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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:
World Maritime Day 2004

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK

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1. World

The first probably case of human-to-human transmission of the deadly H5N1 strain of avian influenza has been reported in Thailand increasing fears of a possible influenza pandemic. The World Health Organization (WHO) developed a prototype strain but five months later only two companies have got to small clinical trials and it could be months before large-scale production could begin. Before these cases emerged, The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) warned that the bird flu epidemic in Asia is a "crisis of global importance" that will not be eradicated in the near future and called for major research, infrastructure, and vaccine investments. Meanwhile, the US Government Accountability Office testified about "Federal Challenges in Responding to Influenza Outbreaks" including persistent shortages of vaccine as well as issues with its purchase, distribution and administration. Resolving these issues is particularly important for pandemic preparedness. http://www.who.int/csr/don/2004_09_28a/en/
http://www.fao.org/newsroom/en/news/2004/50961/index.html
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-04-1100T
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/

North Korea's Vice Foreign Minister Choe told the UN General Assembly they had been forced to develop a nuclear deterrent -- including weapons developed from their 8,000 spent fuel-rods -- because the US was determined to eliminate North Korea with a preemptive nuclear strike.

The World Bank's annual World Development Report emphasizes reducing policy risks, costs and barriers to competition because "A good investment climate is central to growth and poverty reduction". http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/NEWS/0,,contentMDK:20262488~menuPK:34463~pagePK:64003015~piPK:64003012~theSitePK:4607,00.html

The Russian government has approved the Kyoto Protocol that sets targets for greenhouse gas emissions that are connected to global warming and climate change. Once ratified by parliament the treaty would have the required 55 Parties and could come into force within three months.

The second week of the UN General Assembly meeting continued with significant discussions around terrorism and security issues, among other topics. For full coverage refer to http://www.un.org/ga/59/

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2. Africa

Burundi National Liberation Forces (FNL) rebels were attacked by pro-government forces that attacked the FNL camp, killing at least 37. FNL is the only rebel group that refused to join the power-sharing government and peace process.

Authorities in Chad have increased security at the ten refugee camps holding more than 2000,000 Sudanese that had fled the fighting in Darfur following an increase in local tensions that led to three refugees being killed.

In Mbuji Mayi, Democratic Republic of Congo, 19 street children in a gang known as "Bana ba mu tshisalu" or "children who live in the market", were killed by a group of self-employed diamond hunters. The miners were angry that the children were stealing from them and had also engaged in other violence, including attacks against women, and the miners took the law into their own hands. Mbuji Mayi is at the center of the diamond trade and has some 8,000 street children, second only to Kinshasa. Meanwhile, fresh attacks between former Rwandan soldiers (ex-FAR) and militiamen (Interahamwe) attacked the village of Sake in North Kivu, killing two people and looting 150 houses.

Ivory Coast's special session of parliament has ended without agreeing a key set of laws, including those around citizenship. With reforms blocked yet again it is unlikely that disarmament will start on October 15 as scheduled.

Libya has been removed from the US list of state sponsors of terrorism. They have begun paying out $35 million compensation to the 150 non-US victims of the 1986 Berlin disco bombing that killed 3 and injured 230 and was subsequently connected to the Libyan secret service.

Mauritania reports it has intercepted the third coup attempt in 15 months and arrested former army officer Saleh Ould Hanena who is believed to be the ringleader.

Morocco hand Spain agreed to appoint judges to work in each other's country to help jointly combat terrorism and illegal immigration.

The Niger Delta's oil industry was threatened by a local militia, the Niger Delta People's Volunteer Force, who insist that foreigners must leave immediately or face all-out war. At the end of the week there is a tentative agreement to disarm and disband with the possibility of discussions over control of natural resources.

