1. Africa
2. Americas
3. Asia Pacific
4. Europe
5. Middle East
6. South Asia
7. Cyberterrorism and Information Warfare
8. Finance
9. Human Rights
10 Law and Legal Issues
11. Narco-terrorism
12. Transportation
13. Weapons of Mass Destruction
14. Recently Published

FEATURE ARTICLE:
Tunnel Security

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK

1. Africa

African leaders received short shrift from the developed North at the United Nations World Food summit. The meeting was well attended by African leaders, who called for free trade, an end to protectionist policies and food subsidies that kept African goods from global competition and for greater access to financial instruments and technology. Virtually no western leaders were at the meeting to hear these demands. Given the imminent starvation of some 12 million in southern Africa, this is, after all, of immediate concern.

The meeting was not helped by the presence of Robert Mugabe, President of Zimbabwe, who traveled to the World Food summit in Rome in defiance of the European Unions travel ban. At the meeting, he tried to make the case for his land policies (of confiscating and redistributing white-owned lands) but these policies are widely blamed for worsening the rising hunger in Zimbabwe, and he was largely isolated at the meeting.

Mark Doyle, a BBC West Africa correspondent, is moving to London. He has written an excellent article that highlights his experiences, called "Under the Same Sky". You can read it at the BBC News web site, at:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/from_our_own_correspondent/newsid_2045000/2045616.stm
In Angola, the crisis brought on by the demobilization of armed UNITA rebel forces, widespread displacement and food shortages has led to widespread malnutrition, with half a million in danger of starvation. The UN, criticized for not responding to the crisis, has been evaluating the situation and trying to acquire the necessary resources.

Hutu rebels from the Forces for the Defense of Democracy (FDD) in Burundi killed 13 in an ambush.

In the Congo, fighting between government forces and the Ninja rebels has spread closer to the capital, Brazzaville, killing dozens of civilians. The government has claimed that 60 rebels and four government soldiers were killed in repulsing the attack on the capital.

The Democratic Republic of Congo, striving for peace, has asked for more help from the United Nations. The UN is investigating possible sectarian clashes in the Ituri province in the northeast. Congo has also called on the UN to help expel Rwandan troops that still occupy much of the country and are accused of fueling genocide.

An attempted plane hijacking on a domestic flight in Ethiopia was defeated when security guards shot the two men dead.

Kenyan authorities have agreed to move over 5,000 Somali refugees from the dangerous border area so the United Nations high Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) can better see to their urgent needs.

Heavy fighting between the rebel Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy (LURD) and government troops continues near Monrovia, the capital of Liberia.

Diplomatic efforts to end the escalating conflict in Madagascar went nowhere, but President Marc Ravalomananas military success in lifting the blockade imposed by former President Ratsiraka has been successful. Mr Ratsiraka and his family have gone to France, leaving President Ravalomanana to proceed to develop a transitional government. He has dissolved the current government, reappointed the Prime Minister, and asked him to immediately put together a government of reconciliation.

Morocco made headlines last week with their intelligence successes against terrorist plots. Reports indicate that Morocco became a meeting ground for al Qaeda recruits in Morocco and from the UK, Kenya, Italy, Spain, Denmark, and Afghanistan. Four Saudi nationals allegedly involved in a ship bombing plot (similar to that against the USS Cole) were arrested. They are Hilal Jaber Awad al-Assiri, Zuher Hilal Mohammed al_Tbaiti and Abdullah Musagfer Ali al-Ghamdi.

In a related report, a Moroccan agent indicated that the government had successfully penetrated an al Qaeda cell and was able to gain valuable information, including indications that warned of attacks in New York in the summer or fall of 2001. As with other warnings, the details were passed on to US authorities. For more details, see Daniel McGorys article in the Times (of London) available online at:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,3-324191,00.html

Another judge in Nigeria has been murdered. Maria Theresa Nsa was hacked to death. There were few clues in the case, which has brought renewed attention to the lack of security offered these officials. In protest, area judges have gone on indefinite strike.

Rwanda is appearing in hearings that have begun at the International Court of Justice in the Hague to review the DR Congo suit against Rwandas role in the civil war, including massive civilian deaths, plundering natural resources, and many human rights violations. Rwandan troops still occupy large portions of DR Congo.

The United States has offered a $5 million reward for information leading to the capture of Felicien Kaubga, accused of financing the Interahamwe militia responsible for the 1994 genocide in Rwanda.

