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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:
Terrorism and Political Violence in Spain

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK

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1. World

The Second Protocol to the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in Event of Armed Conflict has entered into force. It is designed to protect designated cultural properties during war. Because of their deep symbolic value they have become deliberate targets for destruction. The First Protocol, in 1954, forbids export of cultural property from an occupied territory, if removed requires its return and forbids cultural property be retained as war reparations.

March 8 marked International Women's Day http://www.un.org/events/women/iwd/2004/, focusing on HIV/AIDS. Ten years ago women made up 38 percent of infections but today are 50 percent or more. In the Caribbean it is 52 percent. In Africa it is 58 percent and among new infections in 15- to 24-year-olds women outnumber men two to one. http://www.unifem.org/index.php In this age group in Ethiopia girls are four times more likely to be infected than boys. http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=39903

The World Health Organization is holding a meeting of health experts to discuss influenza. Measures such as poultry culling have lowered the risk of an imminent human pandemic strain but because outbreaks are cyclical, WHO wants to make sure that we are properly prepared for the next human pandemic. http://www.who.int/mediacentre/notes/2004/np8/en/

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2. Africa

Angola has laid out fourteen tasks to complete before holding national elections, ranging from developing a national agenda to clearing mines. This could delay elections; united opposition groups have asked for a poll in 2005.

Peacekeeping forces in Democratic Republic of Congo have confiscated weapons from former rebel commanders of the RCD-Goma. The UN Security Council has called for stronger enforcement of arms sanctions.

Equatorial Guinea has been on alert for a possible attempted coup. The apparent mercenary attackers were intercepted in Zimbabwe, and Equatorial Guinea claims to have arrested an advance guard of 15 people from the same group. Zimbabwe detained a cargo plane with more 64 alleged foreign mercenaries, at least some originating in South Africa, and one of the suspects is a former British SAS officer. They are awaiting charges in Zimbabwe on Monday.

Ivory Coast's ruling party accused the opposition of joining rebels to plan a coup. The charges were promptly denied, but the allegation increased political tension.

In Warri, southern Nigeria, at least five people died in a gun battle between troops and militiamen. The northern state of Kano has decided to obtain polio vaccine from Asia, to avoid allegedly contaminated stocks as part of a US plot to render Muslim women infertile.

A Rwandan court sentenced nine people to death and one to life in prison for killing a genocide survivor who was going to testify under the Gacaca system of village communal justice. A flight data recorder sent to the UN in New York in 1994 was discovered and has been turned over to the UN Office of Internal Oversight Services that is inquiring into the episode. The device may be from the downed plane that carried the Presidents of Rwanda and Burundi whose crash contributed to the Rwandan genocide.

Sierra Leone's special war crimes court's president Geoffrey Robertson will sit at trials of some of those indicted but not of three Revolutionary United Front (RUF) rebel leaders. Robertson wrote a book prior to his appointment charging the RUF leaders with atrocities, thus presenting the possibility of bias in the trial.

The third and final phase of Somalia's peace talks is due to begin on March 13.

The crisis in the western Darfur province of Sudan has become the most serious humanitarian crisis in Africa, with the government using a "scorched earth" policy to defeat the rebellion. Http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=40031

Uganda's Lord's Resistance Army launched three new attacks against civilians, killing eleven.

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3. Americas

Colombian troops battled guerillas from the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) in an area northeast of Bogota. Nine rebels, including regional leader Arcesio Angarilla, were killed. In two other battles, three people were killed. Meanwhile, right-wing paramilitaries were engaged in fighting that killed eight.

In Haiti, gunmen fired on demonstrators celebrating Aristide's downfall and killed six. Violence erupted again on Thursday but supporters of Aristide were dispersed without casualties. Overall, the situation is more stable though precarious, with both trade and aid resuming. Gerard Latortue was sworn in as Prime Minister. Exiled President Jean Bertrand Aristide has called for peaceful resistance and restoration of democracy and continues to charge the US with kidnapping. He plans a visit to Jamaica next week.

Peruvian authorities have granted conjugal visiting rights to convicted Tupac Amaru Revolutionary Movement member Anibal Apari. He will be able to visit Lori Berenson, a US citizen serving 20 years in prison for aiding Tupac Amaru, twice a month. They were married last year.

