AUTHOR:
TerrorismCentral Editorial Staff
TITLE:
TerrorismCentral Newsletter - December 14, 2003
SOURCE:
TerrorismCentral, December 14, 2003
TEXT:
The military junta in Greece came into power in 1967; a year before the Baath party seized power in Iraq. More than thirty years later, the aftermath of these two events still makes the News Highlights. The capture of Iraq's dictator, Saddam Hussein, marks the beginning of his road to justice, a path that has now been taken by 15 members of the leftist Greek guerilla group, November 17, described in this week's Feature Article.
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:
Greece: November 17
NEWS HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK
Saddam Hussein, the leader of Iraq for more than 20 years, has been captured by US forces operating in Iraq. For updates as they happen, check out the BBC's Reporters' Log at http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3317945.stm. To check on the status of the other 55 most wanted take a look at the Guardian's interactive guide at http://www.guardian.co.uk/flash/0,5860,946448,00.html. His capture capped a week of continued attacks including a large suicide car bomb; disputes over policies for awarding contracts and over costs already incurred; and the defection, over disputed pay, of nearly half of newly trained Iraqi soldiers.
North Koreans face a growing food crisis as funds to support the World Food Program face a serious shortfall. North Korea has offered an "arms for aid" deal.
World Trade Organization talks beginning Monday got a boost when the EU and G20 coalition of developing nations said they had narrowed their differences. Despite this, the remaining issues leave little hope for a rapid agreement.
The World Summit on the Information Society met for three days to discuss the impact of technology and ways to bridge the digital divide. http://www.itu.int/wsis/
A World Health Organization report on the impact of global environmental change on health finds climate change caused 150,000 deaths in 2000 and has a widespread impact on interconnected systems that interact in complex and often unexpected ways. http://www.who.int/globalchange/en/
Progress in the resolution of the Cameroon/Nigeria border continues, as the first of 33 Nigerian villages has been returned to the Cameroon. This effort, in accordance with an International Court of Justice ruling, includes replacing the existing administrative, security and border structures.
Central African Republic President Francois Bozize issued a decree dismissing Prime Minister Goumba and his government following civilian deaths at the hands of security forces and mercenaries that led to popular demonstrations. The replacement government is as yet unknown.
Democratic Republic of Congo has begun to integrate former rebels into the new unified army. As these political measures continue, so do serious security incidents, particularly in the east. Security must be improved prior to elections.
Ivory Coast gunmen allegedly associated with Brigade Ninja attacked the main military barracks. All twelve were killed. There were further attacks in Abidjan, in which 19 died; all but one a rebel. Despite the ongoing attacks, disarmament efforts are underway.
Rioting in Liberia killed at least nine as former government fighters demanded money in exchange for handing in their guns. UN peacekeepers agreed new payment terms and the clashes stopped.
Ethnic militias in the oil-rich town of Warri broke a 2-month truce in which Itsekiri attacked Ijaw, killing ten.
Sudan's government is blocking humanitarian aid from Darfur province that is controlled by Sudan Liberation Army rebels. Note "Death and destruction in Darfur" http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=38353. Despite this, peace talks are proceeding.
Zimbabwe got fresh support from South African President Mbeki who insisted that human rights concerns were irrelevant compared to the land issue and that it was Britain's failure to fund land reform that was responsible for the crisis in the country.
Colombian rebels of the National Liberation Army (ELN) have called off the release of hostages because of army operations and the government refuses to withdraw the soldiers. Congress has passed additional anti-terrorism legislation that allows arrests and wiretaps without judicial intervention.
Anti-government demonstrations in Haiti turned violent when joined by pro-government demonstrators and police using tear gas and warning shots. One bystander was killed and five protesters injured.
In Mexico, the UN representative of the High Commissioner for Human Rights presented a report to President Fox that records a history of human rights abuses. Newly released government documents provide additional detail that may prove sufficient to try former President Echeverria for "dirty war" atrocities.
