AUTHOR:
TerrorismCentral Editorial Staff
TITLE:
TerrorismCentral Newsletter - May 21, 2006
SOURCE:
TerrorismCentral, May 21, 2006
TEXT:
This Newsletter carries a lot of bad news, but if you look carefully this week you will find that Iraq has a new government and a sacred rite in Indonesia is helping prevent the eruption of Mount Merapi. There are tips on holding affordable elections and on evading NSA surveillance (US readers take note!). We review an interesting book about the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent societies. Best of all, we have launched an online store, so you no longer need to use email and phone for purchases.
1. Global Terrorism Monitor
2. Political Risk Monitor
3. AML/CFT Monitor
4. Emerging Threat Monitor
5. Critical Infrastructure Monitor
6. Disaster Reduction Monitor
7. Recommended Reading
8. Asset Management Network News
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TAMNI Publications
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GTM Africa
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Algerian police last week killed ten suspected militants with the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat (GSPC). This week the bodies of three women, 18 children, and two GSPC leaders -- Houari Youssef, ("Mustafa Abu Omeir") and Makhlouf Ammar Abu al-Bara -- were found in a cave network used by GSPC. There are a number of theories regarding the incident: murder/suicide; family members of the dead militants killed to prevent them from talking with authorities; or death brought on by lack of food and water.
http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=10&categ_id=2&article_id=24466
http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=10&categ_id=2&article_id=24436
The Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo's (DRC) are receiving UN training that includes human rights. It is much needed, given the finding that DRC's own soldiers are responsible for the majority of extrajudicial executions, disappearances, beatings, and violence against women. These incidents threaten that forthcoming elections may not be free and fair. More important, continued violence has direct consequences against the civilian population. Some 1,200 people in the DRC die daily from conflict-related causes. More than 20 per cent of the children die before their fifth birthday and one in 10 die in the first year of life.
Innocent Kaina, ("Indian Queen"), a founding member of the Revolutionary Movement of Congo (MRC), has been captured in northeastern DRC. .
Libya has been rewarded for three years of cooperation with the US "war on terror" with restoration of full diplomatic relations. The US has also removed Libya from the lists of designated state sponsors of terrorism and countries not cooperating with US anti-terrorism efforts. The announcement and supporting documents can be read here
http://www.globalterrorismmonitor.com/2006/05/GTM2102.shtml
Six Nigerian policemen were found shot dead in a river in Port Harcourt, the main oil city. Those responsible are unknown.
Fighting in Somalia last week ended with a death toll in excess of 140 people. The week opened with a truce negotiated by local elders. That lasted only three days, when Islamist gunmen attacked the compound of warlord Mohamed Omar Habeb, one of the leaders in the Alliance for the Restoration of Peace and Counter-Terrorism. At least five people were killed.
The Sudan Liberation Army (SLA) - the largest rebel force in Darfur - continues to refuse to join the peace agreement. An SLA faction and the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) have followed this lead. Now, deadly fighting between the rival rebel groups has broken out, further complicating the conflict and again expanding the population of displaced persons.
The charity, Christian Aid, released a report, "The Scorched Earth", which shows how the presence of international oil companies is fueling the war.
http://www.christianaid.org.uk/indepth/0103suda/sudanoil.htm#CASOEXSUM
Ugandan President Museveni has given Joseph Kony and other Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) commanders to the end of June to end the war with their safety guaranteed. LRA leaders are wanted under an International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant, and any amnesty offer would conflict with Uganda's prior commitment to the ICC. The rebels fled a government offensive and have taken refuge in southern Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo, where they reinforce regional instability.
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GTM Americas
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Brazil's prisons are heavily populated and virtually run by organized criminal gang. One of the most prominent began in the early 1990s as a prisoners' "union" in response to a prison riot in which police killed 111 inmates. The First Command of the Capital (PCC) is now heavily involved in organized crime, using prisons as a recruiting ground. The organization faced disruption when hundreds of their members were being moved to a maximum-security facility away from Sao Paulo. Violent attacks began on 12 May. A week later, the death toll stood at more than 170 people, most prisoners killed by police. There have also been dozens of police fatalities, and several civilians. The violence has affected at least 70 prisons, and there have also been attacks against police stations. Brazil denies accusations that the police are out of control.
http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=technologyNews&storyID=2006-05-19T165734Z_01_N18297131_RTRIDST_0_TECH-CRIME-BRAZIL-PHONES-DC.XML
http://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/436/saopaulo.shtml
http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1195272,00.html
http://noticias.terra.com.br/brasil/interna/0,,OI1005121-EI5030,00.html (in Portuguese)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4770097.stm
http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Statute_Of_The_Primeiro_Comando_da_Capitall
Canadian police have undertaken the largest raid in Canadian history. Police from across the country gathered in Toronto, Ontario, to take action against the Jamestown Crew, arresting more than a hundred suspected members and affiliates. The criminal gang is one of the most violent in the city, and those involved face more than a thousand charges including attempted murder and drug trafficking, with the most serious charge involving a weapons trafficking pipeline to transport guns and assault weapons from the US.
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20060518/toronto_raids_060518/20060518?hub=CTVNewsAt11
http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/news/story.html?id=e3282f0a-028a-4235-8470-e671497752d4&k=6218
http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1148077815253
Canadians mourned the death of their first female soldier to die in frontline combat. Captain Nichola Goddard of Calgary, a forward artillery observer, was killed during a prolonged firefight in Afghanistan, just hours before parliament extended their mission in the country to February 2009.
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20060503/afghanistan_goddard_feature_060517/20060517/
A Chilean judge has received evidence from army generals and aides that indicates General Pinochet was involved in the 1982 murder of former president Eduardo Frei Montalva using a biological weapon.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/chile/story/0,,1777125,00.html
Colombian President Uribe blames the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) for a bomb attack on one of his electoral offices. The explosion caused only property damage. A car bomb in a different location was detected and deactivated. At the end of the week, FARC rebels launched two days of grenade attacks against the port city of Buenaventura before attacking a power station. At least 24 people were injured, and the city is without electricity. Three children were arrested for carrying out the grenade attacks.
Colombia's Wounaan indigenous leaders and their families arrived in Panama, where they have been granted asylum, following a six-week journey in small boats. They were forced to undertake the hazardous journey by prior killings and increasing death threats from irregular armed groups operating in the region. The Wounaan and other indigenous have been disproportionately affected by the ongoing conflict in Colombia.
http://www.unhcr.org/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/news/opendoc.htm?tbl=NEWS&id=446db7c84
In 2003, US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) operatives picked up German citizen Khaled El-Masri in Macedonia. Then, under an extraordinary rendition, El-Masri was sent to an Afghan prison, where he was tortured. Once released, he told his story and brought suit against CIA officials involved in the proceedings. Now, he must continue his search for justice in US courts following a district judge's finding that despite any merits of the case or the vast amounts of public information on the matter, even holding a hearing would jeopardize state secrets. The judge added, "if El-Masri's allegations are true or essentially true, then all fair-minded people... must also agree that El-Masri has suffered injuries as a result of our country's mistake and deserves a remedy". He said that should be found through the government or president, not the courts The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), which is handling his case, says, "The court's decision gives the government a blank check to shield even its most shameful conduct from any scrutiny or accountability". The German parliament and Chancellor Angela Merkel have raised the case. US Secretary of State Rice acknowledges use of extraordinary renditions, but refuses to discuss any particular case.
http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,2144,2025913,00.html
http://www.aclu.org/safefree/torture/25606prs20060519.html
http://service.spiegel.de/cache/international/0,1518,417071,00.html
http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/0,12271,1390256,00.html
At the US detention center in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, attempted suicide is all too common. This week, an attempt was faked to lure camp guards into the area, where they were attacked with improvised weapons on a floor deliberately made slippery. Guards ended the attack with physical force and nonlethal weapons.
http://www.defenselink.mil/news/May2006/20060519_5177.html
In other Guantanamo news, defense officials released 201 more names of detainees. Fifteen Saudi detainees have been transferred to Saudi Arabia, leaving about 120 in the facility. The last transfer, involving five Uighers transferred to Albania rather than facing terrorism charges and possible abuse in China, has been widely criticized, and amid concerns for their safety.
http://www.defenselink.mil/news/May2006/20060515_5140.html
http://www.defenselink.mil/releases/2006/nr20060518-13076.html
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2006/05/18/freed_from_guantanamo_5_face_danger_in_albania/
Meanwhile, the voices calling for closure of Guantanamo have spread and grown louder. Among the loudest is the voice of the UN Committee Against Torture, which called for the disclosure of this as well as all secret detention facilities. For more detail on the Committee's findings, see ERM/Human Rights, below.
The US House Committee on International Relations, Subcommittee on International Terrorism and Nonproliferation, held a hearing to review the Department of State's annual report on terrorism. We have compiled the testimony here:
http://www.globalterrorismmonitor.com/2006/05/GTM2101.shtml
A Judicial Watch lawsuit has ended with the release of Pentagon security camera footage of United Flight 77, which crashed into the Pentagon on 11 September 2001. Judicial Watch hopes that this video will help put to rest conspiracy theories that a government drone or missile hit the building, rather than the hijacked plane.
http://judicialwatch.org/flight77-suit.shtml
The US Department of State has imposed a ban on the export of arms and other defense items to Venezuela, which has been designated as a country not fully cooperating with US anti-terrorism efforts.
http://www.pmddtc.state.gov/defense_trade_venezuela.htm
http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2006/66262.htm
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GTM Asia Pacific
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Burma has continued its offensive against ethnic minorities, despite international calls to end the spiraling violence. The "counter-insurgency" operations have includes excessive force, home demolitions, extrajudicial killings, torture, violence against women, and forced labor. UN Under Secretary-General for Political Affairs Ibrahim Gambari, in the first high-level meetings in more than two years, met with the military junta and with detained pro-democracy opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, reporting that she is well.
Japan's parliament has passed an anti-terrorism bill that calls for photographing and fingerprinting all foreign visitors over the age of 16 on arrival, unless they are permanent residents or on official business. Japan's Federation of Bar Associations and human rights groups call the bill unconstitutional and an abuse of human rights, but Japan's minister of justice says that fighting terrorism is more important than the human rights issues raised by this measure.
http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=topNews&storyID=2006-05-17T065051Z_01_T345928_RTRUKOC_0_US-JAPAN-FINGERPRINTING.xml
Philippines' army commander Major General Jovito Palparan has provided a list of 27 summary executions so far this year. He attributes 21 of these to the New People's Army (NPA), and suggests this is a good reason for continuing efforts to eradicate the Communist insurgency. This week, four suspected NPA shot and killed two policemen as they provided security for a benefit dance.
http://www.philstar.com/philstar/news200605219901.htm
The Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) has called for the government to honor all provisions of the peace accord, including development and assistance to the Muslim areas in the south, including former rebels.
http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/net/2006/05/21/moro.militants.urge.manila.to.comply.with.peace.accord.html
In southern Thailand, the school year has resumed amid concerns that students and teachers will again become the targets of militant action. Although teachers and students have been heavily guarded to and from school, and inside classrooms, there were several incidents last week. The most serious was a bomb that killed a soldier and a villager, and injured three. There was also a hostage incident in which two women teachers were held in their school while villagers demanded two suspected militants be released. Security forces rescued the teachers, and the suspects remain in custody.
http://www.bangkokpost.com/160506_News/16May2006_news14.php
Thailand released anti-Communist US citizen Ly Tong after he had served nearly six years in prison for hijacking a plane that was subsequently used to drop anti-Communist leaflets in Vietnam. The government is now processing an extradition request from Vietnam, where he is wanted for slander and violating territorial security. After that judicial determination is reached, the US may consider intervening.
http://www.bangkokpost.com/180506_News/18May2006_news09.php
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GTM Europe
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European intelligence sources are warning of threats presented by militant Islamists including attacks inspired by the satirical cartoons of the prophet Muhammad and experienced jihadists returning from Iraq.
