AUTHOR:
TerrorismCentral Editorial Staff
TITLE:
TerrorismCentral Newsletter - March 09, 2003
SOURCE:
TerrorismCentral, March 09, 2003
TEXT:
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:
FATF Money Laundering Typologies
2. Africa
In Democratic Republic of Congo, the parties reached agreement on all outstanding issues regarding the draft transitional constitution. But heavy fighting in the northeast where Ugandan troops have battled rebels of both the Congolese Movement for Liberation (MLC) and the Union of Congolese Patriots (UPC) overshadowed the agreement. There are still questions regarding the details of security and the role of an international force in serving while a unified army is established.
Ivory Coast has seen continued conflict among government, rebel and French troops, but efforts to form a government of national reconciliation have continued, with the aim of resolving the deadlock by March 14.
Kenyan women and their property rights is the subject of a Human Rights Watch investigation that finds that "property rights abuses in sub-Saharan Africa perpetuate women's inequality, doom development efforts, and undermine the fight against HIV/AIDS". See http://hrw.org/reports/2003/kenya0303/. Looking at efforts to reform Kenya's judicial system, Gray Phombeah writes of being "Inside Kenya's 'worst' prison" as he visits a notorious jail. See http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/2816217.stm
In Liberia, two aid workers who had been taken away by rebels of Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy (LURD), have been found dead. A third is still missing.
In northeast Nigeria, seven policemen and at least 37 civilians were killed in fighting between Fulani nomads and local farmers. Later in the week, opposition politician Harry Marshall was assassinated, in what appears to be yet another political killing. A reward of almost $80,000 for the capture of his killers is on offer.
In preparation for the beginning of the next round of peace talks later this month, the Sudanese government and rebels of the Sudan People's Liberation Army are reviewing three areas in the center of the country that are not clearly delineated along the north/south divide.
Ugandan rebels of the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) announced a ceasefire. Two boys abducted by the LRA have been charged with treason, an action that Human Rights Watch and others have protested. http://hrw.org/press/2003/02/uganda021903-ltr.htm
Zimbabwe is featured in a series of articles by Carolyn Dempster of BBC News http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/2818297.stm. US President Bush has signed an executive order imposing economic sanctions against Zimbabwean President Mugabe and 76 other government officials.
3. Americas
Argentine intelligence has identified four Iranian officials (and Lebanese Hezbollah) as involved in the 1994 bombing of the Argentine-Israeli Mutual Association that killed 85. A local judge has asked Interpol to arrest the four Iranian officials. Details of the intelligence report have not yet been released.
Brazil's Landless Rural Workers Movement (MST) has organized more land invasions, ending a truce because they have seen no movement towards land reform.
Colombian rebels continue to hide their secrets as the US continues to search for three US intelligence officers that were kidnapped three weeks ago. See Rachel Van Dongen's article "Perils face US rescue in Colombia" in The Christian Science Monitor, March 7, 2003.
At the Mexican border, there are reports of increasing tensions with US authorities as the new Department of Homeland Security increases border patrols. In the past month there were seven incidents of violence
Peru's coca farmers agreed to refrain from strikes and road blockages while the government works to gain financial support from the US for a new program that would replace coca with other crops.
Peru has enlisted help from Interpol to arrest former president Alberto Fujimoro and extradite him from Japan.
In the US, fears that war against Iraq could unleash a new wave of terrorism were expressed by increasing numbers, including Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge and FBI whistle-blower Coleen Rowley. The US Department of Education has developed a web site to provide schools with information on emergency preparedness. http://www.ed.gov/PressReleases/03-2003-03072003.html
And facing a likely war in Iraq, concern has also been raised regarding US treatment of prisoners. The Department of Defense released a draft military commission instruction, "Crimes and Elements for Trials by Military Commission", for public comment. (http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Feb2003/d20030228dmci.pdf). It lays out a proposed list of 24 war crimes to be judged by military tribunals. Since this continues the concept of unlawful combatants, it is not likely to help the prisoners held in Guantanamo Bay, where around 20 detainees have apparently been moved to a medium-secure area in reward for cooperation.
Interrogation of prisoners has also drawn attention this week; particularly after two prisoners captured in Afghanistan were beaten to death while being questioned at Bagram air force base. Their deaths have been listed as homicide, but not details regarding the internal investigation have been released. There are still more than 600 prisoners in Guantanamo being held indefinitely without charge and many more held elsewhere. Raymond Bonner, Don Van Natta Jr and Amy Waldman write of "Questioning Terror Suspects In a Dark and Surreal World" in he New York Times, March 9, 2003. Jess Bravin and Gary Fields ask, "How Do US Interrogators Make a Captured Terrorist Talk?" in The Wall Street Journal, March 4.