South Africa is warned to quickly address colonial-era land inequalities or face a Zimbabwe-style farm invasion crisis in a new report from the International Crisis Group. "Blood and Soil: Land, Politics and Conflict Prevention in Zimbabwe and South Africa" provides detailed analysis with practical suggestions for moving forward. http://www.crisisweb.org/home/index.cfm?id=2998&l=1

In Sudan, UN human rights officials briefed the Security Council on the current situation, including insecurity and human rights abuses that have contributed to an urgent humanitarian crisis. To address this, an international police presence is needed in Darfur. Sudan has agreed to deploy additional African troops and police for ceasefire monitoring. The Security Council is considering sanctions against Sudan. http://www.un.org/apps/news/infocusRel.asp?infocusID=88&Body=Sudan&Body1=

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3. Americas

The Caribbean continues the struggle to recover after a series of destructive hurricanes. In Haiti, the worst hit, recovery has been hindered by the destruction of infrastructure necessary to deliver humanitarian relief and rampant insecurity. Looting erupted in Gonaives as hungry mobs attacked good trucks and warehouses and three policemen were killed. Further rioting in Port-au-Prince demanding the return of ousted President Aristide killed 14. The death toll from the hurricane exceeds 2,400 and more than 200,000 people were left homeless and subject to groups of roaming armed gangs. UN peacekeepers are attempting to restore order but have called for additional resources.

Colombian troops killed at least 13 paramilitary fighters of the Peasant Self-Defense Forces of Casanare (ACC).

Peruvian police report the capture of 17 members of the Shining Path and Tupac Amaru Revolutionary Movement (MRTA) rebel groups during two raids, including eight teachers. Meanwhile, a group of 19 foreign tourists taken hostage by coca growers opposed to government efforts to eradicate the crop were freed when police stormed the Inca temple where they had been held briefly.

The US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Inspector General released a redacted and declassified version of an internal audit report reviewing "The Federal Bureau of Investigation's Foreign Language Program -- Translation of Counterterrorism and Counterintelligence Foreign Language Material (Unclassified/Redacted Executive Summary). It finds more than 123,000 hours l in "languages primarily related to counterterrorism activities (i.e., Arabic, Farsi, Urdu, and Pashto" -- about 20 percent of the total material -- has not been translated. Nearly a third of the half million hours of material in other languages has not been translated. Despite significant increases in resources, the FBI simply lacks the necessary capacity.
http://www.usdoj.gov/oig/audit/FBI/0425/index.htm

The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Inspector General issued a report on "DHS Challenges in Consolidating Terrorist Watch List Information" finding the effort to create a consolidated watch list has badly foundered amidst poor cooperation and a lack of leadership. http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/verify_redirect.jsp?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dhs.gov%2Finterweb%2Fassetlibrary%2FOIG-04-31_Watch_List.pdf&title=Read+Report

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4. Asia Pacific

Brunei's new parliament approved a constitutional amendment to allow a third of the members to be directly elected. Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah will choose the rest.

China's Communist Party's Central Committee issued a policy paper warned that the fight against corruption and incompetence could even threaten the party's hold on power and is a "life and death struggle".
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2004-09/26/content_2024223.htm

China accused Taiwan of serious provocation and warmongering based on Taiwan's efforts to complete an arms purchase from the US and build an offensive capability to deter an attack from China. Thousands of protestors in Taiwan marched in protest against the US arms sale.

As China marked its national day, Indian troops and their families joined Chinese troops on the shared border to join in the celebrations. This was an historic gesture helping build confidence at the line of control.

Indonesian soldiers are accused of routinely torturing prisoners and supporters of the separatist Free Aceh Movement (GAM) in a new Human Rights Watch report. "Aceh at War: Torture, Ill-Treatment and Unfair Trials" is based on interviews with 35 adult and child prisoners who attest to "the use of electric shock, burning with cigarettes, beatings, threats, and intimidation". http://www.hrw.org/english/docs/2004/09/28/aceh9388.htm More than 50 people were killed in Aceh in the past week (some 2,200 rebels since the military offensive began in May 2003).

In Jakarta, Indonesian police report that DNA tests had identified a suicide bomber involved in the Australian embassy attack as Heri Kurniawan ("Heri Golun"), a member of a new radical Islamic group called Indonesian Islamic State (NII). The police are studying debris to see if there is evidence of a second bomber.

Nauru's President Ludwig Scotty has dissolved parliament and declared a state of emergency in response to a parliamentary deadlock over a minister's suspension. Scotty plans to govern Nauru until elections are held on October 23 but opposition leaders say the move is unconstitutional and will appeal to the Supreme Court.

In the southern Philippines, US-backed forces launched an attack on Jolo island, targeting Abu Sayyaf leader Radulan Sahiron and other commanders. One marine was killed but rebel casualties are undetermined.

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5. Europe

Abkhazia, a breakaway region of Georgia, is holding its first multi-party presidential elections. Abkhazia is not internationally recognized and subject to a blockade. Georgia wants the province returned to central control while local groups hope the elections offer an alternative.

Danish television interviewed Slimane Hadj Abderrahmane who had been released from the US detention camp in Guantanamo Bay. The interview caused quite a stir when he said, among other things, that he would go into hiding and make his way to Chechnya where he could fight for the Muslim cause against the Russians carrying out terror against them. He also said that his agreement with US authorities not to take part in terrorist activities was just toilet paper. Although Danish conservatives called for him to be imprisoned, Dr. Inge Genefke of the International Rehabilitation Center for Torture Victims said his erratic remarks are typical of torture survivors
http://www.dr.dk/nyheder/tv/nyhedsmagasinet/article.jhtml?articleID=201961 (in Danish)
http://www.cphpost.dk/get/82410.html
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/3704176.stm

Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern had an historic meeting with Ian Paisley, leader of the Democratic Unionist Party, the largest unionist party in Northern Ireland. They discussed breaking the political impasse and restoring devolution.

Russian army reports the death of five Chechen rebels including a Turkish mercenary in fighting southeast of Grozny.

In a look at the roots of the Beslan school siege Nick Paton Walsh traveled to Ingushetia and Chechnya in "Tracing a tragedy". See the 2-part report at http://www.guardian.co.uk/russia/article/0,2763,1315930,00.html As a school security measure, students will begin wearing military-style dog tags and carry identification papers.

Spain's Basque separatist group ETA has said it will continue its violent campaign. Spanish police dealt with four bombs attached to an electricity pylon after receiving a warning from ETA. Five suspected ETA associates were arrested following raids in northern Spain.

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6. Middle East

September 28 marked four years since Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon visited the Jerusalem mosque and helped spark the intifada. More than 3,070 Palestinians and 940 Israelis have been killed since it started. For specifics on the death toll and an intifada timeline see http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3694350.stm and http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3677206.stm

Events in Gaza this week significantly increased the death toll. The week began with four Palestinians killed by Israeli forces followed by Palestinian rocket attacks against an Israeli town that killed two children. This provoked an extraordinary response from Israeli forces that began with a ground operation in which three Palestinian teenagers were killed followed by helicopter gunships attacking Jabaliya refugee camp, killing two. As the day opened on Thursday, Israeli troops -- some 2,000 -- launched a massive operation inside Jabaliya, using more than a hundred tanks, their way paved by bulldozers flattening houses through the heart of the densely populated camp. They were accompanied by armored personnel carriers and helicopter gunships. Hamas and Islamic Jihad fighters responded with improvised explosives and homemade devices in a series of street battles. Burning tires were used to obscure the view of the Israeli drones flying overhead. One tank shell killed seven Palestinians, mostly civilians. Palestinian gunmen shot an Israeli woman as she jogged near a Jewish settlement. By the end of the day 28 Palestinians and three Israelis were dead and more than 130 wounded. Operations continued on Friday and Saturday, with at least seven more Palestinians killed, including a targeted attack against two mid-ranking Hamas militants. By Sunday, Israel had established a 9 km buffer zone at Jabaliya; the death toll exceeded 60; and there were hundreds of casualties.

In Iraq on Friday US and Iraqi forces began a new military offensive meant to stabilize the country ahead of the elections scheduled for January. The US reports that more than 125 rebels were killed; local hospitals report large numbers of civilian casualties.

Many people in the country, including influential clerics, suggest this tactic will be counterproductive. In other research, the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) new "Assessing Iraqi Security Forces" report finds training is progressing at a pace that indicates Iraqis will be unable to take over the most demanding security requirements until late 2005-6. http://www.csis.org/press/wf_2004_0929.pdf And Foreign Policy in Focus (FPIF) issued "A Failed 'Transition'" that provides a comprehensive accounting of the mounting costs of the war.

In positive economic news, Iraq's international debts appears closer to being forgiven and The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has approved $436.3 million in Emergency Post-Conflict Assistance to Iraq "as a sign of support for Iraq's economic reconstruction efforts through 2005 and to help catalyze additional international support, including debt relief". http://www.imf.org/external/np/sec/pr/2004/pr04206.htm

The New York Times published a remarkably detailed analysis of the reported aluminum tubes Iraq had stored that US officials insisted provided irrefutable evidence of a nuclear program. See this special report, "How White House Embraced Suspect Iraq Arms Intelligence: The Nuclear Card: The Aluminum Tube Story" in the October 3 issue. http://www.nytimes.com/2004/10/03/international/middleeast/03tube.html (registration)

Lebanese authorities captured alleged al Qaeda embassy bombing plotter Majdal Anjar, who died in custody a week later. Authorities say he died of a heart attack but relatives insist he was tortured. Denying he had any relationship to al Qaeda, they refused to accept his body for burial and insist on an inquiry. Thousands of people protested in the streets, some rioting and damaging property.

A former Lebanese minister was injured and his driver killed when a car bomb was detonated outside his home. Marwan Hamadeh was a Druze and government opponent who resigned in protest at the constitutional amendment to allow the current president a 3-year term extension.

In the West Bank on Monday Israeli troops shot dead a mentally ill Palestinian man during a Jenin refugee camp raid and Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades member was shot dead in Nablus. On Wednesday the army arrested a woman suspected of preparing a suicide bombing was arrested and two Palestinians were killed during an operation in Jenin.

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7. South Asia

Afghanistan is one of the poorest countries in the world with a continuing vicious cycle of insecurity, an informal economy and drug trafficking. This summarizes the findings of the first economic report produced by the World Bank since before the Soviet conflict. http://www.worldbank.org

In Afghanistan, pre-election violence continues. The commander of US forces says that intelligence reports suggest large numbers of foreign militants are entering the country and that as many as 2,000 may try to disrupt the presidential elections scheduled for next week. Meanwhile, NATO has completed plans for expanded peacekeeping.

Alleged Taliban leader Abdul Ghaffar was killed in a gun battle last weekend. The US military reports that he had been held at Guantanamo Bay then repatriated, whereupon he was appointed Taliban regional financial and operational commander for southern Afghanistan. Neither his role nor the details of his detention have been confirmed.

In India, Assam and Nagaland faces a series of deadly attacks that killed at least 56 and injured more than 100. There were two large bombs in Nagaland, one at a crowded railway station and almost simultaneously at a local market. In Assam Bodo tribe rebels fired on shoppers. Separatists of the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) are suspected but no one has claimed responsibility and a number of separatist groups operate in the area.

Supporters of the Maoist rebel People's War Group (PWG) in Andhra Pradesh state rallied in public for the first time in nearly 15 years. It was a show of strength ahead of talks with the government expected later in October. Joined by the Janashakti rebel group supporters marched with red banners, listened to speeches on peace and self-reliance, and painted the city red.

In Indian-administered Kashmir, a moderate leader of the All Party Hurriyat Conference, Mohammad Rafiq Shah, was shot dead. Elsewhere, a landmine killed two civilians.

Pakistan's security forces killed Amjad Farooqi, a key al Qaeda militant and one of Pakistan's Most Wanted Terrorists, with at least two others, in a gun battle in Sindh province last weekend. President Musharraf attributed assassinations attempted against him, the murder of Daniel Pearl, and other attacks to Farooqi and said that his death eliminated a major terrorist threat. Three Pakistani soldiers were killed in an attack against their convoy and fighting continued at Afghan border regions.

In eastern Pakistan a suicide bomber, carrying the bomb in a briefcase, attacked a Shia mosque during prayers on Wednesday. At least 30 people were killed and more than 50 wounded. Rioting broke out after a funeral procession to bury the victims.

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8. Cyberterrorism and Information Warfare

Since Microsoft revealed the vulnerability in the way Windows displays JPEG images, a program to exploit the flaw circulated online and now the first images containing a malicious program has been found online, affecting Windows machines using Explorer. This is a serious vulnerability and more destructive implementations are likely to follow.
http://easynews.com/virus.html
http://www.microsoft.com/security/bulletins/200409_jpeg.mspx
http://securityresponse.symantec.com/avcenter/security/Content/11173.html
http://www.f-secure.com/v-descs/ms04-028.shtml

The director of the US National Cyber Security Division, Amit Yoran, has left the position after one year. Like other holders of the office the lack of authority and absence of funding frustrated him.

For the first time, the British Office of Fair Trading is using cross-border powers to stop a Belgian company from sending fraudulent mail campaigns.
http://www.oft.gov.uk/
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/low/business/3687752.stm

The Association for Payment Clearing Services (APACS) worked with the British banking industry to launch a new consumer awareness site to inform the public about online threats. They report that 4 percent - nearly half a million people -- would automatically respond to an email supposedly from their bank, unaware of the risk of unsolicited email and phishing frauds. More statistics: Only 28 percent would check with the bank first; 65 percent would just ignore it; 25 percent have no current virus checker; 41 percent no active firewall; a third write down passwords; nearly 20 percent share bank passwords with someone else; more than half have never changed their password; and more 25 percent use the same password for multiple sites. http://www.apacs.org.uk/about_apacs/htm_files/newsroom.htm
http://www.banksafeonline.org.uk

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9. Finance

An investigation into illegal arms sales to Angola during its civil war is following the money trail to Switzerland, where officials have authorized bank documents seized in the money laundering investigation be provided to French investigators. http://www.swissinfo.org/sen/swissinfo.html?siteSect=105&sid=5246714 http://www.bj.admin.ch/e/index.html

The first progress report of the expert monitors of UN sanctions on Liberia's diamond trade report that the government is a year or so away from fulfilling the criteria to participate in the Kimberley Process to verify the origin and authenticity of rough diamond exports. They lack funding and have not completed a Kimberley assessment mission. At this time mining and in turn illegal exports are low but the panel warns that as stability returns and the dry season begins, illegal exports could rise. There has also been little progress on reform of the trade and export of timber products that in the past have also been used to fuel conflict. http://www.un.org/Docs/journal/asp/ws.asp?m=S/2004/752

US President Bush issued a determination that allowed the State Department to remove Iraq from the list of state sponsors of terrorism. In turn, the Treasury said that the denial of foreign tax credits and other restrictions associated with sanctions against international sponsors of terrorism no longer apply.
http://usinfo.state.gov/xarchives/display.html?p=washfile-english&y=2004&m=September&x=20040924192755ndyblehs0.4253656&t=livefeeds/wf-latest.html
http://www.treas.gov/press/releases/js1960.htm

The International Monetary Fund issued new reviews of the financial system in The Netherlands. Regarding Anti-Money Laundering/Combating the Financing of Terrorism, they find there is "a generally sound AML/CFT framework and, having ratified almost all relevant international conventions, it expects to ratify the Palermo Convention shortly. The legislative framework for criminalizing ML and FT will be further enhanced by the new Acts of Terrorism Act. The assessment identified several areas that could be further strengthened, including: ensuring there is effective sharing of information by MOT with supervisory authorities; reducing the reliance placed on general provisions in regulations relating to organization and control to impose quite specific duties on financial institutions for ongoing training, internal audit and procedures for reporting transactions; providing detailed AML/CFT guidance to regulated institutions, and reviewing current arrangements where supervisory responsibility has been delegated under the provisions of the Act on the Supervision of the Credit System. In addition, a merger and updating of the two most important laws on preventive measures is currently under active consideration, and would be beneficial". http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/scr/2004/cr04312.pdf

The US Treasury announced a Memorandum of Understanding that laid out new procedures for sharing information between FinCEN and the various federal banking regulators, thereby strengthening Bank Secrecy Act compliance. http://www.treas.gov/press/releases/js1973.htm

The US Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs held hearings on "The 9/11 Commission and Efforts to Identify and Combat Terrorist Financing" http://banking.senate.gov/index.cfm?Fuseaction=Hearings.Detail&HearingID=129

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10. Human Rights

The Muslim Council of Britain launched a Pocket Guide called "Know Your Rights and Responsibilities" intended to improve community relations. http://www.mcb.org.uk/

A coalition of US publishers and authors has joined in a lawsuit against the Department of Treasury Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) that has ruled that publishers must obtain government licenses before they are allowed to "substantively edit" manuscripts that have been received from embargoed countries. The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe's (OSCE)Representative on Freedom of the Media has written to US Secretary of State Powell asking that these regulations be abolished. http://www.aaupnet.org/ofac/index.html
http://www.osce.org/news/show_news.php?ut=2&id=4409

The Edmund Rice Centre published "Deported to Danger' that reviews rejected asylum seekers from 11 countries and claims that Australia's Department of Immigration routinely deports, often into dangerous situations. The Department says these are unsubstantiated allegations but genuine issues would be investigated. http://www.erc.org.au/research/1096416029.shtml

The subject of World Health Day 2005, to be held on April 7 next year, is maternal and child health: "Every minute of every day, at least one woman in developing countries dies in childbirth -- more than half a million each year". In advance of this program, the World Health Organization and its partners published a new manual and began a training program to help reduce the number of material deaths. http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/releases/2004/pr65/en/

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11. Law and Legal Issues

Mikel Albizu ("Antza") and Maria Soledad Iparraguirre are among 18 people detained in police operations in France against the Basque separatist group ETA. Albizu and his partner are among the leaders of the organization.

Abubakar Aliyu Abubakar has been arrested in Nigeria on suspicion of being a leading member of a local Islamic militant group called the Taleban.

Adrian Ali ("Amin") has been arrested by Indonesian police on suspicion of associating with Jemaah Islamiah and Hambali, a JI member connected with the 2002 Bali bombings.

Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri and Jamal Mohammed al-Badawi were sentenced to death by Yemeni court, for their role in planning the October 2000 suicide boat bombing of the USS Cole. Nashiri, described as al Qaeda's chief of naval operations, was sentenced in absentia. He is currently in US custody. Fahd al-Qusaa, who filmed the attack, was sentenced to 10 years prison. Maamoun Msouh assisted Baeawi and helped fund the attack and will serve eight years while Ali Mohamed Saleh and Murad al-Sirouri were sentenced to five years for forged identity documents.

Marko Boskic, accused of involvement in the 1995 Srebrenica massacre, has been charged in US court with immigration fraud connected with his claim to refugee status.

Ahmed Chalabi will, for the moment, not face criminal charges connected with an alleged counterfeit operation, after an Iraqi judge said there was not enough evidence.

Ruling in the case of Doe v. Ashcroft brought by the ACLU, New York District Judge Victor Marrero said that a section of the USA Patriot Act violated the constitution because it allows federal investigators to force disclosure of telephone and internet records from private companies without adequate safeguards. For example, investigators do not need to show a compelling need, can prevent companies from revealing that they disclosed this information and bars or deters any legal challenge. http://www.nysd.uscourts.gov/rulings/04CV2614_Opinion_092904.pdf

Roque Fernandes, Abdurahman Ranyare and Dominic Martins have been charged in British court under the Terrorism Act. A fourth person was released without charge in the arrests that were connected to an alleged dirty bomb plot.

Abraham Jimdaini was arrested in the Philippines on suspicion of planning to bomb ferries and other facilities in the southern island of Jolo. He is believed to be part of a specialized attack group within Abu Sayyaf.

Uriel Kelman and Eli Cara have been deported from New Zealand to Israel. They had been sentenced to six months prison for illegally trying to obtain a passport. New Zealand believed the men spied for Israeli intelligence and severed high-level diplomatic relations with Israel. A third man, Zav Barkan, is believed to have previously left New Zealand.

Andrea Klump was sentenced to 12 years prison by a German court where she was accused as accessory to attempted murder connected with q 1991 bombing in Budapest that injured six. The Movement for the Liberation of Palestine took responsibility for the attack that targeted Soviet Jews. Klump is already serving a nine-year sentence for connections to the Red Army Faction.

Lawyers for Kathleen Thompson, who died in 1971 after being hit by a high velocity bullet fired by a member of the Royal Green jackets known as " Soldier D" during an operation in Londonderry, had requested a judicial review into why the soldier was not prosecuted. Now a High Court judge has dismissed the request because a reasonable force defense could not be disputed.

Zainuri Kamaruddin was sentenced in Malaysian court to a whipping and ten years prison for possessing a weapons cache believed connected to financing activities of the militant Malaysian Mujahideen Group.

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12. Transportation

World Maritime Day 2004 was celebrated on September 30. For details of this year's celebrations and the associated campaign against shore leave restrictions connected to counter-terrorism restrictions, see this week's Feature Article below.

The US Government Accountability Office issued "Port Security: Better Planning Needed to Help Ensure an Effective Port Security Assessment Program". The report reviewed the program designed to evaluate security at the 55 most economically and militarily strategic ports and found that the program had undergone a number of changes, including moving from comprehensive to targeted assessments, and that an improved planning process is necessary. http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-04-1062

The USS Cole attackers have been sentenced in Yemeni court. For details see Law, above.

Russia has taken measures to increase security at metro stations, following the August suicide bombing at the Rijskaya station. More than 2,000 kiosks will be removed or replaced with specially designed kiosks selling only papers and tickets. Mobile booths will be banned outright because of the risk that a bomb could be hidden inside. The measures are also meant to improve access in the event of an emergency.

The US VISIT program expanded on September 30 to include foreign visitors traveling under the Visa Waiver Program. These countries are Andorra, Austria, Australia, Belgium, Brunei, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. Now the estimated 13 million visitors from these allies and friendly countries must have their two index fingers scanned and a digital photograph taken. http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/display?content=4048

Yusuf Islam (formerly Cat Stevens) was prohibited from entering the US but Secretary of State Powell has agreed to review the case as well as that of professor Tariq Ramadan.

Singapore has opened a confidential reporting system to encourage greater reporting of safety risks without individuals fearing identification or prosecution.

Johannesburg International Airport increased security measures following an attempted robbery of cargo that included diamonds and gold The Airline Pilot's Association of South Africa plans to meet the Airports Company of South Africa regarding security measures and to lobby the government for representation on the National Aviation Security Council.

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13. Weapons of Mass Destruction

The UN Security Council established the 1540 Committee in April to monitor measures intended to "prevent terrorists, black marketers and other private interests from acquiring weapons of mass destruction". The committee has begun its work and already received reports from Turkmenistan and Malta, with the deadline for all reports October 28. This work is coordinated with the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=12049&Cr=terror&Cr1= (includes link to video press briefing)

A report from World Vision, "Pawns of Politics: Children, Conflict and Peace in northern Uganda", reveals that HIV/AIDS prevalence rates in conflict-affected areas are almost double the national average and rising. http://www.wvi.org/wvi/news/latest_news.htm#Uga

Note the latest information on avian influenza in World, above.

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14. Recently Published

Slavenka Drakulic, "They Would Never hurt a Fly: War Criminals on Trial in the Hague" Viking

Ross Gelbspan, "Boiling Point: How Politicians, Big Oil and Coal, Journalists and Activist Have Fueled the Climate Crisis - And What We Can Do To Avert Disaster" Basic

Jussi Hanhimaki, "The Flawed Architect: Henry Kissinger and American Foreign policy" Oxford University Press

Henry McDonald, "UDA - Inside the Heart of Loyalist Terror" Penguin http://www.guardian.co.uk/Northern_Ireland/Story/0,2763,1318724,00.html

Stephen Northcutt and Cynthia Madden, "IT Ethics Handbook", Syngress http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/1931836140/

David Rose, " Guantanamo Bay: America's War on Human Rights", Faber http://observer.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,6903,1318477,00.html

Strobe Talbott, " Engaging India: Diplomacy, Democracy, and the Bomb", Brookings Institution Press

Paul Williams, "Osama's Revenge: The Next 9/11: What the media and the Government Haven't Told You" Prometheus Books

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FEATURE ARTICLE: World Maritime Day 2004

Seafarers around the world celebrated the 27th annual World Maritime Day this week. The 164 member states of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), interested organizations and governments took the opportunity to draw international attention to the crucial place of the shipping industry in world trade and to emphasize the importance of maritime safety.

This year under the banner of "Safe, Secure and Efficient Shipping on Clean Oceans", the main theme of the day was the increased emphasis on maritime security.

For centuries, seafarers were concerned primarily with the natural perils of the oceans, interrupted by occasional threats from piracy and wars, but in the 1970s crime at sea reached such a level that new measures were needed. Th maritime industry began to face threats of barratry, ship and cargo seizures, maritime fraud, piracy, and armed robbery - all using increasingly violent means.

In 1985 the Achille Lauro cruise ship was hijacked and a passenger killed by terrorists, an act that led to the first international rules governing unlawful maritime acts. After the September 11 attacks against the US additional measures were taken. In addition to other United Nations counter-terrorism measures, the IMO adopted 11 resolutions related to maritime security, most importantly the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code (ISPS). Closely related to these efforts are measures taken by the World Customs Organization regarding container security and the International Labor Organization programs for seafarer identity verification.

World Maritime Day was a chance for the international community to look back on significant achievements in maritime security, including timely implementation of the first phases of ISPS and many other measures. IMO Secretary-General Mitropoulos commended the efforts of governments and industry but warned that:

Another important voice came from the seafarers themselves.

The impact of September 11 on the shipping industry has been wide-ranging. Cruise lines, container and cargo ships, ferries, small fishing vessels, tankers, ports, ship yards, shippers, freight management organizations, their customers and suppliers, and the people working within these groups have all been affected. The repercussions began with an economic downturn while insurance rates and the cost of compliance dramatically increased.

Most important has been the affect on individuals.

On World Maritime Day seafarers' trade unions and ship owners' organizations joined forces to highlight denial of shore leave that has caused great hardship for the workers. At noon local time, ships from all around the world will sound their sirens and whistles to sound the alarm over the shore leave crisis. The issue is most clearly explained in their own words in their letter sent to US Secretary of State Colin Powell:

More details about these issues can be found at the links below. In addition, watch the Transportation section of this Newsletter for the latest updates on this topic.

Further Reading:

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