US General Accounting Office reports that Department of Defense contractors often require access to classified information but the Defense Security Service is unable to determine whether more than 11,000 contractor facilities meet security requirements, and that improved oversight and response are necessary.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-04-332

A year after the Department of Homeland Security was opened for business, many are questioning its effectiveness. CSO Magazine is beginning a series of articles about the complex department. http://www.csoonline.com/read/030104/dhs.html

In Boston on the 14th anniversary of the Gardner Museum art theft a new theory about the theft links it to the Irish Republican Army and connected organized crime figures. http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2004/03/11/new_theory_airs_on_gardner_museum_theft/

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez' claims that the US is funding his opposition have been given credence in documents obtained by Jeremy Bigwood under the Freedom of Information Act that show the US paid more than a million dollars to three opposition parties. http://www.Venezuelafoia.info/
http://news.independent.co.uk/world/americas/story.jsp?story=500711

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4. Asia Pacific

Burma and the UN refugee agency have reached agreement on measurements to create the conditions under which up to 130,000 people in Thai refugee camps can be repatriated. Another 600,000 are believed internally displaced. Efforts will begin with developing local infrastructure, health education and community services.

Cambodia is working with technical experts from the UN to finalize the arrangements for setting up a special court to try former Khmer Rouge leaders.

China and Pakistan have agreed technical details for the sale of a second nuclear power plant that would be built to the first China supplied in 1999.

Taiwan's opposition supporters have taken advantage of the last weekend before presidential elections to hold large rallies across the country. Government supporters also held rallies and are promoting the referendum on relations with China.

Indonesian President Sukarnoputri visited Aceh Province, in which the army claims to have killed more than 1400 suspected rebels during the military offensive that began last May. She suggested that martial law might be lifted in the next two months, shortly after elections.

South Korea's parliament impeached President Roh for illegally endorsing a pro-government party, sparking widespread anger and general disruption. The impeachment next goes to the Constitutional Court to see whether the judges will approve the measure.

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5. Europe

Europe is under heightened alert following a series of coordinated railway bombings in Spain on March 11 that killed at least 200 people and injured more than 1,400. Measures include special protection around Spanish interests, increased security at railway stations and other soft targets, and increased security at public buildings and embassies.

In Cyprus, the Greek and Turkish Cypriot leaders have been in a series of joint discussions. Now, the UN envoy will attempt to speed up the discussions with one-on-one meetings.

Tensions between Georgia and the breakaway Adzharia region have increased. Russia has warned against Georgia taking action against the region, to which it is allied.

Greece's new Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis has assumed personal control of the ministry responsible for the forthcoming Olympic games. They are working with US troops in another security drill, this one named "Hercules Shield" including dirty bomb and ship hijacking scenarios. Greece has asked NATO to help provide security for the games.

Kosova's President Ibrahim Rugova was the target of a grenade attack at his home. He was not injured.

Serbia marked the one-year anniversary of the assassination of Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic. A key eyewitness was assassinated on March 1, before he could testify.

A series of coordinated train bombs in three locations in Madrid, Spain killed at least 200 and injured more than 1,400. Of these, 14 have been identified as foreigners and the youngest is a 6-month-old baby. The devices hidden in backpacks, of which ten exploded and the police retrieved four others. More than 11 million people turned out to support the victims and express their outrage at the attacks. For background on this event, read today's Feature Article, below.

In Istanbul, Turkey, two suicide bombers opened fire and set off explosives against people eating dinner at a Masonic lodge. One attacker died and the second was seriously injured. They killed a waiter and wounded five. The bombers were inexperienced Islamic militants, not connected to al Qaeda.

The Irish Republican Army has been linked to the Gardner Museum art theft that took place in Boston Massachusetts 14 years ago. http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2004/03/11/new_theory_airs_on_gardner_museum_theft/

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6. Middle East

In Gaza City security remained high following threats of revenge for last week's Israeli raids that killed 15 but the proposed Israeli withdrawal dominated discussions. Egypt said it would not take responsibility for Gaza security but would strengthen border security in the event of a pullout. On Saturday, Israel Defense Forces shot dead heavily armed two Palestinians of the Ahmed Abu al Resh Brigades as they attempted to crawl through a military zone.