4. Asia Pacific
Australia and the Philippines have signed a cooperation agreement that increases intelligence sharing, law enforcement and training to combat terrorism.
With China's National People's Congress annual meeting under way, dissent has been further curtailed with additional arrests and further restrictions on Internet content. Meanwhile, last weeks university bombings have been attributed to a farmer seeking fame, not to terrorism.
East Timor will continue to have a full UN force rather than the planned cutback in light of deteriorating security reflected in a rise in violence and militia activities allegedly supported by Indonesian soldiers.
Indonesia has passed new anti-terrorism legislation authorizing increased surveillance as well as the death penalty and detention without trial. In Aceh, peace monitors were attacked and slightly injured, but the implementation of the ceasefire terms, including partial autonomy, has continued with the opening of the first Sharia court.
In the Philippines island of Mindanao, a large bomb went off outside the airport, killing 21 and wounding more than 150. The Abu Sayyaf attempted to claim credit for the attack, but their claim was dismissed as beyond the reach of the criminal gang. Investigations found the body of Montasher Sudang, a member of the separatist Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) with explosives strapped to his body. It is believed that the bomb was contained in his backpack and that he was a suicide bomber. Police have now filed charges against 150 MILF members. Later in the week, MILF rebels attacked three towns, killing at least eleven. The US and Philippines have suspended a mission planned against Abu Sayyaf when they could not agree on a definition of the operation that would comply with the constitutional prohibition on foreign troops operating in domestic combat.
In Thailand 50 police officers are under investigation in connection with a war on drugs that has killed more than a 1,100. While some of the deaths are the result of inter-gang warfare, the methods and motives of the effort have been called into question.
5. Europe
In Bosnia-Herzegovina, peacekeeping troops (S-FOR) are hunting for former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic and former military commander Ratko Mladic, wanted for war crimes. Their activities coincide with financial sanctions imposed against them and their associates to help disrupt support to the fugitives. Also in Bosnia, a human rights panel has ordered more than $2 million in compensation be paid in compensation for the Srebrenica massacre of 1995.
Greece has begun the trial of alleged members of the infamous November 17 terrorist group, that defied capture for three decades. The trial of 18 men and one woman is being held in a specially secured courtroom. Security is particularly important as Athens prepares for securing the 2004 Olympic games.
Ireland and Britain have held intensive discussions over restoration of devolution to Northern Ireland. While progress has been made, it was decided to delay elections for the Northern Ireland assembly from May 1 to May 29 to give more time for the negotiations.
In Italy, a policeman was shot dead in a gun battle with two suspected Red Brigade guerillas. One of the suspects, Nadia Desdemona Lioce, was arrested. Her companion, Mario Galesi, was injured and died in hospital.
Russia announced plans to reduce troops and equipment in Chechnya, indicating improved security prior to the scheduled referendum. Shortly after this announcement, an attack against the Grozny mayor's convoy killed three soldiers, four bodyguards, and one Chechen rebel.
Spanish police have arrested five suspects connected with the Tunisian synagogue attack last year.
In the UK, London plans to simulate a catastrophic terrorist attack to test its ability to respond. A web site with additional information is being developed. (http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/terrorism/)
6. Middle East
The Middle East Quartet (US/EU/Russia/UN) plan for peace between Israel and the Palestinians is at a standstill as US President Bush, having delayed publication of the plan until after the Israeli elections, now wants a delay until after a resolution of the Iraqi crisis. This has happened despite increasing violence and severe economic problems in the region. The World Bank has published reports demonstrating the collapse of the Palestinian economy, in which more than 60 percent now live on less than two dollars a day and unemployment exceeds 50 percent, as the result of Israeli travel restrictions, curfews and closures. (http://www.worldbank.org/we)
It was a particularly bloody week in Israel and the occupied territories. In a crackdown against the Islamic militant group Hamas, Israeli Defense Forces continued their incursion in the Gaza Strip. They arrested senior Hamas leader Sheikh Mohammed Taha and his five sons as well as demolishing four houses. In one of those houses a woman who was 9 months pregnant was crushed under the rubble and seven others also killed. Both the UN and the United States condemned the increasing use of demolitions and the civilian deaths that have resulted from this practice.
In a separate incident, a 75-year-old shepherd was shot dead for riding his donkey in a prohibited area near Gaza. In an Israeli raid in Jenin, a teenage member of Islamic Jihad was killed and later than evening another man was shot dead in a stone-throwing incident.
Next, after a lull of two months, came a suicide bombing in Haifa. The Palestinian suicide bomber killed 15 bus passengers, at least 8 of them students under 18, and dozens more injured.
In revenge for this attach, Israeli forces raided a Palestinian refugee camp in Gaza, killing 11 and injuring more than 140. This attack is under investigation because many of the civilian casualties were the result of a tank shell directed against a group of Palestinians attempting to put out a fire. The dead included three children and a fireman.
