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2. Africa

An investigation in Burundi has confirmed that the deaths of 173 people last month were at the hands of the army. Two officers have been arrested for their involvement.

Foreign troop withdrawals from the Democratic Republic of Congo have proceeded at a fast pace. The last of the Rwandan forces have left.

Ethiopian police have arrested five men from the secessionist Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) accused of responsibility in the hotel bombing of last month.

A ceasefire between the government and rebel soldiers has been negotiated but the signing has been delayed.

In Kenya, survivors of the bombing of the US embassy marked its fourth anniversary. None of the 5,000 people injured in that attack have received direct compensation, and indirect contributions to local social services have ended.

Mozambique has celebrated ten years of peace, following the end of the civil war. The former rebels, now in the Renamo party, joined the celebration when 14 of their supporters were freed from prison. See Barnaby Phillips article, “Mozambique’s decade of peace” in BBC News, online at http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/[programmes/from_our_own_correspondent/2300077.stm

The tiny country Sao Tome and Principe on the west coast of Africa has become of interest to the US as a possible home to another military base and source of additional oil. Neighboring Nigeria and Angola are watching the situation with interest. See Jon Lee Anderson’s article “Our New Best Friend” in The New Yorker, October 7, 2002.

In another illustration of factionalism, the Rahanwein Resistance Army (RRA) has attacked and taken over a town in southwestern Somalia. A group of 12,000 Bantu refugees were given the right to emigrate to the US, but treatment of those favoring female genital mutilation is complicating the situation.

Peace talks between the government of Sudan and the rebel Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) will resume again on October 14.

Uganda has agreed to have peace talks with the rebel Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA).

Zambia, already facing criticism over the refusal to accept genetically modified (GM) food despite the famine, has also cracked down on the use of US dollars. Hoping to stabilize the exchange rate, companies have been until October 7 to switch to the local currency or face sanctions.

Zimbabwe police arrested opposition leader Roy Bennett and his retinue. Leaders of the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) have barred President Mugabe from having a role in the organization.

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3. Americas

Threats from drug barons shut down much of Brazil’s capital just before elections. See “Rio paralysed days before polls” in BBC News, October 1, online at http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/2289212. Troops have been called in to secure the elections. It looks like a second round of voting will be needed to select the next president.

Colombian police stopped an attempted jailbreak by imprisoned Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and National Liberation Army (ELN) rebels. The Colombian government is investigating how to quickly raise money and damage the narcotics industry in one move by seizing the estates of the drug lords. US special forces are training Colombian troops and also providing security for the Cano Limon oil pipeline, a frequent subject of bombing attacks.

A UN report documents that over a thousand children have been murdered in Honduras in the last four years, mostly by the security forces. See Fergal Keane, “Honduras’s child killings” BBC News, October 5, 2002 online at http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/from_our_own_correspondent/2300217.stm

In the US, the Department of Justice has claimed progress in the “war on terrorism” with the arrests of another alleged al Qaeda cell, a guilty plea from “shoe-bomber” Richard Reid, and a 20-year sentence for “American Taliban” John Walker Lindh.

In the Congress, the house passed an agreement for a resolution on Iraq, and the Senate began debate. Homeland security legislation is deadlocked over the issue of workers rights. Congress did pass a fiscal authorization law that included language to acknowledge Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, an act that the Bush administration said was unconstitutional and would be ignored.

The US Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) has begun to routinely fingerprint and photograph visitors from some Arab and Muslim countries as they register on arrival in the US. Malaysia and Pakistan have criticized the new measure. The US apologized to the Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister who was forced to remove his shoes and belt in Los Angeles airport even with his diplomatic passport.

Venezuelan President Chaves says another coup plot has been foiled.

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4. Asia Pacific

UN war crimes investigators are reviewing allegations that Australian special forces illegally tortured and executed two pro-Indonesian militiamen during a peacekeeping mission in East Timor in 1999.