June 16 is the 25th anniversary of the Soweto uprising in South Africa. President Mbeki has led a march to commemorate the student uprising, and the children who died, in one of the major turning points in the battle against apartheid.

Sudan Peoples Liberation Army rebels have captured the town of Kapoeta, a strategic town in the south near the borders with Kenya and Uganda. This is a major defeat for the government, that called for US intervention in this attack that broke a US-brokered ceasefire.

With continued cooperation between Uganda and Sudan, the battle to defeat the Lords Resistance Army (LRA) goes on, while hundreds of rebels (accompanied by their families) continue their attacks.

2. Americas

In Brazil, 124 police officers allegedly involved in the Eldorado do Carajas Massacre of 1996 were freed, although the two senior commanders had been convicted of murder earlier this year. This decision comes in the wake of ongoing farm worker protests.

Canada hosted a meeting of the G8 foreign ministers who reported progress on the fight against terrorism in three areas: "strengthening security measures in our own countries and with each other; implementing and strengthening international measures against terrorism; and assisting other countries in implementing counterterrorism measures". Little progress was made in the way to move forward in the ongoing Israeli/Palestinian conflict.

Meanwhile, the G7 finance ministers also met. The main discussion, which will continue, was on the proposed switch in aid to poor countries from loans to grants.

Canadian intelligence is collaborating with the US and European investigations into the al Qaeda network. Niser bin Muhammad Nast Nawar, the Islamic radical responsible for the Tunisia bombing in April, may have planned the attack while in Montreal.

Colombian troops are fighting both the left-wing radicals and the right-wing paramilitaries, with more deaths on all sides. Meanwhile, the government is also attempting to destroy the new cocaine crop even while US support is in question while missing US funds are under investigation.

President Fidel Castro of Cuba is leading massive national protests, including marches and a referendum, reinforcing their ideological commitment and protesting US President Bushs policies against the Cuban government.

Guatemalans face a possible revival of terrorism, indicated by a recent rash of attacks against human rights activists and government opposition, most recently targeting journalists. Renewed violence and insecurity will exacerbate the countrys desperate economic situation, including widespread hunger.

Police in Peru have arrested two women and one man, members of the Shining Path, in connection with the car bombing of the US Embassy on March 20.

With impeccable timing, the US Bush administration deflected attention on testimony regarding FBI and CIA intelligence failures with an announcement from Attorney General John Ashcroft that a plot to detonate a bomb containing radioactive material had been thwarted. Chicago native and established petty criminal Abdullah al-Mujhajir (Jose Padillo) was allegedly responsible for this plot. He had been arrested in May and has now been denoted an "enemy combatant", transferred to military custody and denied the advice of his attorney.

A flurry of attention was directed on the use of dirty bombs and the myriad threats the ever-expanding al Qaeda network has contemplated. As further details emerged, it became clear there was no bomb, but concern over security of nuclear materials is long overdue. Several reports have focused on the ready availability of radioactive materials used in hospital treatments and the ways these could be better secured. Scenarios demonstrating the possible impact of such a bomb on a large city have also led to concerns over adequacy of emergency services and supporting infrastructure.

Now that the nuclear threat seems to have receded, voices have also been raised over the withdrawal of the civil rights of an American citizen, and the different treatment accorded different prisoners.

Congress has continued to develop a plan that will establish the proposed Homeland Security department. Oversight of the FBI and CIA is also a topic of concern.

The US has formally abrogated the Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) Treaty and immediately began testing the new missile defense system.

In Venezuela, President Hugo Chavez faces renewed protests from the same groups whose protests led to the short-lived coup earlier this year. He is shoring up support from his followers, and there are allegations that he is developing militia groups that can help defend him in case of another coup attempt.

3. Asia Pacific

The US energy company Unocal will stand trial in the US on accusations by the affected Burmese villagers of using slave labor and forcible relocation while building the Yadana pipeline from the Adaman Sea to Thailand.

Aung San Suu Kyi has begun to run into military government restrictions on her meetings. In a test of her freedom, she has left Rangoon on a pilgrimage to a Buddhist shrine in the southeast, a 2-day journey.

Tensions at the Burma/Thai border have increased and cross-border shelling has become common. Ethnic rebels and the drug trade both fuel the tension.

Crime in Cambodia is rising rapidly. There are now two mob killings per month and the number of rapes increased by a third over last year. Human trafficking is also a problem, especially with the sale of Cambodian babies to Americans for adoption. See the report by Sara Corbett in the New York Times Magazine of June 16.

