This week's Feature Article turns attention to Australia and its counter-terrorism initiatives, focusing on ASIO. In addition to events of the past week in Asia Pacific, the News Highlights track everything from the newest research into the cause of the World Trade Center collapse to the arrest of an alleged co-conspirator of "Shoe Bomber" Richard Reid.

CONTENTS:

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK:

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

FEATURE ARTICLE:
Counter-Terrorism in Australia: The ASIO Annual Report

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK

1. World

Talks with North Korea may be delayed. China submitted a draft proposal that would provide a framework for the talks, but the US, Japan and South Korea ejected a joint statement as too favorable to North Korea. Discussions continue.

The UN Security Council committee overseeing al Qaeda and Taliban sanctions presented its second report, warning that only 84 of 191 Member States reports were received. They found that bank accounts had been frozen but not other assets and that charities were still being abused. They also found violations of travel bans and mentioned that Southeast Asia had become a new activity center. They also believe that only a lack of technical expertise has prevented chemical or biological attacks. http://www.un.org/News/briefings/docs/2003/SanctionsCttee_Brfg.doc.htm

The US Operation Iron Hammer in Iraq has stemmed attacks against US troops for the moment, but as General Ricardo Sanchez warns, more attacks are expected as the US accelerates the handover of power to Iraqis. Foreign fighters, including al Qaeda, continue to enter the country, and a lack of reliable intelligence continues to hamper US actions. There is controversy surrounding US claims of killing 54 militants in Samarra last week, as local people said they could confirm only 8 deaths, mostly civilian. Reports of the capture of Izzat Ibrahim al-Douhri, a close aide to Saddam Hussein, were quickly denied.

2. Africa

Burundi rebels of the Forces for Defense of Democracy (FDD) have joined the new power-sharing government and apologized for harm they caused civilians during the 10-year civil war. Rebels of the smaller Forces for National Liberation (FNL) refuse to recognize the government but engaged in talks with the government in a secret location.

Cameroon and Nigeria have agreed to a UN-sponsored plan for troops to withdraw from the disputed border area and to continue border discussions.

In Central African Republic government troops freed four children held hostage by cattle rustlers.

In Ivory Coast clashes between peacekeeping troops and government supporters who want them to leave. There are fears that conflict will break out again. Talks between the government and rebels were deadlocked most of the week but in a surprise announcement, President Gbagbo announced disarmament of rebel forces would begin December 15 and that a formal declaration of the end of war would come soon. Rebels have since denied agreeing any such deal.

Guinea-Bissau's National Transitional Council has agreed to hold legislative elections on March 28.

Liberian soldiers have begun to disarm and demobilize.

In Nigeria the five remaining foreign oil workers held hostage by Ijaw militant youths have been freed.

The Special Court for Sierra Leone has formally dropped indictments against former rebel leaders Foday Sankoh and Sam Bockarie after confirming their deaths.
http://www.sc-ssl.org

Sudanese rebels of the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) arrived in Khartoum for the first time. The rebel delegation was given an enthusiastic welcome, and talks have begun in Kenya to push forward on a final peace settlement.

Zimbabwe says it will leave the Commonwealth following an extension of its suspension. The suspension was put in place following massive electoral fraud.

3. Americas

Argentina has demanded an apology from the UK after the British government admitted that some warships sent to the Falklands in 1982 carried nuclear weapons. Details of US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger's role in approving the "dirty war" in the 1970s have been uncovered in recently declassified documents. http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/NSAEBB/NSAEBB104/index.htm

Meanwhile, the Argentine judge in charge of the 1994 Jewish community center bombing investigation has been removed from the case following alleged irregularities.

In Colombia, 800 (of 13,000) paramilitaries of the United Self-Defense Forces (AUC) laid down their arms but AUC is one of the suspects in an attack against a village that killed 13 people. Left wing guerillas also operate in the area. A leader of the rebel National Liberation Forces (ELN) rebel group has said it will not observe the traditional Christmas ceasefire.

US authorities will end to controversial program of tracking visitors, mostly from Muslim countries, after acknowledging it has not benefited the "war on terror". http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/display?content=2468
A new initiative at the US/Mexico border provides for Free and Secure Trade (FAST) to help facilitate secure trade. http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/display?content=2510

The US National Institute of Standards and Technology has " obtained access to all of the essential information needed for its two-year federal building and fire safety investigation into the World Trade Center (WTC) disaster of Sept. 11, 2001" and have published an update of the investigation. http://www.nist.gov/public_affairs/releases/progress_investigate.htm
http://wtc.nist.gov/media/PublicUpdateFinal.pdf

Venezuelans opposed to President Chavez have turned out in large numbers to sign a petition to force a referendum on his removal form office. The opposition claims to have gathered enough signatures but official results will not be known until January. If approved, a vote could be held in the spring.