Hamas released a video showing two Britons used for a suicide bombing at Mike's Place, a bar in Tel Aviv, in April 2003. This is the first time Hamas claimed responsibility for the attack, that they said demonstrated Hamas is an international organization.

Iran has delayed the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) scheduled visit indefinitely in a dispute over IAEA statements that Iran has only partial cooperated and failed to report some activities. Iran plans to resume uranium enrichment activities.

Iraq's interim constitution was signed on March 8.
http://www.cpa-iraq.org/government/TAL.html

In Iraq, two US civilians and their interpreter were killed in an ambush. Six Iraqi police officers stopped their car and shot them. At first it was believed they were imposters in police uniforms but investigations into the possibility they were real police, or insurgents infiltrating the police, are underway. Roadside bombs have emerged as a favored tactic against occupation forces. Three attacks last week killed six and injured many others. Two Iraqi women, sisters working as a laundry for the coalition forces, were shot dead. Saturday night attacks killed three soldiers and wounded one.

Israeli parliamentary speaker Reuven Rivlin ordered and end to the controversial policy of making Arab construction workers at the parliament wear helmets with red crosses on top so they could be easily identified by marksmen standing guard. Israel's Supreme Court extended a ban on a section of West Bank barrier construction until March 17 while it examines a petition by residents of the area. Israel Defense Forces issued expropriation orders for Palestinian land planned for fence construction.

Israel and Jordan have removed a section of border fence and started construction on the Bridging the Rift science center. Constructed on the shared border, it is expected to open in five years and hopes to improve relations between the two countries.

A Syrian soccer game turned fatal when the players clashed between pro-Saddam and pro-Kurdish supporters. A crowd of at least 5,000 in the stadium, located in a mainly Kurdish city near the Turkish border, joined in and three children were trampled to death. Syrian police forces attempted to calm the situation without success and opened fire, killing at least nine and injuring more than 100. Violent demonstrations spread to other Syrian-Kurdish cities and armed forces were called in, with some areas placed under curfew.

In the West Bank town of Jenin, Israeli Defense Forces shot dead a woman and injured two people during an arrest operation on Tuesday in which Anas Ansawi of Islamic Jihad and three associates were arrested and the next day undercover Israeli soldiers shot dead five al Aqsa Brigades militants.

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7. South Asia

Afghanistan's efforts to register voters continue, but the ability to hold elections as schedules remains uncertain. Attacks against aid workers continue. US and coalition forces have undertaken a major campaign in remote tribal areas at the Afghan/Pakistan border in an effort to locate Osama bin Laden and other key suspects.

In Indian-administered Kashmir, troops killed two suspected militants attacking a government office. Later, a militant attempted to kidnap a villager but when the alarm was sounded he threw a grenade that killed four villagers were killed and injured 50.

Nepal's Maoist rebels have often extorted money from tourists but now UN agencies accuse them of attempting to extort money from aid workers. A land mine explosion blamed on Maoist rebels killed five security forces and injured seven.

Pakistani police arrested 17 people in connection with last week's attack against a Shia procession, in which the Sunni militant group Sipah e Sahaba is believed involved.

Sri Lanka's United People's Freedom Alliance, including President Kumaratunga, issued a manifesto saying it will restore full parliamentary democracy and eliminate the presidency. Kumaratunga cannot run for a third term as president but would be eligible to serve as Prime Minister. A dispute over the date her term ends has not been resolved. Tamil Tiger rebels say they will retake areas controlled by renegade Colonel Karuna peacefully and that they are not preparing to resume war after the elections, as Karuna claimed.

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8. Cyberterrorism and Information Warfare

A flaw identified in Microsoft Outlook 2002, first identified as important, was upgraded to a critical warning status following a new attack scenario. The flaw can allow remote access to a computer, including remote program execution. In future versions of Windows-XP, Microsoft plans to release a version that would automate Windows security. As announced, this would not provide the same levels of protection as given by third party firewall and anti-virus companies.