The asylum crisis in China of North Korean refugees has escalated. Facing increasing numbers of North Koreans seeking refuge in foreign embassies, China has informed the embassies that they must be handed over to the authorities. This policy wont make it any easier for China to determine whether to send the refugees to North or South Korea, but so far the alliance with the North is holding.

Violence and protests continue in the Moluccas and Aceh provinces of Indonesia. Another politician from Aceh has been killed.

Elections have begun in Papua New Guinea. This is the first time that a president has served a full term, possibly signaling greater political stability. There are concerns that a jailbreak that freed 52 prisoners could be disruptive.

Philippine President Gloria Arroyo has said that the operation to rescue the Abu Sayyaf hostages (2 of 3 died) was appropriate and that now, with no hostages, the army would go full force against the Abu Sayyaf.

Vietnam has admitted it was partly responsible for the crisis last year among the hill tribes when they protested lack of religious freedom. Most of the people whom had fled the military crackdown have now been granted asylum in the US.

4. Europe

Cyprus is on high alert following warnings of possible attacks against the US and UK warships in the Strait of Gibraltar.

The Social Democrats have won a narrow lead in the Czech general election.

In Estonia, 8 former KGB agents have been charged with crimes against humanity for forcible deportation of civilians to Siberia in 1949.

French President Jacque Chiracs party has won an absolute majority in the parliament.

French anti-terrorist police arrested 5 people and have now placed 3 of them under investigation, suspected of connections to Richard Colvin Reid, the "shoe bomber".

German officials have identified Mohammed Haydar Zammar as an al Qaeda recruiter of the September 11 hijackers. Zammar, a German citizen and veteran of the war in Bosnia, was questioned after the attacks, but released with a one-year passport after they found insufficient evidence to hold him. He went to Morocco and has since disappeared. His family has filed a missing person report and German authorities have asked the US to explain his whereabouts, after reports that he may have been taken into custody by US authorities. The US has not responded to these requests.

The day after the US unilaterally withdrew from the Anti-Ballistic missile treaty, Russia withdrew from the START II treaty, calling it irrelevant in the face of current US policies.

After detaining a suspected ETA member near Valencia, Spanish police seized a large cache of explosives purported to be part of the Basque separatist groups plans to attack coastal tourist areas.

The British government stands accused of abrogating privacy rights under a draft order to extend the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act to allow not just police, intelligence, and tax officials to have access to individual email and phone records. Under this order all local councils and other public bodies including national health, postal, and food standards would have access to these personal communications.

The UK is also taking a leading role in tighter immigration policies across Europe. They propose a multinational border guard that could react quickly against human trafficking and to speed up deportations.

Escalating sectarian violence in Northern Ireland occurs in parallel with the peace process. Now, the level of violence has reached such heights that it has called into question the status of the ceasefires and the role of the Irish Republican Army (IRA) and its political wing, Sinn Fein as well as links between security forces and loyalist paramilitaries. Events this week included rioting, shootings, petrol bomb attacks, beatings, and vandalism.

Protestants loss of political control, with the election of a Sinn Fein mayor, is thought to have fueled the latest crisis. Changing demographics in the ratio of Catholics to Protestants are likely to continue to exacerbate the situation, leading to more discussions around community policing and other activities to bridge the local community divisions.

Nelson Mandela has visited Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al Megrahi in prison in Scotland for his role in the Pan Am 103/Lockerbie bombing. He has called for his move to a Muslim country where he could have visits from his family and has also stated that another appeal to the UK Privy Council or the European Court of Human Rights should be allowed.

5. Middle East

In Algeria, 17 civilians were killed in two attacks by suspected Islamic rebels, possibly members of the Armed Islamic Group (GIA) or Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat (GSPC). This brings deaths in June to 45; 670 this year.

Egyptian police have arrested Salah Hashem, a founder of al-Gamaa al-Islamiya (the Islamic Group).

Fighting in Gaza and a roadside car bomb detonated by Israeli troops firing on the car, led to the deaths of at least 4 Israeli soldiers and one Palestinian.

Irans Guardian Council has rejected a parliamentary bill to ban torture.

Iraq continues to prepare for an invasion by the US, where government rhetoric continues to insist on the presence of weapons of mass destruction and the imminent need for a "regime change".

Suicide bombings and military reprisals continued in Israel and the occupied territories last week. One Israeli and 6 Palestinians were killed.

