action Front (IAF) issued a series of fatwahs against the US. Jordan has detained dozens of Islamic militants, some involving gun battled in the south, but still has no lead on the recent assassination of a US aid worker. One of the most wanted, Mohammad Shalabi, (Abu Sayyaf), was wounded but escaped.
Kuwait closed the local office of al-Jazeera satellite television accusing it of bias.
In the West Bank, the Israeli army shot and killed Iyad Sawalha, suspected member of Islamic Jihad. After this assassination, troops withdrew from Jenin. A botched suicide bombing attempt at a checkpoint killed two. Yasser Arafat’s Fatah movement and leaders from Hamas are discussing an end to Hamas’ suicide attacks.
The UN relief agency says that Palestinian refugees face an acute humanitarian crisis with some areas seeing 80 percent unemployment and 25 percent acute malnutrition. Curfews and travel restrictions have strangled the local economies and caused deterioration in healthcare, including a reduction in vaccination levels. (http://www.un.org/unrwa/org/index.html)
Yemen was the scene of the first use of a remotely targeted hellfire missile fired from a pilotless drone to assassinate suspected senior al Qaeda member, Qaed Salim Sinan al-Harethi and five others.
7. South Asia
Afghanistan continues to experience high levels of insecurity, with armed disputes breaking out over local issues as well as anti-government and anti-US-troop attacks.
In honor of Ramadan, President Hamid Karzai gave amnesty to twenty female prisoners. A UNICEF and US CDC survey shows that Afghanistan has one of the world’s highest rates of maternal mortality, accounting for almost half of all deaths in women ages 15-49.
Bangladesh continued its anti-crime drive. Authorities have ordered surrender of all weapons and ammunition by November 15.
Indian police killed two men, alleged members of the militant Lashkar-i-Toiba group, in a shopping mall in New Delhi. The National Human Rights Commission has asked for an investigation into the incident after accusations that the two men were unarmed at the time of the shooting. Security during the Diwali holiday shopping rush has been increased.
In Indian-administered Kashmir, a grenade thrown at a border patrol missed and exploded among shoppers, injuring ten. Indian troops killed two suspected Muslim rebels when they tried to invade an army camp.
In Nepal, gunmen shot dead a US embassy guard. A bomb explosion killed one and injured two. The incidents are likely the work of Maoist rebels.
The opening of Pakistan’s new parliament has been delayed over a dispute over the organization of the coalition, in which an Islamic hardliner was proposed as the premier.
The second round of peace talks in Sri Lanka made great progress, with agreement to democracy across the entire country, including the Tiger-controlled areas in the north and east. The third round of talks take place in Norway in December. Meanwhile, fishing restrictions in the northern coast have been lifted.
8. Cyberterrorism and Information Warfare
MessageLabs reports an 80 percent increase in spam since January.
Mi2g reports an increase in attacks in Southeast Asia by hacker groups in Indonesia and Malaysia with militant Islamic and anti-western messages.
Symantec reports Internet attacks are growing by 64 percent year to year.
Nationwide building society in the UK plans to implement electronic signatures to combat fraud.
9. Finance
The United Arab Emirates central bank has begun registering and certifying hawala transfer agents to help curb money laundering.
Forty countries approved the blood diamond certification plan. The process still lacks independent monitoring, which could lead to abuse.
A crackdown on fuel laundering in Northern Ireland shut down a plant and a number of vehicles transporting illegal fuel.
10. Human Rights
See a special survey on migration, “The longest journey” in The Economist, November 2, 2002.
The United Nations Social, Humanitarian and Cultural Committee passed a draft treaty on torture, including global prison inspections, that will be presented to the General Assembly next month.
DR Congo police have arrested thousands of Hutu residents. Although the peace treaty calls for repatriation of soldiers, there are reports that civilian refugees are being expelled because of their ethnicity.
Although the Guatemalan government has agreed to pay $400 million compensation to victims of the 36-year civil war, the human rights situation is deteriorating. See the report of the UN Verification Mission online at http://daccess-ods.u.n.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/NO2/534/10/pdf/NO253410.pdf?OpenElement
Mir Aimal Kansi was convicted of the murder of two CIA operatives in 1993. His death by execution is scheduled for November 14. US authorities have warned that this could trigger a variety of terrorist attacks. Kansi asked that his death not be avenged.
The Mau Mau Trust says it is preparing to take the British government to court for human rights abuses in fighting in Kenya in the 1950s. See Mike Thompson’s article “Mau Mau rebels threaten court action” in BBC News, November 9, 2002 online at http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/2429227.stm
Nigerian authorities say they will take whatever steps are necessary to stop the stoning to death of Amina Lawal as sentenced by a Sharia court.
11. Law and Legal Issues
Feroz Abbasi’s appeal to British Court of Appeal that the British government should intervene in his detention without trial at US military base Guantanamo Bay, has been rejected but called “legally objectionable”.
Hashem Aghajari, an Iranian reform activist, was sentenced to death for insulting Islam.
A man called Amrozi has been arrested in connection with the October 12 bombing in Bali. He apparently owned the van used.
Respected Pakistani doctor Aamir Aziz, detained for suspected Taliban links, has had extradition to the US halted by a judge, who also asked for government response to petitions challenging his detention at all.
Jean-Baptiste Bagaza, former President of Burundi, is under house arrest on charges of planning a coup and assassination.
Leonardo Bertulazzi, former head of logistics of the Red Brigades, has been arrested in Argentina and will be extradited on an Interpol warrant to Italy.
James Bulman and Christopher Dineen were arrested in Ireland and accused with membership in the IRA, and having ammunition and explosives.