New UK credit card fraud figures show the first reduction in eight years. Losses fell to five percent overall, largely due to more sophisticated fraud detection systems. http://www.apacs.org.uk/about_apacs/htm_files/newsroom.htm

Banks adoption of protection against identity theft is discusses in new articles published in Bank Technology News, March 2004. Karen Krebsbach writes of "The Other Victims of ID Fraud: Banks" and "Experts Rave About ID Analytics"
http://www.banktechnews.com/cgi-bin/readstory.pl?story=20040301BTNC557.xml
http://www.banktechnews.com/cgi-bin/readstory.pl?story=20040301BTNC558.xml

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9. Finance

The US announced a new Office of Terrorism and Financial Intelligence (TFI) at the Department of the Treasury. It combines the Executive Office of Terrorist Financing and Financial Crimes, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), and the Office of Foreign Assets Control, and other assets reallocated from Treasury. The reorganization will support targeted intelligence analysis, aggressive enforcement, international coordination, and accountability. It will "not only focus on the financial war on terror, but also protect the integrity of the financial system, fight financial crime, enforce economic sanctions against rogue nations and assist in the ongoing hunt for Iraqi assets". http://www.treas.gov/press/releases/js1219.htm

The UN Security Council has frozen the assets of former Liberian President Charles Taylor and his close associates to ensure those assets will not be used to undermine peace. http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2004/sc8024.doc.htm
They have also taken steps to strengthen the DR Congo embargo by stopping the flow of weapons. http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2004/sc8025.doc.htm

A team of special investigators for the UN Special Court investigating war crimes in Sierra Leone obtained a search warrant for former President Charles Taylor's residences as well as properties of his close associates and institutions. Liberia has the world's second-largest flags-of-convenience shipping registry. Those associated with this industry will be paid special attention as the investigators gather evidence in connection with allegations that Taylor traded arms for diamonds with rebels in Sierra Leone.
Http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=39922

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10. Human Rights

Saudi Arabia has approved setting up the National Human Rights Association. It will be the first human rights monitoring body in the kingdom, comprised of 41 handpicked members including at least 3 women, chartered to review complaints over possible human rights violations and to work towards complying with international agreements.

Oxford Research Group and Peace Direct have published "Cutting the Costs of War' in which they describe measures to prevent conflict that are cheaper, save lives, and produce effective results. http://www.peacedirect.org/news/ctclaunch.html

Human Rights Watch published "Afghanistan: Abuses by U.S. Forces" alleging arbitrary detention and excessive force. http://hrw.org/reports/2004/afghanistan0304/
US State Department responded that: "Afghanistan remains a combat zone and forces there are engaged in combat operations against determined enemy forces. Combat operations are conducted in accordance with the Law of Armed Conflict and relevant rules of engagement".

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11. Law and Legal Issues

Rhuhel Ahmed, Asif Iqbal, Shafiq Rasul, and Tarek Dergoul were arrested in the UK on their return from Guantanamo Bay where they had been detained by US authorities. Jamal al-Harith was only briefly detained then released without charge. Under the Terrorism Act were held for questioning before being released without charge. Four other British citizens (Feroz Abbasi, Moazzam Begg, Richard Belmar, and Martin Mubanga) remain in detention at Guantanamo.

Moammar al Awwami has been sentenced to 20 years in prison by a Lebanese military court for his role masterminding attacks against US interests in 2002-3. These included bombing fast food restaurants and planning to attack the embassy.

Abu Bakar Bashir's jail term was cut from three years to 18 months. Indonesia's Supreme Court accepted the militant cleric's appeal against a conviction of subversion. He had previously been acquitted of leading Jemaah Islamiah. He will be released April 4.

Simon Bikindi, a Rwandan musician, pleaded not guilty to genocide at the UN tribunal in connection with his song lyrics that alleged promoted Hutu extremism.

Thomas Butler, a plague researcher and former professor, was sentenced to two years in prison and fines/restitution of nearly $60,000 in connection with illegal shipment of plague samples to Tanzania and defrauding Texas Tech with unrelated pharmaceutical research.

Ranko Cesic, a former Bosnian Serb policeman, has been found guilty of murder, torture and rape of inmates during the Bosnian war, including the deaths of at least ten.

The US Environmental Protection Agency is being sued on behalf of residents and workers in lower Manhattan and Brooklyn for improperly people to return to a hazardous area, making misleading statements about air quality, after the September 11 attacks.

Susan Lindauer has been charged in US court of acting as an unregistered foreign agent of the Iraqi Intelligence Service while Saddam Hussein was in power. She claims to be a peace advocate.