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has met with US President George Bush, who agree that a Middle East peace conference and a Palestinian state would be premature, pending reform of the Palestinian Authority and an end to violence. Their joint discussions by no means made US policy clear, as alternate views and proposals emerge almost daily.

Israels Foreign Minister, Shimon Peres, has resumed contacts with Palestinian officials.

Israelis have welcomed a heatwave and the start of construction of a wall (a "security barrier") against the porous West bank, whence many suicide bombers have originated.

Israeli authorities have released Mohammed al-Barzawi, a member of Lebanese Hezbollah, after 15 years in prison as a step towards talks to release missing Israeli soldiers. Tensions at the Lebanese border remain high.

Libyan Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al Megrahi, in prison in Scotland for his role in the Pan Am 103/Lockerbie bombing, was visited by Nelson Mandela, who had been instrumental in his surrender for trial. After the visit, Mandela called for his move to a Muslim country where he could have visits from his family and has also stated that another appeal to the UK Privy Council or the European Court of Human Rights should be allowed.

Saudi Arabia continues to play a major role in discussions with the US over plans to work for peace in the Middle East. Military ties with the US (one of the chief complaints of Islamic militants, including al Qaeda) have been strengthened. Saudi Arabia has rejoined the Gulf maritime interdiction force and has begun joint military exercises again after a years absence.

The West Bank city of Ramallah was re-occupied by Israeli troops for three days. They surrounded Palestinian leader Yasser Arafats headquarters and arrested around 75 Palestinians. After he was freed again, Arafat called together his new cabinet for the first meeting after the recent reorganization of the Palestinian authority.

A bomb attack in the flashpoint city of Hebron in the West Bank killed 3 teenage Jewish settlers

Israeli forces have again entered Jenin in their search for militants. They have imposed a curfew

Yemeni citizens will be subject to special searches if they want to enter the US under a new Justice Department order.

6. South Asia

South Asia held its own conference on malnutrition. It was held in Bangladesh, which has the worst nutrition in the region.

Afghanistan was dominated by the events in the loya jirga this week. It had a shaky start, and the obvious influence of the US combined with the continued presence of the warlords led to justifiable concerns over influence and intimidation. But for the first time, national television broadcasts of a lively debate opened the issues to men and women alike across the country. Hamid Karzai was elected head of the transitional government. Discussions are continuing regarding its makeup. The pressing needs for international aid and security have not been diminished, but in the wake of this process, there is hope for national unity to tackle the huge challenges ahead.

Fresh sectarian violence in the Indian city of Gujarat has killed two.

Indian authorities have arrested Kashmiri separatist leader Syed Ali Geelani on charges of financing militants.

Tensions between India and Pakistan over Jammu and Kashmir have diminished over the last week. India has withdrawn warships, reopened airspace, and appointed a new Ambassador. But troops remain at the border, where sporadic shelling continues, albeit at a slower pace. At least six were killed this week.

The Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir has escaped another assassination attempt. Clashes between militant groups have killed 6 members of Hizbul Mujahadeen and one from Lashkar-e-Toiba. An attack by Islamic militants on Hindus killed five.

US Defense Secretary Rumsfeld alleged the presence of al Qaeda operating in Kashmir but later said there was no evidence for this.

In Nepal, Maoist rebels launched a major attack against government forces, killing around twelve soldiers and 100 rebels. In another attack on an army base, 51 rebels and 4 soldiers were killed.

A car bomb exploded outside the US consulate in Karachi, Pakistan. Eleven were killed and 512 injured. Forensic investigations are trying to establish whether this was a direct suicide bombing or a remote controlled device placed in the van.

Pakistan continues working with the US to crackdown on Islamic militants. More arrests have been made, including three men with alleged ties to Abdullah al-Muhajir (Jose Padilla).

Support for the Sri Lankan peace process has been confirmed by India, but they continue to demand the extradition of Velupillai Prabhakaran on charges of his involvement in the 1991 assassination of Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.

7. Cyberterrorism and Information Warfare

A referendum in North Dakota had 72% of voters favoring tighter privacy rules on their financial data. The rule requires permission before a financial services company can sell personal data. This new requirement conforms with terms of the federal Gramm-Leach-Bliley law.

Privacy concerns were also raised in the UK after release of a draft order to extend the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act to allow all local councils and other public bodies including national health, postal, and food standards to have access to personal email and telephone records.

Security concerns over the basic operating protocols and infrastructure of the Internet have been simmering. Physical vulnerabilities and recently discovered risks from the SNMP network protocol are receiving particular attention.