Next, Palestinian militants infiltrated a Jewish settlement and killed two Israelis before they were killed in turn. In an Israeli missile attack on a car, four Hamas members were also killed, including militant leader Ibrahim al-Maqadma.
Meanwhile, Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen), a senior PLO leader, will become the first Prime Minister of the Palestinian Authority.
Elsewhere in the Middle East...
Iran's parliament has passed a bill to guarantee free parliamentary elections.
Kuwait has arrested five suspected Islamic militants.
Oman has appointed its first woman minister; Sheikha Aisha bint Khalfan bin Jameel al-Sayabiyah will be minister for the National Authority for Industrial Craftsmanship.
7. South Asia
In Afghanistan and the border areas with Pakistan and Iran, the hunt for Osama bin Laden and al Qaeda members has intensified following last week's arrest of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed. Seven suspects have been taken into custody. However, the continued investigations have led to resentment among Afghan residents.
A court in India has ordered excavation of the disputed Ayodhya site in the northern state of Gujarat. The site is disputed between Hindus and Muslims and the destruction of a mosque on the site triggered religious riots across India in 1992 that killed more than 2,000 and continued sectarian conflict ever since.
In the Indian state of Assam, separatist rebels of the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) blew up an oil refinery and pipeline, but there were no injuries.
Talks in Indian-administered Kashmir have begun with the goal of resolving the long-standing dispute, but Pakistan will not be party to the talks.
Continued tension between India and Pakistan is largely unabated. There has been speculation that Pakistan has moved its nuclear arsenal around to evade possible strikes against it by India or the US. Pakistan also has a new medium-range missile system, the Shaheen -1.
In Sri Lanka, the Tami Tigers and the UN have agreed to develop a plan to help children affected by the war and reconfirmed the agreement not to recruit soldiers under 18. The Tigers have also asked for advice on transforming from a military to a political group from South Africa's African National Congress (ANC).
8. Cyberterrorism and Information Warfare
Card association company Visa has given merchants a deadline of July 2006 to change their point-of-sale terminals to mask all but the last four digits of the credit card number. This deadline is in response to the massive problem of identity theft. Other vendors have also called for this measure, but Visa is the first to set a deadline.9. Finance
Momcil "Momo" Mandic, Milovan "Cicko" Bjelica, ManCo Oil Company and Privredna Banka Sarajevo have been designated under Executive Order 13219 for financial and material support of indicted war criminal Radovan Karadizic
Mohammed Ali Hassan al-Moayad and Mohammed Mohsen Yahya Zayed are wanted in the US for providing financial and material support to al Qaeda and Hamas. The two men were arrested in Germany in January. The US has requested their extradition.
US President Bush has signed an executive order imposing economic sanctions against Zimbabwean President Mugabe and 76 other government officials.
The US Treasury has opened the Executive Office for Terrorist Financing and Financial Crimes whose duties are:
* Develop and implement strategies to counter terrorist financing
* Develop and implement National Money Laundering Strategy and other policies
* Participate in implementation of the patriot act
* Develop government policies and provide internal policy guidance
10. Human Rights
The US Department of Defense released a draft military commission instruction, "Crimes and Elements for Trials by Military Commission", for public comment. (http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Feb2003/d20030228dmci.pdf). It lays out a proposed list of 24 war crimes to be judged by military tribunals. This excludes genocide and other crimes against humanity that may occur off the battlefield. The proposed crimes and elements are:
1. Willful Killing of Protected Persons
2. Attacking Civilians
3. Attacking Civilian Objects
4. Attacking Protected Property
5. Pillaging
6. Denying Quarter
7. Taking Hostages
8. Employing Poison or Analogous Weapons
9. Using Protected Persons as Shields
10. Using Protected Property as Shields
11. Mutilation or Maiming
12. Use of Treachery or Perfidy
13. Improper Use of Flag of Truce
14. Improper Use of Protective Emblems
15. Degrading Treatment of a Dead body
16. Rape
17. Hijacking or Hazarding a Vessel or Aircraft
18. Terrorism
19. Murder by an Unprivileged Belligerent
20. Destruction of Property by an Unprivileged Belligerent
21. Aiding the Enemy
22. Spying
23. Perjury or False Testimony
24. Obstruction of Justice Related to Military Commissions
As well as the following Other Forms of Liability and Related Offenses
1.Aiding or Abetting
2. Solicitation
3. Command/Superior Responsibility -- Perpetrating
4. Command/Superior Responsibility -- Misprison
5. Accessory After the Fact
6. Conspiracy
7. Attempt
The US Supreme Court is considering a case of whether mentally ill defendants may be medicated against their will in order to make the individual sane enough to be executed.