Abderrazak Mahjub will be extradited from Germany to Italy where he is wanted for heading a militant cell connected with al Qaeda.

Mladen Markac and Ivan Cermak, retired Croation generals accused of atrocities against Serbs in 1995, have pleaded not guilty to crimes against humanity in the UN war crimes tribunal.

Mounir al-Motassadek's conviction -- the only connected to the September 11 attacks -- was quashed last week. He has appealed to German court for his release from jail pending a retrial that has been ordered but not scheduled.

General Bogdan Subotic, held last week on suspicion of helping former Bosnian Serb leader and indicted war criminal Radovan Karadzic evade capture, was released and returned home but NATO will continue to investigate his possible connections to a network of people supporting war crimes suspects.

Miroljub Vujovic, Stanko Vujanovic, Jovica Peric, Milan Vojnovic, Ivan Atanasijevic and Predrag Madzarac are on trial in special Serbian court accused of belonging to a paramilitary unit that massacred more than 200 civilians in the Croatian town Vukovar in 1991. This is the first major war crimes trial conducted inside Serbia. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/3548033.stm

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12. Transportation

Following the Madrid attacks, railways as a soft target have received greater attention. Note:
John Mintz " U.S. Passenger Trains Vulnerable To Terror Attacks, Bulletin Warns"
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A53873-2004Mar12.html
Shannon Mccaffrey " Homeland Security urges railway system vigilance" http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/nation/8178830.htm

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13. Weapons of Mass Destruction

Libya returned enriched uranium fuel to Russia, twenty years after it was provided, and has signed the Additional Protocol that permits enhanced UN inspections.

Iran has taken a different approach by delaying the scheduled IAEA visit and stating it will resume uranium enrichment activities.

The US General Accounting Office reviewed recommendations on a test anti-ballistic missile program, finding that concerns over testing, technical challenges, and data on capabilities remain. http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-04-254
Another report called for improvements on controls of the export of cruise missile and unmanned aerial vehicle technology. http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-04-493T
A safer smallpox vaccine has been found nearly as effected as the standard vaccine and may be usable by people whose health conditions prevent use of the current vaccine.
http://www.niaid.nih.gov/newsroom/releases/mvavac.htm

The US Department of Health and Human Services has issued a Request for Proposal for a new anthrax vaccine to add to the emergency stockpile. http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2004pres/20040312b.html

The US National Institute for Standards and Technology has issued new standards for radiation detection equipment. http://www.nist.gov/public_affairs/factsheet/radiation_detector_standards.htm

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14. Recently Published

Hans Blix "Disarming Iraq" Pantheon

Edwidge Danticat "The Dew Breaker" Knopf (novel about Haiti)

Robert Davis "Christian Slaves, Muslim Masters: White Slavery in the Mediterranean, the Barbary Coast, and Italy, 1500-1800" Palgrave Macmillan
Review http://education.guardian.co.uk/higher/worldwide/story/0,9959,1166991,00.html

Theodore Friend "Indonesian Destinies" Belknap/Harvard

Maria A Ressa "Seeds of Terror" Free Press

Jean Gelman Taylor "Indonesia" Yale

George Tenet "The Worldwide Threat 2004: Testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee" March 9, 2004
http://www.cia.gov/cia/public_affairs/speeches/2004/tenet_testimony_03092004.html

John Wylder "Strategic Information Security" CRC Press

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FEATURE ARTICLE: Terrorism and Political Violence in Spain

Spain holds a strategic position as the crossroads of the Atlantic and Mediterranean and of Europe with Africa. As such, it has long been a target for invading forces: Celts, Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Romans, Visogoths, Muslims, and Crusaders. In the 16th and 17th centuries the Spanish Empire spanned beyond the Iberian Peninsula to large parts of Europe. Ultimately, the maritime dominance that led to the discovery of America fell to Britain and the decline was further accelerated by the failure to participate in the industrial revolution.

During the Peninsular War Spain helped England defeat Napoleon. The battle against France helped form the nationalist movement in Spain and eventually the divisive war for independence from France, depicted in Goya's famous paintings. In 1812, Spain developed its first (of seven) constitutions.