Commercial satellite receivers can pick up live pictures broadcast from spy satellites. Concerns that this could jeopardize security of troops on the ground have been dismissed.

8. Finance

Stock markets have reached their lowest point since the September 11 attacks. The persistent security threats combined with mixed commercial reports and economic news are blamed. However, a paper from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development called the Economic Consequences of Terrorism, suggests that the economic impacts of terrorism could linger and negatively affect the economy indefinitely.

Mercy Universal charity, based in London, has been linked to funding militants in Kashmir. The money is collected from expatriates. Dr. Ayub Thakur, head of the group, insists that all money goes to humanitarian purposes.

Investigations in a diamond robbery in Brussels in 2000 have led to raids on two people with possible terrorist links.

The United States has offered a $5 million reward for information leading to the capture of Felicien Kaubga, accused of financing the Interahamwe militia responsible for the 1994 genocide in Rwanda.

9. Human Rights

For more insight into child labor, read Humphrey Hawksleys article "Melting the Chocolate Slaves" available from BBC News online at:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/africa/newsid_2042000/2042474.stm

Irans Guardian Council has rejected a parliamentary bill to ban torture.

US President Bushs unilateral decision to treat Abdullah al-Mujhajir (Jose Padillo) as an "enemy combatant" has led to protests by human rights and civil liberties groups. He, a US citizen, faces indefinite detention without charge. This treatment has also been contrasted with that of those who have been put on trial, including John Walker Lindh.

The United Nations World Food summit was well attended by African leaders, but largely ignored by the developed west. Attendees called for free trade, an end to protectionist policies and food subsidies that kept African goods from global competition and for greater access to financial instruments and technology.

The United Nations war crime tribunal of Slobodan Milosevic heard testimony from US officials that he had personal knowledge of the Kosovo massacre.

10. Law and Legal Issues

Hilal Jaber Awad al-Assiri, Zuher Hilal Mohammed al-Tbaiti and Abdullah Musafer Ali al-Ghamdi were arrested in Morocco in May for allegedly plotting attacks against ships in the area. They are suspected of ties to al Qaeda.

Mohammed al-Barzawi, a member of Lebanese Hezbollah, has been released by Israeli authorities, after 15 years in prison.

A lawsuit against Osama bin Laden and 164 others was filed in US court for compensation following the Nairobi and Dar es Salaam embassy bombings that killed 224 and injured more than 5,0-00.

Syed Ali Geelani, a Kashmiri separatist leader, has been arrested by Indian authorities on charges of financing militants.

Jose Jairo Garcia-Giraldo, leader of the Garcia-Giralso Organization, a major heroin smuggling group in Colombia, was arrested in New York, as well as 25 colleagues.

Salah Hashem, a founder of al-Gamaa al-Islamiya (the Islamic Group), has been arrested in Egypt and is being held for questioning.

Adam A. Hassoun has been arrested for immigration violations. He is alleged to be a colleague of Abdullah al-Mujhajir (Jose Padillo).

John Fredy Jimenez was arrested in Colombia under suspicion of having been hired to kill Archbishop Duarte last March.

The UN war crimes tribunal has dismissed an appeal by Dragolijub Kunarac, Radomir Kovac, and Zoran Vukovic against their conviction for crimes against humanity.

Nelson Mandela has called for Libyan Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al Megrahi, in prison in Scotland for his role in the Pan Am 103/Lockerbie bombing, to be moved to a Muslim country and allowed another appeal to the UK Privy Council or the European Court of Human Rights.

Vladimiro Montesino has been ordered to stand trial in Peru for the murder of three rebels following the siege of the Japanese embassy in 1997.

Zacarias Moussaoui has been judged mentally competent to represent himself. He has fired his lawyers, though it is likely representatives will stand by should the need arise. German authorities are trying to work with US prosecutors, but refuse to hand over evidence that could lead to his death. Moussaoui himself will not be allowed to see sensitive prosecution documents for fear the information could be passed on to potential terrorists. This could also have an adverse impact on his defense.

Darko Mrdja has been arrested in Bosnia for suspected war crimes.

Abdullah al-Mujhajir (Jose Padillo) was arrested in May and has now been declared an enemy combatant. A US citizen, he has been charged with no crime and is no longer allowed to see his attorney, who will appeal this decision in court.

French anti-terrorist police arrested 5 people and have now placed 3 of them under investigation, suspected of connections to Richard Colvin Reid, the "shoe bomber".