In China, a suicide bomb killed himself and injured 18. The motive is unknown at this time.

Hong Kong has passed a controversial anti-subversion law. See “Death by slow boiling” in The Economist, September 28, 2002

Battles between the military and the police are causing Indonesian President Magawati concern. Last week, soldiers attacked a police office, killing four. Twenty soldiers involved in the attack were discharged. The attack followed the arrest of a soldier on drugs charges.

Japan and North Korea continue to exchange information on the Japanese who were kidnapped by North Korea, including details of the deaths of eight. 13 survivors were seen in a video shown to the Japanese saying they are happy in North Korea, but their families are not convinced this is true.

North Korea, briefly one corner of the “Axis of Evil” hosted an American diplomat for discussions, including US concerns over arms proliferation.

The US Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) has begun to routinely fingerprint and photograph visitors from some Arab and Muslim countries as they register on arrival in the US. Malaysia and Pakistan have criticized the new measure. The US apologized to the Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister who was forced to remove his shoes and belt in Los Angeles airport even with his diplomatic passport.

A nail bomb in the Philippines killed a US soldier and two Filipinos. Abu Sayyaf were blamed for the attack.

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5. Europe

In another potential trade war, the European Commission is preparing to retaliate against US import duties on uranium.

Russia, Iran, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan border the Caspian Sea. The Financial Times has published a regional report that includes the key issues around oil that has been discovered in the region, including how much oil and how it will be split up, transportation, and ecology. The report, published on October 1, is available in an expanded version on line at http://news.ft.com/ftreports

Georgia has agreed to extradite five unnamed Chechen rebels to Russia.

Italian authorities have arrested three Egyptians on suspicion of plotting terrorist attacks against the American Cemetery, airport, and fast food restaurants. They have not yet bene charged.

Spanish police arrested seven suspected members of the Basaque separatist group ETA. The subsequent investigation uncovered an arms depot. With the separatist political party Batasuna outlawed, ETA has said it will now target those in or supporting the two main political parties.

The offices of Sinn Fein in Northern Ireland were raided. Based on information removed from the office, four people were arrested, including Dennis Donaldson, head of administration. Party supporters demonstrated against the raid. The Unionists have seized on allegations of Sinn Fein involvement in violence to ask again for their exclusion from the shared government. The Good Friday accord is seriously challenged by all of these recent events.

In continued sectarian violence, the murder of Geoffrey Thomas Gray has been attributed to loyalist tensions.

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6. Middle East

While the Arab world simmers over the threat of war with Iraq, the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians continues unabated.

There were demonstrations in Gaza protesting the US law that called for recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. Although the US Bush administration has said it will ignore this statement, it has not calmed Palestinian anger at the action. This came at the second anniversary of the current intifada, in which 322 children have been killed – 250 Palestinian and 72 Israeli. Amnesty International has published a report in painful detail on the children of this conflict, available online at http://www.amnesty.org. The United Nations chastised Israel for preventing 170,000 Palestinian children form going to school because of the military closures and curfews.

Israel ended a 10-day siege of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat. Prime Minister Sharon gave in to pressure from the US, and is now being criticized in Israel for his actions, which seem to have strengthened Arafat’s position again. The respite in the West Bank was brief; Israeli soldiers are back in the compound to watch for militant suspects.

Israeli’s cabinet expressed concern that UK Prime Minister Tony Blair said that UN resolutions apply to Israel as much as to Iraq. Iraq is cause for greater concern, however, as it was targeted by Iraq in the 1990 war. Israel plans to use a new missile shield (see Michael Gordon’s article in the New York Times, October 6) to combat scud missiles and is evaluating even broader use of smallpox vaccinations.