4. Asia Pacific

Amnesty International has launched a new web site for Asia Pacific. http://asiapacific.amnesty.org/apro/aproweb.nsf/pages/index

Australia plans to participate in the US ballistic missile defense system.

Cambodia will work with the UN to set up a war crimes court for Khmer Rouge leaders.

China has for the first time publicly acknowledged the HIV/AIDS pandemic, indicating a fundamental shift in treatment and prevention. Premier Wen Jiabao made an unprecedented visit to a treatment center on World AIDS Day (December 1) and shook hands with a patient. Public news service announcements have begun to discuss the scale of the problem and to provide information about prevention and treatment.

Taiwanese President Chen Shui-bian plans a referendum in which voters could demand the removal of Chinese missiles pointed at Taiwan. China called the proposals dangerously provocative.

In the Indonesian province of Papua, General Timbul Silaen was named the new police chief. His appointment was condemned because of his prior failure to prevent the 1999 massacres in East Timor.

5. Europe

Azerbaijan and the US have renewed military ties despite the controversial elections in October. The US is concerned that the Caspian Sea port could provide transit for terrorists, unconventional weapons, and drugs.

Italy's Northern League has threatened secession if devolution is not implemented. http://www.leganord.org

In Russia, near Chechnya, a bomb exploded on a passenger train killing at least 42 and injuring some 200. Authorities blamed extremists associated with al Qaeda; Chechen separatists have often undertaken such actions.

Meanwhile, Russians are voting in a general election. Initial results indicate Putin's party is in the lead, as expected based on prior manipulation of the press and other questionable tactics.

Turkey's investigations into the Istanbul bombings last month have revealed more links with al Qaeda and problems of international intelligence sharing. Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said many prime suspects were abroad and that intelligence was not being shared, particularly by Europe, though Syria and Iran were supporting the investigations. Of the 22 suspects Syria handed over last week, 20 were released.

UK police continued raids against al Qaeda suspects. In London, Cambridge, and the West Midlands, 14 people were detained under the Prevention of Terrorism Act and are being questioned.

In the aftermath of elections in Northern Ireland that made the anti-Agreement Democratic Unionist Party (SUP) the largest party, the British and Irish governments have emphasized that the agreement is in place and that a large majority of voters continue to support it.

6. Middle East

Israeli and Palestinian ministers signed the "Rome Declaration" to form a shared electricity grid. The EU cosigned the agreement that will be part of a power grid stretching from Morocco to Turkey.

Saudi officials released the names of 26 suspects in connection with the November attacks and have offered a reward of nearly $2 million to anyone who stopped an attack, while other rewards are offered for information leading to an arrest. Diplomats, particularly from the UK and US have been placed on heightened alert and warned to avoid non-essential travel. The alert was partly in response to the November discovery of a huge arsenal in Riyadh that included surface-to-air missiles and military explosives sufficient for more than a hundred car bombs of the same size used in the destruction of the Riyadh housing complex. This discovery came about through interrogation of a suspect connected with that attack.

Palestinian factions were unable to reach a ceasefire or agree whether to stop suicide attacks against civilians.

Syria handed over 22 suspects, all Turks, to Turkey in connection with the Istanbul suicide bombings last in November.

In the occupied West Bank, Israeli troops conducted large-scale incursions. Three Hamas militants and a 9-year-old boy were killed in one raid. At least 30 suspects were arrested. A 4-story apartment building was demolished.

7. South Asia

Afghani villagers are mourning the death of nine children. They were killed when US officials launched an air strike against a Taliban militant whom villagers claim had left the area ten days before. An investigation is underway. In Kandahar, a bombing has injured 18, two critically. Responsibility is unknown, but Taliban are suspected. NATO has agreed to reinforce its military presence in the country. Meanwhile, voter registration has begun and the Salang tunnel that connects with Kabul has reopened.

In Hyderabad, India, clashes between Hindus and Muslims on the 11th anniversary of the destruction of the Ayodhya mosque killed at least three and injured more than 20.

In the northeastern Indian state Mizoram, the former separatist Mizo National Front (MNF) has been reelected

India and Pakistan plan to meet at a regional summit, indicating improved relations between the two countries. Pakistan has offered withdraw troops from the Line-of-Control in Pakistan-administered Kashmir if India will do the same.

Pakistan's suspension from the Commonwealth will remain in place until democratic and judicial reforms are implemented.

