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PEACE & SECURITY REPORT
IPSI's Peace & Security Report (PSR) is a concise weekly e-publication intended to keep busy students, academics, advocates, and practitioners in the conflict management community briefed on pertinent global news, events, and trends. Meticulously researched and written by IPSI, the PSR empowers us all to take a step back from our immediate deadlines each Friday and gain a greater understanding of the week's global events.
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| Featured Article
Report of the UN Secretary-General
The year 2011 marks 30 years of AIDS. In that time, AIDS has claimed more than 25 million lives and more than 60 million people have become infected with HIV. Still, each day, more than 7000 people are newly infected with the virus, including 1000 children. No country has escaped the devastation of this truly global epidemic.
Nevertheless, HIV programmes are now bearing fruit; with global HIV incidence declining, treatment access expanding, and an unparalleled global movement mobilized to demand respect for the dignity and human rights of everyone vulnerable to, and affected by HIV. The epidemic and the response it has generated have changed our world, elevating global health inequity on the worldwide political agenda and placing people at the centre of health, development and human rights efforts.
These accomplishments, while promising, are insufficient and in jeopardy. Stigma, discrimination and gender inequality continue to undermine efforts to achieve universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support. An unsustainable trajectory of costs and the effects of a global economic downturn combine to threaten progress.
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Africa
IVORY COAST: Pro-Ouattara forces capture Ivory Coast's capital
On Wednesday, forces loyal to internationally recognized President Alassane Ouattara seized control of the country's administrative capital, Yamoussoukro. The symbolic victory comes after supporters of Ouattara launched a week-long offensive from their northern powerbase and released a statement explaining "all peaceful avenues to convince Laurent Gbagbo of his defeat have been exhausted." In the past few days, Ouattara's forces captured several other towns including the commercial capital of Abidjan. Comment: After pro-Ouattara forces surrounded Abidjan on Thursday, the army and police abandoned Gbagbo, security forces withdrew their blockade of the hotel housing Ouattara and his cabinet, Gbagbo's army chief sought refuge with South Africa's ambassador, and according to BBC, the head of the military police defected and went to Ouattara's headquarters at the Golf Hotel. (AP,Aljazeera, BBC)
SOMALIA: Somaliland opens prison for piratesWith aid from the UN, a new maximum security prison for pirates was opened this week in Hargeisa, the capital of Somaliland. The prison was built to deal with the "catch and release problem" stemming from the Somaliland government's reluctance to imprison pirates for a lengthy period and Somalia's lack of legitimate courts and prisons. The facility is equipped for international transfers, which the UN hopes will encourage governments to prosecute pirates. The prison can hold 460 prisoners and is currently occupied by 300 inmates; the UN plans to build two 500-bed prisons in Somalia over the next few years. Comment: The initiative is influenced by the growing global concern over the rising number of piracy incidents in the region. On Monday, pirates hijacked a United Arab Emirates-flagged oil tanker in the Gulf of Aden; the ship has a crew of 29, and there is no information on their status. (MSNBC, The National, AP)
SUDAN: North and south Sudan militarizing Abyei warns UN generalOn Wednesday, Major General Moses Obi, head of the UN peacekeeping force in Sudan, confirmed north and south Sudan are building up military forces in Abyei with heavy weapons like rocket launchers and machine guns. Comment: Abyei is disputed by the Ngok Dinka, who consider themselves southerners, and Misseriya nomads, supported by Khartoum. The militarization of Abyei raises fears of further violence in the volatile region; clashes in Abyei have already forced thousands to flee. In January, at least 70 people were killed, and according to southern Sudan's army, five more died on March 22 in an attack on a village. South Sudan will become independent in July as a result of the January referendum that produced an overwhelming vote for statehood. (Reuters, AFP,Bloomberg)
Researched/Written by Haja Kakay
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Americas
GUATEMALA: Drug Lord capturedU.S. and Guatemalan agents captured Guatemala's most influential drug lord on Wednesday. Juan Ortiz-Lopez was arrested at his home in Quetzaltenango and faces extradition to the U.S. He is accused of smuggling large amounts of cocaine through Mexico and the U.S for at least a decade. Comment: The arrest of Ortiz-Lopez is a huge step forward for U.S. authorities as the U.S. tries to prevent Guatemala from being destabilized further by the ongoing drug war. The U.S. considers him one of Guatemala's most powerful drug smugglers. (BBC, Reuters,La Hora)
PARAGUAY: Dengue Fever spreadsDeputy Health Minister Gimenez announced Wednesday that all elective surgeries in public hospitals will be suspended indefinitely to free up hospital beds for those who contracted dengue fever. 13,000 patients are crowding hospitals and at least 7,000 additional people are believed to be receiving private treatment. Comment: 18 deaths already occurred this year, surpassing last year's total of 15. Because of the extensiveness of the epidemic, the government wants to hire 2,000 new doctors and nurses. (La Nacion, Canadian Press, El Nuevo Herald)
UNITED STATES: Photos of "kill team" murders publishedOver the last week, media sources Der Spiegel and Rolling Stone published photos revealing the nature of the civilian murders perpetrated by "kill teams" in Afghanistan. Beginning last year, a group of U.S. soldiers independently killed unarmed Afghan civilians, mutilated their corpses, and took pictures and videos of the aftermath. The first of five U.S. soldiers was charged for his involvement last week and was sentenced to 24 years in prison. President Karzai spoke strongly about this matter on Wednesday, condemning the soldiers but speaking favorably about Americans in general. Comment: The prosecution of these five soldiers is the most serious case to take place during the Afghan war. The sentencing of the first soldier raised Afghan hopes that there will be greater accountability for international actors in the country. The prompt action by the U.S. has so far curtailed violent responses in Afghanistan. (Washington Post, Reuters, AFP)
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East Asia
CHINA: Defense white paper highlights perceived U.S. threat in Asia-Pacific region
China released its biennial defense white paper Thursday, which seeks to tout its military modernization while assuaging regional fears over possible Chinese expansionism. The report describes the Asia-Pacific region as increasingly volatile and notes a stronger U.S. presence in regional security issues. The Chinese White Paper comes after several years of strained relations with its neighbors and the West stemming from China's handling of a series of regional territorial disputes. Comment: Analysts point to striking new developments in Chinese military capabilities, such as the J-20 Stealth Fighter and anti-ship ballistic missiles, as evidence of an increasingly potent military force. (BBC, The New York Times, VOA)
JAPAN: Radiation levels spike in areas outside original contamination zone
International assistance is arriving in Japan as the country intensifies efforts to contain radiation leakage. Contamination measured at nearly 5,000 times the standard levels was found in sea water Thursday outside the 20km perimeter. Additionally, groundwater at a depth of 15m below the affected nuclear plant was found to have 10,000 times the standard level of radiation contamination prompting concerns about contamination spreading widely underground. The U.S., France, and Germany are sending nuclear experts to help Japan try to contain the leakage.Comment: Elevated radiation levels in areas outside the original Japanese government designated-containment zone is a troubling development after the noted progress last week in restoring power to reactor cooling systems. (The Star, BBC, Reuters)
MYANMAR: Military hands over power to civilian government, denounced by West as a shamThe military junta handed over power to a newly-elected civilian government Thursday, in what the U.S. and the EU dismissed as a charade and merely a continuation of the Than Shwe regime that refused to step down after losing land slide elections to Aung San Suu Kyi in 1990. The military junta held elections last year, but barred major opposition figures from running for office; organized opposition chose to boycott the vote. Thein Sein, the incoming President, served as a prime minister but resigned from the military prior to the vote. Comment: It is unclear what junta leader Than Shwe's role will be in the new government, but analysts doubt that he will relinquish much authority. (BBC, AFP,VOA)
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Europe & Central Asia
FRANCE: Conservative party to hold debate on Islam's role in France
Nicholas Sarkozy's conservative party slated talks for next week to debate Islam's role in the future of France and how to incorporate Islamic customs into France's secular traditions. Top religious leaders in the country criticized the idea stating it would only create confusion and further stigmatize France's five million Muslims. Critics say it is not the duty of the ruling political party alone to carry out such a debate. Comment: Analysts view the forum as a way for Sarkozy to win over votes from the far-right in France's upcoming elections. France formally separated church and state in 1905. (France24, Daily Mail)
KOSOVO: Last month's elections declared unconstitutional; president steps downOn Monday, Kosovo's high court declared last month's election of President Pacolli unconstitutional due to irregularities. The court also declared the power-sharing agreement between Pacolli and the prime minister were unconstitutional because too few members of parliament were present to vote on the agreement. Pacolli stepped down on March 30 and plans to run for re-election. Comment: The ruling was the second against a Kosovo head of state in six months. President Fatmir Sejdiu resigned in September after the same court said he violated the constitution by also serving as a party leader. (Southeast European Times, AFP, Reuters)
RUSSIA: Raid on militant base leaves 17 militants deadOn March 29, a Russian security forces raided and destroyed a major militant base in the North Caucasus, killing 17 rebels and three security officers. Initial reports indicate that a top aide to rebel leader Doku Umarov may have been killed in the raid. Later reports suggest Umarov himself may have been killed in the attack as well; however, Umarov's death has falsely been reported in several previous raids. Comment: Earlier this week, Umarov was charged with masterminding January's Domodedovo Airport bombing, which killed 37. Umarov promised Russians a year of "blood and tears" in a video after the bombing. (AFP,Reuters, NY Times)
Researched/Written by Daniel Pechtol
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Middle East & North Africa
LIBYA: NATO takes command of air operations; Libyan foreign minister resigns
Moussa Koussa, Libya's foreign minister, defected to the United Kingdom on March 30. According to the British foreign ministry, Koussa resigned his post and willingly left Libya; however, a Libyan government spokesman denied Koussa's defection and said he was on a diplomatic mission instead. Earlier that day, the British government announced the expulsion of Libya's military attaché and four other diplomats for intimidating opposition groups in London; they were given seven days to leave. As of March 31, NATO took sole command of international air operations over Libya. NATO will enforce an arms embargo, a no-fly zone, and protect civilians under Operation Unified Protector. Comment: President Obama reportedly signed a secret order authorizing covert operations to aid opposition fighters. U.S. officials did not deny or confirm reports. According to U.S. military officials, Gaddafi's armed forces still hold 10 times the rebels' firepower and are nowhere near a breaking point.(Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera, BBC, U.S. Department of Defense)
SYRIA: President Assad addresses Syria for the first time
President Bashar al-Assad addressed Syria on March 30 for the first time since the start of violent crackdown on protesters. During his hour-long speech, Assad condemned social networking websites and pan-Arabic satellite television news channels for stirring and supporting two weeks of anti-government protests. Assad claimed Syria would face problems without reforms, although he failed to offer concessions or lift the emergency rule. Comment: In an attempt to pacify the growing protest movement, President Assad set up legal committees on Thursday to look into the deaths of civilians and possibilities for lifting the emergency law. In response to the new developments, activists called for massive demonstrations across Syria after Friday prayers, dubbing it "Martyrs Day." (Al Jazeera, BBC, Day Press, AFP)
YEMEN: President Saleh proposes a transfer of powerAccording to opposition sources, President Saleh proposed on March 30 to Mohammad al-Yadoumi, head of the opposition Islah party, a transfer of power to a caretaker government; however, Saleh reasserted his plans to remain in office until elections later in the year. The opposition party rejected the offer and claimed it was "an attempt to prolong the survival of the regime." Meanwhile, hundreds of thousands of anti-government protesters continue to demand Saleh's ouster. Comment: Yemen's most influential political figure, Hamid al-Ahmar from the Islah party, asserted Saleh must leave the country rather than just step down. The U.S. and Europe view Saleh's resignation through a lens of mixed strategic interests; both powers consider the Islah party a dangerous force. (AP,BBC, Al Jazeera)
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South Asia
AFGHANISTAN: Taliban seizes eastern districtOn March 29, Taliban fighters seized control of the Waygal district in the Nuristan province after a brief battle with police. The insurgents reportedly launched a coordinated assault on the local government building where poorly armed policemen did not have the numbers or weapons to fight back. A Taliban spokesman said militants captured 12-13 policemen and 19 truck-loads of equipment, including arms and ammunitions. In the hours before the attack, the governor, police chief, and additional policemen were chased from the district; remaining police forces were "tactically withdrawn" from the district center in order to avoid civilian casualties. According to a media source, Waygal residents are torn over whether to side with Taliban or government forces. Comment: Reports indicate that Nuristan, and the neighboring Kunar province, are engaged in an increasingly violent struggle against the spread of Taliban insurgents. The seizure of Waygal is particularly concerning to the international community as it was a district under control of Afghan police forces; questions about the preparedness of Afghan security forces to take control are prevalent in the media. The governor told reporters that a counterattack to reclaim the district is being planned. (NY Times, Reuters,Hindustan Times)
PAKISTAN: Killings in Balochistan ignored by government, international communityDespite worsening violence in Balochistan, the Chief Justice of Pakistan, the Pakistani government, and the international community remain silent. Media sources report thousands of persons are missing and/or suspected dead, with the number of displaced persons also in the thousands. According to a March 30 report, the homes of the displaced are looted and burned, and the bodies of missing persons are found along empty city roads, often several times a week, bearing evidence of torture. Victims are typically men between the ages of 20 and 40 and include nationalist politicians, students, shopkeepers, and laborers. To date there are no arrests or prosecutions, and police investigators admit they are not searching for perpetrators. Media sources implicate those responsible for the killings include the Pakistani military, ISI, and Frontier Corps (FC), a military supported paramilitary force in charge of security at checkpoints. The region is additionally complicated by a separatist Baloch movement of guerrillas - who want independence from Pakistan - and surging Taliban violence. Comment: Home secretary Durrani calls the events in Balochistan a "political problem," despite worsening violence. The movement in Balochistan has been likened to ethnic cleansing by both researchers and the media; however, news reports documenting the events are rarely published. (Balochwarna, The Guardian, Daily Times)
SRI LANKA: Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) concludes public sittingsOn March 28, a spokesman for the LLRC indicated the group concluded public sittings in 13 districts including Colombo and Jaffna, as well as the Boosa detention camp to interview LTTE detainees. The commission is expected to hand over the final report to President Rajapaksa by May 15. The International Crisis Group, Human Rights Watch, and Amnesty International indicate that the LLRC fails to meet "basic international standards" for impartial, independent inquiries. In addition, Tamil media asserts that there are members of the commission who held senior government positions during the war. Comment: Although the public hearings are concluded, individual statements and written submissions are still being considered by the group. The LLRC was established to inquire and report on conflict issues between February 21, 2002 and May 19, 2009. (Daily Mirror, Tamilnet, PRIU.gov)
Researched/Written by Jennifer Clemens
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IPSI Symposiums
THREE WEEKS LEFT
TO APPLY!!!
The application deadline for the 2011 Bologna, Italy Symposium on Conflict Prevention, Resolution, & Reconciliation at the Johns Hopkins SAIS Bologna Center is APRIL 25th!
Learn More >>
Read about a typical day in Bologna >>
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IPSI News
Dr. William Zartman, IPSI Chairman of the Board, contributes to thefollowing article:
If Gadhafi Loses Libya, The Future Is Unclear
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IPSI News
An open letter from Dr. William Zartman to the "Global Conflict Management Community."
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IPSI Leadership
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Jan Eliasson
Gareth Evans
Dr. Ted Robert Gurr
Amb. Jacques Paul Klein
Peter Kyle
Dr. Jean Paul Lederach
Jeffrey Mapendere
John Marks
Susan Collin Marks
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