The US faces a widespread flu epidemic that has started early and already proven fatal to at least 20 children. Facing shortages of vaccine, officials have rationed supplied and are attempting to acquire vaccine from abroad to help to protect the most vulnerable people. Note our prior coverage of public health and infectious diseases at https://terrorismcentral.com/Newsletters/2003/113003.html#FeatureArticle
The US White House issued "2003: A Year of Accomplishments for the American People" (not yet posted at http://www.whitehouse.gov/) claiming weapons of mass destruction and links to al Qaeda in Iraq and improvements in critical infrastructure security. For a different perspective, see the Center for American Progress "2003: A Year of Distortion for the American People" http://www.americanprogress.org/site/pp.asp?c=biJRJ8OVF&b=14674
The Department of Homeland Security identified Agro-Terrorism as a top priority for university research. http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/verify_redirect.jsp?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dhs.gov%2Finterweb%2Fassetlibrary%2FBAA_Agro1.doc&title=Click+here+to+see+the+Broad+Agency+Agreement+%A0%282MB+.doc+file%29
The Oklahoma City federal building, destroyed in a massive bombing in 1995, has been rebuilt nearby and is gradually opening for business.
Venezuela's Supreme Court has published the rules to govern the possible referendum on President Chavez.
Australia will send 300 police and civil servants to help Papua New Guinea combat crime and corruption.
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao visited the US, prompting US President Bush to warn Taiwan against provoking China. Taiwanese President Chen Shui-bian plans to hold an "anti-missile referendum" that is seen as a move toward independence.
Indonesia is accused of crimes against humanity and possibly genocide for murder and torture against indigenous Papuans. See the Lowenstein report at http://www.law.yale.edu/outside/html/Public_Affairs/426/westpapuahrights.pdf
Philippines defense secretary Ermita claimed that Jemaah Islamiah militants are training separatist rebels of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. They are united in the goal of a regional pan-Islamic state.
The EU has agreed on arrangements to create a joint security force operating outside of NATO.
Armenia and Azerbaijan have agreed to resume talks over the disputed region of Nagorno Karabakh.
German police launched a series of raids against a number of suspected Islamic militants. The raids involved more than 5,000 police investigating hundreds of locations.
The Irish government received the Barron Report investigating the 1974 Dublin and Monaghan bombings. These attacks involved four car bombs that killed 33 and injured more than 250. It was the biggest loss of life in a single day. The report was critical of the government and police investigation and says it appeared to be a standard loyalist operation. The Ulster Volunteer Force claimed responsibility in 1993. The findings have increased pressure for a government inquiry, particularly to investigate possible collusion with British security forces.
http://www.taoiseach.gov.ie/news/taoiseachs_pr.asp?lang=ENG&loc=25
http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/events/dublin/
http://www.dublinmonaghanbombings.org/
A female suicide bomber in Moscow killed six and injured 14. President Putin blamed terrorists, and the attack is similar to others that have been linked to Chechen rebels.
In the Russian region of Dagestan an 11-year-old boy, Dzhamal Gamidov, was freed when police discovered him. He had been held hostage for 3.5 years.
Former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic and his aide Vojislav Seselj have been banned by the UN International Criminal Tribunal from talking to the media or campaigning for the Serbian elections scheduled for December 28.
UK Military Operations in Iraq are featured in a National Audit Office report that finds the people and equipment performed well but there were serious logistical problems, including the failure to supply protective equipment and desert clothing. http://www.nao.gov.uk/pn/03-04/030460.htm
Egyptian President Mubarak and Iranian President Khatami held the first presidential level talks between the two countries since 1979, signifying normalizing relations.
In the occupied Gaza strip, Israeli forces killed six people including at least one gunman, a paramedic, and four civilians, while capturing Islamic Jihad militant Khaled Kadi. In a raid at Rafah refugee camp, four Palestinians were killed and 17 wounded.
Iranian rebel group, the People's Mujahedeen (Mujahedeen e-Khalq, MEK) has appealed to US authorities not to expel its member s from Iraq, as ordered by the Iraqi Governing Council.
In Israel, a bomb killed three people and inured 18 but was connected to the attempted assassination of leading gangster Ze'ev Rosenstein, not terrorism.
On the northern border with Lebanon, Israeli soldiers shot dead two Lebanese men who had crossed the blue line with hunting guns. Lebanese authorities arrested a man with explosives attempting to enter the US embassy in Beirut. Two of his colleagues have also been arrested and are suspected of ties to al Qaeda.
Saudi authorities report they shot dead most-wanted terrorist suspect Ibrahim al-Rayes in a gun battle following their attempted arrest.
Syria has asked for dialog with the US following legislative approval of sanctions.
In the occupied West Bank, a Palestinian student was shot dead by Israeli troops. An investigation is underway.