Anthony Thomas Friel, alleged Real IRA member, has been charged in Northern Ireland with possessing explosives.
A Greek appeals court has overturned the conviction of twelve British and two Dutch plane-spotters.
Five members of the Harakat ul-Mujahideen have been charged in Pakistani court with the US consulate attack last June. Their trial date is November 19.
William Harris, Emily Montague (Harris), Michael Bortin and Sara Jane Olson, formerly of the Symbionese Liberation Army (SLA), have pled guilty to a 1975 bank robbery and murder
James Kilgore, former member of the Symbionese Liberation Army (SLA) was identified in South Africa shortly after four other SLA members pled guilty for a 1975 bank robbery and murder. South African authorities will not extradite to a country that will impose the death penalty.
Merabet Mestari was convicted in Algerian court of involuntary homicide in the death of a Berber held in police custody. The incident had sparked riots that killed more than 100. This sentence was received with scorn by relatives and other Berbers, who say it was inadequate for the crime.
Slobodan Milosevic’s genocide trial has been suspended for medical reasons.
Walid Naouar is one of eight people detained for questioning by French authorities. He is the brother of the man believed to have driven the truck that exploded outside the Tunisian synagogue in April.
Nasharuddin Nasir, arrested in April as an alleged member of the Malaysian Militant Group (KMM) has been released by a Malaysian court.
Irv Rubin, leader of the Jewish Defense League, apparently attempted suicide while awaiting trial for allegedly planning a series of bomb attacks.
Indonesian officers Major Jacob Sarosa and Lieutenant Camilo dos Santos have been indicted in East Timor for the 1999 murder of Dutch journalist Sander Thoenes and twenty other civilians.
Thomas Vorster, suspected senior member of the extremist Boeremag (Boer Power) group, has been arrested in connection with the Soweto bombings of last week. Six additional men are being sought for questioning.
12. Narco-terrorism
Two cases were brought in the US last week of alleged drugs for arms trades. The first was Operation White Terror, an undercover operation in Colombia that involved a trade of cash and cocaine for weapons and ammunition. Four accused on conspiracy charges in Texas include Uwe Jensen, Carlos Ali Romero Varela, Carlos Lopez and Commandant Emilio. The second case was a scheme in Hong Kong involving Syed Mustajab Shah, Muhammed Abid Afridi, and Ilyas Ali charged with attempting to exchange heroin and hashish for Stinger missiles.
Brazilian police have arrested two people allegedly using a coffin to smuggle drugs.
The Ghana Root Crops and Tuber Exporters Union asked for help from the Ghanian Ministry of Trade and Industry to combat the use of yam exports to conceal cocaine smuggling activities. See “Drug dealing hits Ghana’s yam exports” in BBC News, November 7, 2002 online at http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/2415225.stm
Gilberto Rodriguez Orejuela of the Cali cocaine cartel in Colombia, has been freed for good behavior after serving only half of his 15-year sentence. His brother, Miguel, scheduled to also be released, was sentenced to additional four years on a bribery charge.
13. Transportation
Daniel Michaels reports on a number of thefts in European airports that show security breakdowns in his article “In Europe, Heists At Airports Show Holes in Security” in The Wall Street Journal, November 8, 2002
Sharing of passenger data between the US and EU is unresolved. European data sharing requirements to secure privacy are much stricter than in the US, that has no national privacy policies.
Airport security is also the subject of a photography exhibit, the Insecurities Project, described by Sarah Boxer in her article “Say Cheese, For Airport Insecurity And for Art” in The New York Times, November 6, 2002
US and European officials are at odds over proposed port security plans. See Gregory Crouch’s article “U.S. Port Security Plan Irks Europeans: Retaliatory Steps Being Considered” in The New York Times, November 6, 2002.
14. Weapons of Mass Destruction
North Korea’s nuclear program continues to raise hackles (see Asia Pacific, above) but the US claims that, although North Korea is in possession of fissile materials (and Iraq is not) that it does not pose an imminent threat. Neighboring Japan and South Korea are more concerned, and discussions will continue, but North Korea insists on security undertakings on the part of the US before it will consider eliminating its weapons program.
The EU has proposed new rules to increase its powers over safety of nuclear energy and decommissioning of current installations
The threat of smallpox and the best response to an outbreak of the disease remains controversial. A Washington Post report this week suggested that in addition to the US and Russia, three other countries have smallpox stockpiles.
15. Recently Published
Coughlin, Con. Saddam: King of Terror, Ecco Press. (In the UK, Saddam: The Secret Life, Pan Macmillan”
Feltrinelli, Carlo. (transl. Alastair McEwan) Feltrinelli: A Story of Riches, Revolution, and Violent Death. Harcourt.
Hames, W. Travis and Frank Sanello. The Opium Wars: The Addiction of One Empire and the Corruption of Another. Sourcebooks.
Pollack, Kenneth M., The Threatening Storm: The Case for Invading Iraq. Random House.
Schwarts, Stephen. The Two Faces of Islam: The House of Saud from Tradition to Terror. Doubleday.
Weaver, Mary Anne. Pakistan: In the Shadow of Jihad and Afghanistan. Farrar, Straus Giroux
FEATURE ARTICLE: The Caucasus Part 2: The Chechnya Story
The second act of the musical Nord-Ost was just beginning before a packed house at the Dubrovka theatre when suddenly dozens of armed men and women in camouflage stormed the building. The shocked audience heard shouting, saw grenades and guns, and soon found out that the masked invaders were Chechens, proclaiming their desire for freedom from Russia.HOW TO CONTACT US:
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Editorial Team
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