Germany's Federal Crime Office (BKA) warns of a high risk for terrorism at the upcoming FIFA World Cup. Highest risk countries are those involved in the Iraq war, including Australia, Poland, Spain, the UK and US.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2,00.html
The German parliament and Chancellor Angela Merkel have raised the case of Khaled El-Masri, the subject of a US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) extraordinary rendition, to no effect. US Secretary of State Rice acknowledges use of extraordinary renditions, but refuses to discuss any particular case. Now, a US court has ruled the case cannot even be heard for fear it would damage national security. (See Americas, above) Additional avenues for a judicial review are being considered.
http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,2144,2025913,00.html
http://www.aclu.org/safefree/torture/25606prs20060519.html
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/12/03/AR2005120301476_pf.html
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/12/AR2006051202008.html
http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/0,12271,1390256,00.html
Ireland's Minister for Justice, Equality, and Law Reform has received three reports of the Morris Tribunal, an inquiry into alleged police corruption. Following a serious critique that internal discipline had failed, new measures to simplify disciplinary regulations, draft a whistleblower charter, and other steps are under way.
http://taoiseach.gov.ie/eng/index.asp?docID=2646
Russia's Caucasus were the scene of further violence last week. A car bomb in Ingushetia killed deputy interior minister, Dzhabrail Kostoyev, his two bodyguards and four civilians. The massive explosion left little behind, and suspicion that it was a suicide bomb is unconfirmed. In Dagestan, a gun battle killed two militants and a policeman. Such attacks are often associated with militant Chechen separatists.
Nur-Pashi Kulayev, the sole survivor among the attackers in the 2004 Beslan school siege, has been found guilty of committing an act of terrorism, and associated charges. Despite this verdict, the trial and inquiries associated with the incident have still not revealed all the details regarding the incident, in which 331 people, most children, died.
http://english.pravda.ru/news/world/18-05-2006/80574-Beslan-0
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4992622.stm
Spanish Interior Minister Alfredo Perez Rubalcaba says the government is not convinced that Basque separatist group ETA is truly committed to ending the armed struggle, but believes there is still a starting point for peace negotiations.
http://www.spainherald.com/3632.html
http://www.eitb24.com/portal/eitb24/noticia/en/politics/ceasefire-batasuna--basque-parties-have-the-key-to-solution-of-co?itemId=D32024&cl=%2Feitb24%2Fpolitica&idioma=en
Turkish officials are investigating the recent attack against the State Council in which a leading judge was killed. They have found possible connections between the attacker, Alparslan Aslan, and the shadowy Turkish Revenge Brigade (TIT), as well as the Turkish Resistance Organization and the Sauna Gang. Note the political ramifications of this incident in PRM, below.
http://www.zaman.com/?bl=national&alt=&hn=33235
http://www.zaman.com/?bl=national&alt=&hn=33265
http://www.zaman.com/?bl=columnists&alt=&trh=20060520&hn=33290 (Aslan profile)
British police are reportedly aware of a training camp for animal rights activists, which will teach sympathizers violent techniques that can be exported to Europe and elsewhere.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/05/20/nanim20.xml&DCMP=EMC-new_20052006
A bulletin board on a website supporting the 32-County Sovereignty Committee, the political wing of the Real IRA that carried out the Omagh bombing, includes postings that discuss the murder of former Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble. A police investigation is under way.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/4996460.stm
http://www.nwipp-newspapers.com/UH/free/288781176787136.php
http://www.32csm.org/
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GTM Middle East
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Egyptian officials have shot dead Arafa Auda Ali as the suspected militant attempted to throw an explosive device at the police chasing him. He is believed to be a leader of Tawhid wal Jihad, connected with multiple bombings at tourist destinations in the Sinai.
http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/42EA0BFF-C7FE-4996-A655-9804A343D3EC.htm
In the Gaza Strip, an Israeli aircraft attacked a car on Monday, injuring three Islamic Jihad militants. Islamic Jihad has sworn revenge for the death of seven Palestinians, including a leading Islamic Jihad member, on 14 May. The Fatah offshoots Abu Rish Brigades and Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades fired rockets into Israel to protest the killings, but there were no casualties or damage. On Saturday, an Israeli air strike on a car killed senior Islamic Jihad engineer Mohammed al-Dahdouh. Those in the vicinity were also caught up in the blast, which killed a grandmother, mother, and her 4-year-old son.
Note this article about the Palestinian rocket-makers:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4763507.stm
Clashes between Hamas and Fatah have escalated, and warnings of civil war are being bruited about. The most serious incident this week was an apparent assassination attempt against Palestinian intelligence head General Tareq Abu Rajab. He was injured in an explosion at the main office, but is in stable condition. One person died and several were injured.
In Iraq on Monday, insurgents in Anbar province shot down a US helicopter, killing two soldiers; near Basra clashes between police and an armed Shia tribe killed eight policemen; and four primary school teachers were shot dead as they traveled to work in a minibus outside Baghdad. On Tuesday, gunmen at a car park in Baghdad opened fire, killing five people. During the response to this incident a car bomb exploded, killing 18. At least 33 people were injured. In southern Baghdad, gun battles killed six civilians and injured several others. Roadside bombings in and near Baghdad killed three US soldiers. Gunmen abducted a United Arab Emirates diplomat, injuring one of his bodyguards. On Thursday, gunmen stopped a minibus in Baghdad and killed six workers and the driver. An explosion near a police patrol killed at least seven. A roadside bombing killed four US soldiers. Fifteen candidate athletes training for Iraq's Olympic martial arts team were kidnapped, and a ransom of $100,000 was demanded. A Sunni shrine was blown up in Baquba. On Saturday as parliament voted in the new government the bombs continued. There was an attack on a Shia district in Baghdad that killed 19 and injured 58; and a roadside bomb injured two British soldiers. Today, Prime Minister Nouri Maliki was speaking, describing use of maximum force against terrorists, as another suicide bomber attacked a central Baghdad restaurant, killing 13 and injuring 18. Other attacks in and around Baghdad today include a roadside bomb at a market that killed three and injured 15; a car bomb that killed one and injured 15, and a bomb targeting a police patrol missed its target but injured five bystanders.
Casualties in Iraq are graphically illustrated here, followed by an article about the Baghdad Mortuary.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4525412.stm
http://www.politicalriskmonitor.com/2006/05/PRM2103.shtml
In eastern Lebanon Palestinian militants from the Syrian-backed Fatah-Intifada attacked an army patrol. Clashes over the course of two days led to the death of one Lebanese soldier and one Palestinian militant.
The Jamestown Foundation has released "Saudi Arabian Oil Facilities: The Achilles Heel of the Western Economy" that addresses the threat from al Qaeda.
http://www.jamestown.org/press_details.php?press_id=34
In the West Bank city of Nablus, Israeli troops shot and killed two suspected members of Islamic Jihad, and injured a third. Today, a Palestinian woman was shot dead during an Israeli army operation at the Balata refugee camp.
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GTM South Asia
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In Afghanistan, a suspected suicide car bomber attacked a UN convoy in Kandahar; he was the only casualty. Also on Wednesday, heavy fighting between coalition forces and Taleban militants began in Kandahar and Helmand province. By Thursday, about a dozen Afghan police, a Canadian soldier, and up to 90 Taleban militants were dead, in multiple incidents. Fighting on Saturday killed 25 militants, five Afghan soldiers, a US soldier, and two French commandos. Fighting today in Helmand and Kandahar killed at least 16 Afghan soldiers. It is estimated that up to 200 rebels have been killed since Wednesday.
Bangladesh's proposed Anti-Terrorism Act will include expanded detention powers and the financing of terrorists and terrorism.
A Bangladesh court sentenced 13 militants of Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) and Ahle Hadith Andolan Bangladesh (Ahab) to life in prison for their roles in the multiple coordinated bombings last August.
http://www.thedailystar.net/2006/05/15/d60515012014.htm
Burma has launched a fresh offensive against the ethnic Karen minority. Thousands of civilians have fled, and Karen rebels have called for ceasefire talks.
http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/RWB.NSF/db900SID/ETOA-6PU7Y2
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1531774.cms
Maoist rebels in the Indian state of Chhattisgarh have attacked critical infrastructures in the Dantewada district, including rail and mining operations.
In the central Indian state of Maharashtra, four women and eight men were killed in a landmine explosion attributed to local Maoist rebels.
In Manipur state, a group of more than 30 separatist rebels attacked chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh's convoy on Wednesday. The Minister was unharmed, but a bodyguard was seriously injured, and one rebel was killed. The separatist People's Liberation Army is suspected in this second attempt against Singh.
Mrinal Hazarika, a senior leader of the United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA), was arrested by special police in West Bengal early on Thursday.
In Indian-administered Kashmir, a Congress party rally marking the anniversary of former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi's death, was interrupted when two suspected Islamic militants dressed as police opened fire towards the rostrum. Police returned fire. The two militants, two policemen, and four civilians were killed, and many were injured, including the police inspector general. Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad was scheduled to speak at the rally but was not there when the shooting broke out.
A large explosives haul involving government officials is described in an army counterintelligence report obtained by The Sunday Express:
http://www.indianexpress.com/iep/sunday/story/4857.html
Nepal's Maoist rebels seem to be taking advantage of the ceasefire to step up financial extortion against businesses,
In Pakistan's Balochistan province, tribal militants blew up another gas pipeline. A young girl was killed and two people injured in the explosion. In an attack on a checkpoint, militants killed two policemen.
Militants in Waziristan fought soldiers near the Afghan border. Eight militants and a soldier were killed. Two unidentified men attacked and shot dead two local policemen. In another grenade attack, two paramilitary soldiers were killed, and the assailant was shot dead in return.
Sri Lanka's ceasefire monitors are investigating the 13 May deaths of 13 Tamil civilians on a naval-controlled northern island. Preliminary indications suggest Sri Lankan military authorities were involved. Following the attack, about 150 villagers have fled. There has also been an exodus to India.
For detailed analysis, background information and source documents available only to subscribers of the Political Risk Monitor, visit our online store:
TAMNI Publications
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PRM Africa
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Chad's President Idriss Deby has won a third term. The electoral commission reported turnout of 61 percent, with Deby receiving 77.5 percent of the vote.