Lebanese authorities have detained at least ten people suspected of ties to al Qaeda

In the occupied West Bank, two children and an Israeli soldier were killed. Arafat, no longer under siege, is stronger now than he has been for some time. Plans to implement a Prime Minister as part of constitutional and political reforms have been dropped. He has signed a law naming Jerusalem as the Palestinian capital, in defiance over the US law saying it should be recognized as the capital of Israel.

Following another car bomb, this one claiming the life of a German worker, the head of Saudi security has resigned. The attack was blamed on illegal traders, not terrorists.

A French oil tanker has exploded in Yemen. The ship owners believe it was a terrorist attack modeled after the USS Cole, a charge the Yemeni government denies. The French government is awaiting the results of the forensic investigation. One crew member is believed to have died; the rest escaped.

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7. South Asia

Security in Afghanistan is threatened by continued lack of funds, with promised donations not arriving. At least six were killed in fighting between rival warlords in the west.For an interesting report on the ongoing air war, read Mark Bowden’s piece “The Kabul-ki Dance” in The Atlantic Monthly, November 2002 and Rupert Wingfield Hayes “Doubts set in on Afghan mission” in BBC News, September 28, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/from_our_own_correspondent/2285638.stm.

In the Indian state of Bengal, clashes between the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and Socialist Unity Centre of India killed five.

Karnataka, an Indian state in the south, has voted to refuse to release water to neighboring Tamil Nadu state, in defiance of the court order.

A curfew was imposed in the Indian state of Gujarat following more sectarian violence that injured at least six. Tension has been high since the temple attack last week that killed over 30.

Violence in Indian-controlled Kashmir continues at the start of third round state elections. More than two dozen were killed this week, including a grenade attack on a bus, an explosion at a school, and gun battles.

India and Pakistan both conducted missile tests last week, both capable of carrying nuclear warheads.

Nepoal’s Prime Minister asked King Gyanendra to postpone elections due to the levels of violence. The King promptly sacked him and his cabinet. This has created a political crisis, as parliament attempts to find a way to retrieve power usurped by the King.

Colombo, Sri Lanka, is hosting an international conference on child soldiers. See Harrison, Frances. “Colombo meeting on child soldiers begins” BBC News, October 1, 2002. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/2289722.stm

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8. Cyberterrorism and Information Warfare

If you haven’t yet read – and commented! – on the US “National Strategy to Secure Cyberspace” let us know by email to   and we’ll send you the contact information.

The US Federal Bureau of Investigation has named the top 20 security flaws – ten for Windows and Ten for UNIX. And the National Institute of Standards and Technology has released four new guides for countering cyber attacks. Email info@terrorismcentral.com for details.

Microsoft has released data on its Watson bug reporting service. It claims this has significantly increased the stability of its software.

Given the spread of the latest major email virus – Bugbear – they’d better improve their means of communicating this information to home users, and making it easier for them to undertake the necessary system repairs that, right now, require significant expertise and systems capacity. Bugbear is a worm that can capture personal information and delete installed security software. It exploits a Windows operating system flaw, as well as flaws in Outlook.

Bugbear is though to originate from Singapore or Korea. The international flavor of cyber attacks continues to increase and is definitely the trend to watch. Pro-Islamic groups, including the Unix Security Guards (USG) and its members, increased its activities by ten times last month, to highlight political issues in the Middle East. See the report from security firm mi2g.

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9. Finance

Mounir El Motassadeq, Ramzi Binalshibh, Zakarya Essabar and Said Bahaji have been added to the list of al Qaeda operatives whose assets are frozen. German investigations uncovered the alleged links. Motassadeq is in custody in Germany, Binalshibh in the US, and the other two are at large.

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10. Human Rights

Colombo, Sri Lanka, is hosting an international conference on child soliders. See Harrison, Frances. “Colombo meeting on child soldiers begins” BBC News, October 1, 2002. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/2289722.stm

In a measure designed to move towards the human rights reforms demanded for admission to the European Union, Abdullah Ocalan, leader of the separatist Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), imprisoned in Turkey, has had his death sentence commuted to life imprisonment.

