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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:
Nepal's Maoist Rebels

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK

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1. World

Two international meetings have discussed closing divisions between rich and poor countries. The UN General Assembly criticized the High-level Panel on Threats, Challenges and Change for their emphasis on limiting weapons proliferation at the expense of promoting disarmament and inadequately dealing with the role of economic development in collective security. Group of Seven finance ministers and central bankers discussed growth and stability, including proposals to write off the entire debt of the world's poorest countries and addressing restrictive trade policies. Several central bankers also warned that massive US budget and trade deficits are unacceptable and were causing global imbalances.
http://www.un.org/secureworld/
http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=13211&Cr=threat&Cr1=challenge
http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/otherhmtsites/g7/g7_about.cfm

Key findings reported at the conference on Avoiding Dangerous Climate Change included:

A joint warning from the Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Health Organization supported similar messages from the World Health Organization regarding avian influenza. A new wave of outbreaks in Vietnam, Thailand and Cambodia show the endemic threat and the need to support precautionary measures in poor Asian countries, to help stop infections at the source and prevent spread to other regions. The threat of a human pandemic remains high. Vietnam has issues a call for international assistance following 13 deaths from avian influenza in the past month.
http://www.fao.org/newsroom/en/news/2005/89513/index.html

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2. Africa

Angolan human rights organization, the Mpalapanda Civic Association (MCA) published "The Reign of Impunity". The report details widespread abuses, by the army, that continue in the separatist enclave of Cabinda.
http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=45333

Ivory Coast police and the pro-government Patriotic Grouping for Peace (GPP) militia clashed in the capital, Abidjan, killing two and injuring many others. The UN Security Council has tightened the arms embargo and ordered both sides to provide a weapons inventory in March,

In Mauritania, 195 people were tried in connection with an attempted coup against President Taya. None of the accused was sentenced to death. Four were sentenced to life in prison and three opposition leaders were acquitted of financing the attempts.

Nigerian troops shot and killed four villagers who were protesting at an oil export terminal in the Niger Delta. Hundreds of protestors were arrested. Human Rights Watch published "Rivers and Blood: Guns, Oil and Power in Nigeria’s Rivers State". The report describes how struggles for oil revenue fuel clashes between rival gangs and that the escalating violence last year killed dozens of innocent people and disrupted oil production, pushing global crude futures over a record $50 a barrel.
http://www.hrw.org/english/docs/2005/02/03/nigeri10114.htm

Somalia will have a peace mission from the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) to support the newly created government. The first contingent of members of parliament has left Kenya to beginning setting up the administration in Mogadishu.

Sudanese police in Port Sudan shot at protestors, killing at least 25, injuring a hundred, and sparking ethnic riots.

Sudan's government has not pursued a policy of genocide, according to a UN commission of inquiry, but government forces and militias "conducted indiscriminate attacks, including killing of civilians, torture, enforced disappearances, destruction of villages, rape and other forms of sexual violence, pillaging and forced displacement". They strongly recommend referring these findings to the International Criminal Court (ICC) for prosecution. The latest UN mission report warns that the future development and stability of Sudan depends on a comprehensive peace process that includes resolving the conflict in Darfur, and called for a further troop deployment.
http://www.un.org/News/dh/sudan/com_inq_darfur.pdf
http://www.un.org/Docs/journal/asp/ws.asp?m=s/2005/57

Togo's President Gnassingbe Eyadema has died aged 69, while being transported abroad for medical treatment. Africa's longest-serving ruler, he governed for 38 years. Togo's constitution specifies that the speaker of parliament should take over, but the army has instead suspended the constitution and appointed Eyadema's son Faure the new president.

Uganda has declared an 18-day truce with Lords Resistance Army (LRA) rebels.

Zimbabwe's President Mugabe has announced the general election will be held March 31.

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3. Americas

Colombian rebels of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) attacked a military post, killing at least 14 marines and injuring 25. This attack was followed two days later with another, in which FARC rebels set off mines on a bridge as a patrol crossed, killing 15.

Colombia and Venezuela were scheduled to hold crisis talks last week, but they were delayed when Colombian President Uribe became ill. Venezuela says that no FARC rebels are operating in its borders. President Chavez said that the capture of a rebel commander inside Venezuelan territory could have led to war but the crisis is nearly resolved.