During the next hundred years, the rest of the Spanish Empire broke apart. Today, Spain controls 19 autonomous communities. These include the Balearic Islands, the Canary Islands, and three small islands off the coast of north Africa. The legacy of the former empire has left behind some persistent international disputes, including the demarcation of the border with Morocco and the Western Sahara and the situation in Gibraltar, where residents voted against a shared sovereignty arrangement worked out between Britain and Spain.

These lingering disputes remain dangerous. For example, the uninhabited Parsley (Perejil or Leila) Island had been fought over for more than a century. When Moroccan soldiers occupied the island in 2002 Spain sent in troops to recapture it and the two countries broke off diplomatic relations. Although relations have improved, the Spanish enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla on the Moroccan coast are still a source of conflict. The fate of the Western Sahara, in which Spain supported the pro-independence Polisario Front, has still not been resolved. Even the border between the Canary Islands and Morocco is controversial; its resolution affects fishing and oil rights. Illegal immigration from Morocco into Spain has been a European-wide issue as it is one of the main conduits from Africa.

The legacy of centuries of international motion came to a head, ironically, not during two world wars in which Spain remained neutral, but during the Spanish Civil War. More than 350,000 people were killed during a conflict that in some measure overlaid internal differences in Spanish society with international politics emerging into the Cold War.

The Civil War ended with a Nationalist victory, led by General Francisco Franco, the dictator of the country from 1939 until his death in 1975. During nearly four decades, he controlled the country with a vicious paramilitary police force and ruthlessly suppressed political opponents of any flavor, regional nationalism, trade unions, and freemasonry. Only with his death, and the assumption of head of state by King Juan Carlos, did Spain make the transition to democracy.

The 1978 constitution divided the country into 17 regions, respecting linguistic and cultural differences, each with elected authorities, but varying levels of autonomy. Linguistic and cultural differences are further evidenced by a number of ethnic and regional movements, ranging from traditional political parties to radical terrorist groups.

This will give a flavor of the diversity:
In Andalusia you can find the Andalusist Party, Andalusian Left, Andalusian Nation, Assembly of Andalusia, and the Socialist Party of Andalusia. In Asturia the Andecha Astur, Asturian Left, Bloc of the Asturian Left and Nationalist Left of Asturia operate. Basque Country hosts Basque Solidarity, Basque Homeland and Freedom (ETA), Communists of the Basque Country and Unity (Batasuna). PSM-Nationalist Accord is in the Balear Islands. The Canary Islands offer Alternative Canaries, Canarian Coalition, Majorera Assembly, Canarian Nationalist Party, Canarian Popular Alternative, Democratic Canarian Movement, People's Unity, Movement for the Self-Determination and Independence of the Canarian Archipelago, National Congress of the Canaries, and the Popular Front for the Independence of the Canary Islands. Castille has the Castillian Left and the Comunero Land - Castillian Nationalist Party. Catalonia has the Republican Left of Catalonia - Regional Federation of North Catalonia, Catalan State, Forward, Socialist Organization for National Liberation, Socialist National Liberation Party of the Catalan Countries. In Galacia are the Galician Nationalist Bloc, Galician Nationalist Party - Galicianist Party, Galician People's Union, Galician Popular Front, Alternative Revolutionary Left, Left of Galicia, Nationalist Left, Popular Unity. While Valencia has Valencia Nationalist Bloc, Valencian Left and the Valencian Nationalist Left.

Few of these groups resort to violence to achieve their aims, but there are exceptions, the most notorious of which is the Basque separatist group ETA (Euskadi ta Askatasuna, Basque Fatherland and Freedom).

Formed in 1959 from student opposition to Franco's dictatorship, ETA's battle to maintain its distinctive culture and language became a fight for full independence that has led to more than 800 deaths over the last 30 years. Their first campaign began with an attempt to derail a train carrying politicians in 1961. Its first murder was in 1968, with the death of secret police chief Meliton Manzanas. The killing reached its height in 1980 when 118 people were killed in a series of attacks, mostly police and other government officials. The greatest number in one attack was when 21 supermarket shoppers were killed in 1987, an incident ETA called a mistake and for which it apologized. A ceasefire declared in September 1998 lasted until November 2000, but under severe government pressure the level of attacks was kept low while the numbers arrested increased.

There is a parallel political movement, Batasuna, founded in 1978. In the late 1990s, Batasuna was criticized for collaborating with ETA and several party leaders were arrested for cooperating with ETA. Although ETA had been considered a terrorist organization for several years, last year Batasuna became the first political party banned since Franco and the first to be declared a terrorist group.