There have been additional suicide attempts among those detained by the US in Guantanamo Bay. Details have not been forthcoming.

The European Union attempted to develop a collective response to the US demand for blanket exemption against the International Criminal Court, but has succeeded only in alienating human rights groups, while leaving the US authorities unsatisfied.

Switzerland has convened a meeting to update the Geneva Conventions that regulate the rules of war.

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11. Law and Legal Issues

Mohdat Abdullah has been convicted of lying to a US customs official. He was sentenced to 6 months jail but because of time already served will be deported now. There was no mention of the original allegation that he helped three of the September 11 hijackers get drivers licenses.

Palestinian leader Marwan Barghouthi appeared in court in Israel to determine whether he would need to stay in prison during the lengthy trial. There were numerous disruptions during the hearing.

Jeffrey Leon Battle, Muhammad Ibrahim Bilal, Patrice Lumumba Ford, and October Martinique Lewis were arrested on suspicion of being part of a terrorist cell conspiring with al Qaeda. Ahmed Ibrahim Bilal and Habis Abdulla al Saoub are also wanted but have not yet been arrested.

Boualem Bensaid and Smain Ait Ali Belkacem are on trial in terrorism court in France for alleged involvement in a bombing campaign in the public transport system in 1995.

Kerim Sadok Chatty who was arrested in Sweden on suspicion of planning to hijack an airplane, has been released. Investigations continue into the incident and he has been asked to regularly report to police.

John Walker Lindh, the “American Taliban” has cooperated with US authorities in their investigation and to complete the plea bargain, has been sentenced to 20 years in prison.

Former Argentine President Carols Menem appeared in court but refused to testify. He is being investigated for an undeclared Swiss bank account.

Jim Monaghan, Martin McCauley and Niall Connolly, Irish Republican Army (IRA) associates held in Colombia on suspicion of providing training to local militant groups, were due to appear in court and set a trial date. The three men refused to leave their cells, and the hearing has been adjourned until October 16.

The trial of Slobodan Milosevic has fireworks this week as he confronted the current President of Croatia, Stipe Mesic, who was testifying against him.

Zacarias Moussaoui’s trial for his alleged role in the September 11 hijackings has been moved from January 6 to June 30 to provide enough time to prepare the case.

Abdullah Ocalan, leader of the separatist Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), imprisoned in Turkey, has had his death sentence commuted to life imprisonment.

Colonel Juan Valencia Osorio of Guatemala has been convicted of ordering the 1990 murder of anthropologist Helem Mack. He received a 30-year prison sentence.

Biljana Plavsic, former Bosnian Serb leader, is the first accused in the Yugoslav tribunal to plea guilty of crimes against humanity.

Richard Colvin Reid, the “Show bomber” pleaded guilty to all eight charges against him, despite keeping in working that linked him to al Qaeda.

Jonathan Randal, a reporter, has appeared at the International War Crimes tribunal to argue that reporters should be exempt from testifying.

Tharcisse Renzaho who was governor of Kigali during the Rwandan genocide, has been arrested in DR Congo and sent to the International tribunal to face charges of helping organize the genocide.

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12. Narco-terrorism

Threats from drug barons shut down much of Brazil’s capital just before elections. See “Rio paralysed days before polls” in BBC News, October 1, online at http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/2289212. Troops have been called in to secure the elections.

The Colombian government is investigating how to quickly raise money and damage the narcotics industry in one move by seizing the estates of the drug lords.

The Dutch parliament has approved emergency legislation to fight drugs-trafficking that has sharply increased in the last two years.

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13. Transportation

The US Coast Guard managed to get more than $1 billion in funds that had been frozen pending establishment of the Department of Homeland Security, to support a modernization of the maritime emergency response system, as a mission-critical project.