Haiti will hold local elections on October 9, and presidential and parliamentary elections on November 13. These will replace the interim government.

US district court judge Joyce Hens Green ruled that the special military tribunals at Guantanamo Bay are unlawful, that the tribunals do not satisfy fairness or due process standards, and that the prisoners are entitled to the protection of the US constitution and Geneva conventions. Memorandum Opinion: http://host3.uscourts.gov/02-299b.pdf Order:

The US Department of Justice's Inspector General released an audit report on the "Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Management of the Trilogy Information Technology Modernization Project". It finds that the $170 million system for managing criminal and terrorism cases was badly planned and managed and does not meet FBI case management needs. It either needs substantial additional investment or, more likely, will be scrapped.
http://www.usdoj.gov/oig/audit/FBI/0507/final.pdf
http://www.usdoj.gov/oig/testimony/0502/final.pdf
http://www.fbi.gov/pressrel/pressrel05/response.htm

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4. Asia Pacific

The Australian National Audit Office compared capability requirements with actual capabilities and identified serious deficiencies in trained soldiers and ammunition.
http://www.anao.gov.au/WebSite.nsf/Publications/B5721808DB502575CA256F99006C4AFD

Indonesia is working with Singapore to obtain an extradition treaty between the two countries.

Singapore's Home Affairs Minister reported on homeland security and counterterrorism efforts and announced new measures for household preparedness including a Ready Bag containing essential items like a radio and first-aid kit in case of emergency. http://www2.mha.gov.sg/mha/detailed.jsp?artid=1401&type=4&root=0&parent=0&cat=0 The Ministry of Defense launched the 2005 Total Defense (TD) campaign for national readiness.
http://www.mindef.gov.sg/display.asp?number=2351

South Korea's Defense Ministry issued the 2004 White Paper on National Defense in which the controversial description of North Korea as the "main enemy" changed to alternatives, such as "direct military threats such as North Korea’s conventional military power, weapons of mass destruction and forward deployment of military forces". They also report that a massive US troop deployment would be mobilized in the event of war on the Korean peninsula.
http://www.kois.go.kr/news/news/newsView.asp?serial_no=20050204012
http://www.kois.go.kr/news/news/newsView.asp?serial_no=20050204021

In Tajikistan's capital, Dushanbe, a car bomb exploded outside the Emergency Ministry, killing the driver and injuring four. Officials say the bomb was not an accidental gas explosion as originally reported but a deliberate act that is under investigation.

Thailand held general elections in which Prime Minister Thaksin Shiawatra appears headed for a landslide victory and unprecedented second term. The election was held under heavy security, particularly in Muslim-dominated southern provinces, where the premier has less support.

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5. Europe

Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania and another official, Raul Usupov, died from carbon monoxide poisoning due to a faulty header. President Saakashvili has assumed executive responsibilities and has a week in which to nominate a replacement to parliament. Two days later, another government official shot himself in an apparent suicide. It is not known if there is a connection between the deaths.

Outside a Georgian police station in Gori, a car bomb killed three policemen and injured at least ten. Gori is the regional capital of an area including the breakaway region of South Ossetia.

The Irish and British Prime Ministers met to assess political options after the Northern Bank raid in which the Irish Republican Army (IRA) is accused of masterminding. They state that issues of criminality must be resolved in order to restore the trust and confidence necessary for restoration of the political institutions.

Russian and British television broadcast an interview with Chechen warlord Shamil Basayev, who ordered the Beslan school siege and other attacks. He warned that he is planning further attacks, although a rebel web site said there would be a ceasefire this month as a goodwill gesture. In Beslan, the head of the school that was attacked has resigned after facing blame and death threats from the parents.

Spain's Basque regional government addressed the Spanish parliament in a call for more independence, including a separate judiciary, financial system, and citizenship. The regional parliament supports this plan but the federal parliament overwhelmingly rejected it. Following this news, the regional governor, Juan Jose Ibarretxe, announced that regional elections would be held a month early, on April 17.

Ukraine's parliament has approved pro-western nominee Yulia Tymoshenko as Prime Minister with 373 of 450 votes.

In Northern Ireland, the IRA has withdrawn its offer to complete the decommissioning process but will maintain the ceasefire. They deny involvement in the Northern Bank robbery and object to criticisms that the group is carrying out major crimes. The IRA, in a second statement, warned both the Irish and British governments not to underestimate the seriousness of the situation.

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6. Middle East

Egyptian security forces in a gunbattle with suspected militants killed to men, Mohamed Ahmed Saleh Fulayfel and Hammad Gumaa, who were believed involved in the October Sinai bombings in which 34 people were killed. Egypt will host a meeting next week between Palestinian leader Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Sharon.

In Gaza, Hamas has begun taking control of the towns it won in the recent elections. The fragile ceasefire was threatened after a 10-year-old Palestinian girl was shot dead in the school playground and sparked a series of mortar attacks. The source of the shooting is under investigation.

Iraq's landmark election was completed and results will be announced later this month. Latest partial results give a strong lead to the main Shia coalition.

The Independent Inquiry Committee into Iraq's UN-run Oil-for-Food Program issued an "Interim Report" and a "Comparison of Estimates of Illicit Iraqi Income During UN Sanctions". The report concluded that Benon Sevan, the former head the Office of the program, had taken actions that "presented a grave and continuing conflict of interest" and that his conduct "was ethically improper, and seriously undermined the integrity of the United Nations". Disciplinary proceedings have begun against him. Additional actions are likely in the future, possibly following the final report. In addition, the report described the UN auditing process as inadequate and that significant changes are still needed to "strengthen the external independence of audit, to strengthen the assurance that it will have the resources it needs to do the task". So far there is no evidence of systematic misuse of funds.
http://www.iic-offp.org/documents/InterimReportFeb2005.pdf
http://www.iic-offp.org/documents/ComparisonofEstimates.pdf

Israel's Attorney General has ruled that seizure of property in East Jerusalem under a 1950 absentee law is illegal and confiscation must end immediately. The Palestinian Authority has rejected a prisoner release plan as insulting, insisting that all prisoners jailed before the Oslo Accords should be freed.

Kuwaiti security forces conducted several raids against militants. In one clash, five militants were killed and four arrested. In a raid on a suspected militant house five wanted suspects were arrested after a brief gun battle. Parliament has passed new legislation giving wide latitude for search and seizure of illegal arms.

Saudi Arabia is hosting a 4-day counter-terrorism that includes security officials from more than 50 countries and organizations.

Yemen troops and Obeida tribesmen clashed over control of weapons, leaving five dead and ten injured.

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7. South Asia

In Bangladesh, a 3-day general strike protesting the killing of former finance minister Shah Mohammad Kibria ended but soon after another strike was called, met by police who used force to drive back opposition protesters. Gasoline bombs were thrown at two buses and a number of other vehicles were burned.

India has charged 34 Burmese separatists of the Arakan Army who have been in prison for the last seven years. They are accused of weapons smuggling but claim to have aided the Indian army. The charges will not proceed until a human rights review by the Supreme Court has been completed.

Suspected Maoist rebels are blamed for election violence in the Indian states of Jharkhand, Bihar and Haryana. At least 20 people were killed in several incidents.

For information about the political crisis in Nepal, see this week's Feature Article, below.

Escalating violence in Pakistan's Balochistan province is threatening plans for natural gas exports to India and Iran. The latest incidents were bombings, one directed near a passenger train causing four injuries, and one the driver of a motorbike who was carrying a bomb. Pakistan has denied claims that it assisted US forces in Afghanistan to fire against militants inside Pakistan.

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8. Cyberterrorism and Information Warfare

The US Federal Trade Commission reports that two in five (nearly a quarter of a million) consumers complained of identity theft. It is the fifth year in a row in which identity theft has been the leading consumer complaint.
http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2005/02/top102005.htm

Britain's Office of Fair Trading reports that more than GBP1 billion is lost to scams each year. Scam Awareness Month was launched, targeting the top ten scams: telephone lotteries; prize draw, sweepstakes and foreign lottery mailings; premium rate phone number scams; investment related scams; Nigerian advance fee frauds; pyramid schemes,; matrix schemes; credit scams; property investment schemes; and work-at-home and business opportunity scams.
http://www.oft.gov.uk/News/Press+releases/2005/18-05.htm

Security firm mi2g reports that total economic damage from malicious software in 2004 is estimated as high as $204 billion, making it the worst year on record. With an installed base of around 600 million Windows based computers worldwide, this works out roughly as average damage per installed machine of up to $340.
http://www.mi2g.net

The Spamhaus Project reports that spam has started to come from major email relays of ISPs instead of direct from their own machines, potentially raising the volume of spam dramatically.
http://www.spamhaus.org/news.lasso?article=156

MaxPatrol (Positive Technologies in Russia) published information demonstrating a way in which Microsoft's SP2 will be unable to block a common security attack.
http://www.maxpatrol.com/ptmshorp.asp

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9. Finance

Banco de Chile has reached consent agreements with the US Federal Reserve Board and Office of the Comptroller of the Currency to address money laundering deficiencies. The bank has agreed to stop doing business with former Chilean dictator Pinochet and his associates and to implement standard customer identification and suspicious activity reporting measures.

US banking regulators have issues a Request for Burden Recommendations related to money laundering measures.
http://www.egrpra.gov

Uganda's Defense Ministry denied they had violated the arms embargo imposed on neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo. The accusation came in a recent sanctions review by UN experts.
http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=45322

The Council of Europe published the Organized Crime Situation Report for 2004
http://www.coe.int/T/E/Legal_affairs/Legal_co-operation/Combating_economic_crime/Organised_crime/Documents/Organised%20Crime%20Situation%20Report%202004.asp#TopOfPage

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10. Human Rights

The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention expressed continued concern regarding detentions in Guantanamo Bay. January 2005 opened the fourth year of the detention center at the US base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Many of the inmates are completing their third year of virtually incommunicado detention, without legal assistance or information as to the expected duration of their detention, and in conditions of detention that, according to numerous observers, amount to inhuman and degrading treatment. Specific concerns include:

The British Parliament's Joint Committee on Human Rights issues a report on identity cards citing infringement on human rights.
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/jt200405/jtselect/jtrights/35/3502.htm

Leaders from central and eastern European countries, with help from international associations including the UN Development Program, have launched the "Decade of Roma Inclusion" to address educational and social disadvantages facing the community, through cross-border cooperation.
http://www.soros.org/initiatives/roma/focus_areas/decade

Guatemala's constitutional court stopped the trial of 16 soldiers charged with the 1982 Dos Erres massacre in which more than 200 people were killed and others seriously violated. The court abandoned legal precedent to rule that a 1996 amnesty covered massacre cases.
http://www.americas.org/item_17809

The National Security Archive posted the CIA's secret documentary history of the US government's relationship with former Nazis and known war criminals.
http://www2.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/NSAEBB/NSAEBB146/index.htm

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11. Law and Legal Issues

William "Mo" Courtney, charged with murder and membership in loyalist Ulster Freedom Fighters and Ulster Defense Association, has been refused bail. Trial will begin in May since the defendant has been in custody for more than 18 months.

Mahmoud Eid Muhammad Dabbous has been charged in Egyptian court with spying for Iran's Revolutionary Guard. He pleaded not guilty and he had been tortured while in detention.

Sefer Halilovic, former head of the Bosnian army, has gone on trial at The Hague for the 1993 killings of 62 Bosnian Croat civilians. He has pleaded not guilty to one count of murder.

Allal Moussaten, his wife Safia Belhadj, and sons Brahim and Mohamed, were arrested by Spanish police in connection with the Madrid train bombings and suspected links to the Moroccan Islamic Combatants' Group (MICG).

Dragan Nikolic, former commander of a Bosnian Serb detention camp found guilty of crimes against humanity, had his sentence reduced from 23 to 20 years' prison because the tribunal gave too much weight to the practice of granting early release to prisoners who had served two-thirds of a sentence."

Fawaz al-Rabeei, an al Qaeda suspect originally given a 10-year jail term for killing a Yemeni policeman, has now been sentenced to death for the Limburg oil tanker attack and other attacks on western targets. The Yemeni court upheld another death sentence, raised from 10 to 15 years the jail terms for two and upheld jail terms of three to 10 years for 11 other suspects.

Victor Solomka has been convicted in UK court of money laundering and conspiracy to break immigration laws in connection with a racket to illegally bring in eastern European workers and take over a large portion of their wages.

Pavle Strugar, a former Yugoslav general, has been sentenced to eight years in prison for his role in the 1991 siege of Dubrovnik in which 50 people died.

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12. Transportation

The US Coast Guard plans to use commercial aircraft on the Pacific Great Circle Route to generate identification data for ships within 2,000 nautical miles.
http://www.chamber-of-shipping.com/index/news-app/story.168

The Coast Guard and Customs and Border Protection have combined maritime industry data submission requirements. http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/newsroom/press_releases/02012005_3.xml

The US Government Accountability Office (GAO) issued "Station Readiness Improving, but Resource Challenges and Management Concerns Remain". The report finds the need to revise strategic plans to take post-September 11 situations into account, to develop measurable annual goals, and to revise funding practices for personal protection equipment.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-05-161

Washington, D.C. has approved 90-day emergency legislation to ban hazardous rail and truck shipments from passing through the city. Hearings webcast at http://octt.dc.gov/services/on_demand_video/on_demand_february_2005_week_1.shtm

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13. Weapons of Mass Destruction

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) highlighted seven speedy steps to nonproliferation:

Tests of former Libyan equipment indicate that nuclear materials could have been obtained from North Korea or Pakistan.

The Ukraine's prosecutor general will investigate allegations that nuclear-capable cruise missiles were sold to China and Iran in violation of international non-proliferation treaties.

Niger has ratified the Additional Protocol to its IAEA safeguards agreement to allow more intrusive monitoring.

The Executive Council of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OCW) adopted a technical change to reinforce conversion of former chemical weapons facilities.

The US Department of Homeland Security completed an environmental review for the National Biodefense Analysis and Countermeasures Center (NBACC) facility at Fort Detrick in Frederick, Maryland. http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/display?content=4324

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) has uncovered a new method that could help prevent the spread of smallpox and lead to better antiviral drugs.
http://www2.niaid.nih.gov/newsroom/Releases/poxblock.htm

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14. Recently Published

William Arkin, "Code Names: Deciphering US Military Plans, Programs and Operations in the 9/11 World" Steerforth

Council of Europe, "Crime Policy in Europe", Council of Europe Publishing http://book.coe.int

Rose George, "A Life Removed: Hunting for Refuge In the Modern World", Penguin
http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=45338

Adam Hochschild, "Bury the Chains: Prophets and Rebels in the Fight to Free an Empire's Slaves" Houghton Mifflin

Johnny Long, " Google Hacking for Penetration Testers", Syngress
http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/1931836361/

Martin Windrow, "The Last Valley" Da Capo

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FEATURE ARTICLE: Nepal's Maoist Rebels

On February 1, Nepal's King Gyanendra dismissed the government, declared an indefinite state of emergency, suspended all fundamental rights, and assumed direct power.

This is not the first time Gyanendra has declared a state of emergency or dismissed the government. In fact, it is the fourth time he has removed a Prime Minister in less than three years. His latest move comes amid several years of political turmoil. He has justified it by saying that the government had failed to conduct parliamentary elections (due in the spring) and had made no progress in restraining rebel violence, including their failure to gain rebel support for peace talks that had been given a January 13 deadline.

Nepal first experimented with multi-party democracy in 1959. The attempt was unsuccessful and led to King Mahendra suspending the parliament and taking charge. Attempts at democracy persisted. As pro-democracy demonstrations became more violent, King Birendra finally agreed to a new democratic constitution and held elections in 1991. These democratic governments, beset with factional disagreements, were not stable and changed frequently.

Life changed dramatically on June 1, 2001 when the Crown Prince massacred King Birendra, the Queen and other members of the royal family. Prince Dipendra then killed himself. Next in line to the throne was Prince Gyanendra, the younger brother of King Birendra. His unexpected inheritance in the midst of such a national crisis was an enormous challenge. Taking advantage of the disruption, rebel forces stepped up their efforts.

Maoist movements are based on Communist ideology as espoused by Chairman Mao in China. They call for liberation of the impoverished rural masses through revolutionary violence that includes overthrow of urban areas. In addition to China, significant Maoist movements operate today in India, the Philippines, Peru and Nepal.

The Shining Path in Peru is probably the best known among these. It was founded in the late 1960s and within 20 years was one of the most ruthless terrorist groups operating in the Americas. Their revolution, largely funded by kidnapping and drug trafficking, killed more than 30,000 people. Following thousands of arrests in the 1990s, their activities have been greatly curtailed.

Although Nepal borders China, the inspiration for its Maoist movement came from Peru.

Pushpan Kamal Dahal was a parliamentarian in Nepal's leftwing United People's Front coalition until 1994 when his Communist Party of Nepal - Maoist failed to win the minimum three percent of the vote required to be included on the voter list. Today he is better known as Comrade Prachanda is, General Secretary of the party and Supreme Commander of the People's Liberation Army. In the police Red Corner Notice, he is described as having an Aryan face, height approximately 5 ft-5 inches, sports thick moustache, thin build, strong and commanding voice, good orator, pointed nose.

Abandoning electoral politics, the insurgency was launched in 1996. Among their goals for Nepal are a single-party Communist state, social transformation, nationalization of the private sector, and collectivization of agriculture. Their primary tactic in achieving these goals is guerilla war. They engage in murder, torture, arson, sabotage, extortion, child conscription, kidnapping, intimidation, bombings, and assassinations. Recently they have also adopted general strikes, sometimes enforced with blockades.

Almost all of their activities have been directed within Nepal. Most are against government targets, including members of security forces, buildings, and the residences of public officials. In 2002, they claimed responsibility for assassinating two Nepalese US Embassy guards for alleged anti-Maoist spying. In an effort to deter foreign support, they have also issued threats against foreign missions. (The US designated the CPN-M a terrorist organization in October, 2003.)

During the conflict more than 11,000 people have been killed.

Actions taken by Nepal's government have in themselves deterred foreign support. Human rights abuses have been documented on both sides and the government has a long record of taking action against opposition groups. Following the emergency declaration, foreign governments united to express concern that Gyanendra's actions as a step away from democracy that will undermine efforts to end the insurgency. News that armed troops are stationed in news rooms; phone lines and internet links are severed; the airport closed; that peaceful student protesters were fired upon and hundreds arrested; and that scores of politicians have been jailed or placed under house arrest, has not eased their concerns.

After all, the Maoist rebels are not a tiny dissident group but, rather, a major social force. There are as up to 15,000 well-trained, experienced fighters, and some 50,000 militiamen. (Nepal's total population is around 27 million.) Reports suggest they control up to 40 percent of the country.

Political parties and the rebels have united in calling for public protests to put pressure on the government. Girija Prasad Koirala, who served as Prime Minister four times, issues the first call, asking people to take to the streets and demand restoration of democracy. A spokesman for the dismissed Prime Minister, Sher Bahadur Deuba, said the political parties would hold peaceful protests. Rebels called for a general strike.

Located in the Himalayas mountain range, Nepal borders India and China. It is one of the poorest countries in the world, relying on agriculture and tourism. This may sound remote and isolated, but the conflict is not just a local fight. India, the UK and the US have armed and trained Nepal's army as part of the "war on terror". Both military and development assistance will likely be tied to restoration of democracy.

India, the world's largest democracy, responded particularly strongly. They had already instituted strict border controls to limit movement of Maoist insurgents and illegal cross-border activities and had encouraged Nepal to form a united political force to take on the rebels. India has called suspension of democracy a matter of grave concern and warns that it boosts support for the Maoists. Around ten Indian states have serious conflicts with Maoist rebel groups. These groups have many links with their colleagues in Nepal.

Another fear is that Nepal, already impoverished and insecure, could further deteriorate. If Maoists expand their area of influence or if the rebellion sparks increased activities in the region, Nepal could deteriorate into anarchy and become a failed state, thereby creating another terrorist haven.

We will continue to monitor the situation and report on this crisis in the Newsletter.

Further Reading:

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