Kenyan women and their property rights is the subject of a Human Rights Watch investigation that finds that "property rights abuses in sub-Saharan Africa perpetuate women's inequality, doom development efforts, and undermine the fight against HIV/AIDS". See http://hrw.org/reports/2003/kenya0303/. Looking at efforts to reform Kenya's judicial system, Gray Phombeah writes of being "Inside Kenya's 'worst' prison" as he visits a notorious jail. See http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/2816217.stm
11. Law and Legal Issues
Yasser Arafat faces legal action begun by seven French citizens living in Israel, relatives of Jewish victims killed during the current intifada. They accuse Arafat of crimes against humanity and genocide for supporting the uprising and its acts of terrorism.
Mohamed Atriss has been sentenced to five years probation and fined $15,000 for selling false identification documents, including documents provided to two of the September 11 hijackers. No evidence was found linking him to terrorism, although at the time of his arrest the bail hearing was closed and all proceedings sealed.
Leonidas Bimenyiamana, Francois Karake and Gregoire Nyaminami have been extradited from Rwanda to the US for the 1999 murder of eight tourists, including two Americans. They are believed to be members of the Liberation of Rwanda that was made up of Hutu militia rebels involved in the 1994 genocide.
Philip Blaney was convicted of the manslaughter of Elizabeth O'Neill in 1999, the consequence of a pipe bomb attack by loyalists in Northern Ireland.
En-Wei Eric Chang and David Chu have been indicted for conspiracy to purchase weapons for Iran.
Seamus Daly, accused of belonging to the Real IRA, an unlawful organization, has been granted bail in Ireland.
Charalumvos Dousemetzis was charged with terrorism-related offenses in Northumberland, England. The Greek government has formally protested his arrest.
Sheik Abdullah el-Faidal, a Muslim cleric in London, has been jailed for nine years following his conviction for soliciting murder and using threatening and insulting words and recordings.
Peru has enlisted help from Interpol to arrest former president Alberto Fujimoro and extradite him from Japan.
John Walker Lindh, the "American Taliban" was attacked by a fellow prisoner as he prepared to pray, suffered minor injuries, and has been moved to solitary confinement for protection. Jane Mayer asks, "Why did the government's case against John Walker Lindh collapse?" in her article "Lost in the Jihad" published in The New Yorker, March 10, 2003.
Nadia Desdemona Lioce was arrested in Italy after shooting a policeman. She is a suspected member of the Red Brigades, allegedly involved in shooting government advisor Massimo D'Antona in 1999.
Andrew Logan, charged with having information useful to terrorists and having explosives and firearms, has been refused bail in a court hearing in Northern Ireland.
Huang Minxiang has been arrested in China in connection with the two university bombings on February 27 that injured nine.
Mohammed Ali Hassan al-Moayad and his assistant Mohammed Mohsen Yahya Zayed are wanted in the US for providing financial and material support to al Qaeda and Hamas. The two men were arrested in Germany and the US has requested their extradition.
The trial of 19 members of November 17, (the terrorist group responsible for 23 murders and more than a hundred bombings in the 1970s), has opened in Athens. More than 2,000 charges were read out against them. Most of the suspects have denied all charges.
The trial of Johannes Weinrich, accused of carrying out bomb attacks in 1982-3 in association with Carlos the Jackal, has begun in Berlin.
12. Narco-terrorism
The US State Department's International Narcotics Control Strategy Report puts Afghanistan number one in heroin production, overtaking Burma. http://www.state.gov/g/inl/rls/nrcrpt/2002/
13. Transportation
As part of their initiatives to tighten border security, Australian Customs Service plans to require incoming flights provide detailed passenger information prior to landing.
The US FBI and Transportation Security Administration have begun assessing airport vulnerability to shoulder-launched missiles.
14. Weapons of Mass Destruction
The US Pentagon, backed by the Bush administration, has asked that Congress list a ban on small, tactical nuclear warheads. A nuclear earth-penetration weapon is also being evaluated for use to destroy underground facilities in North Korea and elsewhere.
The US Senate unanimously approved the Moscow Treaty to reduce nuclear weapons.
To encourage more smallpox vaccinations, the US government has offered a compensation program for those who become ill.
FEATURE ARTICLE: FATF Money Laundering Typologies
This year's Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Report on Money Laundering Typologies updates methods and trends in money laundering and reports on additional discoveries related particularly to terrorist financing. These annual reports are particularly useful in ensuring that the current activities and experiences in combating money laundering and terrorist financing are accurately reflected in the FATF's 40 Recommendations and in industry best practices, and that this knowledge is shared.HOW TO CONTACT US:
Please contact us with your questions or comments by sending email to .
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Editorial Team
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