Comoros islanders have chosen moderate Islamist Ahmed Abdallah Mohamed Sambi as the new president, in the first peaceful change of power seen in 30 years of the country's independence.
http://www.politicalriskmonitor.com/2006/05/PRM2101.shtml
In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) 1,200 people in die each day from conflict-related causes. More than 20 per cent of the children die before their fifth birthday and one in 10 die in the first year of life. Polio has returned to the country for the first time in six years. Only a tiny fraction of funds requested to aid this emergency have been provided, yet the country is at a turning point where 45 years of dictatorship and war are slowly being replaced with democracy and hope. DRC is Africa's third largest country - as large as all of Western Europe, and rich in natural resources. DRC and its people can provide great value to the world at large, provided that the humanitarian and related security issues are addressed. To move forward, successful elections are essential, but this will only happen if the international community steps up to provide the security and supporting infrastructure that are so desperately required.
http://www.un.org/events/tenstories/story.asp?storyID=2300
Ethiopia and Eritrea held talks over their border dispute, with no progress. Eritrea has refused to lift restrictions on the UN peacekeepers charged with completing the border demarcation. Ethiopia continues to reject the Boundary Commission's ruling. Border tensions remain high. Eritrea has released one of the local UN staff members it detained, but 11 are still held.
http://www.unmeeonline.org/index.php
"Cote d'Ivoire: Peace as an Option" is the topic of a new International Crisis Group report:
"The four-year crisis in Côte d'Ivoire could finally end if the government of national reconciliation continues to make progress toward presidential elections, meant to occur before 31 October. However, no political actors have yet given up the capacity for violence or committed themselves irrevocably to elections they may lose. The government should embark on a nationwide campaign to inform the public of necessary preparations, including identifying citizens entitled to vote and disarming and reintegrating ex-combatants. Major donor support is needed for all these steps. Prime Minister Banny should continue an inclusive dialogue with all political actors and social sectors to mobilise opinion behind the government and should continue working with President Gbagbo, who may be tempted to delay elections to prolong his power. If concrete results are achieved in the next few months, peace may finally be within reach."
http://www.crisisgroup.org/home/index.cfm?l=1&id=4112
Following raids against a radio station the week before, Kenya's Security Minister this week warned that he will not hesitate to order further attacks against any media group that demeans the state. Prior incidents have been associated with Islamic militants, in connection with the cartoon furore, and conflict between Islam and Christianity.
http://www.eastandard.net/hm_news/news.php?articleid=1143952564
http://www.nationmedia.com/dailynation/nmgcontententry.asp?category_id=1&newsid=73222
Colonial-era tensions have revived in Kenya, after a British aristocrat has killed a local man for the second time in a year. Tom Cholmondeley is the son of Lord Delamere, head of one of Kenya's most prominent families of white settlers, and greatly resented for their seizure of 100,000 acres of prime farmland more than a century ago. Last year Cholmondeley killed an undercover wildlife ranger, but was set free. Now he has killed a local stonemason. Five government ministers, members of parliament, and the broad community have criticized the government's handling of the high profile case and call for action against the Delamere family's well-stocked armory and past history of firearms abuse. One minister threatened to shoot Cholmondeley if he is released, to ensure that he will not be able to kill again.
http://allafrica.com/stories/200605160586.html
http://www.timesnews.co.ke/19may06/nwsstory/topstry.html
http://www.thestate.com/mld/thestate/news/world/14612435.htm
http://www.eastandard.net/hm_news/news.php?articleid=1143952736
http://www.eastandard.net/hm_news/news.php?articleid=1143952731
Nigeria's Senate has defeated a proposed constitutional amendment that would allow the president to seek a third term. President Obasanjo accepted this change, which he had never publicly advocated, as a triumph of democracy.
http://www.vanguardngr.com/articles/2002/headline/f119052006.html
http://www.mg.co.za/articlePage.aspx?articleid=272105&area=/breaking_news/breaking_news__africa/
Senegal has been given 90 days to either try former Chad President Hissene Habre or send him to Belgium on trial on human rights abuse charges. Habre went into exile in Senegal in 1990. A court in Senegal ruled it had no jurisdiction, and the case was referred to the African Union, which has not reached a determination. It plans to complete its recommendations in July. Now, the UN Committee Against Torture warns that by not dealing with Habre's alleged crimes for 15 years it has broken international human rights laws.
South Africa's ruling party, the African National Congress (ANC), has reinstated Jacob Zuma as deputy party leader following his acquittal on rape charges, although he still faces a July trial on corruption charges. The ANC National Executive Committee announced his reinstatement and, making an effort to address concerns raised during Zuma's trial, stated:
"The ANC remains at the forefront of the struggle to eradicate gender-based violence and abuse. It remains committed to intensify efforts across society to challenge gender inequality and sexism in all its forms and manifestations, to actively fight against the abuse of women, and to strengthen the capacity of our justice system to investigate and prosecute crimes of this nature. In the light of some of the commentary around aspects of the trial, the ANC wishes to confirm its support for government's comprehensive response to HIV and AIDS, including its unequivocal messages around prevention and safer sexual practices."
http://www.anc.org.za
Sudan has refused to grant visas for a UN assessment team to prepare for the force supplementing that provided by the African Union.
The displaced of Sudan have fled war only to face starvation.
http://www.disasterreductionmonitor.com/2006/05/DRM2101.shtml
Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe is under increased pressure to step down. The country's deteriorating political and economic situation - with inflation rate in excess of 1,000 percent - have finally pushed South Africa to voice its alarm that Zimbabwe's difficulties are beginning to affect all of southern Africa. Internally, trade unions and church leaders are all applying more pressure for change. Meanwhile, ahead of a Harare parliamentary by-election, several opposition officials, including a Member of Parliament, have been detained.
20 May marks one year since Zimbabwe's Operation Murambatsvina ("Clean the filth") left some 700,000 people homeless and without means of survival.
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PRM Americas
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Chile has freed on bail former President of Peru, Alberto Fujimori, on condition that he remains in the country while the Supreme Court considers his possible extradition to Peru, where he is wanted on charges of human rights abuse and corruption.
Rene Preval was sworn in as Haiti's president on 14 May. He previously served as president from 1996-2001.
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-haiti15may15,0,2350420.story
Mexico has expressed strong opposition to US plans to construct a fence along the border. It particularly objects to the intention to position 6,000 National Guard troops at the border. Those opposed to the measures prefer to address underlying economic issues and law enforcement that addresses the role of employers. Past evidence indicates that increased border security does little to reduce emigration, but dramatically increases the fatality rate, as people are moved to take more dangerous routes, and increases the profits of human trafficking.
The US has restored full diplomatic relations with Libya and plans to open an embassy in the capital, Tripoli.
http://www.state.gov/secretary/rm/2006/66235.htm
US President Bush focused on immigration reform last week, with a joint policy of increased security and a plan to allow illegal workers to gain citizenship. Bush is also supporting a Senate move to make English the official language, and to construct a fence along the southern border with Mexico.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/infocus/immigration/
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d109:s.02611
New Orleans has re-elected Mayor C. Ray Nagin. He overcame criticism over Hurricane Katrina to defeat a challenge from Lieutenant Governor Mitch Landrieu.
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PRM Asia Pacific
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Australia and Indonesia are discussing a request by Indonesia to make the verbal assurance that Australia will respect its territorial integrity part of a formal security agreement between the two countries.
Judicial reform in Cambodia is necessary prior to launching Khmer Rouge trials. Some of the judges have only high-school-level education or completed legal training in Soviet-bloc countries such as Vietnam.
http://www.ohchr.org/english/press/media.htm
http://www.boston.com/news/world/asia/articles/2006/05/19/cambodian_judiciary_has_profound_problems_un/
http://www.licadho.org/reports/files/79LICADHOLegalJudicialReformPaper06.pdf
China has installed another Catholic bishop without approval of the Vatican.
http://english.people.com.cn/200605/16/eng20060516_266183.html
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4969276.stm
East Timor's governing Fretilin party held its congress, but an anticipated change in the leadership did not materialize. Despite criticism of recent unrest, Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri remains in office. Five people were killed and 60 injured during recent riots.
Fiji's Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase has been re-elected, and has formed a cabinet in which the opposition Labor Party has seven of 17 seats, an effort to reduce the chance of ethnic conflict in the country divided between Fijians (55 percent ) and those of Indian origin.
http://www.fiji.gov.fj/
The Philippines hosted a visit from Equatorial Guinea President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo. He and President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo signed three bilateral agreements to strengthen economic and political ties and energy cooperation.
http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/man/2006/05/21/news/rp.equatorial.guinea.to.improve.relations.html
Thailand's Election Commission has suggested 22 October for a repeat of the April General Election, which has been annulled by the Constitutional Court.
Vietnam's Prime Minister Phan Van Khai has nominated his deputy, Nguyen Tan Dung, as his successor. Khai has served two 5-year terms, and is 72 years of age. The Communist Party Central Committee will consider his suggestion at its meeting on 27-8 May.
http://english.vietnamnet.vn/politics/2006/05/571420/
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PRM Europe
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Members of the European Parliament affirm that as many as 50 CIA extraordinary renditions have taken place, illegally, in Europe since 2001.
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/expert/infopress_page/017-8205-135-05-20-902-20060515IPR08166-15-05-2006-2006-false/default_en.htm
Bulgaria has been told to " demonstrate clear evidence of results in the fight against corruption, in terms of investigations and judicial proceedings. It also needs to further reform the judiciary, in particular to reinforce its transparency, efficiency and impartiality" in order to become a member of the EU.
http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/06/634&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en
The French parliament has passed a new immigration law that includes controversial new rules including requirements to learn French and the principles of the Republic, and makes it more difficult to work or bring in families. Opposition politicians, and human rights and immigrant advocates deem the measure racist, and are demonstrating against it.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4990962.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/low/africa/4997850.stm
While Germany's parliament is considering how to address an investigation into the, Bundesnachrichtendienst (BND), which found that the German intelligence agency has illegally been gathering professional and personal information about journalists and using media informants, the government has ordered BND not to spy on German reporters. Retired chief judge of the Federal Court of Justice, Judge Gerhard Schafer, presented his findings to a parliamentary oversight committee last week. Last month, the German parliament opened an inquiry into German intelligence ahead of the war in Iraq and alleged involvement in the CIA's extraordinary renditions.
http://service.spiegel.de/cache/international/0,1518,416238,00.html
http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,2144,2017802,00.html
http://www.bnd.bund.de/ (in German)
Ireland's Minister for Justice, Equality, and Law Reform has received three reports of the Morris Tribunal, an inquiry into alleged police corruption. Following a serious critique that internal discipline had failed, new measures to simplify disciplinary regulations, draft a whistleblower charter, and other steps are under way.
http://taoiseach.gov.ie/eng/index.asp?docID=2646
Giorgio Napolitano was sworn in as Italy's President, permitting Romano Prodi to be sworn in as Prime Minister, ten years since he first served in the same position. Prodi's cabinet, five weeks after his center-left coalition's narrow general election victory, includes several former Prime Ministers. Soon after the government was formed, Prodi won a vote of confidence in the Senate. Although Prodi has only a 2-seat majority, he won by ten votes. In his first speech as leader, he told the Senate that the war in Iraq was a grave error and that troops should be pulled out. The war in Iraq is very unpopular in Italy.
http://www.governo.it/Governo/ConsiglioMinistri/dettaglio.asp?d=28196 (in Italian)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4989766.stm
http://www.romanoprodi.it/cgi-bin/adon.cgi?act=doc&doc=1677 (in Italian)
Montenegro is holding a referendum to determine whether they will become independent from the union with Serbia, all that remains of Yugoslavia.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4999672.stm
http://service.spiegel.de/cache/international/spiegel/0,1518,416814,00.html
http://www.cfr.org/publication/10725/montenegros_referendum_on_independence.html
The Netherlands immigration minister withdrew the Dutch citizenship of Ayaan Hirsi Ali following her admission that she lied on her asylum application. The controversial member of parliament is known for her vocal opposition to conservative Islam and its treatment of women, and her association with murdered filmmaker Theo van Gogh, for whom she wrote the television movie script of Submission. She has been under police protection after repeated threats from Islamic extremists. She plans to move to the US, where she has been offered a position at the conservative think tank, the American Enterprise Institute.
http://www.trouw.nl/hetnieuws/nederland/article318849.ece/Tweede-Kamerfractie+%2F+Persverklaring+Ayaan+Hirsi+Ali+(Engels)
http://www.slate.com/id/2141846/?nav=fix
http://service.spiegel.de/cache/international/0,1518,416299,00.html
Romania has been told to "continue its efforts and demonstrate further results in the fight against corruption... [and] consolidate the implementation of the ongoing justice reform and further enhance the transparency, efficiency and impartiality of the judiciary", in order to become an EU member state.
http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/06/634&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en
http://service.spiegel.de/cache/international/0,1518,416297,00.html
Russian sergeant Dmitry Nagaitsev has been sentenced to five years in prison for abusing the conscript, Private Yevgeny Koblov so severely that his legs had to be amputated.
http://www.mosnews.com/news/2006/05/19/solgerabuse.shtml
Switzerland is replacing all of the staff at its Pakistan embassy in Karachi after finding some visa applicants obtained their visas under false pretenses.
http://www.eda.admin.ch/eda/e/home/singlem.html?id=5164
Turkey's highest court, in the capital, Ankara came under attack by a gunman identified as Aslan Alpaslan. The prominent judge Mustafa Yucel Ozbilgin died and four others were injured. The incident was linked to a court ruling earlier this year against teachers wearing Muslim headscarves, and for upholding other secular laws. Many people viewed the attack as an attack against secularism itself, and there have been large demonstrations in favor of a secular state. The governing party in Turkey has Islamic roots, and the potential conflict has raised concerns about the country's stability, reflected in its impact on financial markets. Note possible terrorist links to Alpaslan in GTM, above.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4996056.stm
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/18/world/europe/18turkey.html?_r=1&ex=1148097600&en=560fa3a86c89562f
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/story/0,,1779354,00.html
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000085&sid=aRsGltT.NfOU&refer=europe
http://www.thenewanatolian.com/opinion-7084.html
Northern Ireland politicians have taken their seats in the devolved assembly for the first time since October 2002, where the 108 members will work towards an agreed power-sharing executive by the 24 November deadline.
http://www.niassembly.gov.uk/
The International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY) has complete and comprehensive regulatory rules for the detention facility, but it had problems monitoring visitors to the late Slobodan Milosevic. The former Yugoslav leader conducted his own defense and in this role was provided a private office, which made it difficult to control visits, as well as phone or computer conversations. The independent team of Swiss experts responsible for the review of ICTY's detention unit also recommended improving meals, taking into account the means and experience that many detainees possess, and found no ethnic antagonism.
http://www.un.org/icty/pressreal/2006/DU-audit.htm
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PRM Middle East
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Egypt rejected an appeal against a forgery conviction imposed on opposition leader Aymna Nour. The US and EU criticized the judgment, and the EU has issued a declaration of concern regarding measures taken against civil society activists.
The financial crisis in the Palestinian territories is unabated. In an effort to mitigate cuts in funding and cash payments, the Hamas-led government has possibly resorted to smuggling cash. The funds were confiscated and an investigation ordered.
http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/05/19/news/mideast.php
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4996990.stm
http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/186F6847-8B58-47F3-9C0D-2932929E78F6.htm
BBC News asked six Palestinians to describe how their lives have changed since the Palestinian Authority's financial crisis:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4995264.stm
Iraq has formed a new government, and parliament has approved it.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2hi/middle_east/5000750.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/5001204.stm
Casualties in Iraq are graphically illustrated here, followed by an article about the Baghdad Mortuary.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4525412.stm
http://www.politicalriskmonitor.com/2006/05/PRM2103.shtml
Israel's new Defense Minister Amir Peretz has ordered the main cargo channel, the Karni crossing, to be opened for humanitarian reasons.
Kuwait's parliament voted to refer an electoral reform bill to the constitutional court, a step that could set the stage for changes in the cabinet or even dissolution of parliament. The dispute follows attempts to reform the election system by reducing the number of constituencies and taking other steps to combat vote-buying and other electoral irregularities. Reformists had forced the referral vote by a walkout and boycott of a government-backed version that doesn't go as far. The government says it is prepared to discuss the matter, but now the emir, Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmed al-Sabah has dissolved parliament and set new elections for the end of June.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/5002754.stm
http://www.kuwaittimes.net/Navariednews.asp?dismode=article&artid=104657652
http://www.gulf-daily-news.com/Story.asp?Article=143676&Sn=WORL&IssueID=29057
http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/2BC6815B-551A-438F-8CC3-066341568E29.htm
The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) opened a diplomatic office in Lebanon for the first time in 13 years. Abbas Zaki, a member of the Fatah central committee heads the office. Hamas, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine - General Command, and 14 other Palestinian groups are not represented and were not consulted before the inauguration of the new office.
http://www.almanar.com.lb/story.aspx?Language=en&DSNO=649707
http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=1&categ_id=2&article_id=24477
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has moved the official weekend from Thursday-Friday to Friday-Saturday, as of 1 September. This measure is out of step with other Gulf nations, but provides more opportunities to conduct business with Europe.
http://www.gulf-news.com/nation/Society/10040614.html
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PRM South Asia
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The International Crisis Group considers "Afghanistan's New Legislature: Making Democracy Work". The new report finds:
"The fledgling National Assembly can play a vital role in stabilising Afghanistan and holding President Karzai's administration accountable but only if it gives voice to the country's diverse population and gets major help from international actors. Its oft-delayed inauguration in December 2005 completed formation of the country's main governing bodies but marked more the beginning of a political transition than its end. The parliament has potential to draw the regions to the centre in a way that has never happened before but if it is considered impotent, citizens are likely to lose faith in democratisation. Unfortunately the Karzai administration appears to calculate that a weak, fragmented body would mean more power for itself rather than a loss for the country. The executive and legislative branches must not approach their relationship as a zero sum game.
http://www.crisisgroup.org/home/index.cfm?l=1&id=4108
Bangladesh police fired on garment workers demonstrating for improved wages and release of two jailed workers. One worker was killed and 200 injured. Five police were also injured.
The Indian government told parliament that it disagreed with the findings of the Mukherjee Commission of Inquiry, which delivered its report of the investigation into the disappearance of independence hero Subhash Chandra Bose. The inquiry, which was launched seven years ago, concluded that he did not die in a 1945 plane crash, but did not say what happened to him. This was the third inquiry to investigate the matter.
http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_1699924,0008.htm
http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/specials/Netaji/deathstoryhome.htm (Special Coverage)
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1536937.cms
http://www.guardian.co.uk/india/story/0,,1777155,00.html
In Bihar state violence broke out during the second round of voting. Two separate shootings between upper and lower caste voters killed 14 people. Twelve people were killed during the first round. Upper castes have been dissatisfied with the government decision to set aside 20 percent of village-level seats for low or backward castes.
The governor of Rajasthan state has refused to sign a religious freedom bill that bans forced conversions and has other measures perceived to restrict religious freedom.
Tamil Nadu state has decided that rather than being limited to Brahmins and high castes, priests in the state's Hindu temples will be drawn from all castes.
In the first violence since April's mass protests forced King Gyanendra to end his sole rule and recall parliament, pro-democracy supporters in Nepal burned government vehicles and tires to protest parliament's delay in reducing the King's powers. The delay was brief, and the King's powers have been drastically curtailed. Parliament now has the authority to control the army and name the heir to the throne, among other measures. Maoists still want a republic to replace the monarchy entirely.
http://www.politicalriskmonitor.com/2006/05/PRM2102.shtml
Nepal's Home Minister, Krishna Prasad Sitaula, has been named the lead negotiator of a three member delegation to hold peace talks with Maoist rebels, in preparation for a summit meeting between Nepal's Prime Minister, Girija Prasad Koirala, and rebel leader Prachanda.
The AML/CFT Monitor is a monthly 16-page print publication. News highlights from the past week are provided in this free email update, but detailed analysis, background information and source documents are only available to subscribers. Purchase a subscription at our online store:
TAMNI Publications
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AML/CFT Incidents/Cases
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Bangladesh Bank has fined Sonali Bank for failing to report an account held by suspected Islamist militant Moulana Farid Uddin Masud.
http://www.thedailystar.net/2006/05/15/d60515012216.htm
The US Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), and New York State Banking Department have assessed civil money penalties totaling $600,000 against Liberty Bank of New York for violations of federal and state anti-money laundering laws and regulations. Liberty Bank failed to implement an adequate Bank Secrecy Act/anti-money laundering program, with internal controls and appropriate measures to detect and report money laundering and other suspicious activity in a timely manner. These systemic defects resulted in a failure to comply with information sharing requests from law enforcement under the Patriot Act.
http://www.fdic.gov/bank/individual/enforcement/NewOrders/06-083k.html
http://www.banking.state.ny.us/ea060518.pdf
http://www.fincen.gov/liberty_assessment.pdf
William Scott, Jessica Davis, Soulbury Ltd. and WorldWide Telesports, Inc., (WWTS) have been indicted for laundering about $250 million in internet gambling wagers.
http://www.amlcftmonitor.com/2006/05/AML2102.shtml
US President Bush has extended economic sanctions against Burma.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/05/20060518-16.html
In Bangladesh, BD Foods Chairman Badruddoza Chowdhury has admitted smuggling illegal goods, believed to be heroin, to the UK, disguised as legitimate food exports.
http://www.newkerala.com/news2.php?action=fullnews&id=60226
http://www.thedailystar.net/2006/05/15/d6051501011.htm
http://www.independent-bangladesh.com/news/sep/17/17092005ts.htm
The Hamas-led Palestinian government may be addressing the financial crisis with smuggled cash.
http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/05/19/news/mideast.php
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4996990.stm
http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/186F6847-8B58-47F3-9C0D-2932929E78F6.htm
Commerzbank chief executive Klaus-Peter Mueller was cleared of money laundering allegations for lack of evidence in allegations that the bank had helped launder Russian oligarch monies in the 1990s.
https://www.commerzbank.de/presse/archiv/mitteilungen/2006/02/p060517.html (in German)
http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/05/17/bloomberg/bxshake.php
Abdullah Baybasin has been sentenced in British court to 22 years in prison for drug trafficking, extortion and other criminal activities, often focused against London's Turkish and Kurdish communities. He plans to appeal against his conviction.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=386410&in_page_id=1770
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/4787088.stm
http://observer.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,6903,841749,00.html
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AML/CFT Legislation and Regulation
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The EU and US have imposed further sanctions, including travel bans and asset freezes, against Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko and other government officials in response to corruption, including fraudulent elections, and human rights violations. EU sanctions led to a boycott of Interpol's regional conference. It went ahead in Belarus, but was sparsely attended.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/05/20060515-6.html
http://register.consilium.europa.eu/
The US Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) and the Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight (OFHEO) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding through which they will share actual and suspected mortgage fraud data. FinCEN will incorporate OFHEO data into its Bank Secrecy Act database to help combat the use of mortgage transactions as a vehicle for financial crimes, fraud, money laundering and terrorist financing.
EC Commissioner Charlie McGreevy addressed EU regulatory and structural developments in the financial sector.
http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=SPEECH/06/303&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en
Interpol opened its European Conference in Belarus, addressing operational issues including organized crime and other topics.
http://www.amlcftmonitor.com/2006/05/AML2101.shtml
Lack of action against money laundering, organized crime, fraud and corruption are among issues under consideration as the EU considers whether Bulgaria can join.
http://www.novinite.com/view_news.php?id=63416
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AML/CFT Modalities
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Here is a portrait of "Canada's money-laundering king":
http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/story.html?id=4450d02f-0d09-4c01-8363-c93cb9c76496&k=50435
Here is more information regarding US backing of Somali warlords:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/16/AR2006051601625.html
The charity, Christian Aid, released a report, "The Scorched Earth", which shows how the presence of international oil companies is fueling the war.
http://www.christianaid.org.uk/indepth/0103suda/sudanoil.htm#CASOEXSUM
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TAMNI Publications
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ETM Corruption and Transnational Crime
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Hyundai Motor chairman Chung Mong-Koo has been indicted on charges of bribery, embezzlement, money laundering, and other actions in connection with a political slush fund.
http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D8HM9E681.htm?campaign_id=apn_home_down&chan=db
http://times.hankooki.com/lpage/200605/kt2006051617284210230.htm
The US House ethics committee has launched investigations into bribery allegations against representatives Robert Ney, William Jefferson, and the scandal surrounding Randy "Duke" Cunningham.
http://www.house.gov/ethics/
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/17/AR2006051701779.html
http://www.forbes.com/home/feeds/ap/2006/05/20/ap2760848.html
Nigeria's Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is investigating allegations that members of parliament have been offered significant bribes to support a constitutional change allowing the president to seek election to a third term.
http://www.efccnigeria.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=905&Itemid=2
http://www.efccnigeria.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=906&Itemid=2
The Australian Wheat Board has apologized while admitting it bribed the Saddam Hussein's former regime, in connection with the oil-for-food program, and in violation of international sanctions.
http://www.awb.com.au/aboutawb/media/InquiryIntoTheUnitedNationsOilForFoodProgram.htm
http://www.ag.gov.au/agd/www/UNOilForFoodInquiry.nsf
Forbes has released a list of the ten wealthiest rulers: King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz, Saudi Arabia; Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah, Brunei; President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, United Arab Emirates; Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai; Prince Hans Adam II von und zu Liechtenstein; Prince Albert II, Morocco; President Fidel Castro, Cuba; President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, Equatorial Guinea; Queen Elizabeth II, UK; and Queen Beatrix Wilhelmina Armgard, Netherlands. Fidel Castro has dismissed the claim that he has a huge fortune as absurd and malicious.
http://www.forbes.com/2006/05/04/rich-kings-dictators_cz_lk_0504royals.html
http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=topNews&storyID=2006-05-16T003624Z_01_N15339027_RTRUKOC_0_US-CASTRO-FORBES.xml
http://www.ain.cubaweb.cu/idioma/ingles/2006/may17repercucion-fidel.htm
Ireland is making significant changes to police discipline following new reports of the Morris Tribunal, an inquiry into alleged police corruption that reports a failure of internal discipline.
http://taoiseach.gov.ie/eng/index.asp?docID=2646
South Korea's Hwang Woo-suk has been charged with fraud and embezzlement for falsifying research in cloning.
http://times.hankooki.com/lpage/nation/200605/kt2006051217400611950.htm
http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200605/200605120035.html
http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/h/hwang_woo_suk/index.html?inline=nyt-per
Chinese academic Chen Jen, former head of Shanghai Jiao Tong University's Microelectronics School, has been dismissed following the revelation that he falsified research into computer chips, using technology made by another company, not on his research, and that did not have the promised functionality. China has been attempting to develop domestic technology that would reduce reliance on foreign suppliers. The millions Chen received in research funding will have to be repaid, and he may face criminal proceedings.
http://english.people.com.cn/200605/13/eng20060513_265161.html
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2006-05/15/content_589728.htm
http://www.interfax.cn/showfeature.asp?aid=12868&slug=HISYS
The Philippines' Presidential Commission on Good Government (PGG) is considering agreements with cronies of former dictator Marcos, in order to begin settling corruption cases.
http://www.philstar.com/philstar/News200605210401.htm
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ETM Economies and Financial Systems
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An independent evaluation of the World Bank's Heavily Indebted Poor Countries initiative found that $50 billion has been committed in nominal debt service relief under the initiative to decision point countries, of which $15.4 billion has been committed since the previous evaluation in 2003. Debt relief has become a significant vehicle of resource transfer to these countries. Maintaining policy performance is essential for countries not yet at completion point to reap the benefits of debt reduction.
http://www.worldbank.org/ieg/hipc/?intcmp=5255268
The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and the African Development Bank released "African Economic Outlook 2005/2006". They expect the economy to grow by 5.8 percent this year and 5.5 percent next year, with oil-exporting countries substantially outpacing others. Conflict, natural disasters, corruption, global imbalances, and poor transportation infrastructure all hinder development and economic growth.
http://www.oecd.org/document/34/0,2340,en_2649_201185_36710818_1_1_1_1,00.html
The International Monetary Fund's Middle East and Central Asia Regional Economic reports strong macroeconomic performance and prospects in Central Asia region, helped by high commodity prices and strong demand in Russia and China. IMF anticipates growth in 2006 in Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan will be 7 to 8 percent range, and in the Kyrgyz Republic about 5 percent. Broad structural reforms in all countries need to be undertaken to improve the prospects for long-term growth and poverty reduction.
http://www.imf.org/external/np/sec/pr/2006/pr06102.htm
Slovenia's application to join the eurozone, the European Commission's single currency, has been accepted, pending approval by the parliament and member states in coming weeks. Lithuania's application was rejected, in part due to excessive inflation.
http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/06/623&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en
http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/06/622&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en
In a further commitment to transparency, the World Trade Organization (WTO) is making public all official documents issued under the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), 1947-1995.
http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/pres06_e/pr442_e.htm
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ETM Environment and Climate Change
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A new European Environment Agency briefing reports that "Tackling climate change will improve Europe's air quality, cut premature deaths and could save EU12 billion annually in air pollution control costs by 2030".
http://reports.eea.europa.eu/briefing_2006_2/en
A new film based on former US Vice President Al Gore's campaigning for awareness of global climate change is being screened at the Cannes Film Festival.
http://www.climatecrisis.net/
http://allianceforclimateprotection.org/
The US National Snow and Ice Data Center at the University of Colorado hosted a meeting focused on recent climatological, oceanographic, and glaciological research in the Antarctic Peninsula, where a cycle of irreversible climate change is melting the Arctic ice.
http://nsidc.org/events/IPY_APCV/index.html
University College London researchers, writing in Geophysical Research Letters, report that the fabled tropical glaciers in the Rwenzori Mountains ("Mountains of the Moon"), on the border between Uganda and Democratic Republic of Congo, could disappear within the next twenty years, due to climate change.
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/news/news-articles/06051701
The charity, Christian Aid, has launched "The Climate of Poverty: Facts, Fears and Hopes". The report warns that climate change is threatening development goals for billions of the world's poorest. Rich countries need to help poorer nations adopt alternative fuel resources and manage climate-induced floods, droughts, famines, and conflicts, which could otherwise reverse recent gains in poverty reduction.
http://www.christianaid.org.uk/news/media/pressrel/060515p.htm
http://www.christianaid.org.uk/news/stories/060517s.htm (interview)
Jordan's environment ministry has launched a new "environment police" department.
http://www.emergingthreatmonitor.com/2006/05/ETM2101.shtml
The European Commission released 2005 carbon dioxide emissions data, with compliance status of more than 9,400 installations in 21 member states, under the EU Emissions Trading Scheme. The cornerstone of EU climate change policy, the report indicates that states have issued too many permits for carbon dioxide trading, which has led to a fall in prices.
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/climat/emission.htm
Thailand's Highways and the National Park, Wildlife and Plant Conservation departments are working on a series of elevated crossings to allow wild animals to cross highways through the country's newest World Heritage site, the Khao Yai national park, to Thap Lan national park.
http://www.bangkokpost.com/190506_News/19May2006_news03.php
A recent surge in alligator attacks and fatalities in the US state of Florida has been attributed to increasing temperatures and habitat destruction.
http://www.nbc-2.com/articles/readarticle.asp?articleid=7112&z=3&p=
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/16/us/16gator.html?_r=1&oref=slogin
http://www.eitb24.com/portal/eitb24/noticia/en/international-news/three-fatal-attacks-in-a-week-trapper-affirms-destruction-of-habi?itemId=D31560&cl=%2Feitb24%2Finternacional&idioma=en
http://www.local6.com/news/9230069/detail.html
http://www.news-press.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060516/NEWS01/60516001/1075
http://www.sptimes.com/2006/05/16/Floridian/Treading_lightly_in_g.shtml
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/05/16/wflesh16.xml&sSheet=/news/2006/05/16/ixnews.html
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ETM Human Rights
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The UN Committee on Torture has told the US to stop torture. The first committee review of US practices since 9/11 called for the US to close Guantanamo Bay, to register all detainees under its jurisdiction including facilities in Iraq, Afghanistan, and the "secret prisons". The call for an end to the torture and abuse of detainees to not to send suspects to countries where they could face a risk of such treatment. They also call for changes to US law to enact a federal crime of torture and broaden the definitions of psychological torture. They dismissed the claim that these matters could not be discussed for reasons of national security.
http://www.ohchr.org/english/bodies/cat/docs/AdvanceVersions/CAT.C.USA.CO.2.pdf
The panel also called for punishment of law enforcement officers who mistreat suspects, pointing to a case of alleged torture at the Chicago Police Department. In Chicago, the Cook County Chief Judge Paul Biebel says that details of the investigative report into the alleged torture of 192 black men during the 1970s and 1980s will be released in about two weeks.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/custom/newsroom/chi-060519police-torture-protest,0,5937807.story?coll=chi-newsroomoverline-411
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/custom/newsroom/chi-060519burge,0,7621911.story?coll=chi-newsroomoverline-411
The Panel also reviewed Canada's record, calling for an explanation of why Michel Dumont, wrongfully convicted of a serious crime, has not been compensated for the conviction. Canada has six months to respond to the request.
http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/news/story.html?id=11028ae1-2038-4824-a2ba-0a52abe8746d&k=46056
In Australia a leaked report details entrenched levels of serious abuse against women and children in remote Aboriginal communities.
http://www.nt.gov.au/ocm/media_releases/2006/05%20May/20060516_MartinChildAbuseInRemoteCommunities.pdf
http://www9.sbs.com.au/theworldnews/region.php?id=129315®ion=7
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,19195875-601,00.html
http://dailytelegraph.news.com.au/story/0,20281,1910,00.html
http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5478,19201544%255E1702,00.html
http://www.theage.com.au/news/opinion/the-familiar-echo-of-aboriginal-condemnation/2006/05/21/1148150120219.html
In the US, congressional hearings are under way to consider both domestic wiretapping and the nomination of former National Security Agency (NSA) head and active military officer, General Michael Hayden, as the new director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). Many of these hearings are closed, and those open to the public are full of testimony in which the individual being questioned refuses to answer a question publicly, even including the existence of particular programs.
http://intelligence.senate.gov/
http://intelligence.house.gov/
Mark Rasch provides tips for "Protection from prying NSA eyes" in this article:
http://www.securityfocus.com/columnists/403
The EU released its annual report on human rights, for the first time addressing EU actions around the world, asking whether it practices what it preaches. The report looks at positive steps, such efforts against the death penalty and torture, and promotion of free speech. However, the report finds that the EU has failed to "systematically and continuously address human rights concerns", pointing to the lack of concerted effort to address the situations in places like Darfur, China, Chechnya, Iran, and the US.
http://register.consilium.europa.eu/pdf/en/05/st12/st12416.en05.pdf
The International Commission of the International Tracing Service, which administers the Nazi Germany archive, has amended its agreements to allow the archive to be opened to researchers and historians for public access, pending consideration of personal data protection and agreement of member countries.
http://english.its-arolsen.org/
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/low/europe/4988378.stm
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ETM Infectious Diseases
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The Food and Agriculture Organization points out that beyond the prospect of a human pandemic, avian influenza is not just a short term problem, but rather a continuing emergency. The damage to bird populations, particularly domestic poultry, has been enormous and may deal significant blows to local, national and regional economies. It is important not to focus on a possible human pandemic at the expense of its immediate impact on animals. Furthermore, the best way to protect people is to control and prevent the disease in animals. There have been 217 human cases, 123 fatal, ascribed to contact with infected birds. But more than 200 million birds have died or been culled since the outbreak started in December 2003.
http://www.fao.org/newsroom/en/news/2006/1000298/index.html
Note this portrait of the frontline scientists trying to fight avian influenza before it jumps the species barrier:
http://service.spiegel.de/cache/international/spiegel/0,1518,415816,00.html
US Department of Homeland Security Chief Medical Officer warns that not all states are ready to respond to an influenza pandemic.
http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/display?content=5615
The Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists has collected state pandemic plans here:
http://www.cste.org/specialprojects/Influenzaplans/StateMap.asp
Also note this article on "North Korea's Efforts to Weaponise Bird Flu"
http://www.ipcs.org/whatsNewArticle1.jsp?action=showView&kValue=2028&status=article&mod=b
The HIV/AIDS pandemic is one of the greatest threats facing Eastern Europe and Central Asia. A regional conference was held for the first time this week. UNAIDS reports that the number of HIV infections in the region reached an estimated 1.6 million in 2005. Around 62,000 adults and children died of AIDS-related illnesses in 2005 and some 270,000 people were newly infected with HIV. Around 75 percent of the reported infections between 2000 and 2004 were in people younger than 30 years (in Western Europe, the corresponding figure was 33 percent).
http://data.unaids.org/pub/PressRelease/2006/20060515-PR-GF_en.pdf
http://www.unaids.org/en/Regions_Countries/Regions/EasternEuropeAndCentralAsia.asp
Switzerland's Federal Health Office has launched an innovative HIV protection campaign:
http://www.bag.admin.ch/hiv_aids/00833/index.html?lang=de (in German) http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4769255.stm
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ETM Legal Systems
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"CORE: A Global Survey on the Cost of Registration and Elections" is a new report from the UN Development Program (UNDP) and IFES that comprehensively illustrates ways in which to make voting affordable, transparent, and at what cost.
http://www.un.org/News/briefings/docs//2006/060518_CORE.doc.htm
http://www.ifes.org/
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ETM Populations
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The UN has launched a program of action for the Second International Decade of the World's Indigenous Peoples.
http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=18485&Cr=indigenous&Cr1=
http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/unpfii/en/second_programme_of_action.htm
On the International Day of Families (15 May), the theme was "Changing Families: Challenges and Opportunities". It focused on recent profound transformations around the world, such as declining average family size, increasing age of marriage and first birth, declining infant mortality, and alternative social structures.
http://www.unfpa.org/news/news.cfm?ID=778
http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/family/IntObs/IDF/IDFFrames/IDF2006.htm
The UK Office of the Deputy Prime Minister released research on the Hindu, Sikh and Muslim communities in England, finding that Muslims are more likely than any other faith community to face unemployment, poor education, and higher rates of illness.
http://www.odpm.gov.uk/index.asp?id=1165319
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ETM Technology
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The World Health Organization (WHO) has called for tighter standards in the registration of clinical drug trials, to ensure that negative findings are not kept secret.
http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/releases/2006/pr25/en/index.html
http://www.who.int/ictrp/en/index.html
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/low/health/4996682.stm
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ETM Weapons (WMD, Proliferation)
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UN Secretary General Kofi Annan addressed the University in a wide-ranging speech that included the crisis of compliance and confidence facing the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). He said:
" Before us lie two very divergent courses. One path can take us to a world in which the proliferation of nuclear weapons is restricted, and reversed, through trust, dialogue and negotiated agreement, with international guarantees ensuring the supply of nuclear fuel for peaceful purposes, thereby advancing development and economic well-being. The other path leads to a world in which rapidly growing numbers of States feel obliged to arm themselves with nuclear weapons, and in which non-State actors acquire the means to carry out nuclear terrorism. The international community seems almost to be sleepwalking down the latter path ? not by conscious choice but rather through miscalculation, sterile debate and the paralysis of multilateral mechanisms for confidence-building and conflict resolution.
http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2006/sgsm10466.doc.htm
European countries are continuing to craft a proposal that will inspire Iran to control its nuclear ambitions, while Indonesia and Arab nations are holding discussions to encourage Iran to end the standoff.
US Senator Lugar is drafting legislation to jump start talks with North Korea.
The US is circulating a draft Fissile Material Cut-Off Treaty at the UN Conference on Disarmament. Under this treaty, member nations wold agree to end production of fissile material for use in nuclear weapons. Israel and Australia have both ruled out the proposal.
http://www.unog.ch/80256EE600585943/(httpHomepages)/6A03113D1857348E80256F04006755F6?OpenDocument
http://geneva.usmission.gov/Press2006/0518DraftFMCT.html
Kyrgyzstan has joined the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism.
Bangladesh has approved a law implementing the Chemical Weapons Convention.
In Canada, the Auditor General released an assessment of the government's gun registry that found the database was accurate and complete, but the program had experienced significant cost overruns under the previous government. The new Conservative government promised to eliminate the "costly and ineffective long-gun registry" and plans to table regulation to do this. While that is proceeding, the government has taken interim steps that lower or eliminate program requirements, cut the budget, and provide a 1-year amnesty.
http://www.oag-bvg.gc.ca/domino/reports.nsf/html/20060504ce.html
http://www.psepc.gc.ca/media/nr/2006/nr20060517-en.asp
Excellent coverage on small arms can be found in "Guns Out of Control", here:
http://www.irinnews.org/webspecials/small-arms/default.asp
5. Critical Infrastructure Monitor
Critical Infrastructure Monitor gives you the background and analysis missing from these news briefings. Subscriptions can be purchased from our online store:
TAMNI Publications
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CIM Agriculture and Food
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Weak links in Canada's food supply chain are addressed in this article:
http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/story.html?id=3bf92271-01fb-4267-8401-76780cf7d1b3&k=86502
The US Government Accountability Office (GAO) explains, "US agriculture generates over $1 trillion in annual economic activity, but concerns exist about the sector's vulnerability to a natural or deliberate introduction of foreign livestock, poultry, and crop pests and disease". This assessment looks at changing roles of federal agencies after 9/11 and finds that continuing management and coordination issues, lack of performance measures, and lack of comprehensive risk assessment continue to leave the industry vulnerable.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-06-644
The European Parliament has passed new laws requiring that all label health claims are validated before a food product goes on sale. Among the requirements, if a food makes a nutrition claim, it must fully disclose other attributes. For example, if claiming to meet a standard definition of low fat, it must also reveal if there is high salt content. Parliament also adopted common rules under the Fortified Foods Regulation.
http://www.europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/06/625&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en
http://www.europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/06/626&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en
The Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), African Union (AU), World Bank, WWF-Global Conservation Organization (formerly World Wildlife Fund), and the African Union (AU), have formed a new partnership to establish a program of sustainable fisheries in Africa over the next ten years.
http://www.fao.org/newsroom/en/news/2006/1000293/index.html
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CIM Banking and Finance
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US financial regulators issued an Interagency Statement on Sound Practices for Activities With Elevated Risk in which they ask for public comment on proposed internal controls and risk management procedures for complex structured financial activities.
http://www.fdic.gov/news/news/financial/2006/fil06045.html
The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has extended the deadline for Regulation NMS from 29 June to 1 April 2007. The regulation involves a series of initiatives designed to modernize and strengthen the national market system for equity securities that have led many exchanges to implement automated equity trading system. This extension is to give additional time for development and access to the new trading systems.
http://www.sec.gov/news/press/2006/2006-77.htm
Three panels of witnesses testified before the US Senate Committee on Banking, Subcommittee on Securities and Investment, at a hearing on the "Role of Hedge Funds in our Capital Markets" that focused on reducing or eliminating proposed federal regulation of the industry.
http://banking.senate.gov/index.cfm?Fuseaction=Hearings.Detail&HearingID=208
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CIM Chemical
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A recent incident in Thailand in which more than 300 20-liter tanks containing hydrochloric acid and ten with expired asphalt, paint, and wastewater were illegally dumped at a remote location, has led to concerns over increased illegal dumping. Thailand has no effective oversight measures and only weak regulations on disposal and transportation of hazardous substances.
http://www.fda.moph.go.th/eng/hazardous/index.stm
http://www.bangkokpost.com/160506_News/16May2006_news13.php
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2006/05/17/national/national_30004197.php
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CIM Commercial Facilities
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RSA released a Real Estate Industry Survey that identifies key information security trends in the industry, finding starkly different opinions among different industry segments. The survey reports:
* 59 percent of respondents said their Multiple Listing Service (MLS) does not require password changes and more than half do not require strong passwords
* Most MLS databases store potentially sensitive data
* 54 percent of MLS executive, staff and board members are aware of sharing login information with non-members, and 37 percent sharing with clients
* 45 percent of MLS, 12 percent of real estate agents, and 17 percent of brokers were aware of instances where listing data were sold or provided to a third party without authorization
* 75 percent of agents and 83 percent of brokers believe transaction data security is more than adequate, but only 37 percent of MLS respondents agree with that position
http://www.rsasecurity.com/press_release.asp?doc_id=6857&id=1034
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CIM Cybersecurity
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Apple has released multiple security patches for several products, which should be applied immediately. Patches should be applied both to Macintosh computers and to cross-platform applications such as Quicktime.
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=303737
http://secunia.com/advisories/20069
http://www.us-cert.gov/cas/alerts/SA06-132A.html
http://www.us-cert.gov/cas/alerts/SA06-132B.html
Blue Security, an Israeli start-up with a successful anti-spam service, was attacked by distributed denial attacks so severe that it was forced to close.
http://news.com.com/2061-11199_3-6073747.html
http://news.netcraft.com/archives/2006/05/03/ddos_on_blue_security_blog_knocks_typepad_livejournal_offline.html
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/16/AR2006051601873.html
http://www.wired.com/news/technology/security/0,70831-0.html
http://securitypronews.com/news/securitynews/spn-45-20050722SpamWarsBlueSecurityStrikesBack.html
A new Microsoft Word vulnerability has been identified, that can be used to infiltrate computer networks.
http://www.us-cert.gov/cas/techalerts/TA06-139A.html
SANS Institute reports that botnets are being used for advertising click through fraud.
http://isc.sans.org/diary.php?storyid=1334
The Government Accountability Office issued another report regarding Social Security Numbers, this time addressing their use by internet resellers and whether action should be taken to require truncation standards, such as those already used in credit card numbers.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-06-495
The UK Information Commissioner, Richard Thomas, is calling for the illegal purchase and sale of personal information to be punished with a 2-year prison sentence. "What Price Privacy?" reflects his concerns over the excessive ease with which confidential information can be obtained and harmfully used.
http://www.ico.gov.uk/eventual.aspx?id=17614
The US House Committee on the Judiciary, Subcommittee on Commercial and Administrative Law, held an oversight hearing on "Privacy in the Hands of the Government: The Privacy Officer for the Department of Homeland Security and the Privacy Officer for the Department of Justice".
http://judiciary.house.gov/oversight.aspx?ID=240
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CIM Dams
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Low levels at hydro-electric dams across West Africa are causing major electrical outages in Benin, Ghana, Ivory Coast, and Togo.
http://www.criticalinfrastructuremonitor.com/2006/05/CIM2101.shtml
In the US state of Massachusetts, the Senate Post Audit and Oversight Committee released a report on dams, finding that nearly half have not been assessed for structural integrity and five percent have not been assigned a hazard classification.
http://mass.gov/dcr/pe/damSafety/index.htm
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/16/AR2006051600817.html http://news.bostonherald.com/localRegional/view.bg?articleid=139450
China has finished construction of the main wall of the Three Gorges Dam that spans the Yangtze River, and when completed will be the world's largest hydroelectric dam.
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2006-05/20/content_595995.htm
The dam has been secured against a conventional or nuclear terrorist attack. Engineers have developed comprehensive emergency plans and use computer simulations covering standard risks as well as incidents such as war of a direct hit from a nuclear missile. The site is secured with paramilitary guards and military weapons, as well as engineering measures including sufficient discharge capacity to empty the reservoir in as little as two days, with a system of diversion channels that would prevent damage reaching Shanghai.
http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?NewsID=1029926&CatID=9
Social implications of the dam are contemplated in these articles:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/5000198.stm
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/17/AR2006051702157.html
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CIM Defense Industrial Base
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The French government is evaluating how to deal with the retired Clemenceau warship. Multiple attempts to scrap the vessel failed, ending with rejection from Indian shipworkers, due to the 500 tons or more of hazardous asbestos waste contained in its hulk.
http://www.defense.gouv.fr/sites/defense/decouverte/ex-clemenceau/ (in French)
http://www.greenpeace.org/india/
http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/05/17/news/france.php
The Australian National Audit Office (ANAO) has released "Procurement of Explosive Ordnance for the Australian Defence Force". The report finds that the Department of Defence Materiel Organisation has used substandard practices in purchasing explosives that could put military personnel at risk. Half of the explosive ordnance is unservicable and lacks qualified technical staff to repair it. The report said that procurement was motivated by spending money rather than securing technical data.
http://www.anao.gov.au/
The US House Committee on Government Reform held a hearing to examine the moratorium on private sector security clearances, which has had a significant impact on contractor hiring and other issues.
http://reform.house.gov/GovReform/Hearings/EventSingle.aspx?EventID=43600
Officials with military contractor Parmatic Filter Corporation have been indicted by a federal grand jury on 13 counts connected to fraudulent activities around production of air filters that were faulty and would not protect army and marine personnel from nuclear, biological, or chemical contaminants.
http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/nj/publicaffairs/NJ_Press/files/parm0518_r.htm
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CIM Energy
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Ecuador's Minister of Energy declared Occidental Petroleum's contract for operation of the Block 15 oil field has been terminated after Occidental violated contractual terms by selling a portion of the field to Canada's EnCana without government approval. Ecuador proceeded to seize the Block 15 assets, and Occidental has filed an arbitration claim against this expropriation. This has been a long-running dispute, and indigenous groups in Ecuador have long campaigned for the company to be expelled. The US has stopped free trade negotiations.
http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=76816&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=856936&highlight=
http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=76816&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=858255&highlight=
http://www.oxy.com/PUBLICATIONS/PDF/Request for Arbitration.pdf
http://www.comexi.gov.ec/noticias/index.php (in Spanish)
http://www.voanews.com/english/2006-05-17-voa26.cfm
http://www.coha.org/NEW_PRESS_RELEASES/New_Press_Releases_2006/06.30_Ecuador_Mixed_Economy_Returns.html
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-oxy17may17,0,2906452.story
The European Commission continued its inquiry into anti-competitive practices in European energy markets. Offices suspected of such practices in Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, and Hungary were raided.
http://www.europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/06/658&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en
http://www.europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/06/205&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en
Kenya's finance minister has blocked an agreement for Shell to purchase shares in BP.
http://www.nationmedia.com/dailynation/nmgcontententry.asp?category_id=3&newsid=73446
In Nigeria, Royal Dutch Shell has been given to Monday 22 May to pay $1.5 billion in pollution damages. It will go into an escrow account while the company's appeal proceeds.
http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=businessNews&storyID=2006-05-20T172740Z_01_L20294686_RTRUKOC_0_UK-ENERGY-NIGERIA-SHELL-COMPENSATION.xml
The Jamestown Foundation has released "Saudi Arabian Oil Facilities: The Achilles Heel of the Western Economy" that addresses the threat from al Qaeda.
http://www.jamestown.org/press_details.php?press_id=34
Britain's Health and Safety Executive has told offshore oil and gas producers to investigate their cooling systems to ensure they are not using the same design that caused a recent catastrophic failure.
http://www.hse.gov.uk/offshore/alerts/sa_01_06.htm
UK Prime Minister Tony Blair addressed the Confederation of Business Industry's annual dinner, where he said that nuclear power is back on the agenda. His speech came a day after the first draft of the Energy Review, which warns of severe pressures on energy supplies and environmental protection.
http://www.number10.gov.uk/output/Page9470.asp
http://www.number10.gov.uk/files/pdf/Energy Review - background facts.pdf
http://www.cbi.org.uk/
Scotland claims that transportation costs make nuclear power are too expensive.
http://news.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=753942006
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CIM Information Technology
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China's efforts to develop domestic technology that would reduce reliance on foreign suppliers have been roiled by the case of Chinese academic Chen Jen. The recently dismissed head of Shanghai Jiao Tong University's Microelectronics School was found to have falsified his research on a groundbreaking chip for mobile phones.
http://english.people.com.cn/200605/13/eng20060513_265161.html
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2006-05/15/content_589728.htm
http://www.interfax.cn/showfeature.asp?aid=12868&slug=HISYS
Further challenges to Chinese technology come from the US, where the Department of State bought 16,000 computers from the Chinese firm Lenovo. Congressional representative Frank Wolf expressed concerns that this represented a threat to national security. In consequence, State has agreed not to use the computers for classified work and to change its procurement process to ensure security.
http://www.house.gov/wolf/news/2006/05-18Computers.html
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CIM Nuclear Reactors, Materials, and Waste
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There have been several incidents in which confidential information regarding Japanese nuclear power plants has been leaked online due to a virus-infected computer, raising serious security concerns.
http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20060515a3.html
http://www.sophos.com/pressoffice/news/articles/2006/05/powerleak.html
http://www.sophos.com/pressoffice/news/articles/2005/06/va_jpnuclear.html
British Prime Minister Blair's plans for new nuclear power stations has sharply divided public opinion:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/05/21/nuke21.xml
Members of the Scottish Parliament were told that the volume of nuclear waste stored in Scotland will quadruple by 2020, largely through decommissioning of existing reactors.
http://news.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=742432006
http://www.nirex.co.uk/
The US Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources held a hearing on the status of the Yucca Mountain Repository Project. Testimony revealed no plan to recycle the growing number of spend fuel rods that would be stored there, possibly requiring a restructuring of the project, which is already behind schedule.
http://energy.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Hearings.Hearing&Hearing_ID=1553
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CIM Public Health and Healthcare
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Health services across India have been seriously disrupted by striking medical staff. Doctors and medical students are protesting affirmative action plans that would reserve half of state-funded professional collage to lower caste students, who are largely excluded from professional positions.
http://www.todayonline.com/articles/119608.asp
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1540607.cms
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1540091.cms
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/21/world/asia/21india.html?
http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/05/15/news/india.php
The UK Defense Ministry has announced enhanced mental healthcare services for reserve forces, after finding that 25 percent of reservists who fought in Iraq experienced a disorder, such as post-traumatic stress syndrome (PTSD), compared to 19 percent of regular soldiers. Overall there were lower levels of illness than in the first Gulf War. "The health of UK military personnel who deployed to the 2003 Iraq war: a cohort study" was published in 13 May issue of The Lancet
http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceNews/DefencePolicyAndBusiness/NewMentalHealthcareInitiativeForDemobilisedReservists.htm
http://www.umds.ac.uk/kcmhr/index.html
http://www.thelancet.com/
The European Court of Justice has ruled that the UK National Health Service must refund costs for treatment in Europe, even if domestic scheduling time targets were met. The case focused on the notion of "undue delay", but is not anticipated to lead to large numbers of patients seeking treatment abroad.
http://www.curia.eu.int/en/actu/communiques/cp06/aff/cp060042en.pdf
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/4985512.stm
Switzerland's Federal Health Office has launched an innovative HIV protection campaign:
http://www.bag.admin.ch/hiv_aids/00833/index.html?lang=de (in German) http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4769255.stm
AIDS Week is 20-21 May, followed by the High Level Meeting from 31 May to 2 June.
http://www.ungasshiv.org/index.php/en/ungass/get_involved_in_ungass_2006/global_action_week_calendar
http://www.unaids.org/en/AIDSreview2006/AIDSReview2006/default.asp
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CIM Telecommunications
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The Electronic Frontier Foundation filed a class-action lawsuit against ATandT for allegedly handing over internet-user information to the US government. The suit used three documents provided by an employee, which the company characterized as containing trade secrets but which the district court judge ruled could be received in evidence, but not shown to anyone else.
http://www.eff.org/legal/cases/att/
Mark Rasch looks at legal protections available to telecommunication companies and individual Americans in his article, "Protection from prying NSA eyes":
http://www.securityfocus.com/columnists/403
Bangladesh's High Court has ordered the government to explain within three weeks why the Bangladesh Telecommunication (Amendment) Act 2006, which allows law enforcement and intelligence agencies to tap telephones, should not be declared illegal and unconstitutional.
http://www.thedailystar.net/2006/05/19/d6051901011.htm
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CIM Transportation
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The US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is testing new technologies that may be able to speed passenger screening. These include "puffer" tests for explosives, the Screening Passengers by Observation Techniques (STOP), and magnetic-resonance-based shoe scanning.
http://www.buffalonews.com/editorial/20060519/1013774.asp
http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1195330,00.html
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2006-05-18-shoe-scanner_x.htm
TSA has also issued new air cargo security rules:
http://www.tsa.gov/public/display?theme=44&content=09000519801dfb43
The International Maritime Bureau has issued the following alert:
Chittagong anchorage, Bangladesh
Eighteen incidents have been reported since 28.01.2006. Pirates are targeting ships preparing to anchor. Ships are advised to take extra precautions.
http://www.icc-ccs.org/prc/piracyreport.php
The fifth annual Southeast Asia Cooperation Against Terrorism (SEACAT) maritime security exercise began May 20 and will last for one week.
http://www.news.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=23727
Australian federal and state security, emergency and defense services are undertaking a number of anti-terror exercises for protection of Sydney Harbor, as well as other landmarks.
http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/harbour-antiterror-drills-are-essential-ellison/2006/05/16/1147545304395.html
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CIM Water
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The US Environmental Protection Agency has ordered 18 public water systems in California, one in Arizona, and one in Hawaii to develop emergency response plans.
http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/9e50770d29adb32685257018004d06fd/441cf375cac2d157852571720063cc6a!OpenDocument
News highlights from the past week are provided in this free email update, but detailed analysis, background information and source documents are only available to subscribers. Disaster Reduction Monitor subscriptions and other titles can be purchased here:
TAMNI Publications
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DRM Incidents
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Angola's cholera outbreak has infected 35,775 and killed 1,298 in the past three months ending 18 May, a case fatality rate of four percent. More than half of the cases are in the capital Luanda, with 21 percent in Benguela province. It is now the worst outbreak ever recorded in the country.
http://www.msf.org/
http://www.who.int/topics/cholera/en/
The heat wave in Pakistan's Punjab province had killed 137 people as of Wednesday this week. Temperatures in May have been 4-5 degrees Celsius higher than average, and there has been 40 percent less rainfall than last year.
The Chanchu typhoon killed 21 people in China, 37 Vietnamese fishermen, and some 60 others across affected areas in Asia. Casualties were lowered by mass evacuations, but there has been significant property destruction.
A truck carrying 55 illegal immigrants from Bangladesh and Afghanistan crashed into a stationary transport truck in southern Turkey. The driver and 43 passengers were killed.
In Maharashtra state, India, at least 30 wedding guests were killed when their vehicle fell into a ravine.
A coal mine explosion in the US state of Kentucky has killed five people: one miner survived.
Floods in the northeastern New England region of the US have forced thousands from their homes. Governors of Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Maine declared stated of emergency. Federal disaster has also been declared. Thousands of homes were damaged, and losses are in the millions.
Prolonged drought in western and northern China has wiped out nearly two-thirds of the winter wheat crop.
The Isolated Jarawa tribe of India's Andaman Islands have been hit by a measles epidemic that has affected 42 children, from a total population of 270. The tribe once numbered 5,000.
http://www.survival-international.org/news.php?id=1593
The displaced of Sudan have fled war only to face starvation.
http://www.disasterreductionmonitor.com/2006/05/DRM2101.shtml
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DRM Response and Recovery
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The Australian Workers Union has detailed safety failures before the rock fall that killed one miner and trapped two for nearly two weeks. These included lack of training and reduced structural standards.
http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/a-disaster-waiting-to-happen/2006/05/15/1147545265579.html
The UN Operation in Burundi has started work to repair damage caused by flooding. Among their tasks they will disinfect and repair the flooded Mpanda cemetery, where flooding exhumed the bodies
http://www.un.org/Depts/dpko/missions/onub/index.html
Here is a description and analysis of the Lagos, Nigeria pipeline disaster, a week after the disaster:
http://www.vanguardngr.com/articles/2002/headline/f120052006.html
The US Senate held a hearing on "Caring for Seniors in a National Emergency: Can We Do Better?" that addresses issues that arose following Hurricane Katrina.
http://aging.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?Fuseaction=Hearings.Detail&HearingID=170
An ongoing case regarding business interruption losses from the 9/11 attacks is proceeding to trial. At issue is the amount that Zurich American Insurance should pay ABM, which provided janitorial services for the World Trade Center.
http://www.abm.com/ilwwcm/connect/ABM/Home/About+ABM/Press+Releases/07-05-2005
http://www.cleanlink.com/news/article2.asp?id=4575
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DRM Risks
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Indonesia's Mt. Merapi is under constant surveillance, and those homes that have been evacuated are being guarded, as the threat of an eruption continues unabated. A sacred rite is providing support to prevention efforts.
http://www.thejakartapost.com/yesterdaydetail.asp?fileid=20060519.A01
http://www.thejakartapost.com/yesterdaydetail.asp?fileid=20060518.@01
Risk Management Solutions (RMS) has partnered with the China Earthquake Administration's Institute of Engineering Mechanics to develop an earthquake risk model.
http://www.rms.com/NewsPress/PR_051606_ChinaIEM.asp
American International Group (AIG) insurance company has adopted a climate change policy to address increased the industry faces due to the growing problem.
http://media.corporate-ir.net/media_files/irol/76/76115/aig_climate_change_updated.pdf
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DRM Mitigation
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Exercise Pacific Wave is a test of the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, undertaken by the 28 member countries and coordinating bodies. This is the first exercise of its kind, but is expected to occur regularly in the future.
http://ioc3.unesco.org/ptws/exercise_pacific_wave_06.htm
http://www.prh.noaa.gov/ptwc/exercise06/
http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=tsunamiNews&storyID=2006-05-17T100209Z_01_BKK44812_RTRUKOC_0_UK-TSUNAMI-TEST.xml
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2002999150_quake17.html
The US Government Accountability Office (GAO) released "Hurricane Katrina: Better Plans and Exercises Needed to Guide the Military's Response to Catastrophic Natural Disasters". The new report addresses the massive response mounted by the military to Hurricane, and the lessons learned. For example, the "National Response Plan made little distinction between a military response to a small regional disaster and its response to a catastrophic natural disaster. In addition DOD's emergency response plan for providing military assistance to civil authorities during disasters lacked adequate detail. The plan did not: account for the full range of assistance that might be provided by DOD, divide tasks between the National Guard and the federal responders, or establish response time frames. National Guard state plans were also inadequate and did not account for the level of outside assistance that would be needed during a catastrophe, and they were not synchronized with federal plans. Moreover, plans had not been tested with a robust exercise program. None of the exercises that were conducted prior to Katrina called for a major deployment of DOD capabilities in response to a catastrophic hurricane. As a result, a lack of understanding exists within the military and among federal, state, and local responders as to the types of assistance and capabilities that DOD might provide in the event of a catastrophe, the timing of this assistance, and the respective contributions of the active-duty and National Guard forces." These lessons are under consideration and appropriate actions will be undertaken in the future.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-06-643
A/M/ Best has published an outline of "Catastrophe Risk Management Incorporated Within Rating Analysis" methodology. They say, " Most companies had modeled their catastrophe exposures, but some didn't consider the quality of the data used in the model or the parameters of the model that can greatly change the output."
http://www.ambest.com/ratings/methodology/catastropherisk.pdf
The International Labor Organization (ILO) has adopted a new Code of Practice on Safety and Health in Underground Coalmines to improve health and safety for one of the world's highest-risk industries. The comprehensive code covers everything from health problems associated with excess noise and vibration to minimizing the threats of explosions, fires, and collapse.
http://www.ilo.org/public/english/bureau/inf/pr/2006/20.htm
A new book on international law caught our attention this week: Sven Peterke's "Der volkerrechtliche Sonderstatus der Internationalen Föderation der Rotkreuz- und Rothalbmondgesellschaften" (The Special Status of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies in Public International Law". It was just released in Berlin, by Berliner Wissenschafts-Verlag. (We hope for an English edition in the not too distant future.)
https://bwv-verlag.de/shop/bwv/index.php?page=detail&match=LISA_NR2=1150
In this book, Sven Peterke, a Research Associate with the Institute for International Law of Peace and Armed Conflict, considers widely recognized atypical subjects of public international law such as the Holy See, the Sovereign Order of Malta, and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). A fourth entity falling under this category is the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), a federation of the 183 National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies around the world.
IFRC was founded after the World War I to help the various Red Cross Societies, which had become an invaluable support for prisoners of war and combatants, collaborate and share their expertise. To make this work, the IFRC had to negotiate. Mr. Peterke reviewed more than 40 "legal status agreements". He finds that these agreements between the IFRC and governments are to a great extent comparable with the "headquarters agreements" of international governmental organizations. Interestingly, in these treaties the IFRC is not only endowed with the privileges and immunities typical for subjects of public international law, but often in these treaties, the "international legal personality" of the IFRC is expressly recognized.
The author then demonstrates that recognition of the IFRC's international legal personality is built upon the appreciation of its special mandate. This was primarily laid down in its constitutional document, but is also included in the Statutes of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. With their adoption by the International Conference of the Red Cross, the State parties to the 1949 Geneva Conventions gave their consent to the Federation?s mandate and work. This began a complex process of transformation of the IFRC's mandate to the international level. Today, its observer status in the UN General Assembly and other entities indicates IFRC's status in public international law is that of a functional subject. This is based on the customary legal recognition of its mandate, supported by the recognition clauses, and truly regarded as an international treaty, giving IFRC a very special status.
For more information on the foundation laws described in this book, consider the excellent series published by Cambridge University Press:
http://www.cambridge.org/us/catalogue/subject_browse.asp?subjectCode=58H
Here are some web resources on public international law :
http://law2.biz.uwa.edu.au/intlaw/
http://www.law.columbia.edu/library/Research_Guides/internat_law/pubint
http://www.law.nyu.edu/library/foreign_intl/international.html
http://www.publicinternationallaw.org/
To understand why the ICRC is treated in this special way, and the impact of their global role, try David Forsythe's "The Humanitarians: The International Committee of the Red Cross", (Cambridge University Press).
http://www.cambridge.org/uk/catalogue/catalogue.asp?isbn=0521612810
Links to information of the special status entities mentioned above follow:
* Holy See
http://www.vatican.va/
http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/3819.htm
http://www.seechange.org/faq.htm
* International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)
http://www.icrc.org
http://192.91.247.98/web/eng/siteeng0.nsf/html/57jp7s
http://nobelprize.org/peace/laureates/1963/red-cross-history.html
* International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC)
http://www.ifrc.org/
* Sovereign Order of Malta
http://www.orderofmalta.org/
http://www.chivalricorders.org/orders/smom/maltasov.htm
http://www.heraldica.org/topics/orders/malta/maltasov.htm
For more information about the Institute for International Law of Peace and Armed Conflict, go to:
http://www.ruhr-uni-bochum.de/ifhv/
8. Asset Management Network News
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