In the ongoing US Congressional inquiry regarding intelligence failures, it was revealed that two of the hijackers were placed on CIA and State Department watch lists, but this information was never passed on to the Transportation Department and so were not added to the Federal Aviation Administration’s watch list.

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14. Weapons of Mass Destruction

Responses to bioterrorism have dominated discussions around the world. In particular, vaccination policies are under investigation. Questions surround the current versions of smallpox vaccine and their impact on the larger numbers of immune-suppressed individuals (transplant patients, cancer treatment, HIV-positive, etc). New, safer, anthrax vaccines are also needed. Several options for systems to isolate or quarantine infected individuals are in development, as are biological detection tools and early warning systems.

On a related topic, the role of the US in starting Iraq’s bioweapons program is being considered. The US government supplied Iraq with medical samples of anthrax, botulism, gas gangrene, and West Nile, among others. These were supplied during the Reagan administration, when Iraq was a US ally against Iran.

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15. Recently Published

Anderson, Jon Lee, “Our New Best Friend” The New Yorker, October 7, 2002.

Bowden, Mark “The Kabul-ki Dance” in The Atlantic Monthly, November 2002.

Economist. “Death by slow boiling” in The Economist, September 28, 2002

Economist. “The Unfinished Recession: A survey of the world economy” in The Economist, September 28, 2002

Gordon, Michael R. “Israel Set To Use New Missile Shield To Counter Scuds” in The New York Times, October 6, 2002

Harrison, Frances. “Colombo meeting on child soldiers begins” BBC News, October 1, 2002. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/2289722.stm

Hunt, Scott A., “The Future of Peace” On the Front Lines with the World’s Great Peacemakers” Harper.

Keane, Fergal. “Honduras’s child killings” BBC News, October 5, 2002 online at http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/from_our_own_correspondent/2300217.stm

Klein, Naomi. “Fences and Windows: Dispatches from the Front Lines of the Globalization Debate” Picador.

Langewiesche, William. “American Ground: Unbuilding the World Trade Center” Farrar Straus Girous/North Point

Mills, Nicolaus and Kira Bruner, editors. “The New Killing Fields: Massacre and the Politics of Intervention” Basic

Molavi, Afshin. “Persian Pilgrimages: Journeys Across Iran” Norton

Phillips, Barnaby, “Mozambique’s decade of peace” BBC News, October 5, 2002 online at http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/[programmes/from_our_own_correspondent/2300077.stm

Scroggins, Deborah. “Emma’s War: An Aid Worker, a Warlord, Radical Islam, and the Politics of Oil – A True Story of Love and Death in Sudan” Pantheon

Wingfield Hayes, Rupert “Doubts set in on Afghan mission” in BBC News, September 28, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/from_our_own_correspondent/2285638.stm


KEY ARTICLES ON IRAQ THIS WEEK:
Banerjee, Neela. “Stable World Oil Prices Are Likely to Become a War Casualty, Experts Say” in the New York Times, October 2, 2002

Barr, Cameron. “Iraq shifts US-Israeli equation” in The Christian Science Monitor, October 2, 2002

BBC Reports:
“China urges political solution on Iraq” October 3, 2002 online at http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/2295261.stm
“Diplomats wrangle over Iraq inspections” October 4, 2002, online at http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/2298099.stm
“Iraq warns Turkey over US attack” October 1, 2002 online at http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/2290545.stm
“Iraqi Kurds cement new partnership” October 2, 2002 online at http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/2294307.stm
“Iraqi’s response to Blair’s dossier: Full text” October 3, 2002 online at http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/2296223.stm
“US gets Franco-German snub on Iraq” October 2, 2002 online at http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/2293815.stm

Childs, Nick. “Iraq ‘may hand weapons to terrorists’” BBC News, October 3, 2002. Online at http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/2294883.stm

Dao, James “Closer Ties With China May Help U.S. on Iraq” in the New York Times, October 4, 2002

Fallows, James “The Fifth-First State?” The Atlantic Monthly, November 2002.

