AUTHOR:
TerrorismCentral Editorial Staff
TITLE:
TerrorismCentral Newsletter - May 18, 2003
SOURCE:
TerrorismCentral, May 18, 2003
TEXT:
1. World
2. Africa
3. Americas
4. Asia Pacific
5. Europe
6. Middle East
7. South Asia
8. Cyberterrorism and Information
Warfare
9. Finance
10 Human Rights
11. Law and Legal Issues
12. Narco-terrorism
13. Transportation
14. Weapons of Mass Destruction
15. Recently Published
FEATURE ARTICLE:
Al Qaeda and
International Terrorism, Since September 11
2. Africa
African defense officials have agreed to build a joint defense force by
2010 to be able to respond rapidly to conflicts and in particular to be
able to intervene to prevent genocide.
Algerian commandos freed 17 of the 32 kidnapped European tourists in a
raid that killed nine suspected militants of the Salafist Group for
Preaching and Combat. The whereabouts of the others is unknown.
Burundi army forces fought rebels of the Forces for Defense and
Democracy (FDD). Four soldiers and 123 FDD or civilians were killed.
Over 12,000 civilians have fled the fighting.
Democratic Republic of Congo is relying on an uneasy ceasefire to take
off the edge of a potential genocidal conflict between the warring Hemu
and Lendu ethnic militias. The few hundred UN peacekeeping forces are
drastically outnumbered, and additional forces are urgently needed.
Casualties are heavy but the numbers are as yet unknown.
The UN has approved a peacekeeping mission in Ivory Coast.
Kenya is under warning of imminent terrorist attacks following rumors
that senior al Qaeda operative Fazul Abdullah Mohammed had arrived in
Kenya. US and UK authorities issued advisories that their nationals
leave and the UK has, despite Kenyan objections to a panicky response,
has grounded all commercial flights.
The Liberian government is investigating the death of Sam Bockarie. He
was wanted on war crimes charges for his actions in Sierra Leone and was
killed in Liberia. There is evidence that his family has also been
eliminated, possibly to eliminate the use of DNA profiling.
Morocco suffered a series of coordinated bombings in Casablanca. There
were three car bombs and one suicide bombing, targeting the Belgian
Consulate, a Jewish community center, a hotel, and a Spanish restaurant.
Security guards were attacked and their throats slit before the
bombings. The death toll stands at 41 and about a hundred have been
injured.
Fighting in southern Nigeria between supporters of the ruling People's
Democratic Party (PDP) and the opposition Alliance for Democracy (AD)
killed at least 18.
Rwandan authorities have rearrested 787 genocide suspects who had been
provisionally released after new charges were raised.
Somalia's peace talks have been stalled over issues of power sharing.
On Monday South Africa will begin trying 22 alleged members of the
Boeremag, a white supremacist group, on charges of treason.
Sudan's peace talks resumed on Saturday with a partnership agreement
settling administrative arrangements for the first 6-month transitional
period.
The Ugandan army continues to pursue Lord's Resistance army (LRA)
rebels who abducted 40 young boys from a Catholic seminary.
Zimbabwe's government has responded to the deteriorating economic and
political situation (See Jan Raath, "Zimbabwe sees return of hunter
gatherer" in The Times, May 16 http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,3-681926,00.html)
with further force. Despite a judicial stay against his deportation,
long-time journalist Andrew Meldrum was forcibly removed from the
country. He was one of the last foreign journalists left in the country
and has vividly described the events in "After 23 years, Mugabe has
thrown me out, but he'll never silence me" in The Observer, May 18 http://www.observer.co.uk/Print/0,3858,4671532,00.html
3. Americas
Argentina's presidential run-off ended in victory for Nestor Kirchner
following Carlos Menem's withdrawal.
In Cuba, five men who attempted to hijack a plane in April have been
sentenced to life in prison. Three others received long jail terms.
In the US naval base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, five Saudi nationals were
released with the understanding they would be tried in Saudi courts.
An inquiry in Honduras reports that the jail riots that killed 69 were
caused by police not prisoners.
In the US, a week of simulated terrorist attacks in Seattle, Chicago
and Vancouver ran their course. Analysis of the results will be
published in the fall.
US Senate hearings into intelligence have found that cross-agency
information sharing is still lacking. The director of the CIA, George
Tenet, has refused to provide the names of the CIA officials who failed
to add the September 11 hijackers to the federal watch list.
In Venezuela, the government has developed a state-subsidized food
program to compensate for shortages in the private sector.
4. Asia Pacific
Australia's Ombudsman's office is investigating allegations that
medical treatment had been withheld from asylum seekers in detention.
Rates of mental illness in the detention camps are also causing concern.
Meanwhile, a controversial security bill to give intelligence services
additional powers is under debate.
The Burmese government has approved a return visit by a UN envoy.
Cambodia and the UN have reached an agreement regarding prosecution of
former Khmer Rouge leaders.
Indonesia has begun the trial of Amrozi, accused in the October 2002
Bali bombing. Amrozi was smiling and unrepentant and his legal team is
focusing of detailed legal arguments to counter the charges.
The Indonesian government declared martial law in Aceh province and
authorized a military assault after peace talks with the Free Aceh
Movement (GAM) failed over GAM's refusal to accept Indonesian
sovereignty.
The world didn't end on May 15 as predicted by Pana Wave Laboratory in
Japan. Pana Wave has been under close supervision of Japanese
authorities who fear they could go the way of the Aum Shrinrikyo,
another cult, responsible for the 1995 Sarin gas attack.
The Philippine army launched air strikes and artillery fire against the
Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) on the southern island of Mindanao.
The army claims to have killed 50 MILF, but the rebels deny any
casualties. Peace talks collapsed in the face of increasing violence and
the resignation of the government's special advisor. Two hostages of
Abu Sayyaf escaped; the last remaining hostage is believed dead.
5. Europe
The EU's moratorium on genetically modified food will be challenged by
the US. Given the strength of feeling among Europeans, against GM food
it promises to be quite a debate.
Greek Cypriots will be allowed to visit Turkey from May 22, for the
first time in almost 40 years.
Germany's domestic intelligence agency reports a continued serious
threat from al Qaeda operatives in Germany and elsewhere in Europe,
Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran, the Arabian peninsula, southeast Asia,
Chechnya and northern Iraq.
Italian police have broken apart a human trafficking ring that
auctioned unborn babies of prostitutes forced to work for the ring.
In the Netherlands, 12 suspected Islamic militants went on trial for
alleged support of al Qaeda.
In Russia, two gunmen assassinated the mayor of Troytsk, near Moscow.
The Russian Supreme Court has ruled that Muslim women will be allowed to
wear their headscarves in passport photos.
In Chechnya, two suicide bombers drove an explosives-laden truck rammed
into a government complex and blew up, killing 54 and injuring almost
200. In a second major suicide attack, a female suicide bomber blew
herself up during a religious festival, killing 15 and injuring dozens
more. Despite the new violence, Russian President Putin has sent a bill
to parliament to offer amnesty to Chechen rebels to help the progress of
peace. He has also vowed to defeat the terrorists. Russian authorities
have linked the attacks with those in Saudi Arabia and other foreign
terrorist activities.
Spain's Constitutional Court barred a Basque coalition from contesting
local elections because of alleged links to Basque-separatist terrorism
as practiced by ETA and the political wing, Batasuna. Two senior members
of ETA have proposed they be allowed to renounce their arms and leave
the group. If true, this would be the first split within the
organization for two decades.
In the UK, proposals to adopt increased anti-terrorism powers have come
under fire by civil rights groups. Routine collection of information
from internet and telephone companies is also under fire and may breach
existing privacy rules.
Revelations last week of the identity of the double agent "Stakeknife"
have taken another turn as Freddie Scappaticci denies being an informer
and other reports indicate that there were not one but five agents
working within the Irish Republican Army (IRA). The revelations have
posed problems for the British government, the IRA, and even the peace
process, and many more twists and turns seem ahead as the saga continues
to unfold.
6. Middle East
There is general skepticism about the fate of the roadmap intended to
bring peace to Palestinians and Israelis. Israeli Prime Minister Sharon
has not yet accepted the roadmap, planning to negotiate terms directly
with US President Bush. If Bush accedes to Sharon's demands, it is
likely that the precarious plan would unravel very quickly, and US
relations with the other members of the Quartet that developed the
roadmap (the UN, EU and Russia) would be dealt a further blow. News of
this will have to wait for Sharon's trip to the US to be rescheduled. It
was postponed following the latest suicide bombing. US Secretary of
State Colin Powell toured the region this week, pushing the roadmap to a
highly critical audience that is watching to see what Israel does.
The goodwill gesture that led Israel to open the occupied Gaza Strip
lasted less than a day, immediately followed by the tightest military
closure for years. The closure was taken after warnings of possible
suicide attacks. Palestinians launched a mortar attack on Tuesday,
injuring ten Israelis at an army base. Israeli troops retaliated with
helicopter gunships, killing three Palestinian policemen and injuring
two police and twenty civilians. Targeting rocket attacks, Israeli
troops added tanks and helicopters in another large-scale offensive.
Four Palestinians were killed, including a 12-year-old boy who bled to
death when emergency workers were prevented from entering. Four homes
were bulldozed.
Iranian and US officials have held discussions regarding Iraq,
Afghanistan, and the Arab-Israeli conflict. Iran's supreme leader,
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has taken a strong stand against relations with
the US and accused the US of preparing to invade Iran. He has promised
continued support to Hizbollah's resistance against Israeli occupation.
The US has accused Iran of developing biological, chemical and nuclear
weapons.
Israeli Prime Minister Sharon, preparing for future direct discussions
with US President Bush, has said that the question of Jewish settlements
was not open for discussion at this time. He has for the first time met
with the new Palestinian Prime Minister, Mahmoud Abbas. However, a
shadow was cast over this meeting and Sharon's trip to the US was
delayed with another suicide bombing. This attack was on a bus in
Jerusalem. It killed seven and injured twenty. A second suicide bomber
blew himself up as emergency workers arrived but did not cause other
casualties.
Jordan has charged 11 men with conspiracy for terrorism. Some are
allegedly linked to al Qaeda.
As more mass graves are discovered in Iraq, the fate of hundreds of
missing Kuwaitis, lost since the 1991 Gulf war, is being revealed.
The Lebanese army has arrested nine suspected members of a terrorist
network.
In what has been called Saudi Arabia's September 11, a group of
coordinated suicide bombings in Riyadh killed 34 and injured 194. The
attacks were directed against business and housing compounds used by
foreign residents. Last week, 19 suspects escaped a police raid and are
now suspected in connection to this attack, which has been linked to al
Qaeda.
Syria has dropped its objections to the Middle East roadmap but there
are mixed messages over whether action would be taken against Hizbollah.
In Yemen, a judge was injured in a courtroom explosion where the week
before suspected al Qaeda militant Abed Abdulrazzak Kamel was sentenced
to death for killing three US missionaries.
7. South Asia
Afghanistan's security situation is not improving, with Taliban forces
routinely targeting Afghan forces and factional fighting continuing
around the country. UN staff will be given armed escorts.
India and Pakistan plan to begin discussions. In another measure to
restore diplomatic ties, they have both appointed ambassadors after a
diplomatic breach that has lasted 18 months and led to increased fears
of a nuclear conflict.
In the Indian state of Assam, militants involved in tribal clashes
killed the son of the state mining minister. West Bengal, 26 people died
and 40 were injured in election-related violence.
Nepal's Maoist rebels have accused the government of insincerity and
failing to inspire confidence in the peace process.
In Karachi, Pakistan, eighteen small bombs went off at twelve Shell
gasoline stations, causing minimal damage but offering a reminder of the
extent of militant groups.
Pakistan has banned Masood Azhar, head of Jaish-e-Mohammad from
entering Pakistan-administered Kashmir.
Sri Lanka's peace talks remain stalled and the Norwegian mediator will
return for further efforts. The stumbling block now is around control of
reconstruction funds.
8. Cyberterrorism and Information Warfare
The Fizzer virus, spread through Windows Outlook email programs and peer-to-peer file sharing networks like Kazaa, contains malicious code that can track keystrokes and deliver a Trojan so makes it more dangerous than many other viruses.9. Finance
In a new twist on the Nigeria 419 advance fee scams, counterfeit checks
are being used for false online purchases. The US Federal Deposit
Insurance Corporation has also announced the circulation of fraudulent
cashier's checks.
Israeli police have arrested members of the Islamic Movement of Israeli
Arabs on charges of funding Hamas.
Banks in the Solomon Islands were forced to close following a failed
pyramid scheme. International financial institutions pulled out while
waiting for law and order to be reestablished.
Nauru faces sanctions over its passport business. See Glenn Simpson's
"Tiny Pacific Island Is Big Worry for U.S." in The Wall Street Journal,
May 16.
The Association of Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialists has
created an AML certification test.
10. Human Rights
The UN general assembly has approved a plan to open a special court to
try former Khmer Rouge leaders for genocide. Concerns remain over
possible interference by government authorities that have a history of
interfering with Cambodian judicial systems.
The Russian Supreme Court has ruled that Muslim women will be allowed
to wear their headscarves in passport photos.
11. Law and Legal
Issues
Amrozi, accused in the October 2002 Bali bombing, has begun his trial
in Indonesia.
Jamal Badawi and Fahd Quso were indicted by a federal grand jury in New
York, US, in connection with the October 2000 USS Cole attack that
killed 17 US sailors.
Manuel Contreras, former head of Augosto Pinochet's secret police in
Chile, has been indicted in the 1974 kidnapping, torture and
disappearance of a Spanish priest.
Christian Ganczarski has been released from prison in Saudi Arabia
where he had been held for alleged connections with al Qaeda's attack in
Tunisia last April. The Saudis were going to deport him to Germany but
the Germans were unable to get sufficient evidence to bring charges and
he is now free.
Haffan al-Hasham, alleged al Qaeda member, has been arrested in
Pakistan.
Zacarias Moussaoui, alleged "20th hijacker", has again received a
favorable ruling that he be allowed to depose al Qaeda operative Ramzi
Binalshibh for his defense. The federal court has also agreed to hold an
open hearing scheduled for June 3.
Abdelghani Mzoudi has been charged in Germany as an accessory to
Mohamed Atta, a September 11 hijacker.
Terry Nichols, convicted conspirator in the Oklahoma City bombing, will
now stand trial in state court on 160 counts of murder.
Eliezer Niyitegeka was convicted of genocide, conspiracy to commit
genocide, and public incitement to commit genocide in Rwanda in 1994. He
was sentenced to life in prison.
Oscar Petmezci on trial for planning to bomb a US Army headquarters in
Germany, has been convicted of the lesser charges of posse4ssing
explosives and drugs. Astrid Eyzaguirre had already been released.
Miroslav Radic has been extradited from Serbia to The Hague where he
will face charges of war crimes.
Laurent Semanza was found guilty of complicity to commit genocide and
crimes against humanity in connection with the 1994 Rwandan genocide. He
was sentenced to 25 years in prison.
Yasein Taher has become the fifth of the "Lackawanna Six" arrested in
Buffalo, New York, to plead guilty to receiving weapons and explosives
training in Afghanistan.
Morgan Tsvangirai, Zimbabwe's opposition leader, is on trial for
charges to planning to assassinate President Mugabe.
12. Narco-terrorism
Coca production in Bolivia and Peru is increasing, largely due to the
determination of local peasants to make a living when they have no
realistic alternatives.
13. Transportation
The US Department of Homeland Security is evaluating technologies to
deter missile attacks against airplanes.
The US Bureau of Customs and Border Protection plans to deploy video
cameras with analytical capabilities to analyze activities at the
Canadian border.
British officials plan to add sky marshals to UK flights.
A review of proposed security improvements at Los Angeles International
Airport has found the investment would actually increase vulnerability.
See Jennifer Oldham's "Plan to Hike Security at LAX Faulted" in the Los
Angeles Times, May 15.
14. Weapons of Mass
Destruction
The US Congress voted to fund research into a new generation of
tactical nuclear weapons.
Iraq's al-Tuwaitha nuclear complex, containing 200 radioactive isotopes
for medical and industrial use, has been looted. The International
Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has been barred from investigating the
facility that had previously been under its watch. This raises serious
concerns over the possibility of radioactive material getting into the
hands of terrorists.
Russia's lower house of parliament has ratified the nuclear arms
reduction treaty with the US. It had been postponed for nearly two
months in protest against the US-led war on Iraq. Russia has begun
testing their heavy bombers and cruise missiles in joint exercises with
India.
FEATURE ARTICLE: Al Qaeda and International Terrorism, Since September 11
Peace in Afghanistan? Freedom in Iraq? Al Qaeda on the run? None of these objectives have been achieved. While this should be no surprise to readers of this Newsletter, the surge in terrorist attacks over the last week has clearly caught many off guard, not least a US administration still flush from its self-proclaimed military "victories".HOW TO CONTACT US:
Please contact us with your questions or comments by sending email to editor@terrorismcentral.com.
We look forward to hearing from you.
Editorial Team
TerrorismCentral
All Rights Reserved. Copyright © 2003 by TerrorismCentral.