The question of the Israeli barrier being constructed through the West Bank is being referred to the International Court of Justice. http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2003/ga10216.doc.htm
Yemeni authorities have intercepted an al Qaeda plan to conduct a truck bombing against the British embassy.
Across Afghanistan, delegates have gathered for their second loya jirga (grand assembly) to decide on the future form of government and ratify a new constitution. US air raids killed six more children, bringing the total of 15 in less than a week.
Villagers in Bangladesh hunted down bandits for revenge against their attacks, killing 30, mostly by beating them to death.
In Indian-administered Kashmir a militant attack, using guns and a grenade, killed three, including one policeman and one militant, and injured at least 16.
Indian police report that Nepali rebels are crossing into India for medical treatment.
Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf narrowly missed assassination by a bomb planted in the road.
Sri Lanka's peace talks are at a standstill. Meanwhile, ceasefire monitors in Sri Lanka say that Tamil Tiger rebels are still recruiting child soldiers.
8. Cyberterrorism and Information Warfare
The 2003 Federal Computer Security Report Card finds that most government agencies do not protect their computer networks from hackers and other threats. The departments of Homeland Security (lead internet security agency) and Justice (cybercrime prosecutions) both received an F, as did five other agencies. The overall grade was D, up from last years F. http://reform.house.gov/TIPRC/News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=2025
Antivirus expert Eugene Kaspersky warns that organized crime is moving into spam and virus development. This could lead to more dangerous attacks. http://www.securityfocus.com/news/7613
NatWest Bank's internet banking facility was suspended on Monday as a precaution against a phisher fraud.
http://www.natwest.com/hottopics/index.asp?navid=EMAILHOAX
The EU has sent formal notices to nine member states (Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, and Sweden) for not implementing the online privacy directive.
Take a look at recent testimony to see what the US Federal Trade Commission is doing about identity theft. http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2003/12/031215idtheftpr.htm
Abbey National Companies was fined GBP2,320,000 for breaches of anti-money laundering rules as well as system and control failures. http://www.fsa.gov.uk/pubs/press/2003/132.html
The US Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) added Saifi Ammari (a.k.a. "Abdalarak;" a.k.a. "Abdarrezak Le Para;" a.k.a. "Abderrezak Zaimeche;" a.k.a. "Abdul Rasakammane Abu Haidra;" a.k.a. "Abou Haidara;" a.k.a. "El Ourassi;" a.k.a. "El Para"); DOB 1 Jan 1968; POB Kef Rih, to its list of Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons (SDNs).
US travel sanctions against members of the Angolan rebel group UNITA, now transformed into a legitimate political party, have been lifted.
IRIN News has published a Web Special on child soldiers that includes country-specific stories, background information and links to other resources. http://www.irinnews.org/webspecials/childsoldiers/
The UN Children's Fund annual State of the World's Children report calls for urgent changes to international development efforts to end discrimination against girls in education. http://www.unicef.org/sowc04/index.html
Johnny Adair, jailed paramilitary leader of the Ulster Defense Association (UDA) has lost his request for legal aid to fund an appeal against his return to prison.
Gorka Palacios Alday was arrested by French police. He is suspected of leading Basque separatist group ETA and of murder and attempted murder.
Galib Andang ("Commander Robot"), a leader of Abu Sayyaf, was wounded and arrested during a gun battle with soldiers in the southern Philippines island of Sulu.
Dilaver Bojku has been convicted in Macedonian court of slavery charges and sentenced to three years eight months in prison. His conviction was in connection with his detention and forced prostitution of dozens of young women from Ukraine, Romania and Moldova.
"Mullah Braun" or "Aziz Hasan B" was arrested in the Netherlands on suspicion of terrorism as he attempted to fly on a one-way ticket to Istanbul. He is believed connected with Ansar al-Islam.
Former Zambian President Frederick Chiluba's trial on 168 counts of theft involving $40 million of public funds has begun.
Ayed Ali Shah Geelani, leader of a hardline Kashmiri separatist group, Yasim Malik and Javed Mir, were arrested in Kashmir.
Rusman Gunawan (Hambali's brother) was arrested in Pakistan with five other students accused of belonging to Jemaah Islamiah. They have now been deported to Indonesia.
Park Jie-won was found guilty in South Korean court of illegally sending money to North Korea and taking payment in exchange in connection to encouraging North Korea to attend the historic 2000 summit between the North and South.
Juvenal Kajelijeli, a former mayor in Rwanda, has been sentenced to life in prison on charges of genocide and crimes against humanity in 1994.
Alexis Norneilla Morales, a veterinarian; his brother Miakel Guerra Morales; their cousin Eduardo Javier Mejia Morales; Yainer Olivares Samon; Neudis Infantes Hernandez; and Alvenis Arias Izquierdo were convicted of air piracy and various other charges in US federal court in connection with the March 19 hijacking of a Cuban plane. Sentencing is scheduled for next February. Air piracy carries a penalty of 20 years to life in prison.
Abed Mreish was arrested by Lebanese authorities as he attempted to enter the US embassy in Beirut with explosives.
Abdelghani Mzoudi was released from custody in Germany where he had been standing trial on charges of assisting the September 11 hijackers. The judge dismissed the case based on evidence provided by Ramzi Binalshibh, who is in US custody.
Dragan Obrenovic, a commander involved in the 1995 Srebrenica massacre, has been sentenced to 17 years in prison by the Hague war crimes tribunal.
Salvadore Soares was sentenced by East Timor court to 10.5 years in prison for participating in the 1999 deaths of two UN workers involved in overseeing the independence vote.
Andrew Te'ee, a commander of the former Istanbul Freedom Movement militia in the Solomon Islands, was charged by the Australian-led intervention force with three counts of murder connected with ethnic violence over the past five years.
The US Department of Homeland Security has announced $179 million in grants to secure ports. http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/interapp/press_release/press_release_0316.xml
13. Weapons of Mass Destruction
The British Medical Journal investigates "The health consequences of the first gulf war" including the finding of long-term neurological and psychological symptoms. http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/full/327/7428/1357
The US exported $20 million of electro-shock technology and other tools of torture to Yemen, Jordan, Morocco and Thailand in 2002. http://www.amnestyusa.org/countries/usa/document.do?id=F7CE0B13E65E100085256DF00050B882
The US faces a widespread flu epidemic that has started early and already proven fatal to at least 20 children. Note reports on this issue from the Institute of Medicine http://www.iom.edu/report.asp?id=14451 They point to chronic problems with shortages of preventative vaccines.
John Cornwell, "Hitler's Scientists: Science, War, and the Devil's Pact" Viking
Jonathan Fenby "Generalissimo: Chiang Kai-shek and the China He Lost" Free Press
James Glanz and Eric Lipson "City in the Sky: The Rise and Fall of the World Trade Center" Times Books/Henry Holt
John Gray "Al Qaeda and What it Means To be Modern" New Press
Donald E Miller and Lorna Touryan Miller "Armenia: Portraits of Survival and hope" University of California Press
Susan Neiman, "Evil in Modern Thought: An Alternative history of Philosophy" Princeton University press
FEATURE ARTICLE: Greece: November 17
On November 17, 1973 the Greek army crushed a student uprising, sending tanks into Athens polytechnic and killing at least 13 students.
The military junta had come into power in 1967 following a military coup that brutally repressed protest and suppressed democratic expression, including elections. In 1973 Greece was declared a republic and the monarchy, previously head of state, was abolished. Military dictator Papadopoulos, previously the prime minister, assumed the position of President. Opposition to his military rule increased and he was overthrown in another coup in 1973.
Two more years of military dictatorship followed, and in 1975 Greece was declared a parliamentary republic, still with executive powers with the president and with a powerful connection to the military. December 1975 was also marked by the first significant attack by a new radical leftist group, named to commemorate the student uprising in 1973.
Epanastatiki Organose 17 Noemvre (Revolutionary Organization 17 November) is led by a powerful hatred for the US and capitalism. On December 23, 1975, Richard Welch was shot dead. Welch was the chief CIA officer operating in Greece, and his death was motivated by US support for the Greek dictatorship.
The attack was carried out with a .45 caliber pistol that became the trademark of November 17 attacks, including:
* The 1976 assassination of Evangelos Mallios, a police officer dishonorably discharges who had committed torture on behalf of the junta
* The 1980 assassination of the deputy head of the Greek police Pantelis Petrou and his driver Sotiris Stamoulis
* The 1983 shooting of US military attache Captain George Tsantes and his driver Nikos Veloutsos
* The 1985 deaths of publisher Nikos Momferatos and his driver Panayotis Rousetis as well as the explosion of a police vehicle that killed officer Nikos Georgakopoulos, a riot officer
* The death of Dimitris Angelopoulos, a well-known industrial figure, the following year
* Another industrialist, Alexandros Athanasiadis shot dead and Captain William Nordeen of the US navy killed by a remote-controlled bomb in 1988. (The widow of Athanasiadis issued the first civil suit against November 17.)
* And the next year, Costas Androulidakis, a government lawyer, and Pevlos Bakoyannis, a conservative member of parliament and noted journalist, were shot dead.
* The 1991 death of Sergeant Ronald Stewart of the US air force, with a remote-controlled bomb and also the shooting of Turkish press attache Cetin Gorgu
* In 1992 a rocket killed a student passing by, Thanos Axarlian, after missing Greek finance minister Ionia Paleokrassas
* There were two more shootings in 1994: Michalis Vranopoulos, former governor of National Bank of Greece, and Turkish diplomat Omer Haluk Sipahioglu who was shot by a 3-man hit squad
* Costas Peratikos, an Athens shipowner, was also shot dead in an ambush by 3 men, using the same .45 caliber gun as well as a second, .38 caliber. They had attempted to kill him twice before.
* On June 8, 2000, Brigadier Stephen Saunders, a British defense attache, was shot dead by two attackers on a motorcycle
In all, the group is responsible for at least 23 murders as well as hundreds of robberies, rocket attacks and bombings.
Then on June 29, 2002, another attack was attempted and failed -- dramatically. Other attacks had been bungled in the past, but this time the person planting the bomb was the only one injured. Savvas Xiros was an icon painter. His arrest led first to an arms cache that contained the infamous .45 -- and fingerprints.
The fingerprints matched those of Alexandros Giotopoulos (Yiotopoulos), since identified as the mastermind behind the long legacy of November 17. Giotopoulos is a 58-year-old French-born economist, son of a Greek Trotskyist. He was arrested on July 17 in the remote Aegean island of Lipsi. He is one of 19 members of November 17 who were captured and tried.
The trial lasted ten months and included testimony from 500 witnesses, including families of the victims. Giotopoulos was found guilty of 19 murders and 900 other crimes. Of the others, four were acquitted and the rest convicted on various charges. The convictions led about 150 Greek anarchists to demonstrate in favor of their release.
For almost 30 years, November 17 carried out its program of anti-capitalist guerilla attacks without a crack in their small, tightly controlled group. Although its small, closely-knit construction helped protect the group, there have long been questions of collusion on the part of the socialist elite that has held power since 1981. Even at the end of this ambitious trial questions remained regarding evidence of the early origins of the group (1973-5), other members and confusing identities, links to secret service organizations, and the sources of financing for the group.
Despite these lingering questions, it seems that these convictions, and the process of hearing such lengthy testimony, has both disrupted the group and contributed to the recovery of families of those killed and other victims.
Not all the members of November 17 have been identified or captured. Like the recent return of the Italian Red Brigades, it would not be surprising if they continue to present a risk.
This and other threats have received particular attention in advance of next summer's Olympic games. The security threat to the games persists, less from homegrown militants than from international organizations. Mountainous Greece, with its groups of islands and sprawling coastline, is at the crossroads of Europe, Asia and Africa. It is near Turkey, the former Yugoslavia, and the Middle East. The high visibility of the event, the geography and porous borders, all combine to make Greece an attractive target. International support to ensure security has been provided at high levels and will help to mitigate this risk.
Further Reading:
* Thanos Axarlian
http://www.hri.org/news/greek/ana/2003/03-04-11.ana.html#16
* BBC Coverage
"How November 17 was cracked" http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/2138906.stm
"Profile: November 17 Mastermind" http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/3300129.stm
"Terror trial hears 2,000 charges" http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/2818479.stm
* Chronology (Reuters)
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L08630494.htm
* Derek Brown "November 17: Europe's most deadly militants" June 8, 2000, Guardian
http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,3604,329599,00.html
* George Kassimeris "Europe's Last Red Terrorists" (book) http://www.nyupress.org/product_info.php?cPath=28&products_id=2806
* 'November 17' claims responsibility for Greek shipowner's murder
http://www.hri.org/news/greek/apeen/1997/97-05-30_1.apeen.html
* "November 17’s ‘trial of the century’ failed to provide any real answers to the crucial questions" Ekathimerini http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/news/content.asp?aid=37090
* Probe into Nov 17 extortion link
ttp://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_politics_8523731_14/01/2003_25198
* Richard Welch and William Nordeen
http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/rwelch.htm
http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/wenordeen.htm
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