ETA has strong transnational ties, beginning with the Irish Republican Army (IRA) and other European groups with similar beliefs. In the last decade they have been linked to South American guerrilla groups.

Paramilitary groups opposed to nationalists and other movements carried out Franco's dirty war, in which the torture squads carried extrajudicial executions, and attacks against refugees. Notable among these was GAL (Grupos Antiterroristas de Liberacion, Anti-Terrorist Liberation Group).

GAL was formed in 1983 to combat ETA. This right-wing gang of neofascists was organized and funded by Spanish authorities and its activities were linked to the French Civil Guard. They conducted revenge killings, kidnappings and bombings among suspected ETA members. GAL and other government-sponsored t paramilitary groups operated for about 20 years, committing hundreds of attacks against Basques, injuring more than 200, and killing 67.

Another terrorist organization is GRAPO (Grupos de Resistencia Antifascista Primero de Octubre, First of October Antifascist Resistance Group). The armed wing of the Communist Party (illegal under Franco), it was formed in 1975 to overthrow the government and replace it with a communist state. They are violently anti-US and have conducted a number of attacks against US targets, attempting to force the removal of US military forces stationed on Spanish territory. These attacks caused the death of more than 90 and over 200 injuries, but most attacks have been directed against property. GRAPO has connections with the Red Army Faction that operates in Germany, French Action Directe and the Italian Red Brigades.

The Catalan separatist organizations Terre Lluire (Free Land) and Catalan Red Army, formed in the 1980s, were responsible for bombings with some fatalities, including attacks in 1987 against US interests. The Free Calician Guerilla People's Army carried out a series of bombings against banks in the 1980s but renounced terrorism in 1991.

Most recently, Spanish investigators have uncovered Islamic terrorist operations. They have arrested dozens of suspects, many from North Africa, and made significant progress investigating sources of funding for al Qaeda. Some of the suspects were linked to the Algerian-based Salafist Group for Call and Combat (GSPC) and the Jordanian group Al Tawhid. Both of these groups have ties to al Qaeda. Individuals have also been identified with connections to known al Qaeda operatives and four of the detainees held at the US prison camp in Guantanamo Bay are Spanish citizens.

Thursday, March 11 saw the worst attack in Spain since the Civil War. Nearly 200 people were killed and more than 1,400 injured in coordinated bomb attacks on commuter trains in Madrid.

Initially authorities believed ETA responsible, but as more details emerged the picture grew murky, with evidence pointing in two different directions, and the investigation is proceeding without prejudice. It will take some time to arrive at the truth, but here is the public record at this point in time.

ETA has previously used the same bombing materials, using remote detonation. They occurred before an election, a common ETA target, and had attempted to blow up trains to Madrid as recently as last December. However, ETA has never conducted an attack on such a scale that required such high organization nor have they deliberately targeted such large numbers of civilians.

Previously, they warned in advance of bombs and their preferred targets were economic, including a campaign against the tourist industry. The crackdown b and close monitoring y Spanish intelligence have weakened ETA but may also have served to inspire a more radical spin-off group. ETA and Batasuna have denied responsibility.

On the other hand, simultaneous, coordinated attacks are a hallmark of al Qaeda. Large attacks with large numbers of death are also typical al Qaeda goals. In addition, police discovered a stolen van that held detonators and an Islamic tape in the town where three of the four trains began. A letter sent to a London-based Arabic newspaper signed from Abu Hafs al-Masri Brigades, purportedly part of al Qaeda, claimed responsibility for the attack. A video from an alleged al Qaeda spokesman also claims responsibility, but that tape has not yet been authenticated. Al Qaeda has previously threatened revenge for Spanish support of the US.

Less likely, but also under consideration, is collusion between the groups. Al Qaeda does not like to work with non-Muslims but may have compromised to take advantage of the opportunity at hand.

The arrest of three Moroccans and two Indians based on evidence gathered from a backpack retrieved before its bomb went off provides little further insight. They could be linked with extremist Moroccan groups, including those connected with al Qaeda.

We will continue to follow this story and inform you as events unfold. Among other things, it will be interesting to see the impact these events have on national elections taking place on the 14th.

Further Reading:

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