Fisk, Robert. “Nato used the same old trick when it made Milosevic an offer he could only refuse” in The Independent, October 4, 2002

Ford, Peter. “Antiwar voices rise, but with twist” in the Christian Science Monitor, October 2, 2002

Hoyos, Carola. “Russia drives a hard bargain on Iraq oil” in the Financial Times, October 4, 2002

Huband, Mark. “’No Iraqi link with al-Qaeda’ says France” in the Financial Times, 5-6 October, 2002

Jack, Andrew. “Putin in two minds over threatened war on Saddam” in the Financial Times, October 1, 2002

Jaffe, Greg and Carla Anne Robbins. “U.S. Is Placing Materiel in Gulf, Opens Iraqi Psychological Drive” in the Wall Street Journal, October 4, 2002

Khalaf, Roula and Stephen Fidler. “Divided by history, Iraq’s exiles search for a shared future” in the Financial Times, October 3, 2002

LaFranchi, Howard. “A veto dilemma for three nations: The US is expected to introduce a tough new proposal on Iraq inspections at the UN security Council this week.” In The Christian Science Monitor, September 30, 2002

Lieven, Anatol. “The Push for War” in the London Review of Books, October 3, 2002. Online at http://www.lrb.co.uk/v24/n19/print/liev01_html

Miller, Judith. “U.S. Faulted Over Its Efforts to Unite Iraqi Dissidents” in the New York Times, October 2, 2002

Opurdum, Todd S. and David Firestone. “Chief U.N. Inspector Backs U.S., Demanding Full Iraq Disclosure” in The New York Times, October 5, 2002.

Pelham, Nicolas. “Conflict leaves Jordan torn between two partners” in the Financial Times, October 2, 2002

Reynolds, Paul. “Will US and UK go it alone?” BBC News, October 2, 2002. Online at http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/2292147.stm

Rogers, David and Guy Chazan. “U.S. Seems Open to French Tack On Iraqi Weapons” in the Wall Street Journal, October 4, 2002

Rogers, David, David S. Cloud and Marc Champion. “CBO Estimates Cost of Iraq War” in the Wall Street Journal, October 1, 2002

Schlesinger, Robert. “Psychological warfare is part of US strategy” Boston Globe, October 2, 2002

Schlesinger, Robert. “US defends missions over Iraq” Boston Globe, October 1, 2002

Schmitt, Eric. “Pentagon Shows Videos of Iraq Firing at Allied Jets” in the New York Times, October 1, 2002

Tyler, Patrick E. “Firing Back From Iraq” in the New York Times, September 29, 2002

Tyler, Patrick E. “U.S. Is Dismissing Russia’s Criticism of Strikes in Iraq” in the New York Times, October 1, 2002

U.S. Central Intelligence Agency. “Iraq’s Weapons of Mass Destruction Programs” email for a PDF version of the unclassified report.

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FEATURE ARTICLE: Kidnapping

Kidnapping has primarily been a method by which criminals could raise money. When it is used frequently and where the hostages are killed, it has been an effective vehicle by which terrorists have spread fear within a community and generated publicity for their cause. (Note the recent article on the Munich Olympics.) Sometimes kidnapping crosses the line into human trafficking, where women are sold into forced labor and prostitution, children forced to become soldiers, slavery thrives. (A previous article has discussed this in detail.)

The focus of this article is kidnapping for gain. After an overview of the current kidnapping industry, we discuss the relationship between kidnapping and terrorism; personal protection; and incident response.

In the United States there have recently been a number of high profile missing and abducted children cases. The publicity attending these cases led to the institution of the Amber alert system for early notification of a missing child case, and much greater concern among parents. In fact, the number of kidnappings in the US is declining. The same is not true in much of the rest of the world.

Last year there were some 12,000 kidnappings for ransom around the world.

Groups such as the leftist rebel Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and the right-wing paramilitary United Self Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC) have very different goals, but both use a kidnapping and close ties to the narcotics trade to fund their activities. Colombia has been the kidnapping capital of the world for many years and last year saw about a third of all kidnappings. Most of these were of local residents. There have been an increasing number of local and national political kidnappings. And a small but growing number of international businessmen, particularly those in the oil industry. These activities funded local guerilla operations to the tune of more than $80 million.

Latin America overall accounted for more than half of all kidnappings. In addition to Colombia, Mexico, Brazil, Ecuador and Venezuela also have high numbers. The Central Asian countries of the former Soviet Union, especially in the area around Chechnya (Russia), and Georgia hold a prominent rank. In the top kidnapping nations. India and Pakistan have their share, as do Nigeria, Yemen and South Africa. In the last few years, the Philippines has had a large increase in the number of cases (many from Abu Sayyaf rebels who have a penchant for beheading their victims).

Kidnapping is on the rise for several reasons. Terrorist groups and criminal gangs financed by the Soviet Union or oil-rich Middle Eastern countries have had to find new sources of revenue at a time when the number of soft targets – tourists, aid workers and business travelers – has greatly increased.

Governments have responded to increased risk in two ways. First, they issue travel advisories to alert people to the risks. Second, governments make it clear that they will not negotiate with kidnappers. This latter principal has been enshrined in both international and local law.

Although kidnapping has been documented as far back as ancient Rome, modern international legislation to combat hostage taking began with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and has been extended since then, particularly after the airline hijackings of the 1970s and 1980s.

Countries that have had significant problems with hostage taking have implemented their own measures. For example, in Italy the assets of a hostage’s family will be frozen to prevent ransom payments. The problem with this is that, while helping to reduce the financial or other incentives for kidnapping, it greatly reduces the chances of a hostage being returned alive.

Globalization has made travel a fact of life even as international security is a thing of the past. What approach to personal safety works in this environment?

In most cases, the risk of kidnapping is very small and can be treated as one would other crimes, by being informed and paying attention. As with all other types of risk, individuals may have increased risk based on their personal profiles, or that of the company or institution they represent.

To evaluate your risk, you first need to understand from where threats could arise. This analysis is best done by an experienced professional, and should include

* What countries you operate in
* Your operational policies within those countries. (Oil facilities in Africa have recently been occupied by women shaming them into providing local employment and investment, in the face of and the disparity between the local economies and overt expatriate excess.) Areas to consider include local resources, local staffing, security measures in place, leadership, local community supplies and services (reciprocity), and accountability (bribery and corruption).
* Active terrorist and criminal groups in those countries
* Profile/visibility of the company and the individual employees
* Overseas residence versus travel
* Revenue/income
* History of prior attacks

Your risk management and crisis response policies, based on the known threats, will include

* Establishing the crisis management team. This would include the ultimate decision-maker and come combination of security, operations, legal advise, financial advise, and communications
* How far down the chain of command your involvement will extend: local employees versus expatriates versus visitors, suppliers to the company, home versus office
* Policies for protection of critical corporate data stored on portable devices.
* Other electronic surveillance and information security measures
* Policies of interacting with government entities, and what locations
* Internal and external communication policies including warning staff of the risks
* Provide training. (This could, for example, include protective driving and ways to see if you are being followed)
* Contingency plans to cover the work of key employees
* Use of protective escorts or other security personnel
* Note there are special requirements for situations involving schools, prisons, etc

Ongoing information is absolutely necessary to identify changes in risk. Make sure you have access to current information and use proactive notification services to alert you to changes in local situations. Some of this information is provided by government services, but there are a number of commercial firms that provide more timely and more detailed information as events unfold. This can even include wireless notification services while travelling.

Let’s start with the basics. Before travelling, consult the State Department web site at http://www.state.gov(and the local equivalent in your home country). This site provides high-level background information including common types of crime and other risks. It also provides a travel alert service. Take care to note the contact information for your embassy or consulate. For visits longer than a few days, consider registering your presence with them. (This can often be done online now.) Your travel agent may also provide useful contacts and information.

Other general safety tips include:

* Keep copies of critical documents – like your passport
* Travel details should be kept confidential; use only trusted travel agencies
* Arrange safe transportation in advance
* Keep an eye on your personal belongings
* Avoid publicizing your itinerary or developing a predictable routine
* Fit in with the environment by dressing and acting appropriately
* Avoid no flashy jewelry, clothes, cash or other indications of wealth
* Pay attention to your surroundings.
* If you think you are being followed go to a public area
* Look and act alert

Another level of protection is afforded when you have validated the background and identity of those with whom you will be doing business, travelling, or relying on for transportation or other services. (Kidnappers often rely on insider information, including disgruntled ex-employees.)

Organizations with international employees need to be prepared for longer-term risks and incorporate these measures in their risk management and crisis response plans. In the US, the State Department’s Overseas Security Advisory Council offers advice to its member companies. (Most US companies are eligible to participate.) But large companies increasingly turn to private firms to provide personal protection and crisis management.

Insurance companies provide kidnapping and ransom insurance, but they call in specialists to deal with kidnapping prevention and response. Experience is invaluable – but it’s best to borrow from others, rather than suffering it yourselves.

Governments frown on this type of insurance, but there is a significant upside to it. Since the insurers must manage their risk, they are very specific about the measures that must be taken to avoid a kidnapping. Crisis response is a last resort, and active intervention to be avoided at all costs, as it is an extremely high-risk endeavor. Pricing for insurance is based on the amount of risk mitigation you are willing to assume. (Note that ransom payments are not covered by insurance.)

If you are kidnapped, the first few minutes are when things are likely to go wrong, so try to stay calm to minimize the risk of a situation out of control, something both you and the kidnappers want to avoid. In addition,

* Be non-confrontational and respectful. If you are in a group, do not act as the leader.
* Balance accommodating the kidnappers demands with self-control that helps you appear able to take care of yourself, rather than helpless
* Pay attention to the details of your surroundings. This could help gather information that could be used for a later investigation and possible prosecution. (This is unlikely to happen; very few kidnapping cases are ever tracked down.)
* Do not try to escape; it’s a high risk alternative
* If given the opportunity, befriend the kidnappers – it helps to avoid talking about controversial topics like religion and politics
* Be patient. It could take a long time. Be aware of the Stockholm syndrome (identifying with the captors) and combat that with regular mental and physical exercise
* If a rescue attempt is made, get on the ground, cover your head, and stay still

The company’s response to a kidnapping needs to be set out in advance and practiced, just as with any other emergency procedure. Some of the considerations for your crisis response include:

* If you are contacted by the kidnapper and told that one of your employees has been held hostage, arrange a specific time or schedule for discussions. This puts you in control and gives you time to prepare for the negotiations.
* Record any messages but do not commit to any action beyond a schedule until you have time to contact your crisis response team. In later conversations, you will always ask for proof that the hostage is still alive.
* Contact the crisis response team and inform them of the situation.
* Contact your local resource. This could be the embassy or consulate; or your chosen insurance company or security firm.
* Use their guidance in the negotiations that will follow. Your discussions will be guided by the policies you have previously established regarding whether or not to pay ransom or make other concessions. Negotiations will include discovering the kidnappers’ requirements, negotiating those demands, and completing the exchange or other agreements. In many cases, there are established procedures common within the country. The experience of the local resources and the local situation is essential to determine the appropriate response.
* Make sure you have support for the affected family and colleagues of the victim
* Upon release, a period of rehabilitation and recovery will be required

In all cases, prior experience with such negotiations -- and the specific geography -- is essential.

For additional information, including a list of companies providing insurance and security services, please contact us by email to