Reid had a pretrial hearing in Boston, Massachusetts, where one of the charges against him was dropped. His lawyers want his confession to be disallowed because it came under the effect of sedatives.

11. Narco-Terrorism

Paula Kaihla has written an interesting article, "The Technology Secrets of Cocaine Inc." about the complex information technology infrastructure used by drug cartels in Colombia. It was published in the July issue of Business 2.0.

In a joint US/Colombian operation, a major Colombian drug smuggling ring has been broken up. There were 25 arrests, in New York and Colombia, including Jose Jairo Garcia-Giraldo, the leader of the organization. One of their smuggling methods was to dissolve the heroin into clothing, transport the clothes, then extract the heroin and prepare it for sale.

Mexicos attorney general has said that the Arellano Felix organization is largely intact despite the arrest of more than 2,000 members and death of Ramon Arellano Felix, their enforcer.

Peru has seized 1.76 tons of cocaine and arrested 27 members of the Tijuana cartel after a warehouse raid.

12. Transportation

The US Coast Guard issued a national alert regarding possible terrorist threats from swimmers and divers.

New rules proposed by the US Justice Department would require screening at flight schools for aircraft over 12,500 pounds.

The Transportation Security Administration will be one of the largest users of biometric-enabled smart cards, offering them to 10-15 million air, rail, maritime, and highway workers. Registered travelers will also be offered smart cards to help speed the boarding process.

13. Weapons of Mass Destruction

The US has formally abrogated the Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) Treaty and immediately began testing the new missile defense system. The next day, Russia withdrew from the START II treaty, calling it irrelevant in the face of current US policies.

Following the incarceration of Abdullah al-Mujhajir (Jose Padillo) for his alleged participation in developing a dirty bomb, flurry of attention was directed on weapons of mass destruction. This risk has been known for many years, but little attention paid to it. Concern over security of nuclear materials is long overdue. Several reports have focused on the ready availability of radioactive materials used in hospital treatments and the ways these could be better secured.

Prior to this arrest and the current flurry of attention, The Nations June 24 issue features articles on the theme to "End the Nuclear Danger: An Urgent Call".

Its not just in the US, either. Dozens of experts are searching for radioactive generators in Georgia (former Soviet republic). This major search was inspired by the discovery of stray Strontium 90 that had been abandoned in the forest and made two forestry workers ill when they accidentally discovered it.

The US state of South Carolina is refusing to accept shipments of plutonium sent by the US Energy Department. The state governor has declared a state of emergency and placed troops at the borders to keep the trucks, en route from a location in Colorado that is being closed down.

14. Recently Published

Corbett, Sara. Baby Launderng": The mysterious origins of Cambodian 'orphans' and the complex ethics for Americans adopting them. New York Times Magazine, June 16, 2002.

Doyle, Mark. "Under the Same Sky". BBC News, June 15, 2002. Online at:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/from_our_own_correspondent/newsid_2045000/2045616.stm

Hawksley, Humphrey, "Melting the Chocolate Slaves", BBC News, June 13, 2002. Available online at: http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/africa/newsid_2042000/2042474.stm

Johnston, David, Don Van Natta Jr. and Judith Miller. Qaedas New Links Increase Threats From Far-Flung Sites. New York Times, June 16, 2002

Kaihla, Paula, "The Technology Secrets of Cocaine Inc." Business 2.0, July 2000.

FEATURE ARTICLE:

Tunnel Security

Last weeks feature discussed the case of the Sangette refugee shelter in France, near the main crossing points to the UK. Passage of refugees through the Channel Tunnel is one aspect of Sangette that has generated controversy, because of the apparent ease with which putative immigrants enter the UK illegally.

This week we look at what security risks exist and what tactics are and can be used to mitigate these risks.

While the Channel Tunnel is used as a method of transport for people from one country to another, its greatest function is to support an enormous amount of commercial traffic. This traffic represents one end of a complex system of commerce that extends from product creation through product consumption in an intricate and international supply chain network.

Thousands of participants in these myriad supply chains can be found passing through the Channel Tunnel at any one time.

Any one weak link in the chain can lead to a security breach.

Why is this of such concern? Illegal immigrants offer a low level of threat, but if they can be smuggled in, so can terrorists. While immigrants may only be carrying the clothes on their backs, there are fears that terrorists, taking advantage of the same security weaknesses, could enter with chemical, biological, or nuclear agents.

At Sangette, major responsibility for security lies with the following parties: