Return to Newsletter Archive

AUTHOR:
TerrorismCentral Editorial Staff

TITLE:
TerrorismCentral Newsletter - June 18, 2006

SOURCE:
TerrorismCentral, June 18, 2006

TEXT:

Iraqi operations in the aftermath of Zarqawi's death, the consequences of stabilization in Somalia, lack of emergency preparedness in the US response system, sanctions against Chinese firms doing business in Iran, workplace abuse and harvesting underwater lumber are just a few of this week's news stories. Don't forget to check out the online store for subscriptions and other reports.


CONTENTS:

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK:

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


1. Global Terrorism Monitor

For detailed analysis, background information and source documents become a Global Terrorism Monitor subscriber. You can purchase this and other titles here:
TAMNI Publications

--------------------------------------------------
GTM Africa
--------------------------------------------------
In western Ethiopia attackers ambushed a bus, shooting the driver, which caused the bus to crash, then shooting passengers. At least 14 people died. The armed attackers, wearing military clothing, are believed to be Anuak ethnic rebels that have a history of fighting the Nuer over water and land.

If Liberia's former President Charles Taylor is convicted of war crimes his prison term could be served in the UK. The tribunal in Sierra Leone has arranged for his trial to be moved due to security concerns. The Netherlands agreed to host the trial in The Hague, under the condition that Taylor would serve any prison term elsewhere.
http://www.fco.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&c=Page&cid=1007029391638&a=KArticle&aid=1148478995738

The Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MOSSOB) reports that eight of its members were killed in a Nigerian police raid.

Somalia's capital Mogadishu, under control of the Union of Islamic Courts, is now under Sharia law. The Islamists have also captured the town of Jowhar, where the warlords that made up the Anti-Terror Alliance had fled after the fall of Mogadishu. The town was attacked after most of the warlords fled. During the fighting 12 people, most militiamen, were killed, and 20 injured. Jowhar is under curfew and elders will form a new local administration. Ethiopia denies Islamic Court claims that 300 soldiers have entered the country to support the ousted warlords.
http://www.shabellenews.com/news/english.htm
http://www.mg.co.za/articlePage.aspx?articleid=274606

Note these profiles of Union of Islamic Courts chairman Sheikh Sharif Ahmed:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,3-2222409,00.html
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/5072268.stm
http://aawsat.com/english/news.asp?section=1&id=4971

Sudan is holding talks with Eastern Front rebels to end the conflict in eastern Sudan that has proceeded with little interruption since independence in 1956. Eritrea is mediating the settlement.

In southern Sudan, Ugandan rebels with the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) attacked near Juba, where LRA leaders have been involved in peace negotiations with Uganda. LRA killed nine people.
--------------------------------------------------
GTM Americas
--------------------------------------------------
Canadian Prime Minister Harper announced a review of anti-terrorism legislation and improvements to border and transportation security. He and the intelligence services emphasize that, contrary to some statements by US officials, Canada is not a haven for terrorists.
http://www.news.gc.ca/cfmx/view/en/index.jsp?articleid=220979
http://www.canada.com/topics/news/national/story.html?id=63f76257-087c-4617-9ddb-3368af53b97b&k=60841
http://www.parl.gc.ca/39/1/parlbus/commbus/senate/com-e/defe-e/press-e/15jun06-e.htm

The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) have declared war on the smaller National Liberation Army (ELN), over a conflict in Arauca in which ELN has killed FARC militants attempting to take control of ELN territory and resources near the Venezuelan border.
http://www.farcep.org/?node=2,2117,1 (in Spanish)

The US Department of Defense released details of the three Guantanamo Bay detainees who committed suicide on 10 June, including the information that one of the men had been recommended for release, although he had not been advised of this.
http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Jun2006/20060612_5387.html

Defense also released a 2004 report that details detainee abuse in Iraq. Army Brigadeer General Richard Formica's report cites multiple incidents of abuse, which are attributed to bad advice.
http://www.aclu.org
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/06/16/AR2006061602042.html
http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Jun2006/20060617_5443.html

The Vera Institute of Justice released "Law Enforcement and Arab American Community Relations After September 11, 2001: Engagement in a Time of Uncertainty". The report finds that since 9/11 Arab Americans fear the intrusion of federal policies and practices even more than individual acts of hate or violence, and that many local police are reluctant to enforce immigration laws as a form of counterterrorism. It goes on to identify examples of positive partnerships and innovations to restore trust and create alliances to address public safety concerns, including crime and terrorism.
http://www.vera.org/publications/publications_5.asp?publication_id=353
--------------------------------------------------
GTM Asia Pacific
--------------------------------------------------
The sixth annual meeting of the heads of state of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization was held last week. They agreed " n the procedure of organising and holding joint anti-terrorism actions in the territories of SCO member states, an agreement on identifying and severing infiltrating channels of people engaged in terrorism, separatism and extremism in the territories of SCO member states...."
http://www.sectsco.org/news_detail.asp?id=938&LanguageID=2

Abu Bakar Ba'asyir, a founding member of Jemaah Islamiah, has been released from Indonesian prison after serving a 26 month prison sentence for conspiracy over the 2002 Bali bombings plot.

Thailand's three southernmost provinces were the scenes of at least 40 simultaneous bombings, in which at least two people died and many more were injured.
--------------------------------------------------
GTM Europe
--------------------------------------------------
Merouane Benhamed, leader of a militant group accused of planning attacks in France to support Chechen rebels, and Menad Benchellali, a chemist, were sentenced in French court to 10 years in prison. Said Arif and Nourredine Merabet were sentenced to nine years. 21 others, accused of criminal association in relation to a terrorist enterprise and other charges, were sentenced to terms of six months or more. Two people were acquitted.
http://test.interieur.gouv.fr/rubriques/c/c3_police_nationale/c31_actualites/2002_12_20_interpel (in French)
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,0,00.html

"Burhan B", of Iraq, has been arrested in Germany on suspicion of supporting Ansar al Islam in Iraq.

Russian police in Chechnya report that rebel leader Abdul-Khalim Saydullayev has been killed in a gun fight.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4336445.stm

Nima Nikain Ganjin and Andreas Fahlen were found guilty in Swedish court of attacking a Stockholm polling station for Iraqi expatriates. The opponents of the US-led war in Iraq were sentenced to 3.5 and two years in prison, respectively. A third man accused with them of terrorist crimes was Albert Ramic, who was sentenced to eight months for helping Ganjin and Fahlen plan an attack against a fundamentalist church.

Turkish officials report a bomb exploded in a rubbish bin near an Istanbul bus station. Three people were injured. Responsibility is unknown.
A suspected bomb has exploded near a bus station in central Istanbul, injuring at least three people.

The UK home office has deported "Mr. V", an Algerian suspected of terrorism. The UK has not reached agreement that returned prisoners would not be abused, but in this case "V" agreed to leave, in desperation with his continued detention. A second Algerian, "I", was deported a few days later.

Aabid Hussain Khan and a 16-year-old boy were arrested at Manchester Airport last week. They have been charged under Section 57 of the Terrorism Act with conspiracy to murder and cause public nuisance with poisons or explosives..

In Manchester, a memorial service was held to mark the tenth anniversary of the 15 June 1996 bombing. The Irish Republican Army (IRA) attack in a shopping area injured 200 people. The perpetrators have never been identified.

UK Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner Andy Hayman released the following statement regarding last week's operation in a suspected chemical terrorism plot that resulted in the release without charge of two suspects, one of whom was shot and injured during the operation:
" The Metropolitan Police has listened intently to the comments and concerns of those affected by last week's operation in Lansdowne Road, Forest Gate. I am aware that, in mounting this operation, we have caused disruption and inconvenience to many residents in Newham and more importantly those that reside at 46 and 48 Lansdowne Road. I apologise for the hurt that we may have caused. In tackling the terrorist threat in the UK the police service is trying its utmost to work closely with all communities and in particular the Muslim community. Given the nature of the threat, I understand that some communities may be feeling confused or indeed angry with how the police are trying to ensure all our safety. The main objective of this operation was to pursue specific intelligence, which led us to that address. While we have not found evidence of what we were looking for at the house, the intelligence received did raise serious concerns for public safety. On that basis we had no choice but to mount a robust operation, which required a fast armed response. As we saw from Madrid, and with the experience of the tragic murder of a police officer in Manchester in 2003, police now have to take appropriate precautions to protect themselves, the public and those inside premises when carrying out anti-terrorism operations. It was these considerations that influenced the tactics on 2 June. "
http://www.met.police.uk/

Steven Moffat has been sentenced in Scottish court to five years in prison under the Terrorism Act 2000 for charges that include membership in the banned Ulster Defence Association (UDA) and possessions of a weapon and ammunition that could be used for terrorist purposes. The judge ruled that even if he was keeping the material for others, he was responsible.
--------------------------------------------------
GTM Middle East
--------------------------------------------------
"Palestinians, Israel and the Quartet: Pulling Back from the Brink" is a new report from the International Crisis Group that warns:
"The Israeli-Palestinian situation is heading towards catastrophic breakdown, and all players must urgently revise their policies. Palestinians are inching towards civil war, Israelis and Palestinians are perilously close to resuming all-out hostilities, and the international community is depriving the Palestinian Authority of vital assistance. Missing from strategies to dislodge Hamas is a realistic assessment of their longer-term consequences. Starved of resources, Hamas may well fail, but it would not go quietly, and the resulting chaos and violence would make it hard to chalk up its failure as anybody's success. Required is a more nuanced international approach with the following objectives: avoiding inter-Palestinian violence and the Palestinian Authority's collapse; encouraging Hamas to adopt more pragmatic policies, not merely threatening; achieving a sustained ceasefire; and preventing steps jeopardising a two-state solution."
http://www.crisisgroup.org/home/index.cfm?l=1&id=4171

In Gaza, an Israeli air strike on Tuesday killed two members of Islamic jihad, and seven civilians, including two children. At least 30 people were injured in what the Israeli army called a targeted attack on a terror cell. A second missile killed a responding ambulance man and injured others attending the scene. On Friday, Israel launched a targeted strike in which one Palestinian, allegedly with Islamic Jihad, was killed, and two others were injured.

Palestinian officials, Human Rights Watch, and others have rejected the findings of an Israeli investigation into the Gaza beach attack that says Israel was not involved in the shelling, but does not determine an alternative. There are international calls for an independent investigation into the tragedy.
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1150035838991&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
http://www.hrw.org/english/docs/2006/06/13/isrlpa13544.htm
http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=10&categ_id=2&article_id=73200

In Iraq, a US airstrike in Baquba killed seven adults and two children on Monday. The US says it was a terrorist cell, but witnesses say they were civilians. On Tuesday in Kirkuk a series of up to seven bombings, including suicide car bombs, have killed at least 16 people and injured many more. In Baghdad, a university professor was shot and killed, and at least six more tortured bodies were found. On Wednesday a massive security crackdown began. Despite this, violence continued. On Thursday, gunmen ambushed workers in Baquba as they traveled to work on a bus, killing ten; a car bomb in Baghdad killed three civilians and injured 14; and gunmen stormed a Sunni mosque in Tikrit, killing four and injuring 15. On Friday a new tactic reared its head, with a shoe bomb that killed 11 and injured 25 at the Buratha mosque in Baghdad. Still defying the security crackdown on Saturday, more than 40 people were killed in and around Baghdad, including an explosion on a minibus, car bombs, and mortar attacks. Today, a manhunt is underway for two soldiers abducted when militants captured a Humvee. A third soldier was shot dead. In Mosul, an explosion near a university killed one woman and injured 19. In Baghdad, ten bodies were found, showing signs of torture.

The autopsies conducted on Abu Musab al-Zarqawi and Sheik Abd al-Rahman found that both men died of massive blast injuries.
http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Jun2006/20060612_5386.html
Also note this profile, from The Atlantic:
http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/200607/zarqawi

Reports say that Abu Ayyub al-Masri, also named as Abu Hamza al-Mujahid, has succeeded Zarqawi. Details of the situation are not confirmed.
http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Jun2006/20060616_5431.html

In the safe house where Zarqawi was killed, documents found indicate he had planned kidnappings and assassinations against US interests that would be falsely attributed to Iran, thereby increasing tensions and exaggerating the danger posed by Iran. Since Zarqawi's death coalition officials report that there have been 452 Iraqi and coalition operations, resulting in the capture of 759 anti-Iraqi forces, killing of 104 militants, and discovery of  28 arms caches.
http://www.metimes.com/articles/normal.php?StoryID=200-4630r
http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Jun2006/20060615_5425.html

The Lebanese army has arrested Mahmoud Abu Rafeh on suspicion of involvement in the 26 May bombing that killed Islamic Jihad senior member Mahmoud Majzoub and his brother Nidal. Rafeh is a retired Lebanese internal security officer with ties to Israeli intelligence and a former Israeli-allied militia.

The ongoing investigation into the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri has made considerable progress. Details of the explosion, the container/carrier, and the means of delivery are largely understood. DNA analysis continues, but evidence so far suggests that Ahmed Abu Adass, who claimed responsibility for detonating the bomb, was not responsible, although it is likely that one person did set off an improvised explosive device (IED) placed in a truck. The IED contained explosives equivalent to 1,200 kg of TNT, a volume that would almost guarantee its intended task. Possible links to 14 other attacks are being investigated. The UN Security Council has renewed the mandate of the investigation for another year.
http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs//2006/sc8747.doc.htm
--------------------------------------------------
GTM South Asia
--------------------------------------------------
A gunfight in the Afghan province of Helmand on Sunday night killed 12 Taleban and one British soldier. Overnight as the week began in Uruzgan province 15 Taleban fighters were killed. Early on Monday, 12 Taleban were killed in Kandahar. Ghazni's provincial security director, Noar Ahmed Khan, was shot dead by Taleban. On Tuesday a US military truck was involved in another road accident, near the same location in Kabul as the accident last month that triggered serious riots. In this case, the truck left the road and crashed into a house, killing one and injuring several others. Fighting in Helmand killed one soldier and injured two. About 12 Taleban were reportedly killed in subsequent aerial bombing. On Wednesday, two Taleban were killed in Zabul province and one in Ghazni. A senior judge in Ghazni was kidnapped and shot dead; his son was abducted and is still missing. Mortar fire from the Pakistan border also injured 18 civilians. A bomb attack on a minibus in Kandahar on Thursday killed at least ten Afghan laborers, and injured 15. This was the first attack that deliberately targeted civilians. A Taleban spokesman called it a warning against working with US forces. On Friday, coalition forces conducted an operation in Paktika, reportedly killing 40 insurgents and one coalition member. Another 40 Taleban were reportedly killed in a US-led assault on a compound in Uruzgan province. In Kunar, a coalition vehicle was blown up, killing two soldiers.

Indian police in the state of Andhra Pradesh report that Maoist leader Rvi Kumar was shot and killed. Three other Maoists were killed in a separate incident.

In Indian-administered Kashmir, militants threw three grenades at a bus stop, killing one and injuring 15, several critically. Another group of militants, dressed in army uniforms, attacked a village, killing eight Nepali brick workers and a man from Bihar state, and injuring seven. There has been no claim of responsibility, but Hezb-ul Mujahedeen is suspected. Senior Hizbul Mujahideen militant Gulazar Ahmed was arrested with two colleagues.

Nepal's Maoist rebels will not face charges brought under a controversial anti-terrorism law. Some 300 rebels are being released in stages. The law, which has been misused during the eight years since it was passed, expires in October and will not be renewed.

A Pakistan anti-terrorism court has sentenced Mohammad Aslam, ("Muawia") to death for a 1995 armed assault that killed six Shia Muslims.  Aslam was a member of the militant Sunni group Sipah-e-Sahaba.

In Pakistan's Balochistan province, an assault by security forces killed 12 people. A local tribal leader said they were all civilians, mostly women and children, but security forces say they killed five suspected militants. More gas pipelines also have been blown up. Earlier in the week, a bomb near a hotel in Quetta, the provincial capital, exploded, killing at least five people and injuring 17. Tribal violence in Balochistan is common, but whether the Balochistan Liberation Army or another group was responsible for this attack is undetermined.

In Karachi, an apparently targeted assassination killed central prison deputy chief Amanullah Khan Niazi. The motorcycle assailants also killed three policemen and a civilian.

A teacher, her two children, and a second teacher, were shot dead in Orakzai tribal agency

In South Waziristan, the body of journalist Hayatullah Khan who reported on al Qaeda has been found. He had been taken hostage six months earlier. His thorough investigations had offended both Pakistani authorities and militants.
http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=18050

A mine in northern Sri Lanka exploded on Monday as a group of soldiers were on patrol, killing one. A nearby bus was also involved, with three civilians injured. Tamil Tigers are believed responsible, but have made no statement.

There was a major incident on Thursday, when a claymore mine exploded, destroying a bus and killing at least 64 people, including many children. Another 80 were injured. The Tamil Tigers deny using claymore mines, and point to dissident commander Karuna, claiming he is supported by elements within the government. Karuna says he is developing a new political organization, but will fight the Tigers if attacked.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/5082788.stm

Following Thursday's attack, Sri Lanka launched aerial attacks against Tamil positions. On Friday, a maritime battle reported killed 25 Tigers and 12 naval personnel: each side disputed the details. On Saturday, government forces were accused of firing artillery shells at a church: the number of casualties is disputed. A suspected Tiger ambush on Sunday killed three policemen.

Here is a description of the Tigers culture of martyrdom:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/5051652.stm


2. Political Risk Monitor

For detailed analysis, background information and source documents available only to subscribers of the Political Risk Monitor, visit our online store:
TAMNI Publications

--------------------------------------------------
PRM Africa
--------------------------------------------------
Democratic Republic of Congo has been warned to avoid ethnic campaigning in the upcoming multiparty elections.
http://www.monuc.org/news.aspx?newsID=11351

Eritrea refused to attend a meeting of the International Boundary Commission, insisting that Ethiopia must agree to the binding terms of the 2002 border ruling, which Ethiopia has rejected.
http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/RWB.NSF/db900SID/KKEE-6QSNBP?OpenDocument&rc=1&cc=eri

Eritrea and Sudan have agreed to normalize relations, a move aided by Eritrea's agreement to mediate Sudan's peace talks with Eastern Front rebels.

Guinean police and high school students clashed during protests over a general strike that led to suspension of exams. At least seven people were killed, including three when police resorted to live bullets.

Ivory Coast pro-government militias have failed to disarm, despite a public commitment to do so. Without meeting the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration plan, elections scheduled for October are unlikely to take place.

Liberia has made progress, particularly in resettling all internally displaced persons, but threats to stability, including the precarious security situation, remain.
http://www.un.org/Docs/journal/asp/ws.asp?m=s/2006/376

Nigeria has agreed to hand over the fish- and oil-rich Bakassi peninsula to Cameroon. The UN assisted in implementing the 2002 ruling of the International Court of Justice.
http://www.un.org/apps/sg/offthecuff.asp?nid=884

Somalia's interim government has decided to invite foreign peacekeepers, leading to mass Islamist demonstrations in the capital Mogadishu and other areas under control of the Union of Islamic Courts. Interim president Abdullah Yusuf wants foreign troops to secure his safety before moving the government from Baidoa to Mogadishu. Meanwhile, the US is leading an international meeting to discuss the situation, which is seen as a major setback to US policy in the region.

South Africa marked the 100th anniversary of the Bhambatha rebellion on 10 June. Sparked by a British poll tax, the Zulu uprising is seen as the start of black resistance against colonial powers.
http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?art_id=qw1149861062181B224
http://www.sapo.co.za/philately/bhambath.htm

On 16 June 1976, thousands of black students met for a rally to protest against having to learn Afrikaans in school. Go to Recommended Reading, below, to review the 30th anniversary of this seminal event in South African history.

The Third Report of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, to the Security Council pursuant to UNSC 1593 (2005) finds that Sudan has done little to investigate or prosecute alleged war crimes in Darfur, despite thousands of documented cases.
http://www.icc-cpi.int/library/cases/OTP_ReportUNSC_3-Darfur_English.pdf
--------------------------------------------------
PRM Americas
--------------------------------------------------
Argentina's President Nestor Kirchner has brought into force a law first passed 18 years ago that permits the army to use force only against foreign aggression, and reduces other military powers, ending the legacy of years of military rule and dirty war.
http://www.presidencia.gov.ar/ (in Spanish)

Bolivia has announced a nearly $7 billion investment in a public works program to reduce poverty and create jobs, with a goal of 100,000 new jobs in each of the next five years.

Mexico's main political parties have signed an agreement to conduct the rest of the campaign with civility and according to Federal Electoral Institute regulations. They have also agreed to accept the results of the 2 July vote.
http://www.ife.org.mx/ (in Spanish)

Mexican police fired tear gas in a running battle to break up thousands of striking teachers in the southern city of Oaxaca. There have been a number of injuries, but no confirmed deaths.

The Pew Global Attitudes Project reports that the wars in Iraq and against Terrorism continue to erode the global image of the US. In terms of dangers to world peace, the US presence in Iraq is cited as often or more than Iran. Declining attitudes are seen even among the US's closest allies.
http://pewglobal.org/reports/display.php?ReportID=252

The number of US military casualties in Iraq has now passed the 2,500 mark.

The US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) released the 2005 "Preliminary Annual Uniform Crime Report", which shows a 2.5 percent increase in violent crimes, but a 1.6 percent decrease in property crimes compared to 2004.
http://www.fbi.gov/pressrel/pressrel06/prelim2005061206.htm

The use of security contractors continued to attract congressional attention, including delays in security clearances. Note these Government Accountability Office (GAO) reports:
"DOD Personnel Clearances: Questions and Answers for the Record Following the Second in a Series of Hearings on Fixing the Security Clearance Process"
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-06-693R
"Rebuilding Iraq: Actions Still Needed to Improve Use of Private Security Providers"
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-06-865T

Venezuela is replacing its fleet of US military fighter jets with new Sukhol 30 jets from Russia. They will also build a Kalashnikov arms factory. From Spain, they will purchase a fleet of naval vessels. The military investment to date is about $3 billion.
--------------------------------------------------
PRM Asia Pacific
--------------------------------------------------
The Shanghai Cooperation Organization hosted Iran's president Ahmadinejad, who called for cooperation against threats from domineering powers. This sentiment was reflected in a joint communique that called for greater security and economic cooperation, as well as collaborative activities to curb the growing threats of drug trafficking and terrorism.
http://www.sectsco.org/news_detail.asp?id=938&LanguageID=2

BBC reporter Kate McGeown has returned from Burma with a series of undercover reports beginning with:
"Burma: Orwellian state, with teashops"
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/5071288.stm
" Life under Burma's military regime"
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/5071966.stm
"Burma's public service suffering"
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/5080026.stm
"Burma's confusion over capital"
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/5086056.stm

China and Taiwan have reached agreement to allow regular non-stop passenger flights between Taipei and Kaohsiung in Taiwan and Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou and Xiamen in China, on four national holidays. In addition to the Lunar New Year, for which flights have run since 1995, there will be operations during the Tomb Sweeping, Dragon Boat, and Mid-Autumn festivals.

East Timor's rebel troops have begun to disarm, following a request from President Gusmao. Opposition to Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri appears unabated.

Kazakhstan has begun the trial of ten people, including five members of the security service, a former politician, and a former law enforcement officer, accused of complicity in the February murder of opposition leader Altynbek Sarsenbaiuly, his driver and his bodyguard.
http://www.inform.kz/showarticle.php?lang=eng&id=142687
--------------------------------------------------
PRM Europe
--------------------------------------------------
In conjunction with this week's EU summit, Amnesty International issued a new report, "Partners in Crime". It analyzes the complicity of seven European countries in renditions, pointing out that "Without information provided by European intelligence agencies, some of the victims of rendition may not have been abducted in the first place". Amnesty calls for the EU to end its "see no evil" policy on the CIA's extraordinary renditions.
http://www.aieu.be/

Ireland has demanded a full explanation from the US for a case in which a prisoner was transferred without government consent, as is required under international law.
http://foreignaffairs.gov.ie/Press_Releases/20060613/2088.htm

Former Irish Prime Minister Charles Haughey has died, age 80.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/970897.stm

In talks to decide the final status of Kosovo, Serbia remains opposed to Kosovo's independence, but discussions are under way regarding the return of Serb refugees to Kosovo and Kosovo's economic development. Kosovo's municipal elections have been postponed for up to a year to allow full attention to the final status of the province.
http://www.un.org/Docs/journal/asp/ws.asp?m=s/2006/361
http://www.unmikonline.org

Lithuania is still without a government, following the collapse earlier this month of the 3-party coalition.  Zigmantas Balcytis, a member of the Social Democratic Party, has been named Prime Minister, but there has been little progress in forming a new coalition.

Serbia has recognized Montenegro as an independent state.
http://www.srbija.sr.gov.yu/vesti/vest.php?id=24346

Slovakia is voting in parliamentary elections, their first since joining the EU in 2004.

Ukraine's three Orange Revolution parties have failed to form a coalition. The group agreed that Yulia Tymoshenko, whose party garnered the most Orange votes in the March election, would be Prime Minister. President Yushchenko's Our Ukraine (NU) party, came second, but the third placed Socialists have demanded the post of parliamentary speaker. Viktor Yanukovych's pro-Russian Regions' Party won the most votes, and could now consider attempting to form a coalition with one of the Orange parties.

In the UK, the Commons home affairs committee held hearings on immigration control, including handling for foreign national prisoners.
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200506/cmselect/cmhaff/uc775-xii/uc77502.htm
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200506/cmselect/cmhaff/uc775-xi/uc77502.htm
--------------------------------------------------
PRM Middle East
--------------------------------------------------
To help address the most acute needs in Palestinian territories, the International Committee for the Red Cross has increased its aid budget by 25 percent, primarily for medical supplies and healthcare workers. They warn that aid organizations cannot possibly make up for the monies withheld by international donors, which could lead to a humanitarian crisis. The World Health Organization has raised similar concerns. However, the EU has developed a funding plan that would bypass Hamas but provide direct aid. If approved, it could be in place next month. Meanwhile, Palestinian foreign minister Mahmoud Zahhar has crossed the border from Egypt to Gaza with suitcases full of $20 million with which to pay salaries.
http://www.icrc.org/web/eng/siteeng0.nsf/html/palestinianterritories-news-120606!OpenDocument
http://www.icrc.org/web/eng/siteeng0.nsf/html/israel-stories-100606?opendocument
http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/statements/2006/s09/en/index.html

Hamas has offered to restore the ceasefire if Israel ends missile attacks against Gaza.

Fatah loyalists set fire to the Gaza parliament and offices of the prime minister. One member of parliament was kidnapped and released. Other sectarian clashes on Monday killed two and injured a dozen. Palestinian leader Abbas has placed his security forces on high alert. Another Hamas militant was shot dead on Wednesday. Efforts are under way to create a single integrated security force.

Iran's security forces moved in to a demonstration of about 20 women calling for greater legal protection in Tehran. A much larger number of police began beating the women and used pepper spray to break up the protest. Several people were arrested.

Former Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin's involvement in a failed effort to assassinate West German Chancellor Konrad Adenaur to sabotage reparations is described in the diary of Eliezer Sudit, one of the would-be assassins.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/726013.html

Jordan has charged four Islamic Action Front politicians, who offered condolences after the death of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, with inciting sectarianism.
--------------------------------------------------
PRM South Asia
--------------------------------------------------
Under Afghanistan's reconciliation program, Mullah Ibrahim, a senior Taleban leader in Kandahar, has renounced the insurgency and joined the Strengthening Peace Program.
http://www.canada.com/topics/news/story.html?id=5c769648-cd28-4643-bc2a-c416dacb6174&k=78118

A UN report obtained by the Guardian details the atrocities committed over 23 years of conflict.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/afghanistan/story/0,,1795546,00.html

Bangladesh opposition Awami League and its allied parties have brought the country to a standstill in a 36-hour general strike, called to protest police brutality during a weekend demonstration. On the second day of the strike, violence broke out, injuring at least 50 people in clashes with police.

"India, Pakistan and Kashmir: Stabilising a Cold Peace" is a new briefing from the International Crisis Group, which argues:
"Kashmir remains a potential flashpoint. Although the ceasefire there has been holding, the normalisation process between India and Pakistan is reversible. Unless the two nuclear-armed powers work harder at advancing it, a resumption of conflict is still possible. Pakistan must end support for militancy in Kashmir. India should reduce its heavy security presence in order to remove a major source of Kashmiri disaffection. Both sides would save the lives of their soldiers and neutralise Pakistani spoilers by agreeing to resolve the dispute over the Siachen Glacier. Above all, the two neighbours need to end the cycle of mutual recriminations and prove to Kashmiris that they value their welfare over narrow interests. Progress is likely to remain frustratingly slow, and international support is essential to sustain the process and consolidate its gains".
http://www.crisisgroup.org/home/index.cfm?l=1&id=4173

Nepal's government and Maoist rebels concluded peace talks with an historic agreement under which the Maoists will be brought into government, promoting a permanent peace. The 8-point agreement can be read here:
http://www.kantipuronline.com/kolnews.php?&nid=76803


3. AML/CFT Monitor

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

--------------------------------------------------
AML/CFT Incidents/Cases
--------------------------------------------------
Zambia's Drug Enforcement Commission has arrested 14 people, including two judicial officials and a teacher, on money laundering and drug trafficking offenses.
http://www.zana.gov.zm/news/viewnews.cgi?category=11&id=1150198545

Pakistan reports the destruction of a major heroin production facility in Balochistan province, near the Afghan border. Eight mobile factories and two tons of morphine were seized.
http://www.pakistan.gov.pk/divisions/index.jsp?DivID=11&cPath=101
--------------------------------------------------
AML/CFT Legislation and Regulation
--------------------------------------------------
The US Treasury has designated Beijing Alite Technologies Company, Ltd. (ALCO), LIMMT Economic and Trade Company, Ltd., China Great Wall Industry Corporation (CGWIC), and China National Precision Machinery Import/Export Corporation (CPMIEC) as providing support for Iranian missile proliferation, which subjects them to a range of sanctions. China has protested this action.
http://www.treas.gov/press/releases/js4317.htm

Treasury has also added five individuals and 20 companies associated with Colombia's North Valle drug cartel to the list of Specially Designated Narcotics Traffickers.
http://www.treas.gov/press/releases/js4318.htm

Liberia's arms embargo has been partially lifted to allow a limited supply of weapons to be used by members of the government, police and security forces.
http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs//2006/sc8742.doc.htm

The Bank of England has imposed financial sanctions on two designated individuals believed to be impeding the peace process in Sudan: Gaffar Mohamed Wlhassan and Adam Yacub Shant.
http://www.bankofengland.co.uk/publications/news/2006/068.htm

Ireland has opened a consultation process on the EU's 3rd money laundering directive.
http://www.finance.gov.ie/viewdoc.asp?fn=/documents/legi/Cons.mon.Laund06.htm

Kenya and other East African countries are setting up a series of financial, travel, and other sanctions against the Somali warlords recently defeated by the Union of Islamic Courts. They also plan to draw up a list of individuals involved in illegal arms, and for possible referral to the International Criminal Court.
http://www.nationmedia.com/dailynation/nmgcontententry.asp?category_id=1&newsid=75075

US financial regulators issued Joint Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking - Threshold for the Requirement to Collect, Retain, and Transmit information on Funds. The proposal would change the recording level from $3,000 to $1,000. There is a two month comment period.
http://www.fincen.gov/notice_proposed_rulemaking_funds_transfers.pdf

Hong Kong has formed a new industry working group for money laundering prevention.
http://news.gov.hk/en/category/businessandfinance/060613/html/060613en03011.htm

G8 finance ministers meeting last week said in a joint statement that they are committed to combating money laundering and terrorist financing, including multilateral mechanisms, information sharing, and other measures.
http://en.g8russia.ru/news/20060610/1154224.html

UK Member of Parliament Grant Shapps reports that the Assets Recovery Agency has cost taxpayers GBP 60 million since it was established to tackle organized crime in 2003. It has recovered an average on GBP 4 million per year.
http://www.shapps.com/AssetsRecoveryAgency-underperformance.pdf
http://www.assetsrecovery.gov.uk

The US Government Accountability Office (GAO) issued "International Financial Crime: Treasury's Roles and Responsibilities Relating to Selected Provisions of the USA PATRIOT Act". This report examines FinCEN's roles in interagency and international coordination, and recommends that future customer satisfaction surveys include more information from global foreign intelligence units.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-06-483

The Guyana Revenue Authority will use the new Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) to share information among government departments and use it to help detect crimes including money laundering.
http://www.stabroeknews.com/index.pl/article_general_news?id=56497055
--------------------------------------------------
AML/CFT Modalities
--------------------------------------------------
In Jamaica, Hardware and Lumber CEO Anthony Holness said that company revenues fell in part because of a crackdown against drug dealers, who launder money through homes and other construction development.
http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20060614/business/business1.html


4. Emerging Threat Monitor

For detailed analysis, background information and source documents consider subscribing. Subscriptions to Emerging Threat Monitor can be purchased at our online store:
TAMNI Publications

--------------------------------------------------
ETM Corruption and Transnational Crime
--------------------------------------------------
147 Colombian soldiers are being tried for allegedly embezzling some $20 million of Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) funds: the proceeds or drug trafficking and ransoms.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/5074126.stm

Vietnam's National Assembly has opened hearings into three corruption scandals associated with diversion of funds from transportation projects.
http://www.thanhniennews.com/politics/?catid=1&newsid=16582

The CLEEN Foundation, with the Transition Monitoring Group, published the National Crime Victimization Survey 2005". It finds that 64.1 percent of Nigerians believe that corruption has increased since 1999, despite the federal campaign against it.
http://www.thisdayonline.com/nview.php?id=50444

Yemen has launched the National Campaign for Anti-Corruption Awareness. Slogans used in the public awareness campaign include "Bribes giver and taker are destined to hell" and "Rotten Fruit affects others, for this there should be no room for it in society".
http://www.yobserver.com/news_10276.php
--------------------------------------------------
ETM Economies and Financial Systems
--------------------------------------------------
The Organization for Cooperation and Development (OECD)'s annual "Employment Outlook" and accompanying report "Boosting Jobs and Incomes" calls for OECD countries urgently to move people into paid employment to boost living standards and ensure that welfare systems are solvent. It is essential to address policies that discourage people from working, including poorly designed regulations, loss of needed benefits, and lack of skills.
http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/47/53/36889821.pdf

The International Labor Organization reports on an epidemic of workplace violence. "Violence at work, 3rd edition" points to levels of bullying, mobbing, threats by psychologically unstable co-workers, harassment and homicide, increasing worldwide, costing millions in losses from absenteeism. sick leave, and other causes.
http://www.ilo.org/public/english/bureau/inf/pr/2006/33.htm

"Behind the Numbers: Women and Employment in Central and Eastern Europe and the Western Commonwealth of Independent States" reports that since the collapse of state socialism women's economic security in affected areas has declined, and is likely to continue to deteriorate more rapidly than for men.
http://www.unifem.org/resources/item_detail.php?ProductID=66
--------------------------------------------------
ETM Environment and Climate Change
--------------------------------------------------
"Ecosystems and Biodiversity in Deep Waters and High Seas" was issued from the World Conservation Union and the UN Environment Program. Exploitation of deep seas and open oceans has accelerated at a rapid pace that has outstripped regulatory, institutional, and conservation efforts. Guidelines are needed immediately to protect this critical yet vulnerable resource.
http://www.unep.org/pdf/IUCN_Report_16June06.pdf

The International Whaling Commission held its annual meeting from 16-20 June. Japan lost two key votes on Friday: an effort to introduce secret ballots and a move to remove the issue of dolphin and porpoise hunting from the agenda.
http://www.iwcoffice.org/meetings/meeting2006.htm

The Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, a nearly undisturbed coral reef system, has been designated a US national monument, providing it the highest level of protection, and making it the largest marine reserve on earth.
http://hawaiireef.noaa.gov/
http://www.pewtrusts.com/ideas/ideas_item.cfm?content_item_id=3373&content_type_id=4&page=4&issue=16&issue_name=Protecting%20ocean%20life&name=Facts%20and%20Stats

Clark Sustainable Resource Developments is a new venture that harvests timber from submerged forests. The Canadian company's first project is in Lake Volta, Ghana.
http://www.csrdevelopments.com/

The US Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works held a hearing on "Whether Potential Liability Deters Abandoned Hard Rock Mine Clean-Up".
http://epw.senate.gov/hearing_statements.cfm?id=257035
--------------------------------------------------
ETM Governance
--------------------------------------------------
OECD has released the "Risk Awareness Tool for Multinational Enterprises in Weak Governance Zones". A weak governance zone is one in which governments are unable or unwilling to assume their responsibilities in relation to public administration and human rights. This tool helps companies doing business with the 900 million people living in such zones to manage the risks and ethical dilemmas that may arise.
http://www.oecd.org/document/6/0,2340,en_2649_34889_36887622_1_1_1_1,00.html

"The Role of the US Corporate Board of Directors in Enterprise Risk Management" is a new report from The Conference Board. It finds that corporate directors must keep pace with changing best practices in enterprise risk management lest they become exposed to liability associated with new legal requirements.
http://www.conference-board.org/utilities/pressDetail.cfm?press_ID=2893
--------------------------------------------------
ETM Human Rights
--------------------------------------------------
The US Supreme Court has ruled unanimously that last minute challenges to lethal injections are permitted, allowing consideration of whether the combination of chemicals used violates the constitutional ban on cruel and unusual punishment. Lethal injection is used in 37 of the 38 states that permit capital punishment.
http://www.supremecourtus.gov/opinions/05pdf/05-8794.pdf

In another case the court expanded the ability of individuals to use DNA evidence.
http://www.supremecourtus.gov/opinions/05pdf/04-8990.pdf

This is International Torture Awareness Month. On 13 June, a coalition of 27 interfaith religious leaders joined in the National Religious Campaign against Torture.
http://www.nrcat.org/

The World Day Against Child Labor was marked on 12 June. About 218 million children are forced to work, about three-quarters in agriculture, and more than half involved in hazardous labor. However, for the first time, the number of working children has begun to fall, as even the poorest countries have taken steps to eliminate the problem.
http://www.ilo.org/public/english/standards/ipec/wdacl/2006/index.htm

Eleven Indian government doctors have been suspended on suspicion of offering selective abortion of female fetuses in the state of Rajasthan, where the number of female births drops as low as 820 for every 1,000 males.

Human Rights in China reports that Fu Xiancai, a Three Gorges resettlement activist, was seriously assaulted and is now paralyzed, following a meeting with security officials as well as prior threats and harassment. Chinese officials had no comment on the incident.
http://www.hrichina.org/public/contents/press?revision%5fid=29228&item%5fid=29227
--------------------------------------------------
ETM Infectious Diseases
--------------------------------------------------
The Central Asia Regional Conference on Avian Influenza Control and Human Influenza Pandemic Preparedness reviewed the epidemiological situation and outlined public health surveillance and control strategies for humans and animals. Of the ten Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) countries, Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, People's Republic of China, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, and the Russian Federation have detected the H5N1 virus.
http://www.adb.org/Documents/Events/2006/avian-influenza-control/default.asp

Indonesia's Ministry of Health has confirmed the 50th case of human H5N1 avian influenza. To date, 38 of confirmed cases have proven fatal. Vietnam has had 42 deaths, but none this year. There are growing concerns that cases in Indonesia have been unreported and that the country's ability to respond to the infection is inadequate.

Avian influenza H5 has been confirmed in Prince Edward Island, Canada. The strain has not been confirmed, but a high fatality rate in a flock of geese suggests it could be N1.

A new case of avian influenza in China may indicate that the virus is becoming as active in warmer months as it is in colder.
http://english.people.com.cn/200606/17/eng20060617_274920.html

The 21 APEC countries participated in a Pandemic Response exercise, which featured the "Malacca Straits Flu" in a group of capsized fishermen. The exercise demonstrated successful communications response among the participants.
http://www.foreignminister.gov.au/releases/2006/joint_ruddock_apec_090606.html
--------------------------------------------------
ETM Legal Systems
--------------------------------------------------
The US Supreme Court, in a 5-to-4 vote, ruled that evidence obtained by police who enter a home without first knocking and announcing their presence is admissible, limiting the protection of the exclusionary rule that dates back to 13th century England.
http://www.supremecourtus.gov/opinions/05pdf/04-1360.pdf
http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/06/16/opinion/edprivacy.php
--------------------------------------------------
ETM Populations
--------------------------------------------------
Data from UN Habitat's "State of the World's Cities Report 1006/7" shows that the world's one billion slum dwellers are more likely to die earlier, experience more hunger and disease, attain less education and have fewer chances of employment than their rural relatives. These and similar findings come as - for the first time in history - the world's urban population will exceed the rural population, beginning next year.  Already a third of the world's urban population live in slums, a number that could reach 1.4 billion by 2020.
http://www.unhabitat.org/worldcitiesreport.asp

With up to three million displaced persons, Colombia has the highest number of internally displaced in the western hemisphere, and is second worldwide only to Sudan. Displacement is associated to the protracted conflict between leftist guerillas, rightist paramilitaries, and government armed forces as well as drug traffickers, landowners, and other interests.
http://www.unhcr.org/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/publ/opendoc.htm?tbl=PUBL&id=4444d3ce20
--------------------------------------------------
ETM Social Responsibility
--------------------------------------------------
The Financial Times has named HSBC as the overall winner in the first Sustainable Banking awards.
http://www.hsbc.com/hsbc/news_room?cp=/public/groupsite/news_room/2006_archive/hsbc_named_sustainable_bank_of_the_year.jhtml

Institutional investors managing more than $1 trillion in assets have called for the US Securities and Exchange Commission to require publicly traded companies to reveal climate change risks in their financial disclosures.
http://www.ceres.org/news/news_item.php?nid=197

The Committee to Encourage Corporate Philanthropy reports that giving rose 14 percent last year.
http://philanthropy.com/free/articles/v18/i17/17001003.htm

Oxfam, Amnesty, Save the Children, Greenpeace and Care launched a new accountability charter for non-government organizations.
http://www.ngowatch.org/articles.php?id=301
--------------------------------------------------
ETM Weapons (WMD, Proliferation)
--------------------------------------------------
Iran has reacted favorably to recent US and EU proposals regarding its nuclear ambitions, but

China is the only major arms exporter that has signed no multilateral arms export agreements. Instead, it is fast becoming one of the worlds most secretive suppliers to conflicts in countries such as Burma, Nepal, South Africa, and Sudan. This is among the findings of a new investigation from Amnesty International.
http://www.amnesty.org.au/news_features/news/ap/china_secretive_arms_exports_stoking_conflict_and_repression

"Ammunition: the fuel of conflict" reports that around the globe 14 billion bullets are manufactured each year. Bulgaria, Brazil, China, Egypt, Iran, Israel and Romania provide no data on ammunition exports, apart from shotgun cartridges. Such lax controls mean that millions of bullets end up in war zones and with human rights abusers. Note these findings from the black market in Baghdad:
* New, high-quality ammunition is widely available in Baghdad, in contrast to the early days of the conflict when ammunition is believed to have largely come from old Iraqi stockpiles.
* Bullets manufactured between 1999 and 2004 in factories in Czech Republic, Serbia, Romania and Russia were found on sale in Baghdad.
* New ammunition stocks are either being smuggled into Iraq from neighboring countries or leaking from the vast supplies imported by coalition forces to equip the new Iraqi security forces. It is likely both are happening.
* The average cost of an AK-47 bullet on the black market is US 30 cents. As most gun violence victims are killed by between four and 12 bullets, on average the price of taking away a human life in Baghdad is currently US $2.40.
http://www.oxfam.org/en/news/pressreleases2006/pr060615_arms

Britain's Crown Prosecution Service has determined there is not enough evidence to prosecute scientists involved in chemical tests on human volunteers at the Porton Down defense laboratory between 1939 and 1989.
http://www.cps.gov.uk/news/pressreleases/132_06.html


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

--------------------------------------------------
CIM Banking and Finance
--------------------------------------------------
US financial regulators have issued "Lessons Learned from Hurricane Katrina: Preparing Your Institution for a Catastrophic Event". See DRM/Mitigation, below, for details.

The UK Financial Services Authority (FSA) addressed the longer term implications, including regulatory issues, in any change of ownership in the London Stock Exchange, its holding company, of any other UK investment exchange. The issue arises in connection with the proposed takeover of the LSE by the New York Stock Exchange. FSA has questioned the takeover, including the concern that UK-listed firms could be brought under the expensive US regulatory regime rather than the "light-touch, risk-based regulatory regime" in the UK.
http://www.fsa.gov.uk/pages/Library/Communication/PR/2006/055.shtml

FSA also warned of boiler room scams, in which overseas operations using high pressure techniques convince people to purchase worthless shares.
http://www.fsa.gov.uk/pages/Library/Communication/PR/2006/053.shtml
--------------------------------------------------
CIM Chemical
--------------------------------------------------
The US Chemical Safety Board issued "Dangers of Propylene Cylinders in High
Temperatures: Fire at Praxair St. Louis". The safety bulletin discusses best practices for cylinder storage and good safety practices for pressure-relief valves. The recommendations use lessons learned from the 24 June 2005, fire and explosions at the Praxair Distribution, Inc., gas cylinder filling and distribution center in St. Louis, Missouri, which occurred when gas released by a pressure relief valve on a propylene cylinder ignited.
http://www.csb.gov
--------------------------------------------------
CIM Cybersecurity
--------------------------------------------------
Microsoft has issued a major security update with patches for 12 vulnerabilities, including the dangerous Word flaw.
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/ms06-jun.mspx
http://www.us-cert.gov/cas/techalerts/TA06-164A.html

American International Group has confirmed that computer equipment containing personal information on some 930,000 individuals was stolen from a Medical Excess office.
http://www.businessinsurance.com/cgi-bin/news.pl?newsId=7893

A Paypal security flaw is being exploited in phishing scams to steal personal data.


The new European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) has generated associated frauds, including bogus websites mimicking the official website.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/global/main.jhtml?xml=/global/2006/06/10/etnewsbogus.xml

The US House Committee on Veterans' Affairs held hearings on the theft of personal data that left millions of veterans and active military personnel vulnerable to identity theft. Testimony revealed a long-term failure to address repeated warnings regarding persistent and repeated failures in the Veterans' Administration IT systems and management.
http://veterans.house.gov/

The "Aladdin eSafe CSRT 2005 Malicious Code Report: The big Threats Shift" finds:
" * The number of malicious threats classified as spyware by the Aladdin CSRT grew from 1,083 in 2004 to 3,389 in 2005, a 13 percent increase.
* The number of malicious threats classified as Trojans by the Aladdin CSRT grew from 1,455 in 2004 to 3,521 in 2005, representing a 142 percent rise.
* The number all other malicious threats grew from 6,222 in 2004 to 9,713 in 2005, representing a 56 percent increase.
http://www.aladdin.com/news/2006/eSafe/CSRT_Report.asp

Eugene Kaspersky has published "Changes in the antivirus industry", citing continuing criminalization of the internet; increased variety of malware and attack methods; and antivirus protection from Microsoft.
http://www.kaspersky.com/cyberthreats?chapter=188361044

Microsoft has released a white paper on their experience of the first 15 months of operation of the Malicious Software Removal Tool, which they report has removed 16 million instances from 5.7 million Windows computers.
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=47DDCFA9-645D-4495-9EDA-92CDE33E99A9&displaylang=en

New Scientist reports that the US National Security Agency is funding research into harvesting information from social networks including telephone records and expanding to mobile phones, email, instant messaging, and other sources, leveraging the emerging semantic web.
http://www.newscientisttech.com/channel/tech/mg19025556.200.html
http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/intel/RL31798.pdf
http://www.w3.org/2001/sw/
--------------------------------------------------
CIM Emergency Services
--------------------------------------------------
The Institute of Medicine of the National Academies of Science released three reports on the US emergency care system. They find that "Despite the lifesaving feats performed every day by emergency departments and ambulance services, the nation's emergency medical system as a whole is overburdened, underfunded, and highly fragmented....  As a result, ambulances are turned away from emergency departments once every minute on average, and patients in many areas may wait hours or even days for a hospital bed.  Moreover, the system is ill-prepared to handle surges from disasters such as hurricanes, bombings, or disease outbreaks...."
http://www.nationalacademies.org/onpinews/newsitem.aspx?RecordID=06142006
--------------------------------------------------
CIM Energy
--------------------------------------------------
New Zealand, is considering the vulnerabilities in its electricity infrastructure following major storm outages in the main city, Auckland.
http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/411365/748145
http://www.transpower.co.nz/

Canada's Ontario province plans to address its energy concerns by refurbishing old plants and building two new nuclear reactors - the first such constructions in North America in some 30 years. Coal-fired plants will be phased out.
http://www.cbc.ca/story/canada/national/2006/06/13/ontnuclear13062006.html

China Machine-Building International Corporation (CMEC) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with two Zimbabwean companies to jointly develop coalmines and three thermal power plants. In exchange for easing its acute energy shortage, Zimbabwe will provide chrome to China.
http://www.herald.co.zw/inside.aspx?sectid=4903&cat=1

Danish Prime Minister Rasmussen met with US President Bush, who said the US is ready to make use of Denmark's wind energy technology.
http://denmark.dk/portal/page?_pageid=374,610577&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL&ic_itemid=925115
--------------------------------------------------
CIM Nuclear Reactors, Materials, and Waste
--------------------------------------------------
Australia's Lucas Heights nuclear reactor in Sydney has been the site of four accidents in the past week, including escaped gas, site contamination and accidental ingestion
http://www.theage.com.au/news/National/Four-Lucas-Heights-incidents-in-a-week/2006/06/15/1149964650240.html

Russia's state-owned Rosenergoatom has signed a contract with Sevmash shipyard to build the world's first floating nuclear energy plant. The first to up to six sites will be built at an Arctic site where nuclear submarines are currently constructed, and will provide heat and electricity to the Sevmash naval facility.
http://www.russianewswire.com/releases_headlines_details.php?id=2564

The US Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources held a hearing on the Department of Energy's Next Generation Nuclear Plant Project. Testimony included concerns over a plan to reorganize safety and security oversight.
http://energy.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Hearings.Hearing&Hearing_ID=1562
--------------------------------------------------
CIM Public Health and Healthcare
--------------------------------------------------
Preventable environmental exposures are responsible for 24 percent of global disease, and a third of disease in children under five. The World Health Organization's report, "Preventing Disease Through Health Environments " points to safe water storage and better hygiene; use of cleaner and safer fuels; and more judicious use and management of toxic substances in the home and workplace as ways to reduce major killers like malaria and diarrheal disease.
http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/releases/2006/pr32/en/index.html

Researchers with the Romark Institute for Medical Research, in Tampa, Florida, have identified a simple drug treatment that is effective in combating rotavirus infections, which are the most common cause of childhood diarrhea.
http://www.romark.com/index.php/media_center/press_releases/37.html

The new European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) has generated associated frauds, including bogus websites mimicking the official website.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/global/main.jhtml?xml=/global/2006/06/10/etnewsbogus.xml

World Blood Donor Day was marked on 14 June.
http://www.who.int/worldblooddonorday/en/index.html

In connection with this event, the World Health Organization published a global survey  that showed slow progress towards eliminating paid blood donation with all volunteer donors, who are less likely to lie about their health status and more likely to keep themselves health. Of 124 countries reporting, 56 say an increase in unpaid voluntary donation, while the remaining 68 made no progress or moved backward. 49 countries have 100 percent unpaid voluntary donations, but only 17 are developing countries. St. Lucia, Malaysia, and India showed the greatest improvements, largely by applying principles within their HIV/AIDS prevention programs.
http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/releases/2006/pr33/en/index.html
--------------------------------------------------
CIM Telecommunications
--------------------------------------------------
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) is changing all interconnect charges to be based on capacity or bandwidth rather than the current system based on distance and usage. The changes will be in place early next year.
http://www.trai.gov.in/PressReleases_content.asp?id=333

Following to the latest European Commission proposal to cap roaming charges on mobile phones, the GSM Association has issued a very critical response:
http://www.gsmworld.com/news/press_2006/press06_32.shtml
http://europa.eu.int/information_society/activities/roaming/internal_market/index_en.htm

A US appeals court has upheld the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) ruling that Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) providers must provide wiretapping capabilities for law enforcement agencies, despite security or cost implications.
http://pacer.cadc.uscourts.gov/docs/common/opinions/200606/05-1404a.pdf
http://www.cdt.org/digi_tele/
--------------------------------------------------
CIM Transportation
--------------------------------------------------
Kenya has established a commission of inquiry into last week's security breach at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. The incident involved two Armenian brothers, Artur Margaryan and Artur Sargsyan, who brandished guns at the airport to free a female companion who was refusing to open her luggage for Customs inspection. The two men were deported, but the situation around the affair has turned into a national scandal that has drawn in the highest levels of government.
http://www.nationmedia.com/dailynation/nmgcontententry.asp?category_id=1&newsid=75085

Transport Canada's safety record is further analyzed in:
"Lax air rules blamed for risky landings".
http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&call_pageid=971358637177&c=Article&cid=1150235413468
" Air safety at risk, workers say"
http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&call_pageid=971358637177&c=Article&cid=1150321812537
Also note this call for a fresh public inquiry into aviation safety
http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&call_pageid=971358637177&c=Article&cid=1150494610663

The US Government Accountability Office (GAO) released "Aviation Security: Further Study of Safety and Effectiveness and Better Management Controls Needed If Air Carriers Resume Interest in Deploying Less-than-Lethal Weapons". The report calls for reliable research to support use of such weapons as electric stun devices or other less lethal weapons within an air craft environment, and ensure there are appropriate internal controls for receipt and review of air carrier requests.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-06-475

The US Congress held a number of hearings related to issues of transportation security:
* Using Intermodalism in Transportation Planning and Problem Solving
http://www.house.gov/transportation/press/press2006/release84.html
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-06-855T
* TSA's Office of Intelligence: Progress and Challenges
http://hsc.house.gov/PDFs/SC_IIS&TRA_TSA_061506.pdf
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-06-864T
* Coast Guard's Deepwater Program
http://www.house.gov/transportation/press/press2006/release82.html
* Rail Transportation of Hazardous Materials
http://www.house.gov/transportation/press/press2006/release81.html
* SAFE-Truckers Act
http://hsc.house.gov/PDFs/SESIPC_SAFE_Truckers_061606.pdf

The International Maritime Bureau (IMB) reports that increased patrolling of the Malacca Strait by the littoral states of Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore has been successful and the area no longer presents a piracy hot spot. Therefore, they recommend that the Malacca Strait be removed from the Lloyd's list of war-risk areas.
http://www.forbes.com/markets/feeds/afx/2006/06/14/afx2813575.html

"Out of Sight, Out of Mind" is a new report from the International Transport Workers' Federation. It finds that "...despite the vision of a progressive, responsible industry at the cutting edge of scientific and economic developments and sensitive to twenty-first century environmental concerns, the maritime and fishing industries continue to allow astonishing abuses of human rights of those working in the sector.... The cases cited can sometimes be attributed to exceptional rogue elements within the industry, but more insidious are the routine exploitations that indicate severe failings in the international regulatory process."
http://www.itfglobal.org/infocentre/pubs.cfm/detail/2259

Britain's port security is under threat from staff shortages.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/5073314.stm


6. Disaster Reduction Monitor

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

--------------------------------------------------
DRM Incidents
--------------------------------------------------
Angola's cholera outbreak has spread geographically, but the level of new infections has slowed. Investments in water and sanitation are needed immediately to avoid repeats of this disaster, in which more than 45,000 people have been infected and over 1,700 have died.
http://www.msf.org/
http://www.who.int

In Democratic Republic of Congo, an outbreak of pneumonic plague has killed 100 people. Cases of bubonic plague have also been reported. Insecurity, particularly in the eastern Ituri area, has made disease control measures difficult to implement.
http://www.who.int/csr/don/2006_06_14/en/index.html

A truck in the Indian state of Uttaranchal crashed into a gorge, killing at least 48 of the wedding guests on board.  

An Israeli passenger train hit a truck at a level crossing and derailed, killing five and injuring 77. Three separate inquiries into the matter have been established, and the truck driver arrested.

Flooding in the Indian state of Assam has displaced nearly a million people: associated mudslides killed seven.

Indonesia's Mount Merapi volcano erupted on Thursday. Most people had been evacuated, but two men trapped in an emergency bunker died.

The first named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season, Alberto, brought heavy rains in the US state of Florida before it weakened to a tropical depression. Some 20,000 people were evacuated ahead of the storm and no casualties have been reported.
--------------------------------------------------
DRM Response and Recovery
--------------------------------------------------
CARE Indonesia, CARDI, IRC, Islamic Relief, Oxfam International, Plan International and World Vision, have issued a joint appeal for relief operations in Java, Indonesia. The earthquake last month was much worse than originally understood. 156,964 homes were destroyed, and another 183,741 homes severely damaged, leaving up to 1.5 million people homeless. largely because Java is so densely populated.
http://www.care.org/careswork/emergencies/indonesia_quake/
http://www.islamic-relief.com/submenu/appeal/javaquake.htm
http://www.oxfam.org.uk/what_we_do/emergencies/country/indonesia06/index.htm
http://www.plan-international.org/involved/emergencyappeals/
http://www.wvi.org/wvi/news/latest_news.htm#Indonesia

The earthquake caused more than $3 billion in damage, far higher than the Kashmir earthquake last year.
http://www.adb.org/Documents/Reports/Damage-Loss/default.asp

Chinese rescue workers have recovered only one of the 56 miners trapped since 18 May in a flooded mineshaft at the Xinjing mine, Shanxi province.

In the aftermath of hurricanes Katrina and Rita, the US Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) responded quickly to provide aid to those affected. Undercover agents from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) also discovered the scale of fraud, as people took advantage of the chaotic situation. GAO reported fraudulent payments of up to $1.4 billion, including payments for vacant lots, double payments, and use of emergency debit cards to purchase non-emergency items including a Caribbean vacation, football season tickets, adult erotica, and a divorce lawyer. The GAO report is here:
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-06-655
Testimony on the 14 June congressional hearing is here:
http://hsc.house.gov/files/TestimonyKutzRyan.pdf
http://hsc.house.gov/files/TestimonyDannels.pdf
http://hsc.house.gov/files/TestimonyBecker.pdf
--------------------------------------------------
DRM Risks
--------------------------------------------------
Stricter adherence to existing building standards, model building codes, best practices, and greater recognition of storm surge risk could minimize the kind of structural damage caused by hurricanes Katrina and Rita last year. The US National Institute of Standards and Technology reported that none of the severely affected states - Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, or Texas - had adopted statewide building codes, leading to lack of anchoring r reinforcement for many of the collapsed brick walls. Wind speeds blamed for most of the damage did not reach levels model codes are designed to withstand.
http://www.nist.gov/public_affairs/releases/hurricane_report060906.htm

The US Department of Homeland Security issued the "Nationwide Plan Review". The national assessment of catastrophic planning capabilities found that overall preparedness is poor, with only a quarter of state emergency operations plans sufficient to cope with a natural disaster or terrorist threat.
http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/display?content=5695

The US Congressional Research Service sponsored " Insuring and Mitigating Risks of Large-Scale Disasters: Is Federal Disaster Insurance Needed?" Seminar attendees heard from AIR Worldwide President and CEO, Karen Clark, who explained, "There are many potential natural catastrophe scenarios resulting in insured property losses exceeding $100 billion.... Examples include a Category 5 hurricane making landfall in Miami, which could result in insured losses of more than $130 billion, and a large magnitude earthquake in the Central U.S., which could result in insured losses of more than $150 billion."
http://www.air-worldwide.com/_public/html/newsitem.asp?ID=975

AIR Worldwide estimates more than 35 percent of the value of properties in Gulf and East Coast states is in coastal counties.
http://www.air-worldwide.com/_public/NewsData/000797/The_Coastline_at_Risk-AIR_Worldwide.pdf

Vanuatu's Lake Voui, on the island of Ambae, has turned bright red. International experts are trying to identify the source of the sudden change.
http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/this-means-war-volcanic-lake-erupts-in-a-riot-of-colour/2006/06/12/1149964470420.html
--------------------------------------------------
DRM Mitigation
--------------------------------------------------
US financial regulators have issued "Lessons Learned from Hurricane Katrina: Preparing Your Institution for a Catastrophic Event", including:
* Some organizations may not have anticipated or prepared for the extensive destruction and prolonged recovery period resulting from Hurricane Katrina.
* To be realistic, disaster drills should include all critical functions and areas.
* Anticipate disruptions in communications services, possibly for extended periods of time.
* Critical staff may not be able to reach their assigned recovery location.
* People are essential to the recovery of operations.
* Replacement supplies may be difficult to obtain during a protracted recovery period.
* Financial institutions' facilities could be damaged or destroyed, creating a need for alternate facilities.
* The location of any back-up site can be critical to successful recovery efforts.
* Processing transactions may be extremely difficult.
* Be prepared to operate in a "cash only" environment.
* The financial industry is dependent on numerous critical infrastructure sectors that potentially have competing interests.
* A financial institution's involvement in neighborhood, city, state, federal, and non-profit or volunteer programs can facilitate a community's recovery from a catastrophic event.
http://www.fdic.gov/regulations/resources/lessons/index.html

The American Red Cross warned that New Orleans Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) trailers will need to be relocated to ensure safety.
http://www.nola.com/news/t-p/neworleans/index.ssf?/base/news-5/115017921781230.xml&coll=1

Work is proceeding on an tsunami early-warning system for the Indian Ocean and other vulnerable regions in Africa and Asia.
http://www.unescap.org
http://ioc.unesco.org/iocweb/index.php
http://www.unisdr.org/


7. Recommended Reading

On 16 June 1976, thousands of black students met for a rally to protest against having to learn Afrikaans in school.

Marking the 30th anniversary of this seminal event in South African history, Arts and Culture Minister Pallo Jordan has launched "Youth 2 Youth - 30 Years After Soweto '76". The book is a collection of the photographic of young South Africans from the Western Cape, Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng, assembled and edited by photographer George Hallet.
http://allafrica.com/stories/200606160355.html

"A Child Called Freedom", by British journalist Carol Lee, also marks this anniversary. Ms. Lee says that the story of child also inspired her participation in the Soweto Project.
http://www.sowetoproject.com/page15.htm

Other related books include:
* William Finnegan, " Dateline Soweto : Travels With Black South African Reporters" documents the working lives of the reporters, with a post-apartheid update. (University of California Press 1995)
* Adam Roberts and Joe Thloloe collected journalists' stories in "Soweto Inside Out" (Penguin, 2005)
* Elsabe Brink's "Soweto 16 June 1976: It All Started With a Dog" marked the 25th anniversary by featuring interviews of 25 people at school during the uprising. (Kwela Book, 2001)
* Clive Glaser's "Bo-Tsotsi: The Youth Gangs of Soweto, 1935-1976", which uses a range of oral history, archives, and primary sources to describe the street world of Soweto through apartheid and the uprising. {Heinemann, 2000)
Note the award-winning movie related to this topic, Tsotsi (2005), which describes six days in the life of a Johannesburg gang leader.
http://www.tsotsi.com/english/index.php


In addition to travel information, this site offers an excellent list of nonfiction and fiction books about Soweto and South Africa
http://www.soweto.co.za/


Ceremonies to mark the occasion were launched by the National Youth Commission, which designed the programs to:
* Retrace the impact of the footsteps of the 1976 Soweto Uprisings generation in the evolution of our country
* Entrench youth participation in the national development programme to fight poverty and create jobs
* Rally our youth around a common youth development cause through an Integrated Sustainable Youth Development Strategy.
* To empower youth with relevant skills for sustainable livelihoods. Among the key national youth development initiatives is the National Youth Service programme
* To ensure that the legacy of June 16, 1976, lives on
http://www.nyc.gov.za/youth_lauch_month_statement.html


Here are a selection of news features to describe the events and their historical context:
Audio slideshow
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2hi/africa/5080672.stm
How Soweto changed everything
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/low/programmes/from_our_own_correspondent/5064868.stm
How to remember Soweto
http://www.guardian.co.uk/southafrica/story/0,,1799273,00.html
In pictures: Soweto anniversary
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_pictures/5088018.stm
Just how far have we come since June 16, 1976?
http://www.mg.co.za/articlePage.aspx?articleid=274648
Lest We Forget
http://www.sowetan.co.za/images/coverbig0615.jpg
Mbeki honours June 16 heroes
http://www.news24.com/News24/South_Africa/News/0,,2-7-1442_1952663,00.html
Own up, SA's whites told
http://www.news24.com/News24/South_Africa/News/0,,2-7-1442_1951225,00.html
South Africa celebrates 30th anniversary of Soweto uprising
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,3-2229224,00.html
S. Africa honors Soweto uprising
http://edition.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/africa/06/16/safrica.soweto.ap/
Soweto: The day that changed a nation's history
http://news.independent.co.uk/world/africa/article1089581.ece
Soweto mothers march to remember
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/5087694.stm
Soweto's field of dreams
http://www.mg.co.za/articlePage.aspx?articleid=274728&area=/breaking_news/breaking_news__national/
Soweto's Cheap Homes Lure Buyers to Site of Apartheid Massacre
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000085&sid=aJNEDkcIvo9k&refer=europe
TerrorismCentral "South Africa: Past, Present, and Future"
https://terrorismcentral.com/Newsletters/2004/041804.html#FeatureArticle
https://terrorismcentral.com/Newsletters/2004/042504.html#FeatureArticle
https://terrorismcentral.com/Newsletters/2004/050204.html#FeatureArticle
Through the Lense: Soweto in Pictures
http://www.chico.mweb.co.za/za/features/photo-soweto-1.html
What do we owe the youth of '76?
http://iafrica.com/news/features/548600.htm
Why the Soweto protests erupted
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/5038312.stm
Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soweto_Riots


This anniversary also coincided with the International Day of the African Child,
http://www.hrea.org/feature-events/african-child-day.php


Finally, the ABSA Soweto Festival 2006  is coming up: 22-25 September 2006.
http://www.sowetofestival.co.za/


8. Asset Management Network News

Visit our online store to purchase subscriptions to the Monitor series as well as our Special Reports, including our new Special Report "Trends in Terrorism: 2005".

Email info@tamni.com for details about the new products, publications, and information about services, including custom research