8. Cyberterrorism and Information Warfare

The US Department of Homeland Security held their first National Cyber Security Summit. The major theme was information sharing, and the lack thereof. Details and link to webcast at http://www.us-cert.gov/events/summit/

The Markle Foundation has published a second homeland security report. "Creating A Trusted Information Network for Homeland Security" finds that "the U.S. government has not yet taken advantage of America's technology expertise to fight the war on terrorism". http://www.markle.org/news/_news_pressrelease_120203.stm

Security firm Sophos released their list of the hottest email hoaxes this year, sled by JDBGMGR with just over 20 percent. This " virus hoax purports to be a warning message telling readers to avoid infection by deleting a file called JDBGMGR.EXE from their hard drives. In fact, this file is a legitimate system file installed with versions of Internet Explorer". http://www.sophos.com/virusinfo/articles/hoaxes2003.html

A variant of the Mimail virus, Mimail-L, poses as pornographic span. It attacks Windows PCs with outlook and if executed can use the infected computer to launch a denial of service attack against anti-spam organizations.

9. Finance

In Somalia, the continued flow of weapons and munitions has led the UN Security Council to call for stricter implementation of the arms embargo.
http://www.un.org/News/Press/Docs/2003/sc7941.doc.htm
http://www.un.org/Docs/journal/asp/ws.asp?m=S/2003/2035

The US Treasury Deputy Assistant Secretary for Critical Infrastructure Protection and Compliance Policy spoke about the economic risks associated with terrorism to a Homeland Security Conference. He cites four guiding principles to manage economic risk:
1. "People, not buildings or computers, produce financial services"
2. "Confidence in the ability of financial institutions to clear checks, execute transactions, and satisfy insurance obligations helps the system weather significant disruption from evolving threats.
3. "...ensure that the financial system remains accessible and open for business when the safety of the employees permits
4. "...promote responsible decision-making and problem-solving within the private sector". http://www.treas.gov/press/releases/js1031.htm

The UN Security Council has agreed to maintain sanctions imposed two years ago to help support the peace process by continuing to block the exchange of diamonds for arms.

10. Human Rights

December 2 marked the International Day for the Abolition of Slavery.

The UN refugee agency UNHCR reports that Russians, primarily Chechens, have become the largest group of asylum seekers, overtaking Iraqis. The numbers so far this year are Russia 23,681; Iraq 21,610; Serbia and Montenegro 18,377; Turkey 17,702; China 16,407; and Afghanistan 10,635. http://www.unhcr.ch

Philippine President Arroyo has lifted a moratorium on the death penalty, following a series of abductions for ransom.

A third camp in Ingushetia that had housed Chechen refugees has been closed. The UN High Commission for Refugees is monitoring the situation. These closures have

11. Law and Legal Issues

Mohammed Hassan Arman and Alid Anjas were sentenced to 36 life terms each for planning suicide bombings in 2002. The Hamas members expressed no regret.

Sajid Badat has been charged in British court with conspiring with shoe bomber Richard Reid to cause an explosion and of possessing explosives.

Mukhtar al-Bakri, the first of the "Lackawanna Six" to be sentenced in US federal court, received 10 years in prison for providing support to al Qaeda in connection with his attendance at an Afghani training camp shortly before the September 11 attacks. His associate, Yasein Taher apologized for attending the training camp and was sentenced to eight years.

Thomas Butler was convicted in US federal court of 47 charges of theft, embezzlement and fraud and was acquitted of 22 additional charges including charges of smuggling and illegally transporting plague and lying to federal agents. Many scientists were opposed to his prosecution.

General Stanislav Galic has been sentenced to 20 years prison by The Hague tribunal for his role in the 1993-5 siege of Sarajevo that resulted in thousands of civilian casualties.

Yaser Esam Hamdi, held in a US military brig as an "enemy combatant" for 19 months will be allowed to see an attorney. The Pentagon said this action was at its discretion because they were finished. Others hypothesize this is a response to the Supreme Court agreeing to review the detentions.

Ibon Fernandez Iradi has been arrested again following his December 2002 escape from a French police cell. He is suspected of being a senior member of Basque separatist group ETA.

Two brothers, Ninoslav and Sladjan Konstantinovic were arrested in The Netherlands on suspicion of involvement in the march 12 assassination of former Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic.

October Martinique Lewis was convicted in US court of sending money to her husband and his associates to help the Taliban fight the US. She will serve three years in prison.

Noureddinne Mouleff was charged in British court with possessing items connected with terrorism and of conspiracy to defraud banks.

Hassan Ngeze, Ferdinand Nahimana and Jean-Bosco Barayagwize were convicted in the International Criminal tribunal for Rwanda of genocide and crimes against humanity for using newspaper and radio to encourage and target killings. Ngeze and Nahimana were sentenced to life in prison and Barayagwize to 27 years.

Momir Nikolic was jailed for 27 years by the International Criminal tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia for his role in the 1995 Srebrenica massacre.

Asit Sarkar, a leading Maoist rebel in the People's War Group, has been arrested in West Bengal, India.

Clayton Waagner was found guilty in US federal court on 51 of 53 counts, including threatening to use a weapon of mass destruction, connected with mailing envelopes of fake anthrax to women's clinics. Waagner is an anti-abortionist and self-described "terrorist" who was once listed on the FBI Most Wanted list. http://www.armyofgod.com/ClayWaagnerMainPage.html http://www.usdoj.gov/opa/pr/2003/December/03_crt_661.htm

12. Transportation

A report commissioned by the US Department of Energy calculated the disaster potential of a ruptured Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) tanker in Boston Harbor. That report has been extended to other locations, despite warnings that the calculations should not be applied. The author of the scientific report called for another look at the hazards.
http://news.morningstar.com/news/DJ/M12/D05/1070603460769.html
Further information:
http://www.ferc.gov/industries/gas/indus-act/lng-safety.asp
http://www.house.gov/markey/iss_naturalgassecurity.htm
http://www.NPC.org/reports/epandp.html
http://www.energy.uh.edu/LNG/LNG_introduction_10.asp
http://www.questconsult.com/lng.html
http://www.boston.com/dailyglobe2/312/metro/Menino_urges_more_study_of_LNG_risk+.shtml

13. Weapons of Mass Destruction

South Africa is already known for unilaterally dismantling the nuclear, biological and chemical weapons programs of the apartheid regime and for helping Mozambique destroy hidden arms caches. Now they have received kudos for its efforts to identify and destroy small arms, often termed the "new weapons of mass destruction", in a report by the Institute for Security Studies. http://www.smallarmsnet.org

The UN Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC) provided its quarterly report to the Security Council. Analysis of biological samples found that anthrax materials tested genetically matches that of the weaponized version, supporting the statement that they had been destroyed. Analysis of Al-Samoud 2 missiles found that although the design was capable of exceeding the allowed 150-km range there was no evidence of attempts to extend that capability. http://www.un.org/Docs/journal/asp/ws.asp?m=S/2003/1135

A report by the US General Accounting Office found that 42 nuclear power plants lacked sufficient funds to be decommissioned. http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-04-32

14. Recently Published

Stokely Carmichael with Ekuwueme Michael Thelwell, "Ready for Revolution: The Life and Struggles of Stokely Carmichael (Kwame Ture)" Scribner

Joyce M. Davis "Martyrs: Innocence, Vengeance and Despair in the Middle East" Palgrave Macmillan

Juan Goytisolo, transl Peter Bush, "Cinema Eden: Essays from the Muslim Mediterranean" Eland

Bill Katovsky and Timothy Carlson "Embedded: The Media at War in Iraq" Lyons Press

Robert K Massie, "Castles of Steel: Britain, Germany, and the Winning of the Great War at Sea" Random house

Barbara Victor "Army of Roses: Inside the World of Palestinian Women Suicide Bombers" Rodale

FEATURE ARTICLE: Counter-Terrorism in Australia: The ASIO Annual Report

Geographic isolation is no protection from the threat of international terrorism. The October 2002 bombings in Bali that killed 88 Australians (202 in total) brought international terrorism home with a vengeance. Efforts to address this and other risks are the focus of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation's (ASIO) newly published "Report to Parliament".

ASIO is Australia's security service, responsible for "protection of Australia and its people from politically motivated violence -- including terrorism -- promotion of
communal violence, espionage, attacks on Australia's defence system or acts of foreign interference".

Overall, ASIO assesses a higher threat to Australian interests overseas: "We assessed the overall threat level in Australia as Medium, but High for Australian interests in much of South East Asia, South Asia, the Middle East and parts of East Africa". The regional presence of Jemaah Islamiah (JI), that was responsible for the Bali bombings, and statements about Australia issued by senior al Qaeda operatives support this risk assessment.

Another measure of increased risk is in the numbers. For example:
"The National Security Hotline, established in December 2002, had referred 7 537 calls to ASIO by 30 June, of which 1 049 contained sufficient information to initiate investigations, and 141 are still being pursued."
"The number of Threat Assessments produced in 2002-03 rose 15 percent from 1786 to 2055."
" ASIO received 14 272 requests for personnel security assessments in 2002-03 — a 16%
increase on 2001-02."
" Our protective security advice to clients increased by 20 percent, reflecting heightened awareness of the need to protect Commonwealth resources, staff and visitors. We conducted 94 technical surveillance counter-measure sweeps compared to 64 in 2001-02."

These numbers translate into practical actions. ASIO has cooperated with other regional and international authorities to investigate groups engaged in political violence and terrorism. In particular, the regional threat from JI has been a priority. The report describes ASIO investigations into any potential links with key JI members and al Qaeda. The Bali investigation led to the arrest of 34 people, including the Australian Jack Roche. They also achieved significant intelligence about JI operations across the region and Australia's role as the "Mantiqi IV" group in JI. For example, they confirmed " links between JI members in Australia and senior JI figures in Southeast Asia", found " evidence of past planning for attacks against Israeli interests in Australia", and gathered " information relating to recruitment, finance and training activities".

Similar investigations are taking place around al Qaeda. One of these focuses on Australian citizens David Hicks (captured in Afghanistan in December 2001) and Mamdouh Habib (detained in Pakistan in October 2001). They are being held at the US naval base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, where they have been interviewed by US and Australian investigators. There are a number of other cases demonstrating similar international collaboration.

In addition to JI and al Qaeda, Australia lists Abu Sayyaf; Egyptian Islamic Jihad; Ansar al-Islam; Armed Islamic Group (GIA); Asbat al-Ansar; Harakut-ul-Mujahideen; Islamic Army of Aden; Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan; Jaish-i-Mohammed; Lashkar I Jhangvi; Salafist Group for Call and Combat (GSPC); and Hizballah’s terrorist apparatus, the External Security Organisation (ESO) as terrorist organizations.

ASIO, in collaboration with other Commonwealth agencies, also investigates and interdicts of terrorist financing activities. To date, they have gazetted " al-Qa’ida and Taliban-associated persons and entities including Usama bin Laden; Jemaah Islamiyah; the Abu Sayyaf Group; Hamas; Hizballah; the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam; and a number of Irish, European and South American terrorist entities".

Potential weapons also get ASIO's attention. They investigate the potential acquisition of weapons of mass destruction and assess threats to aviation. They say that "Hoax anthrax letters containing white powder are not part of the Australian security environment".
In addition to transnational threats, ASIO investigates local organizations and individuals that may be associated with political violence and terrorism, pointing to attacks against both Islamic and Jewish communities.

Local security is also achieved through critical infrastructure protection. A big advance has been to combine cyber and physical security. Particular attention was paid to oil and gas shipping and infrastructure.

The third focus of local security is with border control. ASIO provides advice to immigration officials and conduct investigations and security assessments of people who may be security risks. These investigations led to five applicants refused entry for suspected terrorist activities and two who were refused for potential to engage in espionage. One Iraqi diplomat was expelled for potential espionage.

ASIO also provides security and risk management advice. This service increased 20 percent over the previous year, including projects that looked at nuclear safeguards, airport and other transportation security risks, physical security for offices and storefronts, storage and transport of smallpox vaccine, and information security. Similarly, they evaluate and test security products and develop standards for equipment. Products that meet the standards and are endorsed by ASIO are published in the "Security Equipment Catalogue".

One of ASIO's most important activities is to interact with other national and international agencies. A significant change took place this October, with the establishment of the National Threat Assessment Centre (NTAC). NTAC is located within ASIO and integrates participants from agencies including the police, secret service, defense, foreign affairs and trade, transport, and the Office of National Assessments. ASIO also works with the Commonwealth Counter-Terrorism Committee, regional and international authorities.

In addition to the efforts to assess threats and reduce risk, ASIO engages in investigations, including individuals who may be suspected of terrorist acts. ASIO's investigative authority was expanded to provide for increased powers of detention under a broader definition of politically motivated violence that includes acts of terrorism.

These examples give a flavor of the broad range of activities in which ASIO engages and their critical links to other similar efforts internationally. ASIO has expanded rapidly to support new requirements and higher volumes of activity. They face many challenges to continue their efforts, including the needs for excellent planning with well-defined priorities; experienced management and staff; and investment in infrastructure including information technology systems. Similar organizations in other countries face the same challenges. As yet, no country has provided the level of investment adequate to support the policy goals their security agencies are asked to achieve. As the global economy improves, these efforts, as well as others on the frontline, deserve priority.

On another front the expanded definition of terrorism offenses and increased authority granted security services that has been seen in many countries, including Australia, is cause for concern. These expanded powers must be closely monitored and governed in accordance with public policy and international human rights.

Further reading: