AUTHOR:
TerrorismCentral Editorial Staff
TITLE:
TerrorismCentral Newsletter - November 26, 2006
SOURCE:
TerrorismCentral, November 26, 2006
TEXT:
This week Iraq saw the worst day of civilian casualties since the 2003 invasion, another assassination in Lebanon, and spreading conflict in the Horn of Africa that all point to civil war and regional conflicts. It is, therefore welcome, that the Palestinians and Israel have stepped back from the brink with a ceasefire. On another note, we look at the balance between security and privacy illustrated in the SWIFT case: see Recommended Reading for details.
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GTM Africa
--------------------------------------------------
Chad rebels briefly captured the eastern towns of Abeche and Biltine
but were driven back. Fighting continues, and the government denies that
rebels are advancing on the capital N'Djamena.
In southern Chad, spillover from the conflict in Sudan has displaced
at least 15,000 people in the last three weeks, form some two dozen of
villages that have been destroyed. Although there have been no new attacks
in the last few days, armed groups remain in the area.
http://www.unhcr.org/news/NEWS/4566d0f34.html
UN investigators report the discovery of a mass grave in an army camp in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo's Ituri district. Witnesses accused the army and associated factional fighters of responsibility.
Nigerian militants seized seven foreign oil workers working for the Italian firm Eni. A controversial attempt to rescue them led to the death of a British hostage and the serious injury of an Italian. The remaining five hostages from Finland, the Philippines, Poland, and Romania were released unharmed.
The volatile mix of Sudanese government forces, militias, rebels and
armed opposition groups from Chad roaming freely in western Darfur, spreading
fear and terror, has left the war-torn region on an abyss. UN humanitarian
chief Jan Egeland reported to the UN Security Council that "for
more than a thousand days and a thousand nights, the defenseless civilians
of Darfur have been in fear for their lives, and the lives of their children.
The Government’s failure to protect its own citizens even in areas
where there are no rebels, has been shameful and continues. So does our
own failure, more than a year after world leaders in this very building
pledged their own responsibility to protect civilians where the Government
manifestly fails to do so."
http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs//2006/sc8875.doc.htm
http://www.issafrica.org/index.php?link_id=5&slink_id=3871&link_type=12&slink_type=12&tmpl_id=3
http://www.unhchr.ch/huricane/huricane.nsf/view01/0037BD6D9A53C4E8C12572290043BFC6?opendocument
The Ugandan government and the rebel Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) signed
a cessation of hostilities agreement in August. Since then, little substantive
progress has been made. This week LRA reiterated its promise to release
non-combatants and respect the agreement, but LRA leadership remains
paranoid about their future. Jan Egeland has called for international
support for face-to-face talks and additional aid to support the peace
process at this vulnerable stage.
http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs//2006/sc8875.doc.htm
--------------------------------------------------
GTM Americas
--------------------------------------------------
Former Chilean military dictator Augusto Pinochet issued a statement
in which he takes political responsibility for the events that took place
during his 18-year rule, and said that the 1973 coup was in the country's
best interest.
In Colombia, leaders of the United Self Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC)
and other paramilitaries called for a truth commission in which they
can confess their actions during the civil war. Investigations into congressional
ties to paramilitaries continue, with dozens of arrests anticipated.
http://edition.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/americas/11/23/colombia.paramilitary.ap/index.html
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N23286050.htm
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-petro25nov25,0,698258.story
Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) rebel leader Ricardo Palmero was on trial in the US for charges of hostage taking and terrorism. After five weeks of deliberation, the case ended in a mistrial. Colombian former presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt's mother has appealed for the government to intervene with FARC to free her daughter.
A Peruvian judge has issued a new arrest warrant for former President Alberto Fujimori, who is in exile in Chile. Already wanted for corruption and human rights abuses, the new charges are related to the death of 20 Shining Path rebels during a 1992 prison riot.
Comrade Artemio, the last active leader of the Shining Path, has offered a truce with the Peruvian government in exchange for an amnesty and negotiated peace.
"Into the Long War: Oxford Research Group International Security
Report 2006" examines events in Iraq since May 2005 and assesses
their impact on other countries including Afghanistan, Iran and the wider
Middle East. The book charts a tumultuous period in the conflict, including
a wider international perspective on the terrorist attacks in London
and Sharm al Sheik, and an assessment of how US public opinion has changed
as the war drags on: for 30 years or more.
http://www.oxfordresearchgroup.org.uk/publications/books/longwar.htm
US former attorney general Janet Reno has joined seven other former
Justice Department officials in a friend-of-the-court briefing that openly
the indefinite detention of terrorism suspects and other aspects of the
Bush administration's policies that abuse constitutional rights. The
briefing was filed in the case of alleged enemy combatant Ali Saleh Kahlah
al-Marri.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/21/AR2006112101259.html
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/11/27/national/nationalspecial3/27enemy.html
http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/ilc/press/2003/may/052203almarri.html
--------------------------------------------------
GTM Asia Pacific
--------------------------------------------------
In Indonesia's Aceh province, many former Free Aceh Movement (GAM) leaders
and soldiers are participating in elections, established as part of a
peace agreement. Among these are former GAM leaders Irwandi Yusuf, Muhammad
Nazar, and Hasbi Abdullah.
Subur Sugiarto ("Abu Mujahid") was sentenced in Indonesian court to life in prison and Ardi Wibowo to six years for aiding fugitive Malaysian bombmaker Noordin M. Top while he was on the run in Central Java last year. Noordin is one of the regions most wanted terrorist suspects.
Central Sulawesi police recently raided a village in connection with investigations regarding anti-Christian attacks in Central Sulawesi. During the raid one person was shot dead. Five suspects are being actively sought for their role in attacks in the towns of Poso and Palu. Fifteen other Muslim militants with the Muslim Tanah Runtuh and Kayamanya were previously arrested.
The Philippines army continued efforts to prevent New People's Army (NPA) communist rebels from re-establishing their dismantled base camp in Leyte and Quezon province, including several fatal clashes.
Abu Sayyaf member Annik Abbas was recaptured last Friday. He was involved in the detention and murder of several US hostages.
In southern Thailand the government and the newly revived Southern Border
Provinces Administrative Center continued efforts to encourage peace
despite ongoing violence that has led to widespread school closures.
The week began with a bomb on a motorbike at a market that killed one
soldier and one civilian. Arson and bomb attacks in Yala on Wednesday
damaged several schools. On Friday, Muslim militants shot and burned
the director of a community school in Pattani province. All 322 schools
have closed indefinitely pending improved security measures. Armed assaults
killed six other people.
--------------------------------------------------
GTM Europe
--------------------------------------------------
Increasing geopolitical risk is cited in Standard and Poor's rating outlook
change from positive to stable. In particular, they cite tensions in
Georgia's relationship with key trading partner Russia, including a unilateral
trade embargo and gas price increases that will adversely affect the
current account deficit.
German police arrested six Muslims on suspicion of planning to blow up an El Al aircraft using an explosive planted in luggage. Five suspects were released a day later and one remains in custody in connection with another investigation.
Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi has dismissed intelligence chief Nicolo Pollari, who is one of several agents under investigation for their involvement in the US Central Intelligence Agency's extraordinary rendition of Egyptian cleric Osama Mustafa Hassan in February 2003.
Russian journalist Boris Stomakhin edited pro-Chechen publications Radical Politics and the Kavkaz Center website. He has now been jailed for five years for his reporting on the Chechnya conflict.
Former Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko died in London following a mysterious
illness that has now been traced to radiological poisoning. Litvinenko
was a fierce critic of Russian President Putin, and had exposed security
service involvement in Moscow apartment block explosions and their activities
in Chechnya. He was taken ill after two meetings with Russian contacts,
and accused Russian security of causing his death. Russia has denied
any involvement, but the case has reinforced growing concerns over the
direction in which Russia is heading, and recalls tensions from the era
of the Cold War.
http://cms.met.police.uk/news/major_operational_announcements/police_investigation_into_the_death_of_alexander_litvinenko
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L23411320.htm
http://www.guardian.co.uk/russia/article/0,,1955864,00.html
http://www.guardian.co.uk/russia/article/0,,1956680,00.html
http://www.guardian.co.uk/russia/article/0,,1956810,00.html
http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2-2006540697,00.html
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-2469176,00.html
An anonymous Animal Liberation Front cell claimed responsibility for
setting fire to six trucks packed with eggs at Deans Foods, Cotswold
Farm, in Oxfordshire. A web posting said the action was dedicated to
animal rights prisoners. The firebombing caused GBP 250,000 damage, and
required 50 firefighters to prevent the fires spreading to housing for
thousands of hens.
http://www.oxfordmail.net/misc/print.php?artid=1030873
Convicted loyalist murderer Michael Stone stormed into the entrance
of Northern Ireland's parliament armed with a knife, a gun and what a
homemade bomb. Security staff intervened and removed him, then recovered
and defused at least six explosive devices. The inaugural meeting of
the transitional assembly was suspended during these proceedings. Stone
acted in protest over the Democratic Unionist Party's conditional agreement
to share power with republican party Sinn Fein.
--------------------------------------------------
GTM Middle East
--------------------------------------------------
In Gaza, Israeli operations and Palestinian rockets continued through
the week. On Tuesday Israeli troops clashed with gunmen as they pushed
into Gaza City. Tank fire killed a 70-year-old woman in her home, and
injured four civilians outside. Hamas militant Ayman Hassanein was injured
then killed by Israeli troops. Two Italian Red Cross workers were kidnapped
and released several hours later. Fearing for the safety of its workers,
the Red Cross ended field operations and will intervene only in matters
of life and death. On Wednesday, Israeli forces returned to Beit Hanoun.
They killed two Hamas militants a Palestinian woman, and a 14-year-old
boy, as Israel's security cabinet issued a statement that the military
had been told to prepare and present a plan for a broader sweep, including
raids and targeted killings, but not a large-scale assault. An aircraft
missile at night struck a vehicle carrying three Popular Resistance Committee
militants, who were all killed.
On Thursday, a 57-year-old female Palestinian woman carried out a suicide bombing on behalf of Hamas. She died, and three Israeli soldiers suffered minor injuries. Exchanges of fire between Israeli troops and Palestinians killed three other Palestinians, and an air attack killed a Hamas militant. Three separate incidents on Friday killed three Palestinians, including a 10-year-old boy, and lightly injured two Israeli soldiers who drove over an explosive device. On Saturday two separate incidents of Israeli gunfire killed two Palestinians.
The number of Iraqi civilians killed in October reached a new high of
3,709. Based on figures from the Iraqi Health Ministry, hospitals and
the Medico-Legal Institute in Baghdad, 7,054 civilians were killed in
September and October, including 351 women and 110 children. October's
figure was nearly 120 more than July's total of 3,590, which had set
the previous record. There have been attacks on journalists, judges and
lawyers, violence against religious minorities, and targeting of schools.
The influence of armed militias is growing, and torture continues to
be rampant, as do other serious human rights abuses. The situation of
women and children continues to deteriorate, and displacement worsens.
http://www.uniraq.org
http://edition.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/11/22/iraq.report/index.html
In Iraq on Monday, the deputy health minister's convoy was attacked, a day after another was kidnapped. Two bodyguards were killed. Two US military forces were killed, one in Anbar and one in Baghdad. Walid Hassan, an Iraqi television comedian, was shot and killed as he drove to work. On Tuesday, US and Iraqi forces raided the Sadr City district of Baghdad, detaining seven suspects. During the raid a baby, its mother and three others were killed, and 15 people were injured. Attacks in Baghdad, Mosul and Baqouba killed 19 and injured 33. Nine kidnapped and tortured bodies were found. On Wednesday in Baghdad roadside bombs injured two policemen as they retrieved three bodies, a parliamentary speaker's bodyguard was shot and a second injured inside the Green Zone, and drive-by shootings killed 13 and injured 6. Iraqi journalist Raad Jaafar Hamadi, who worked for the state-run al-Sabah newspaper, was killed in a drive-by shooting, bringing to at least 92 the number of journalists killed in this war. (36 other media employees have also died.) Attacks in Baquba left four policemen dead in two separate armed assaults. A policeman was shot dead in Falluja. In Iskandariya, a roadside bomb killed seven members of the Facility Protection services, and injured another. The body was found in Kerbala of police major Basim Hasan al-Hasnawi, who was abducted on Monday.
Thursday was marked by the most devastating series of attacks in a single
day since the US-led invasion, as a series of attacks killed more than
200 people, and injured nearly 300. Sunni militants coordinated a wave
of car bombs, suicide bar bombs, and mortar attacks against Baghdad's
Shiite district, Sadr City. Shia retaliated by firing mortars into Sunni
areas. Whole streets were leveled, and the city has been placed under
indefinite curfew. Precise mortality figures cannot be obtained due to
the devastating nature of many of the injuries. http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,,1955915,00.html
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/11/24/wiraq24.xml
There were a number of other incidents on Thursday in other parts of the country. These include a roadside bomb targeting a police patrol that killed one policeman and wounded another in Iskandariya, and an armed assault n a police checkpoint that killed one civilian and injured a policeman. Three gunshot bodies were found in Mosul. Gunmen in Talafar pulled a man off a bus and shot him dead.
Funeral ceremonies and revenge attacks dominated Friday. Heavy fighting in the northern Baghdad Sunni suburb Hurriyah killed more than 30, including grenades thrown into homes and mosques. Six Sunni Arabs were doused in kerosene and burned alive and they left Friday prayers. Baghdad police recovered 30 death squad victims' bodies. Coalition forces continued operations, killing four and detaining six suspected al Qaeda. In a market in the northern town of Talafar a double suicide bombing killed at least 22 and injured 45. A US marine died of wounds sustained in Anbar. Mortars targeting a residential area of Diwaniya killed one and injured two. Up to Saturday morning police in Baghdad found eight unidentified bodies. Mortar attacks on several neighborhoods killed one woman and injured a dozen others. An attack on a funeral killed one mourner and injured six. Armed assaults in Mosul left one policeman dead, a second injured, and three soldiers injured. In Balad Ruz 21 Shiite men and boys from an extended family were kidnapped and later found dead. US operations in Taji killed 22 suspected insurgents. A roadside bomb in Daquq detonated accidentally, killing two militants. Four Kirkuk policemen were injured by a roadside bomb. A roadside bomb in Tikrit targeted Brigadier-General Faridoun Talabani, who was lightly wounded. Two of his guards were killed and three injured.
In Israel's border town of Sderot, a man died of injuries after being hit by rocket fire from Gaza on Tuesday.
Since Israel renewed ground operations in Gaza in June some 400 Palestinians have been killed, about half civilians. Three Israeli soldiers and two civilians have also died.
Israel's Defense Minister Amir Peretz has ordered an extensive inquiry into irregularities found in use of cluster munitions, including targeting of populated areas. Nearly a million bomblets remain in Lebanon. Students returning to school are Bosnian and Lebanese colleagues were also injured in the incident.
Lebanese Maronite Christian and anti-Syrian politician Pierre Gemayel
was assassinated when three gunmen attacked his car and shot him repeatedly
at point-blank range. Those responsible are unknown, but Syria and Hezbollah
are among the suspects. The attack came hours after Syria restored diplomatic
relations with Iraq. There was a huge turnout at his funeral, and mass
demonstrations against the attack, many anti-Syrian.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6169978.stm
http://www.guardian.co.uk/syria/story/0,,1953850,00.html
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,30809-2465218,00.html
http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/11/21/news/profile.php
)
The UN Security Council gave its support to the establishment of a special
tribunal to try those alleged responsible for the 2005 assassination
of then Lebanese prime minister Rafik Hariri and 22 others in a massive
car bombing in Beirut. The statute needed to establish the tribunal says
that the tribunal will have concurrent jurisdiction with Lebanon's national
courts, but primacy over those courts within its jurisdiction. Lebanon's
cabinet has given final approval to the plan.
http://www.un.org/Docs/journal/asp/ws.asp?m=s/2006/893
In a northern Lebanon refugee camp, Palestinian security forces and militants with the Jund al-Sham clashed, leaving one security officer dead. Four arrests were made, including one suspected al Qaeda member.
In the West Bank on Tuesday, Israeli soldiers shot and killed a 17-year-old
Palestinian who had approached them with a fake gun. On Wednesday, Israeli
forces shot dead a Palestinian gunman in Jenin.
--------------------------------------------------
GTM South Asia
--------------------------------------------------
Afghanistan's Taleban says that a reduction in violence the last two
weeks is the result of an early winter, and attacks will resume when
the harsh season ends early next year. The week was not without incidents.
The most serious occurred today when a suicide bombing in eastern Orgun
district killed 15 and injured 25, including many children, in a restaurant.
http://www.thedailystar.net/2006/11/23/d611231306114.htm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/6184980.stm
In the eastern Indian state of West Bengal two bombs exploded on a passenger train, killing 12 and injuring 50. Separatists are suspected in the attack, but responsibility is not yet known.
Pakistani police detained 28 Afghans suspected of being Taleban members.
Violence in Sri Lanka has continued to expand. The week began with a government air raid on an alleged Tamil Tiger training camp in the north. There was heavy fighting in several eastern areas, including serious clashes in Ampara and Batticaloa that killed dozens. Air strikes this weekend inflicted more casualties. Escalating violence continued to pose a threat of all out civil war. Sri Lanka has asked India to assist in maritime patrols.
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Publications
--------------------------------------------------
PRM Africa
--------------------------------------------------
The Chadian government has extended a state of emergency to six months
from an initial 12 days amid continuing violence and massive displacement.
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/IRIN/faaf1794fec8c7cae6550afb7cb4292d.htm
Democratic Republic of Congo suffered a spate of post-election violence. The Supreme Court was set on fire during protests over alleged election fraud. UN soldiers intervened to restore order, and called for both candidates to use only the law to address their concerns. Losing candidate Jean-Pierre Bemba condemned the violence and assisted his forces to leave the capital, following an ultimatum issued by President Kabila. Further fighting flared in the east, when troops loyal to dissident general Laurent Nkunda attacked army positions, killing two soldiers, and forcing thousands of civilians to flee.
Ethiopia and Eritrea rejected a proposal put forward by the independent
boundary commission that would have worked around an impasse over demarcation
that has lasted for four years. They had proposed completing the demarcation,
but allowing each country to implement physical border elements.
http://www.mg.co.za/articlePage.aspx?area=/breaking_news/breaking_news__africa/&articleId=290647
Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi has told parliament that it is prepared for a conflict with Somalia's Union of Islamic Courts (UIC). UIC reacted angrily to the comment, and insisted that they have no links to terrorism and no malicious intentions towards neighboring countries. UIC leader Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed says his forces are ready to face any Ethiopian troops entering Somalia.
Mauritania is counting votes in the first election since last year's bloodless coup. Early counts indicate that opposition parties have won the largest share.
Rwanda has severed all ties with Franc, including closing the French
embassy and expelling its envoy. The measure follows a French judge's
implication of Rwandan President Paul Kagame and top aides in the 1994
assassination of the country's former leader, which unleashed the genocide.
Last month Rwanda established a commission to investigate France's role
in the genocide.
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L24627705.htm
Sudan has agreed in principle to a hybrid African Union - United Nations peacekeeping force in Darfur.
Iran has promised to support Zimbabwe against "a few bully nations",
and says it does not recognize economic sanctions imposed by western
countries.
http://www.mg.co.za/articlePage.aspx?area=/breaking_news/breaking_news__africa/&articleId=290738
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PRM Americas
--------------------------------------------------
The twelve members of the South American Community of Nations have signed
an agreement to allow citizens to travel between them without passports.
Argentina has accused Uruguay of diverting attention from pollution and other environmental issues associated with the controversy over construction of pulp mills. The dispute has deepened following Argentina's summoning of the Uruguayan ambassador.
In Bolivia, the local assemblies in Beni and Santa Cruz have formally stated opposition to President Evo Morales' plans for land redistribution.
Canadian intelligence services arrested a man as he attempted to leave the country using forged identity papers. They believe he is a Russian spy. The Russian ambassador said he had no information about the suspect, but suggested that Canada should move beyond spy thrillers to focus on cooperation.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper introduced a motion in Parliament recognizing
the French-speaking province of Quebec as a nation within Canada. Bloc
Quebecois separatist leader Gilles Duceppe reversed an earlier position
to now support the resolution after concluding that it was a step on
the road to independence.
http://edition.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/americas/11/23/canada.quebec.ap/index.html
http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1164409811649
Ecuador held a presidential run-off election today. Exit polls suggest that leftist candidate Rafael Correa has a significant lead over conservative rival Alvaro Noboa.
Haiti has become eligible under the Enhanced Highly Indebted Poor Countries
(HIPC) debt relief initiative.
http://www.imf.org/external/np/sec/pr/2006/pr06261.htm
Mexican President-elect Felipe Calderon has announced pro-reform cabinet appointments on Monday, the same day that defeated leftist candidate Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador launched a "parallel government".
Mexican authorities released the report by the Office of Special Prosecutor
Ignacio Carrillo Prieto on the government's use of violent repression
to crush its opponents during the 1960s-80s. The report makes clear that
the abuses were not the work of individual military units or renegade
officers, but official practice under Presidents Diaz Ordaz (1964-1970),
Echeverria (1970-1976) and Lopez Portillo (1976-1982).
http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/NSAEBB/NSAEBB209/index.htm
Robert M. Gates, US President Bush's nominee to lead the Pentagon, advocated
a bombing campaign against Nicaragua in 1984.
http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/NSAEBB/NSAEBB210/index.htm
Venezuelan President Chavez recalled his ambassador to Argentina following
complaints from President Kirchner regarding the ambassador's controversial
behavior.
--------------------------------------------------
PRM Asia Pacific
--------------------------------------------------
Meetings between Chinese and Indian leaders were interrupted when more
than a dozen Tibetan activists breached security at meeting venues in
New Delhi. They were arrested.
Chinese Prime Minister Hu Jintao visited India and Pakistan, In India he and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh promised to double bilateral trade and encourage joint and regional investment. They also agreed to continue discussion of various outstanding border disputes. In Pakistan, Hu signed trade, culture, and energy agreements.
45 UN volunteers from 21 nations are the first contingent of a group that will reach 250 people helping East Timor prepare for the first post-independence elections, which are being held next year. Rebel military leader Major Alfredo Reinado remains in hiding. Prime Minister Jose Ramos-Horta has urged peacekeepers to arrest him under a warrant that charges him with weapons possession and murder in connection with civil unrest that began in May.
Fiji's army chief Commodore Frank Bainimarama has given the government two weeks to comply with his list of non-negotiable demands, leading Australia to warn that a coup is imminent in coming weeks.
Indonesia's Aceh province has opened campaigning for elections next month.
New Zealand opposition party, the Nationals, leader Don Brash has resigned.
He denies claims that he is stepping down because of a forthcoming book
that claims to reveal links between his party and the Exclusive Brethren,
a secretive religious sect.
http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/brash-resigns-amid-sect-link-claims/2006/11/23/1163871546049.html
Malaysian politics has been gripped by fears of racial and religious
violence following incendiary speeches at a meeting of the nation's pro-Muslim
ruling party.
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/SP237095.htm
Papua New Guinea rebels with the Bougainville Freedom Fighters (BFF) in the autonomous Bougainville province shot and killed four illegal Fijian mercenaries hired as bodyguards, and seriously injured businessman Noah Musingku, who is responsible for a failed pyramid fraud. A rebel fighter was also killed.
Thailand continued to develop plans for a special economic zone in the southernmost provinces of Narathiwat, Pattani, Satun, Songkhia, and Yala. Bank of Thailand has instructed commercial banks to reduce loan rates, and tax breaks are being discussed. Plans for training and a range of other measures are also being developed.
Tonga's King Tupou V addressed parliament last week, appealing for calm
and promising democratic reforms. Rioting last week left six people dead,
and up to 80 percent of the commercial capital Nuku'alofa destroyed,
including many Chinese businesses. Some 200 Chinese nationals were flown
out on a government charter returning them home.
--------------------------------------------------
PRM Europe
--------------------------------------------------
The EU-Russia summit was held in Helsinki this weekend. It opened in
disarray and ended in uncertainty, largely due to poor relations between
Russia and Poland.
http://ec.europa.eu/commission_barroso/president/focus/eu_russia_112006_en.htm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6179080.stm
Four Austrian police have been suspended following allegations that they made racist comments to Tuncay Calskan, an Austrian Olympiad of Turkish descent.
Cyprus police arrested an 18-year-old for allegedly inciting Turkish-Cypriot violence by leading a gang of 20 youths to attack Turkish Cypriot students.
The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Representative
on Freedom of the Media, Miklos Haraszti expressed concern about the
trial of three Danish journalists charged with publishing classified
information.
http://www.osce.org/item/22165.html
France has its first female major-party presidential candidate, Segolene Royal of the Socialist Party, who will run in elections next year against conservative Nicolas Sarkozy.
A black French policeman was attacked and pushed to the ground while trying to protect a football (soccer) fan from anti-Semitic abuse. The policeman fired tear gas then live ammunition to attempt to disperse the fighting crowd, leading to the death of one fan and serious injury of a second. Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin called for tougher measures against hooligans, and anti-racism groups called for urgent action to stamp out the scourges of racism and anti-Semitism.
Georgia marked the third anniversary of the Rose Revolution that swept pro-Western President Saakashvili to power. The path has not been easy.
The International Crisis Group's latest report, "Georgia's Armenian
and Azeri Minorities" finds: "The Georgian government must
take significant steps to avoid conflict in the country’s ethnic
Armenian and Azeri areas. While there is no risk of the situation becoming
Ossetian- or Abkhaz-like threats to Georgia’s territorial integrity,
tensions are evident in the regions of Samtskhe-Javakheti and Kvemo-Kartli.
Policies are needed that increase inclusion, and minorities should not
be discriminated against, especially in hiring for state jobs. The government
needs to establish a comprehensive education system to teach Georgian
as a second language, and allow the use of minority languages for government
business in municipalities with large numbers of minority citizens."
http://www.crisisgroup.org/home/index.cfm?id=4517&l=1
OSCE is working with Georgia to complete accurate voter lists ahead
of parliamentary and presidential elections in autumn 2008.
http://www.osce.org/item/22162.html
Georgia is threatening to block Russia's membership of the World Trade Organization, as disputed between the two countries continue. Russia has imposed a unilateral trade blockade and threatens to double gas prices.
Italian prosecutors are investigating claims made in a documentary, Kill Democracy, that former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi tried to rig the April general elections, which gave a very thin majority to the center-left although both opinion and exit polls had indicated a wide margin.
Latvia's parliament elected controversial anti-gay activist Janis Smits, with the First Party, as head of its human rights commission.
Dutch elections gave the ruling Christian Democrats the largest share of votes, but not a majority. Efforts to form a coalition are under way, but have been complicated by election shifts to each extreme.
Evidence given to a Serbian court claims that reformist Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic's deputy, Nebojsa Covic and ultra-nationalist Vojislav Seselj were both aware of a plot to kill Djindjic. Both deny the accusation. Seselj is being held at the war crimes tribunal in the Hague for his role in the Bosnian war, but he plans to run in the January general elections from his cell.
Swedish police have found a revolver they believe was used in the unsolved 1986 assassination of Swedish Prime Minister Olaf Palme.
UK foreign secretary Margaret Beckett told the House of Commons that
British troops could start coming home from Iraq by next April.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,,1954814,00.html
Northern Ireland political parties have issued ministerial nominations.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/6179808.stm
Fifty years of Northern Ireland's Stormont parliamentary records have
been made available online:
http://stormontpapers.ahds.ac.uk/index.html
--------------------------------------------------
PRM Middle East
--------------------------------------------------
Bahrain voted for lower house parliamentary representatives and five
municipal councils on Saturday.
Israel and Palestinians have agreed to a ceasefire beginning today (0600
Sunday).
http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs//2006/sc8872.doc.htm
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L25747913.htm
Iran has been suspended from the international football (soccer) federation
FIFA due to government interference in running fames inside Iran.
http://www.fifa.com/en/media/index/0,1369,126229,00.html?articleid=126229
Iraq's precarious government is teetering on the brink following the
massive attacks last week that have brought the country even closer to
civil war. Shia militia leader Moqtada al-Sadr has threatened to walk
out, potentially bringing down the government, if Prime Minister Nuri
al-Maliki proceeds with a meeting in Jordan that includes US President
Bush. Maliki is holding talks with Iran, and there is a general scramble
to pull in regional leaders to help resolve the deepening crisis.
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N24328246.htm
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/PAR467181.htm
Iraq and Syria have restored diplomatic relations, after a break of more than two decades.
The UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) protested the 14 Israeli air violations it observed, including two by F-15 jets flying at low altitude, and called for their immediate halt. Eleven of the incidents occurred in the area of operations of the French battalion, which met with an Israeli general to discuss the repeated violations.
Following the assassination of anti-Syrian cabinet minister Pierre Gemayel,
Lebanese Prime Minister Siniora called for national unity, and promised
full support for an international tribunal into political assassinations,
including former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. Tens of thousands of people
paid tribute at Gemayel's funeral, which turned into something of a passionate
political rally. Support for the Prime Minister continues to fall, and
signs of an intra-communal civil war are emerging. The accelerating political
crisis has led Standard and Poor's and Moody's both to downgrade the
country's economic ratings.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6181984.stm
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-lebanon25nov25,0,5451369.story
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/21/AR2006112100511.html
Peace Now reports that nearly 40 percent of Jewish settlements in the
West Bank are built on privately owned Palestinian land, in violation
of Israel's own laws.
http://www.peacenow.org.il/site/en/peace.asp?pi=66&docid=2048
--------------------------------------------------
PRM South Asia
--------------------------------------------------
Increased Taleban violence, growing illegal drug production, and fragile
institutions all leave Afghanistan again at risk of becoming a failed
state. To avoid this, the international community must step up to fully
support recovery efforts, including sustained assistance for immediate
and long-term progress.
http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs//2006/sc8874.doc.htm
UN agencies called on the Afghan Government, military groups and anti-government
forces to agree to "Days of Tranquility" to support upcoming
anti-polio campaigns, especially in the \south, where violence has significantly
curtailed vaccinator mobility, leading to a seven-fold rise in cases
this year.
http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/releases/2006/pr71/en/index.html
Bangladesh opposition parties began the week with a national transportation blockade in which clashes broke out, injuring 50 people. On Tuesday, two activists died when a rival political group drove a bus at them. At least 20 people were injured. On Wednesday, election commissioner Aziz agreed to go on leave. His absence from the political process ended the national blockade.
India hosted a visit from Chinese President Hu, where they discussed many issues of mutual interest, including nuclear energy cooperation and a dozen other agreements.
Nepal's government and Maoist rebels have signed a peace accord that ends a decade-long civil war. King Gyanendra welcomed the peace deal, in which he is the biggest loser. A high level panel has held him responsible for excesses against pro-democracy demonstrators in April, and calls for him to pay for the deaths of those killed. Meanwhile, his government authority has been rescinded, and all royal property will be nationalized under the new secular government.
Sri Lanka briefly opened to main road to the Jaffna peninsula to allow in supplies for half a million civilians trapped since August by fighting. The gesture did not reconcile foreign donors, who condemned systematic ceasefire violations by both sides. Both the Tigers and the government dismissed such censure.
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
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TAMNI
Publications
--------------------------------------------------
AML/CFT Incidents/Cases
--------------------------------------------------
Australian AML regulator Austrac is investigating two Australian citizens
on suspicion of financing Hezbollah's recent conflict with Israel.
http://www.ajn.com.au/news/news.asp?pgID=2070
Findings of the Cole inquiry into the Australian Wheat Board's involvement
in the Iraqi oil-for-food scandal included money laundering and a host
of other potential criminal charges.
http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/awb-report-in-now-for-the-legal-nightmare/2006/11/23/1163871546470.html
Colombian authorities are investigating a demobilized paramilitary leader
Salvatore Mancuso, head of the United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC),
for involvement in drug trafficking and money laundering involving, among
other things, retail outlets.
http://english.people.com.cn/200611/23/eng20061123_324439.html
The Iraq insurgency has become financially self-sustaining, raising tens
up to $200 million a year from oil smuggling, kidnapping, counterfeiting,
corrupt charities and other crimes. The New York Times reported the details
in today's issue.
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/26/world/middleeast/26insurgency.html
Nigeria's High Court in Lagos ruled that eight Plateau State lawmakers
must face trial on money laundering charges.
http://allafrica.com/stories/200611220597.html
Filipino and US authorities report links between armed groups in the island
of Mindanao and drug traffickers.
http://www.adnki.com/index_2Level.php?cat=Terrorism&loid=8.0.360677324&par=0
Sri Lanka's growing reputation as a money laundering hub came up for discussion
during an investment meeting.
http://www.lankabusinessonline.com/fullstory.php?newsID=750436235&no_view=1&SEARCH_TERM=11
Sri Lanka's Ministry of Defense released information on the use of charitable
contributions to the Tamil Tigers being diverting to finance terrorism.
http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20061119_01
Thailand's Police Lieutenant-General Theeradet Rodpothong reports that his Special Branch police agency is verifying authenticity of the reports that Thai restaurants in the "Tom Yam Kung" franchise operating Malaysia have pooled funds to finance insurgents in southern Thailand, as well as obtaining cash donations from sympathizers and extortion from local businesses.
Thailand's Criminal Court jailed Boonchu Limraksasin for 20 years following his conviction of violating the anti-money laundering act. The former land official illegally issued land rights documents in exchange for bribes, which he laundered through land and property sales. His accomplice, Meena Kanra was sentenced to seven years in prison.
British rapper The Game's business partner John Abbey ("Johnny Hooks")
has been charged with money laundering in connection with organized crime.
http://soundslam.com/articles/news/news.php?news=061120_thegame
The Assets Recovery Agency (ARA) has seized GBP 1.5 million of properties
in Manchester, England, that belong to the brother of alleged Irish Republican
Army (IRA) leader Thomas ("Slab") Murphy. ARA claims the properties
were purchased from the proceeds of money laundering and fuel smuggling
in Ireland. The joint Irish and British inquiry has led to a EU15 million
tax bill.
http://www.assetsrecovery.gov.uk/MediaCentre/PressReleases/2006/ARAFREEZES1.5MILLIONOFPROPERTYINMANCHESTER.htm
http://breakingnews.iol.ie/news/story_business_island.asp?j=202372076&p=zxz37z78z
--------------------------------------------------
AML/CFT Legislation and Regulation
--------------------------------------------------
The World Trade Organization's (WTO) Council for Trade in Goods approved
and forwarded to the General Council for adoption a draft decision extending
by six years the WTO waiver for the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme
for Rough Diamonds. The waiver covers measures taken by Australia, Botswana,
Brazil, Canada, Croatia, India, Israel, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Mauritius,
Mexico, Norway, Philippines, Sierra Leone, Chinese Taipei, Thailand, United
Arab Emirates, United States and Venezuela necessary to prohibit the export
of rough diamonds to non-participants in the scheme. The draft decision
recognized the "devastating impact of conflicts fuelled by trade in
conflict diamonds on the peace, safety and security of people in the affected
countries".
http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news06_e/ctg_20nov06_e.htm
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has released "Australia: Report
on the Observance of Standards and Codes - FATF Recommendations for Anti-Money
Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism". The report praises
the legislative framework but calls for significant improvements in enforcement.
http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/cat/longres.cfm?sk=20118.0
http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,20795698-5003402,00.html
The European Commission's Article 29 Working Party has unanimously adopted an opinion on the processing of personal data by the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (SWIFT) that finds breaches of data protection rules that warrant immediate cessation of information transfers to the US Treasury. For the full text of the press release from the Working Party and SWIFT's response, go to Recommended Reading, below. This section also provides additional references on this matter.
European Commissioner for Internal Market and Services Charlie McCreevy
addressed DG MARKT/DG JLS High Level Conference on the topic of "Maintaining
the integrity of identities and payments: two challenges to fraud prevention".
http://www.europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=SPEECH/06/730&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en
http://www.europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/06/1594&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en
The Hong Kong Monetary Authority has revised its guidelines to address
FATF Special Recommendation VII relating to wire transfers.
https://www.theasianbanker.com/A556C5/Update.nsf/0/2CFE654EB9E480D64825722F00074AB0?Opendocument
An economist has called on Iran to ratify its AML bill in order to join
the World Trade Organization.
http://www.iranmania.com/News/ArticleView/Default.asp?NewsCode=47433&NewsKind=Current%20Affairs
Joseph Nyagah comments on Kenya's Proceeds of Crime and Money Laundering
Bill 2006 in this article:
http://www.nationmedia.com/dailynation/nmgcontententry.asp?category_id=25&newsid=86263
MENA FATF held its 4th plenary meeting. It approved mutual evaluations
of Bahrain, Mauritania, and Syria; discussed the typologies report on cross
border payment methods, and planned for future meetings.
http://www.menafatf.org/ArticleDetail.asp?rid=654
Namibian Member of Parliament and Deputy Minister of Mines and Energy
Henock Ya Kasita, says that the fight against money laundering should be
extended from cash alone to property and other assets. His remarks occurred
as the parliament is debating new anti-money laundering legislation.
http://www.namibian.com.na/2006/November/national/065DC66D67.html
"Nigeria-Related Financial Crime and its Links with Britain" is
a major new report published from Chatham House that calls on authorities
in both countries to step up to their promises to combat corruption. The
report says that financial crime is costing the UK billions, and that internet
fraud, credit card fraud, money laundering and other crimes have continued
largely unchecked by either government.
http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/index.php?id=189&pid=347
The UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East
reports that the economic boycott of the Palestinian Authority this year
has increased the number of people living in "deep poverty",
defined as an inability to meet basic human consumption needs, by 64 percent
during the first half of this year. Deep poverty now effects more than
a quarter of the Palestinian population. The boycott has also led to a
fall in gross domestic product (GDP) by more than ten percent.
http://www.un.org/unrwa/news/SocioEconomicImpacts_Nov06.pdf
The last international counterterrorism Pakistan needs to implement is
AML/CFT, which is forthcoming.
http://www.dawn.com/2006/11/23/top8.htm
A UN Security Council committee will invite Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea,
Ethiopia, Iran, Libya, Saudi Arabia and Syria, Uganda and Yemen - accused
of illegally funneling weapons to Somalia - to question the four UN experts
who uncovered the alleged deals: Bruno Schiemsky (Belgium), Melvin Holt
(US), Harjit Kelley (Kenya) and Joel Salek (Colombia). Possible Security
Council actions to strengthen the embargo are on hold.
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N21330433.htm
The UK Financial Services Agency (FSA) and the US Commodities and Futures
Trading Commission (CFTC) have signed a strengthened information exchange
Memorandum of Understanding to support cross-market regulatory surveillance.
http://www.fsa.gov.uk/pubs/mou/cftc.pdf
--------------------------------------------------
AML/CFT Modalities
--------------------------------------------------
IMF's review of Australia's performance regarding FATF's AML/CFT recommendations
says that:
"Criminals use a range of techniques to launder money in Australia.
Generally, money launderers seek to exploit the services offered by mainstream
retail banking and larger financial service and gaming providers. Visible
money laundering is predominately carried out using the regulated financial
sector, particularly trough the use of false identities and false name
bank accounts facilitated by forged documents to structure and transact
funds. Money launderers often move funds offshore by using international
funds transfers. Money launderers also move funds through smaller or informal
service providers such as alternative remittance dealers. Australian authorities
also identified other methods that served as money laundering vehicles:
cash smuggling into and out of Australia, and the use of legitimate businesses
t mix proceeds of crime with legitimately earned income/profits. Law enforcement
has also recognized a growing trend in the use of professional launderers
and other third parties to launder criminal proceeds."
http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/cat/longres.cfm?sk=20118.0
The lifespan of youths in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, is about two years.
This is one of the key findings in a new study from Observatorio de Favelas.
They also report that about a third of gang members joined to make money,
and nearly half spent it on clothes. Sixty percent worked more than ten
hours a day, and half work seven days a week. Most have been involved in
conflict with rival gangs, but two-thirds are killed by police.
http://www.observatoriodefavelas.org.br/
(in Portuguese)
Colombia says that China has become a new laundering hub for drug gangs
using Chinese imports.
http://edition.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/americas/11/20/colombia.china.reut/
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subscribing. Subscriptions to Emerging Threat Monitor can be purchased
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TAMNI
Publications
--------------------------------------------------
ETM Corruption and Transnational Crime
--------------------------------------------------
Canadian police announced a major operation targeting traditional Italian
organized crime, involving 90 people, and more than a thousand criminal
charges related to illegal drugs, gangersterism, extortion, murder, and
others.
http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/qc/comm/2006/Nov06/061122_e.htm
Chile's President Michelle Bachelet announced plans to establish a government
agency responsible for ensuring transparency and end political corruption.
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/world/americas/16087517.htm
China's National Audit Office reported that nearly $1 billion in social
security funds has been misused.
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2006/11/24/business/AS_FIN_China_Pension_Scandal.php
The Czech Republic needs to establish liability against legal persons for foreign bribery without delay and put in place sanctions that are effective, proportionate and dissuasive, according to a report by the OECD’s Working Group on Bribery.
The 36-country Working Group completed a review of the Czech Republic’s
enforcement of the OECD Convention on Combating the Bribery of Foreign
Public Officials in International Business Transactions. Their main recommendations
are that the Czech Republic should:
* Establish liability of legal persons for foreign bribery without delay
and put in place sanctions that are effective, proportionate and dissuasive.
* Raise the profile of foreign bribery in its anti-corruption efforts,
and specifically target Czech individuals and companies that operate internationally,
as well as entities involved in official development assistance, taxation,
accounting and auditing
* Consider adopting additional measures to strengthen protection for whistleblowers.
* Raise awareness among prosecutors of the importance of forfeiture and
confiscation, and encourage prosecutors to seek these sanctions in corruption
cases whenever possible
http://www.oecd.org/document/4/0,2340,en_2649_37447_37722884_1_1_1_37447,00.html
German construction firm Lahmeyer has been debarred from World Bank contracts
following the Bank's decision related to the Lesotho Highlands Water Project
corruption case that began in 1999.
http://www.afrol.com/articles/22887
An Ivory Coast government commission blames corrupt officials and negligence
for the deadly toxic waste dumped in August.
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/16086171.htm
The corruption trial of Italian Prime Minister Berlusconi, his former UK attorney David Mills, and 11 others opened this week. The hearing was brief, and will resume next week.
Ukraine's Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych reported that $1.78 billion
in revenue - six percent of the 2006 budget - had been lost to corruption.
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2006/11/22/business/EU_GEN_Ukraine_Corruption.php
--------------------------------------------------
ETM Economies and Financial Systems
--------------------------------------------------
An Economist Intelligence Unit survey reports that business executives
around the world believe that protectionism is rising in both developed
and emerging markets, and is particularly acute in developed markets.
http://www.ukinvest.gov.uk/10415/en_GB/0.pdf
Africa's share of world manufacturing output has stagnated at one percent,
but industrialization of the continent is critical to reducing its poverty.
http://www.un.org/apps/sg/sgstats.asp?nid=1792
http://www.un.org/ga/president/61/statements/message20061120.shtml
Director General Xia Bin, of China's Institute of Financial Studies of
the Development Research Center discusses "Who should be held accountable
for global economic disequilibrium". It considers whether imbalances
are associated with falling US interest rates and deterioration of the
constant account versus changes in the global flow of international capital
and excessive US dollar reserves accumulated by developing countries.
http://english.people.com.cn//200611/24/eng20061124_324816.html
The European Competitive Index finds that only three regions within the
EU's new member states are more competitive than the European average.
Prague enters the rankings in 7th position and Bratislava in 10th, while
the Kozep-Magyarorszag region of Hungary, which includes Budapest, is ranked
47th. The other twenty-four regions from the new member states are significantly
less competitive than the European average and prop-up the bottom tier
of the 118 locations compared in the index. Brussels is now ranked as the
most competitive location.
http://www.shef.ac.uk/mediacentre/2006/685.html
The European Court of Justice has issued its determination in a case that
raised the question of if a European who purchases alcohol or tobacco from
another country and arranges for delivery rather than transporting them
personally is liable for taxes. The court ruled that only products acquired
and transported personally by private individuals are exempt from excise
duty in the member state of importation, thus maintaining the status quo.
The ruling pleased retailers and high-tax countries.
http://curia.europa.eu/en/actu/communiques/cp06/aff/cp060093en.pdf
--------------------------------------------------
ETM Environment and Climate Change
--------------------------------------------------
Global methane production has slowed, largely due to reductions from gas
pipelines, paddy fields, and landfill.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/6170736.stm
The Carbon Trust launched a radical initiative to help businesses cut
carbon emissions in their supply chains. The project, now in pilot phase,
measures life cycle emissions across the entire supply chain; identifies
the largest emission sources; and identifies opportunities to reduce emissions,
cur costs, and create low-carbon products.
http://www.carbontrust.co.uk/about/presscentre/211106_Supplychain.htm
The European Pollutant Emission Register (EPER) has been updated with
the latest emissions data from some 12,000 industrial installations across
the continent.
http://www.europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/06/1618&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en
China's rivers are seriously threatened by climate change, including inundation
of delta regions.
http://edition.cnn.com/2006/TECH/science/11/23/china.environment.reut/index.html
http://www.civic-exchange.org/index.php?cat=88
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/world/4358725.html
Leading energy companies have accepted the scientific consensus about
climate change and are coming to terms with the increased likelihood that
the new US Congress will attempt to regulate emissions.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/24/AR2006112401361.html
Among the measures to enforce emission regulations is a lawsuit by a group
of states that will be heard in the Supreme Court next week.
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/politics/la-na-scotus25nov25,1,5040901.story
--------------------------------------------------
ETM Human Rights
--------------------------------------------------
Government forces, rebel groups, armed militia and mercenaries operating
in conflicts in at least 12 countries recruit children to serve as soldiers
or are responsible for murdering, torturing and committing sexual crimes
against them. These are among the findings recently reported to the UN
Security Council in a new report on children and armed conflict.
http://www.un.org/Docs/journal/asp/ws.asp?m=s/2006/826
The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the UN Children's
Fund issued a joint appeal Nepal's government and Nepal's Maoist rebels
to ensure that wellbeing of children is a priority while they implement
a comprehensive peace agreement. They expressed concern that the Maoists
continue to recruit children, both voluntarily and forcibly.
http://www.ohchr.org/english/
http://www.unicef.org/
The International Labor Organization (ILO) published "World Report
on Violence Against Children", which finds that millions of children
face systemic violence in their workplaces, ranging from physical or verbal
abuse to sexual harassment, rape and even murder.
http://www.ilo.org/public/english/bureau/inf/pr/2006/54.htm
ILO expressed frustration at Burma's (Myanmar's) failure to deal with
complaints regarding allegations of forced labor.
http://www.ilo.org/public/english/standards/relm/gb/docs/gb297/index.htm
http://www.ilo.org/public/english/bureau/inf/pr/2006/53.htm
A Canadian parliamentary committee warns that preparation should begin
now to prevent an explosion of human trafficking in connection with the
2010 Winter Olympics.
http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1164149417538
Amnesty International reports on torture in Russia, including more than
100 cases in 11 of the country's 89 regions alone. Incidents are even greater
in the North Caucasus, which were excluded.
http://web.amnesty.org/pages/rus-221106-feature-eng
South Africa's former Truth and Reconciliation Commission deputy chairperson
Alex Boraine and others have called on the country to end delays and begin
prosecuting those people denied amnesty by the Commission.
http://www.mg.co.za/articlePage.aspx?area=/breaking_news/breaking_news__national/&articleId=291110
The UN refugee agency reports that more than 22,000 people have risked
their lives to cross the Gulf of Aden in rickety smugglers' boats from
Somalia to Yemen this year. At least 355 died making the perilous voyage
and more than 150 are missing.
http://www.unhcr.org/news/NEWS/4566d1594.html
Azerbaijan authorities have shut down the country's largest independent
broadcaster ANS.
http://www.osce.org/item/22217.html
The Foundation for Information Policy Research (FIPR) says that new government
policies designed to safeguard children could put them at increased risk
by diverting resources and creating a surveillance culture where parents
are sidelines. "Children's Databases: Safety and Privacy" was
published by the UK Information Commissioner.
http://www.fipr.org/press/061122kids.html
In the US state of California, the state Supreme Court ruled that bloggers
and internet providers are not liable for defamatory use of content by
third parties.
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=acGaX9xVLAqo
http://www.aclu.org/freespeech/internet/27489prs20061120.html
http://www.eff.org/legal/cases/Barrett_v_Rosenthal/
Civil rights for same-sex unions garnered support in several areas last
week. A Brazilian judge ruled in favor of allowing two gay men to adopt
a 5-year old girl. Israel's High Court of Justice ruled that five gay couples
married outside of Israel must be recognized within Israel as married couples.
South Africa's Constitutional Court has ruled that gay people can inherit
the property of their partners who died intestate.
--------------------------------------------------
ETM Infectious Diseases
--------------------------------------------------
Animal infections that cross to humans (zoonotic infections) are the focus
of the current issue of Emerging Infectious Diseases. Among the most serious
garnering attention now is avian influenza, as reflected in several of
the following citations.
* N. Marano et al. "International Attention for Zoonotic Infections"
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/EID/vol12no12/06-1281.htm?s_cid=eid06_1281_e
* P.N. Dinh et al., "Risk Factors for Human Infection with Avian Influenza
A H5N1, Vietnam, 2004".
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/EID/vol12no12/06-0829.htm
* H. Markel et al., "Nonpharmaceutical Influenza Mitigation Strategies,
1918-1920 Pandemic"
from
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/EID/vol12no12/06-0506.htm
This week's New England Journal of Medicine includes three articles on
H5N1, as does The Lancet:
* R.G. Webster and E.A. Govorkova, "Focus on Research: H5N1 Influenza — Continuing
Evolution and Spread" discusses the inevitability of pandemic influenza,
and the need for planning.
http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/full/355/21/2174?query=TOC
* A.F. Oner et al, " Avian Influenza A (H5N1) Infection in Eastern
Turkey in 2006" describes serious difficulties in diagnosing the illness.
http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/full/355/21/2179?query=TOC
* I.N. Kandum et al, "Three Indonesian Clusters of H5N1 Virus Infection
in 2005" describes a range of mild, severe, and fatal cases among
family members.
http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/full/355/21/2186?query=TOC
* Gayer M, Watson JT, Connolly MA, "Displaced populations and pandemic
influenza"
http://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473309906706375/fulltext
* Pawitan JA, "Averting avian influenza pandemic: SOS from a developing
country"
http://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473309906706387/fulltext
* Olsen SJ, Ungchusak K, Birmingham M, Bresee J, Dowell SF, Chunsuttiwat
S, "Surveillance for avian influenza in human beings in Thailand"
http://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473309906706399/fulltext
Two new cases of human H5N1 infections have been confirmed in Indonesia.
Through 13 November there have been 258 clinically confirmed cases of human
infection, of which 153 have proven fatal.
http://www.who.int/csr/don/2006_11_13/en/index.html
http://www.who.int/csr/disease/avian_influenza/country/cases_table_2006_11_13/en/index.html
Following reports of an avian influenza outbreak in South Korea, Japan
has suspended poultry imports. A mild strain killed 200 chickens, but the
highly virulent H5N1 strain has emerged. Hundreds of thousands of poultry
are being slaughtered to stem its spread.
http://www.asahi.com/english/Herald-asahi/TKY200611240238.html
http://english.people.com.cn//200611/24/eng20061124_324763.html
http://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_national/174362.html
IRIN news has compiled a focus report on avian influenza.
http://www.irinnews.org/Birdflu.asp
The Royal Society and the Academy of Medical Sciences released "Pandemic
Influenza: science to policy". The report analyses the underlying
science of avian and pandemic influenza and how this can inform policy
making. The authors called for the UK government to take advantage of scientific
developments, including stockpiling multiple anti-viral drugs.
http://www.acmedsci.ac.uk/images/pressRelease/Pandemic.pdf
British financial authorities have released a self-assessment tool and
produced a guide for firms to assist in business continuity planning during
a pandemic.
http://www.fsa.gov.uk/pages/Library/Communication/PR/2006/124.shtml
South Africa has recorded 300 cases of extremely resistant tuberculosis.
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L23377557.htm
The Joint UN Program on HIV/AIDS released the latest statistics on the
pandemic. They report that although there are some promising trends, the
pandemic continues to grow, with 2.9 million deaths and 4.3 million new
HIV infections in the past year, amid worrying evidence of a resurgence
in infection rates in some countries that were previously stable or declining.
In sub-Saharan Africa, life expectancy at birth is 47 years: 30 years less
than most high income countries. Investment in prevention and treatment
is required.
http://data.unaids.org/pub/PressRelease/2006/061121_2006_EPI_Update_en.pdf
http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/releases/2006/aids.epidemic.update/en/index.html
http://www.unaids.org/en/HIV%5Fdata/epi2006
The number of reported HIV/AIDS cases in China has grown by nearly 30
percent this year, partly through better reporting. The virus is spreading
from high-risk groups to the general public.
http://edition.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/asiapcf/11/21/china.aids.reut/index.html
The UK Health Protection Agency reports that there is an increasing pool
of HIV-infected individuals, now reaching more than 63,000 adults, with
up to a third unaware of their infections. Most new cases in 2005 were
acquired abroad, but more are now being contracted within the UK.
http://www.hpa.org.uk/hpa/news/articles/press_releases/2006/221106_hivreport.htm
--------------------------------------------------
ETM Legal Systems
--------------------------------------------------
The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) has launched
an online police assistance service, the OSCE's Policing OnLine Information
System (POLIS).
http://www.osce.org/item/22181.html
Canada's "mega-trials" with large numbers of defendants have
put the territory of Ontario's legal aid program under enormous financial
pressure.
http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1164149417492
Human Rights Watch reports that the trial of Saddam Hussein contained
serious administrative, procedural and substantive legal defects so serious
that the trial was unfair and the verdict unsound.
http://hrw.org/reports/2006/iraq1106/
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6163938.stm
South Africa's C-Max prison suffered its first escape, as Annanias Mathe
apparently covered his entire body with petroleum jelly to climb out of
a 20 cm x 60 cm window.
http://www.mg.co.za/articlePage.aspx?area=/breaking_news/breaking_news__national/&articleId=290395
Ten police forces in the UK are participating in a pilot project using
handheld mobile electronic fingerprint devices to establish a person's
identity during traffic stops or other remote occasions.
http://cms.met.police.uk/news/policy_organisational_news_and_general_information/hand_held_fingerprint_machines_launched
New York's Supreme Court has held that state Correction Law does not authorize
a prison superintendent to unilaterally authorize an offender's involuntary
commitment to a psychiatric hospital, but instead must comply with procedures
that afford the prisoner a chance to be heard before a court and so safeguard
the prisoner's rights.
http://www4.law.cornell.edu/nyctap/search/display.html?terms=physician&url=/nyctap/I06_0155.htm
--------------------------------------------------
ETM Natural Resources
--------------------------------------------------
"Of Rubber and Blood in Brazilian Amazon" describes the history
of rubber brigade workers in the region.
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/23/world/americas/23brazil.html
A small group of Malaysian nomads on the island of Borneo are defying
loggers targeting their rainforest home.
http://www.survival-international.org/news.php?id=2070
Namibia's Protected Resources Unit arrested two New York City residents,
Daniel Baruchov and Samuel Shapiro, for illegally dealing in uncut diamonds.
http://www.namibian.com.na/2006/November/national/065CF627A8.html
Elite police in South Africa are targeting underground goldmine pirates.
http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/south-africas-dark-dangerous-underworld/2006/11/24/1164341398106.html
Soaring demand for uranium is leading to conflict between mining companies
and US Navajo tribal officials, as well as disputes within the tribe.
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-navajo22nov22,0,7024230.story
--------------------------------------------------
ETM Populations
--------------------------------------------------
UN Population Fund (UNFPA) used the International Day for the Elimination
of Violence against Women on 25 November to launch a 16-day campaign against
violence directed towards women. In 2003 only 45 countries had specific
laws on domestic violence. That number has increased to 60, and another
29 nations have some form of legislation that deals with domestic violence.
http://www.unfpa.org/news/news.cfm?ID=900
http://www.unifem.org/news_events/story_detail.php?StoryID=544
http://www.un.org/News/briefings/docs//2006/061122_UNIFEM.doc.htm
Each year at least 1.16 million newborns die in sub-Saharan Africa within
the first 28 days of life, making the region the world’s most dangerous
to be born in, yet more than two thirds of these infants could be saved
with low cost, low tech action.
http://www.who.int/pmnch/media/publications/africanewborns/en/index.html
A wave of tuberculosis and chicken pox is hitting a group of Colombian
Indians forced out of their nomadic river life in the jungle by Colombia's
drugs war.
http://www.survival-international.org/news.php?id=2059
--------------------------------------------------
ETM Social Responsibility
--------------------------------------------------
Nike has ended its relationship with Saga Sports, a Pakistani manufacturer
of hand-stitched football (soccer) balls because of labor violations.
http://football.guardian.co.uk/News_Story/0,,1953284,00.html
This article describes how even ethical consumers are willing to purchase
harmful brands if they are ethical and popular.
http://blogs.smh.com.au/business/archives/2006/11/no_ethics_but_w.html
--------------------------------------------------
ETM Technology
--------------------------------------------------
Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute researchers find that genetic code between
individuals varies much more than previously believed, affecting as much
as 12 percent of the genome.
http://www.sanger.ac.uk/Info/Press/2006/061122.shtml
The US Environmental Protection Agency plans to regulate consumer items
made with nanoparticles of silver.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/22/AR2006112201979.html
--------------------------------------------------
ETM Weapons (WMD, Proliferation)
--------------------------------------------------
Efforts continue to identify possible actions that would give North Korea
an incentive to discontinue its nuclear programs.
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-bush20nov20,1,7715183.story
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/19/world/asia/19prexy.html
A classified Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) assessment finds no evidence
that Iran is pursuing clandestine nuclear weapons.
http://www.newyorker.com/fact/content/articles/061127fa_fact?page=2
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/20/AR2006112000331.html
The International Atomic Energy Agency received a communication from Iran
in which it agreed that IAEA could take further environmental samples from
the equipment already sampled at a technical university, and to provide
access to the operating records of the Pilot Fuel Enrichment Plant. IAEA
has rejected an Iranian request for technical assistance in building a
heavy-water nuclear reactor at Arak, following US fears that it could provide
weapons fuel.
http://www.iaea.org/NewsCenter/Statements/2006/ebsp2006n021.html
British Prime Minister Blair and successor apparent, current Chancellor
Gordon Brown, favor a new generation of Trident nuclear submarines. At
least three ministers have raised concerns regarding this approach.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/11/23/nammo123.xml&DCMP=EMC-new_23112006
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,17129-2465226,00.html
The Sixth Review Conference of the Biological Weapons Convention met in
Geneva this week. Emphasizing that "the horror of biological weapons
is shared by all" UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan called for a comprehensive
strategy that will tackle the possibility of such arms falling into the
hands of terrorists, similar to dealing with more traditional measures
against disarmament and nonproliferation.
http://www.unog.ch/80256EDD006B9C2E/(httpNewsByYear_en)/246D92BF4061C961C125722C0037EA12?OpenDocument
http://www.unog.ch/80256EDD006B9C2E/(httpNewsByYear_en)/53E64CBD6E8CDBA4C125722C004E53EB?OpenDocument
http://peacejournalism.com/ReadArticle.asp?ArticleID=11692
http://www.icrc.org/web/eng/siteeng0.nsf/html/biological-weapon-statement-211106?opendocument
This article discusses detection of an inhalational anthrax outbreak.
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/EID/vol12no12/06-0331.htm
Improved detection is also the topic of this article, evaluating plague.
http://newswire.ascribe.org/cgi-bin/behold.pl?ascribeid=20061122.073421&time=07%2044%20PST&year=2006&public=0
Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Liberia, Micronesia and Tuvalu
have all designated national authorities required under the Chemical Weapons
Convention.
http://www.opcw.org/pressreleases/2006/PR83_2006.html
http://www.opcw.org/pressreleases/2006/PR82_2006.html
http://www.opcw.org/pressreleases/2006/PR84_2006.html
http://www.opcw.org/pressreleases/2006/PR85_2006.html
http://www.opcw.org/pressreleases/2006/PR81_2006.html
The US Department of Defense again has extended a chemical weapons disposal
deadline. Originally set for 2012, it is now planned for 2023.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2006-11-20-chemical-weapons_x.htm
New technologies to accelerate disposal is discussed in a National Research
Council report. It calls for consideration of controlled detonation chambers;
ammunition detonation in a vacuum-integrated chamber; and a kiln that detonates
weapons.
http://www8.nationalacademies.org/onpinews/newsitem.aspx?RecordID=11777
In the US state of New Jersey, plans to use chemical neutralization to
dump 250,000 gallons of VX nerve agent waste products into the Delaware
River have been put on hold pending further analysis.
http://www.northjersey.com/page.php?qstr=eXJpcnk3ZjczN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXk1JmZnYmVsN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXk3MDIzMTQ0JnlyaXJ5N2Y3MTdmN3ZxZWVFRXl5Mg==
Following the failure of the United Nations conference to review progress
made in the implementation of the Program of Action to Prevent, Combat
and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All
Its Aspects (UNPoA) in June/July 2006, Colombia, Japan and South Africa
have tabled an omnibus resolution in this matter that was supported by
172 countries, keeping the process alive.
http://www.issafrica.org/index.php?link_id=5&slink_id=3872&link_type=12&slink_type=12&tmpl_id=3
A sporting goods store in a small northern Pennsylvania (US) town is the
focus of a federal investigation into the suspected reemergence of Russian
businessman Victor Bout's global arms trafficking network.
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-bout24nov24,0,5098357.story
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 Agriculture and Food
--------------------------------------------------
In New South Wales, Australia, the Food Authority released information
on a pilot survey of food labeling that found mandatory nutrition information
on processed foods is inaccurate in as many as 84 percent of labels. Further
research is under way.
http://www.foodauthority.nsw.gov.au/mr-24-11-06-NSW-Food-Authority-statement-labelling.html
http://www.healthyeatingclub.com/APJCN/Volume15/vol15.4/abstracts.htm#Rao
http://www.foodauthority.nsw.gov.au/mr-24-11-06-NSW-leading-the-way-on-food-labelling.html
http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/food-labels-hiding-truth/2006/11/23/1163871546467.html
Standards Australia plans to proceed with national standards for organic
foods.
http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/food-labelling-plan-spells-an-end-to-freerange-freeforall/2006/11/23/1163871546476.html
Coca-Sek is a new energy drink in Colombia that puts the coca back in
cola.
http://www.spiegel.de/international/0,1518,450272,00.html
Mexico’s recent agricultural reforms have made policies fairer and
reduced market distortions, but the new Organization for Economic Cooperation
and Development (OECD) report also warns that some initiatives are heading
in the wrong direction. It criticizes the Target Income program for ineffectiveness
and energy subsidies for distorting markets and encouraging farmers to
use too much water, and encourages further improvements in the important
PROCAMPO program.
http://www.oecd.org/agr
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and Saudi Arabia have approved
almost $60 million worth of joint development projects over the next five
years. FAO is funding 14 designated projects in Saudi Arabia, in areas
including agriculture, fisheries, animal health, and plant production and
protection.
http://www.fao.org
--------------------------------------------------
CIM Banking and Finance
--------------------------------------------------
China is encouraging commercial banks to expand into rural areas.
http://www.forbes.com/home/feeds/afx/2006/11/22/afx3199530.html
The London Stock Exchange has rejected a $5.1 billion takeover proposed
by US stock exchange Nasdaq, which would have created the world's largest.
http://www.londonstockexchange.com/NR/exeres/2BDA9174-CF3E-44BE-8D4F-C86B4F9488A0.htm http://www.nasdaq.com/newsroom/news/pr2006/ne_section06_136.stm
The Chairman’s Committee of the Euronext regulators met in Amsterdam
on the 22 November, to consider a potential combination between the NYSE
Group, Inc. and Euronext N.V. into NYSE Euronext.
http://www.fsa.gov.uk/pages/Library/Communication/PR/2006/121.shtml
http://www.euronext.com/file/view/0,4245,1626_53424_973025262,00.pdf
UK Economic Secretary to the Treasury, Ed Balls, launched the Travel Insurance
Review public call for evidence and highlighted the need for travel insurers
to be clear and transparent about consumers' cover in the event of a terrorist
incident. The review will:
* establish a qualitative and quantitative evidence base to develop a better
understanding of any significant problems in this market;
* consult widely with stakeholders, with particular reference to the scale
and nature of any consumer detriment concerning the operation of the market
in relation to the sales of travel insurance sold as part of a package;
* consider options for regulating the sale of travel insurance sold as
part of a package including whether they should be subject to FSA regulation.
http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/newsroom_and_speeches/press/2006/press_98_06.cfm
http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/newsroom_and_speeches/press/2006/press_99_06.cfm
The Financial Services Authority (FSA) published a paper setting out its
assessment of the overall costs and benefits for the financial services
industry of implementing the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive
(MiFID) in the UK
http://www.fsa.gov.uk/pages/Library/Communication/PR/2006/123.shtml
FSA for the first time has fined a company for rule breached related to
cold calling. In this case, Capital Mortgage Connections Ltd has been fined
GBP 17,500.
http://www.fsa.gov.uk/pages/Library/Communication/PR/2006/119.shtml
General Reinsurance UK Limited (GenRe UK) has been fined GBP 1.225 million
for arranging two improper reinsurance transactions.
http://www.fsa.gov.uk/pages/Library/Communication/PR/2006/120.shtml
Ukraine's parliament is working on legislation to make it easier for foreign
banks to operate in the country.
http://www.kyivpost.com/business/general/25555/
US Treasury Paulson delivered a speech on US capital market competitiveness
in which he said rules will be reviewed to ensure competitiveness following
new laws, particularly Sarbanes-Oxley, brought in to address corporate
scandals.
http://www.treasury.gov/press/releases/hp174.htm
--------------------------------------------------
CIM Chemical
--------------------------------------------------
The UN Environment Program called for urgent international funding to help
Ivory Coast cleanup and rehabilitate sites contaminated by deadly toxic
waste from abroad that was criminally dumped in August around Abidjan,
its largest city with a population of some 5 million. They warn that similar
cases could escalate unless existing international regulations on toxic
waste, including those under the International Convention for the Prevention
of Pollution from Ships are properly enforced and gaps between various
treaties closed.
http://www.unep.org/Documents.Multilingual/Default.asp?DocumentID=485&ArticleID=5430&l=en
http://www.imo.org/Conventions/contents.asp?doc_id=678&topic_id=258
Philippines environmental officials are coordinating with hospital administrators
to prevent unsafe disposal of toxic hospital waste.
http://www.philstar.com/philstar/news200611266301.htm
The US Environmental Protection Agency has fined Emerald Services more
than $38,000 for releasing approximately 1,697 pounds of toluene, a hazardous
substance, into a storm sewer at their hazardous waste treatment and storage
facility in Tacoma, Washington on August 30, 2005, and failing to report
the incident until after the toluene ignited, setting off multiple explosions,
on September 13, 2005.
http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/a8f952395381d3968525701c005e65b5/d3ccbb64ee577c9f8525722e006590c2!OpenDocument
The Chemical Safety Board (CSB) is deploying an investigation team to
begin an assessment of the explosion that occurred at CAI, Inc. in Danvers,
Massachusetts. CAI, Inc. is a manufacturer of adhesives, inks, and coatings.
Several people were injured in the massive explosion, and property badly
damaged. The investigation has been complicated by a jurisdictional dispute.
http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2006/11/26/dispute_besets_blast_probe/
http://www.csb.gov
http://caiink.com/
http://www.eagletribune.com/local/local_story_327064521?keyword=topstory
--------------------------------------------------
CIM Cybersecurity
--------------------------------------------------
"The Unbearable Lightness of PIN Cracking" described how bank
insiders could guess PIN codes.
http://www.arx.com/documents/The_Unbearable_Lightness_of_PIN_Cracking.pdf
The password manager in Firefox 2.0 and its equivalent in Internet Explorer
7 are vulnerable to a reverse cross-site request flaw that allows hackers
to use automated phishing attacks to steal login credentials.
http://secunia.com/advisories/23046
http://www.info-svc.com/news/11-21-2006
Carnegie Mellon University researchers evaluated ten browser toolbars
and determined that although they detected some attacks, they failed to
detect between five and fifty percent, had various levels of false positives,
and were vulnerable to simple exploits.
http://www.cylab.cmu.edu/files/cmucylab06018.pdf
A Branch Prediction Analysis (BPA) attack against cryptography could provide
code-breaking clues to the RSA algorithm, much more quickly than through
statistical analysis.
http://www.schneier.com/crypto-gram-9806.html#side
http://eprint.iacr.org/2006/351
The biometric passport has been cracked again using the same exploit previously
identified.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/idcards/story/0,,1950226,00.html
The US Government Accountability Office (GAO) released two reports related
to information security:
"Managing Sensitive Information: DOJ Needs a More Complete Staffing
Strategy for Managing Classified Information and a Set of Internal Controls
for Other Sensitive Information".
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-07-83
"Information Security: Agencies Need to Develop and Implement Adequate
Policies for Periodic Testing"
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-07-65
--------------------------------------------------
CIM Dams and Bridges
--------------------------------------------------
Quebec, Canada's Ministry of Transport has released a map and a list of
18 structures that have design elements similar to those of the La Concorde
Boulevard overpass and that have been inspected. Only the De Blois overpass
is identical to the La Concorde Boulevard overpass, which Collapsed in
August, and remains closed. Investigations into the cause of the collapse
continue.
http://www.mtq.gouv.qc.ca/fr/publications/reseau/structures/viaduc_concorde_18structures.pdf
In India a public hearing on the Tipaimukh dam led to violence with security
personnel, including anti-dam protestors setting fire to a veterinary office.
http://www.kanglaonline.com/index.php?template=headline&newsid=34986&typeid=1
Security problems have halted work on Pakistan's Gomal Zam Dam.
http://www.onlinenews.com.pk/details.php?id=105407
http://www.dawn.com/2006/11/23/top9.htm
--------------------------------------------------
CIM Defense Industrial Base
--------------------------------------------------
The UK National Audit Office has released its report on 20 of the top defense
equipment projects. Defense has addressed cost control recommendations,
but many of the biggest projects are years late.
http://www.nao.org.uk/pn/06-07/060723.htm
The UK defense department again faces scrutiny over charges that it is
providing faulty and inadequate materiel to British forces.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/11/23/nammo23.xml&DCMP=EMC-new_23112006
--------------------------------------------------
CIM Emergency Services
--------------------------------------------------
Researchers from NIST, the Chicago Fire Department, and the Chicago Housing
Authority recently set controlled fires in an abandoned Chicago apartment
building to test a new fire-fighting technique - using powerful fans to
force smoke and heat from corridors and stairwells so that they stay passable
and safe for both escaping occupants and firefighters.
http://www.nist.gov/public_affairs/techbeat/tb2006_1122.htm#firetest
The long-term psychological and occupational effects of providing healthcare
during the 2003 SARS outbreak is addressed in this article, which cites
significantly higher levels of burnout, psychological stress, and posttraumatic
stress.
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/EID/vol12no12/06-0584.htm
In Gaza, two Italian Red Cross workers were kidnapped and released soon
after. The Red Cross suspended activities in fear for the safety of their
workers.
http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1164149417507
http://edition.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/11/21/palestinians.ap/index.html
The US National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health has ceased
an effort to create standardized autopsy guidelines to document the link
between toxic air at ground zero and the later deaths of 9/11 rescue workers.
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/wtc/WTC_examguidel-draft.html
--------------------------------------------------
CIM Energy
--------------------------------------------------
OPEC says that its ministerial decision to reduce production levels has
achieved its purpose of stabilizing markets and ending sharp falls in price.
http://www.opec.org/home/Special%20Features/2006/fea112006.htm
Algeria and the EU have formed a strategic energy partnership to boost
supplies.
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601085&sid=a.KhMbZySqUY
Kuwait plans to start commercial production of natural gas reserves found earlier this year by the end of 2007.
Russia is increasing domestic gas prices to lower demand and protect supplies for export.
Large industrial power users, municipal utilities and consumer groups
say that the price of electricity has not fallen since deregulation a decade
ago because the new markets do not work right in a system that continues
to permit producers to withhold power or limit production without penalty
even in times of highest demand.
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/21/business/21utility.html
--------------------------------------------------
CIM Information Technology
--------------------------------------------------
The UN Conference on Trade and Development issued its annual report. It
says that broadband Internet technology has become so valuable to businesses
that developing countries with scarce access or a lack of infrastructure
to provide it at reasonable cost are suffering a major competitive disadvantage.
The gap between rich and poor is widening, with the number of broadband
subscribers in affluent countries surging by 15 per cent to 158 million
in the last half of 2005, and the greatest rise in connectivity reported
by business users. In the European Union (EU), 63 per cent of businesses
now have broadband. Less than 1 per cent of enterprises in 48 of 71 developing
countries studied had broadband rather than dial-up Internet connections.
http://www.unctad.org/Templates/Startpage.asp?intItemID=2068&lang=1
http://www.unctad.org/Templates/WebFlyer.asp?intItemID=3991&lang=1
Virginia Tech researchers are working on green supercomputers, including
a Green 500 list of energy efficient super computers.
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/11/17/green500_supercomputer/
http://green500.org/CurrentLists.html
The third annual Web for Development (Web4Dev) Conference discussed topics
such as service-oriented information and communication technology, website
evaluation, multilingual websites, accessibility and internet broadcasting.
Attendees looked to apply market-based approaches that ensure development
projects leverage ICT to have a truly global impact.
http://www.un.org/events/web4dev/
Improved ICT access will also help improve international media coverage
of poorer nations.
http://www.un.org/ohrlls
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/21/AR2006112101725.html
The EU has launched a public/private partnership in which EU( billion
will be injected to boost ICT research.
http://www.europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/06/1589&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en
http://www.europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/06/1590&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en
The EU has approved the INSPIRE infrastructure for spatial information.
http://www.europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=PRES/06/336&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en
--------------------------------------------------
CIM Nuclear Reactors, Materials, and Waste
--------------------------------------------------
Iter is a new nuclear fusion project that will be based in France, and
include participation from China, the EU, India, Japan, Russia, South Korea,
and the US.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/6165932.stm
An Australian government task force released a draft report "Uranium
Mining, Processing and Nuclear Energy - Opportunities for Australia?"/
It suggests that as many as 25 nuclear power plants could be built by 2050,
producing a third of the country's power, and slowing greenhouse gas emissions.
Comments are invited by 12 December. Comments already received are coming
from parliament, non-government agencies, and many others.
http://www.dpmc.gov.au/umpner/reports.cfm
http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/taskforce-plots-nuclear-path/2006/11/21/1163871403099.html
India's Home Minister Shivraj Patil reports an increased threat of attacks
on nuclear plants following the civilian nuclear cooperation agreement
with the US.
http://www.thedailystar.net/2006/11/24/d61124013627.htm
Managers at the California's largest nuclear plant, San Onofre, won safety
bonuses by hiding on-the-job injuries and dodging state reporting rules,
according to a regulatory hearing testimony from workers.
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-edison24nov24,0,7056053.story?
Rain-filled uranium pits provided drinking water for people and animals
in California, where the radiological effects emerged only over time.
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-navajo20nov20,0,6106722.story
In the state of Tennessee, a possible leak led to evacuation of 1,800
students. This was the first nuclear-related evacuation since the 1979
Three Mile Island incident.
http://www.tva.gov/news/releases/octdec06/watts_bar.htm
--------------------------------------------------
CIM Public Health and Healthcare
--------------------------------------------------
UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan said terrorism must be addressed through
responses encompassing public health and disaster relief efforts in order
to ensure biological science and technology safely reach their potential.
http://www.upi.com/InternationalIntelligence/view.php?StoryID=20061120-034447-6499r
The World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Pharmaceutical
Federation (FIP) released a handbook on "Developing pharmacy practice
- A focus on patient care". The handbook addresses the evolving role
of a pharmacist from that of a maker and supplier towards that of provider
of services and information and ultimately of patient care, particularly
addressing adherence to long-term therapy for chronic conditions.
http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/new/2006/nw05/en/index.html
The World Health Organization has released the first report focused on
the 738 million people living in Africa, where millions die each year of
preventable diseases.
http://www.who.int/bulletin/africanhealth/en/index.html
The Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) released " Improving
the Health of Canadians: An Introduction to Health in Urban Places".
The report shows that health differences between neighborhoods can be just
as big as or bigger than differences between cities or even between countries.
Key findings include:
* In Vancouver, there was a 15-percentage-point gap between neighborhood
groups in the proportion of youth and adults who rated their health as
excellent or very good. In both Vancouver and Montreal, the neighborhoods
reporting better self-rated health had a higher percentage of people with
postsecondary education, higher-than-average median income and a lower
percentage of lone-parent families or people living alone.
* In contrast, there was an 11 percent health gap between the five cities
as a whole
* Across the five cities, people living in neighborhoods with higher income
and education levels were more likely to be active in their leisure time,
less likely to smoke, and more likely to report excellent or very good
health.
* The study also found that physical characteristics of neighborhoods,
such as location, were related to health.
* Injury rates differed by neighborhood in Toronto and Vancouver. In these
cities, people living in neighborhoods that had a higher-than-average percentage
of recent immigrants and/or percentage of lone-parent families were less
likely to report having had an injury in the past 12 months. These neighborhoods
also had a lower-than-average median income and an average or lower-than-average
percentage of postsecondary graduates. However, rates of injury did not
vary significantly between neighborhoods in Calgary, Montreal and Halifax.
http://secure.cihi.ca/cihiweb/dispPage.jsp?cw_page=media_21nov2006_e
WHO expressed concern over deteriorating health services in Palestinian
territories due to the combined financial crisis and striking unpaid workers.
They called for the concerned parties to reach agreement to guarantee essential
care, and urged the international community to support the health sector
during this critical phase.
http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/RWB.NSF/db900SID/LSGZ-6VMFBJ?OpenDocument&rc=1&emid=ACOS-635PFR
The UK Health Protection Agency is participating in the investigation
in the Polonium-210 related death of Russian Alexander Litvinenko. There
is an urgent investigation under way to trace radiological contamination.
http://www.hpa.org.uk/hpa/news/articles/press_releases/2006/241106_litvinenko.htm
http://www.hpa.org.uk/hpa/news/articles/press_releases/2006/251106_pol210.htm
The National Health Service has been undertaking a secret trial in which
drug addicts are given free heroin to deter them from funding their habit
through crime.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,8122-2466584,00.html
--------------------------------------------------
CIM Telecommunications
--------------------------------------------------
"Telecommunications Services in Africa: The Impact of Multilateral
Commitments and Unilateral Reform on Sector Performance and Economic Growth" is
a new research paper from the World Trade Organization. It finds that competition,
notably in the mobile telephony segment, improves sector performance. Increasing
access to mobile networks by 1 per cent translates into a 0.5 per cent
increase in real GDP per capita.
http://www.wto.org/english/res_e/reser_e/ersd200610_e.htm
Mobile phone companies have reached agreement n a common approach to near
field communications, a shot-range technology that is a step towards enabling
smart wallets on mobile phones.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/6168222.stm
http://www.gsmworld.com/index.shtml
http://www.nfc-forum.org
Australia's largest phone company Telstra has completed a decade-long
privatization effort.
http://www.telstra.com.au/abouttelstra/investor/index.cfm?tR=1
The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) released a new survey that
finds the internet has had a substantial or revolutionary impact on more
than half of UK firms, altering the way people work.
http://www.cbi.org.uk/ndbs/press.nsf/0363c1f07c6ca12a8025671c00381cc7/0fc3b0741cabae318025722c004fe163?OpenDocument
--------------------------------------------------
CIM Transportation
--------------------------------------------------
Air security gaps in Canada were pointed to as enabling a massive cocaine
trafficking ring, including the use of plane food carts to smuggle drugs.
http://www.canada.com/topics/news/story.html?id=52a51418-ceeb-4012-92a7-70fe1fc5108c&k=297
Germany's police union criticized airport security checks as too lax Tuesday,
a day after an unsuccessful plot to smuggle a bomb aboard an airliner at
a German airport.
http://www.expatica.com/actual/article.asp?subchannel_id=26&story_id=34524
Filipino authorities intercepted an effort to smuggle 50 diapered lizards,
39 cobras, 21 vipers, and other animals inside soft drink bottles. They
were found when a woman's suitcase was x-rayed.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6174624.stm?ls
Six Muslim religious leaders were taken off a US Airways flight and detained
for several hours after passengers deemed their prayers suspicious.
http://www.startribune.com/462/story/826056.html
http://www.usairways.com/awa/content/aboutus/pressroom/pressreleases.aspx?c=hp_news
http://www.cair-net.org/default.asp?Page=articleView&id=2404&theType=NR
The Electronic Frontier Foundation has filed suit against the US Department
of Homeland Security to obtain records regarding handling of air passenger
data between the EU and the US.
http://www.eff.org/news/archives/2006_11.php#005018
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Massachusetts launched a
campaign to educate the public about its rights in connection with a policy
of random bag searches on the mass transit system.
http://www.aclu-ma.org/MBTA/index.html
http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2006/11/20/aclu_asks_boston_commuters_have_you_been_searched/
http://news.bostonherald.com/localRegional/view.bg?articleid=168338
China will invest 1.5 trillion (US$190 billion) to increase the nation's
rail network to over 90,000 kilometers by 2010.
http://english.people.com.cn//200611/23/eng20061123_324324.html
In northern England, private security guards are riding on trains to reduce
attacks on rail staff.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=418605&in_page_id=1770
Canadian Trucking Alliance proposals for aerodynamic features fuel efficiency
have been supported in two recent studies, predicting fuel efficiency improvements
of ten percent, or one billion gallons.
http://www.cantruck.com/news/news/2006/ctapr_2006_11_21_123037_rt.php3
The US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is recommending that
all bus drivers be banned from using cell phones while driving except in
emergencies.
http://www.ntsb.gov/Pressrel/2006/061121a.htm
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety announced 13 vehicles that
earned its Top Safety Pick awards for 2007
http://www.iihs.org/news/rss/pr112106.html
Citizens of the US, Canada, Mexico, and Bermuda will be required to present
a passport to enter the US when arriving by air from any part of the Western
Hemisphere beginning January 23, 2007 as part of the Western Hemisphere
Travel Initiative (WHTI).
http://www.dhs.gov/xnews/releases/pr_1164209628449.shtm
The Discover America Partnership released a survey finding that travelers
rate the US entry process the worst in the world, and that international
business travelers to the US fear mistreatment by border officials more
than they fear terrorism.
http://www.poweroftravel.org/release-11-20-06.aspx
--------------------------------------------------
CIM Water
--------------------------------------------------
The World Health Organization warns that excessive amounts of fluoride
in drinking water are exposing millions of people around the world to risks
ranging from often crippling skeletal problems to milder dental conditions.
http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/new/2006/nw04/en/index.html
The UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the European Swimming League (LEN)
have joined forced to raise awareness of safe water and sanitation for
children.
http://www.unicef.org/media/media_36660.html
Australia's drought is so severe that it has created a black market in
water.
http://www.smh.com.au/news/environment/black-market-in-water-stolen-from-farm-tanks/2006/11/25/1164341447007.html
Toronto, Canada has one of the highest failure rates for water mains throughout
the country, with a water system in which one in 12 mains are a century
old or more.
http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1164063010268
The University of Arizona (US) is doing research into counterterrorism
protection for water supplies.
http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/daily/local/33428.php
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
--------------------------------------------------
Heavy flooding in northwestern Afghanistan has destroyed ten villages and
driven more than 1,000 peoples. The southern province of Urozgan, western
province of Farah and eastern province of Nangrahar are also affected.
More than 50 people have been killed.
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/IRIN/d52dc4e394bda89608f2151932d43624.htm
A mine explosion in Poland has left 23 dead.
A ferry capsized in rough waters in the Philippines, leaving 16 dead. 58 passengers were rescued.
A cigarette set a fireworks stall in a Guatemala City market, leaving 15 people dead.
A leather factory in Calcutta caught fire, killing nine and injuring 18.
In Java, Indonesia, an explosion caused by a mudslide killed at least
seven people, injured 16, and left tens of millions without power.
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/3e2694f2-7ada-11db-bf9b-0000779e2340.html
Up to 1.8 million people have been hit by severe floods in the Horn of
Africa.
http://www.unhcr.org/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/news
http://www.unhcr.org/news/NEWS/4562f21d2.html
--------------------------------------------------
DRM Response and Recovery
--------------------------------------------------
Russia's Interstate Aviation Committee concluded that a July passenger
plane crash in Siberia that killed 124 people was the result of pilot error.
Audits of the Hurricane Katrina response reveal overpayments, lack of
competitive bidding, and deficiencies in damage assessments.
http://www.nola.com/news/t-p/frontpage/index.ssf?/base/news-7/116435147631380.xml
http://www.nola.com/news/t-p/frontpage/index.ssf?/base/news-7/116435104531380.xml
Former US firefighter Levi Miller was ordered in Idaho court to undergo
a mental evaluation and serve six months at a state corrections facility
for setting three wildfires on public lands over the last three years.
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N21442533.htm
--------------------------------------------------
DRM Risks
--------------------------------------------------
Risk Management Solutions (RMS) has reaffirmed its medium-term five-year
view of landfall hurricane risk for the period of 2007-2011. They project
higher modeled annualized insurance losses by 40 percent on average across
the Gulf Coast, Florida, and the Southeast, and by 25-30 percent in the
Mid-Atlantic and Northeast coastal regions relative to those derived using
long-term 1900-2006 historical average hurricane frequencies.
http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/national/2006/11/22/74537.htm
El Nino is approaching Thailand, which is still suffering from heavy floods.
Officials are concerned about the possibility that it could cause drought
and contribute to wildfires.
--------------------------------------------------
DRM Mitigation
--------------------------------------------------
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies held
its regional conference in Asia Pacific. It called for stronger alliances
and cooperation to help victims in the world's most disaster-prone area.
http://www.ifrc.org/meetings/regional/asiapac/singapore06/index.asp
With road accidents killing 1.2 million people worldwide every year, injuring
up to 50 million more and racking up $518 billion in costs and losses,
the World Health Organization is preparing a series of manuals on counter-steps,
including laws, enforcement, and information sharing on the use of seat-belts,
helmets and child restraints.
http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/notes/2006/np34/en/index.html
About 4,000 residents of Izu-Oshima island took part in a disaster drill
Tuesday to mark the 20th anniversary of the 1986 volcanic eruption of Mount
Miharayama, which forced all 10,000 residents to evacuate.
http://www.asahi.com/english/Herald-asahi/TKY200611210331.html
Ahead of the flood season, Malaysia has established plans for over 4,000
disaster relief centers, and has advised people in areas prone to flooding
to be prepared for evacuation. Rainfall is expected to be higher than usual.
http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/news/stories/s1797153.htm
British financial authorities held a 6-week business continuity exercise
that simulated a pandemic outbreak. They found significant resilience in
the system, but will further consider the impact of a pandemic on consumers
(access to cash, ability to make mortgage payments, continuing insurance
cover etc); the practicality of relying on home-working for key staff;
and the challenges involved in returning to business as usual. They have
released a self-assessment tool and produced a guide for firms to assist
in business continuity planning.
http://www.fsa.gov.uk/pages/Library/Communication/PR/2006/124.shtml
This week we provide the full text of the Article 29 Working Party's opinion on the SWIFT case, and links to related coverage of this matter.
06/EN
Press Release on the SWIFT Case following the adoption of the Article 29 Working Party opinion on the processing of personal data by the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (SWIFT)
23 November 2006
At its last session on November 21/22, 2006 the Article 29 Working Party has again been dealing with the SWIFT case and has unanimously adopted Opinion 10/2006 (WP 128) on its findings in this case.
In this Opinion the Article 29 Working Party emphasizes that even in the fight against terrorism and crime fundamental rights must remain guaranteed. The Article 29 Working Party insists therefore on the respect of global data protection principles.
SWIFT is a worldwide financial messaging service which facilitates international money transfers. SWIFT stores all messages for a period of 124 days at two operation centers, one within the EU and one in the USA – a form of data processing referred to in this document as "mirroring". The messages contain personal data such as the names of the payer and payee. After the terrorist attacks of September 2001, the United States Department of the Treasury ("UST") issued subpoenas requiring SWIFT to provide access to message information held in the USA. SWIFT complied with the subpoenas, although certain limitations to UST access were negotiated. The matter became public as a result of press coverage in late June and early July 2006.
As a Belgian based cooperative, SWIFT is subject to Belgian data protection law implementing the EU Data Protection Directive 95/46/EC ("the Directive"). Financial institutions in the EU using SWIFT's service are subject to national data protection laws implementing the Directive in the Member States within which they are established.
CONCLUSIONS:
In its opinion no 128 dated November 22, 2006 on the processing of personal data by the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (SWIFT) adopted today, the Article 29 Working Party comes to the following conclusions:
a) The EU Data Protection Directive 95/46/EC is applicable to the exchange of personal data via the SWIFTNet FIN service;
b) SWIFT and the financial institutions bear joint responsibility in light of the Directive for the processing of personal data via the SWIFTNet FIN service, with SWIFT bearing primary responsibility and financial institutions bearing some responsibility for the processing of their clients’ personal data.
c) SWIFT and the financial institutions in the EU have failed to respect the provisions of the Directive:
(i) SWIFT: As far as the processing and mirroring of personal data in the framework of the SWIFTNet FIN service is concerned, SWIFT as a data controller must comply with its obligations under the Directive, amongst which, the duty to provide information, the notification of the processing, the obligation to provide an appropriate level of protection to meet the requirements for international transfers of personal data;
(ii) Financial institutions: The financial institutions in the EU as data controllers have the legal obligation to make sure that SWIFT fully complies with the law, in particular data protection law, in order to ensure protection of their clients. The financial institutions are responsible for having sufficient knowledge of the different payment systems and their technical and legal characteristics and risks. If financial institutions did not strive (sufficiently) to obtain such knowledge, they would accept substantial legal and client risks in breach of their fundamental duty of care. In particular, if some services such as the SWIFTNet FIN service involve massive transfers to countries without adequate data protection in the light of the Directive or if it is likely that such transfers would pose specific privacy concerns or risks, the Working Party is of the opinion that it is essential that the individual clients of the financial institutions are informed by the financial institutions, as their providers of professional services, in accordance with the transparency requirements of the Directive.
d) The Working Party is of the opinion that the lack of transparency and adequate and effective control mechanisms that surrounds the whole process of transfer of personal data first to the US, and then to the UST represents a serious breach in the light of the Directive. In addition, the guarantees for the transfer of data to a third country as defined by the Directive and the principles of proportionality and necessity are violated.
As far as the communication of personal data to the UST is concerned, the Working Party is of the opinion that the hidden, systematic, massive and long-term transfer of personal data by SWIFT to the UST in a confidential, non-transparent and systematic manner for years without effective legal grounds and without the possibility of independent control by public data protection supervisory authorities constitutes a violation of the fundamental European principles as regards data protection and is not in accordance with Belgian and European law. The existing international framework is already available with regard to the fight against terrorism. The possibilities already offered should be exploited while ensuring the required level of protection of fundamental rights
e) The Working Party recalls once again* the commitment of democratic
societies to ensure respect for the fundamental rights and freedoms of
the individual. The individual’s right to protection of personal
data forms part of these fundamental rights and freedoms. The Community
Directives on the protection of personal data (Directives 95/46/EC and
2002/58/EC) form part of this commitment. These Directives aim to ensure
respect for fundamental rights and freedoms, in particular, the right to
privacy with regard to the processing of personal data and to contribute
to the respect of the rights protected by Article 8 of the European Convention
on Human Rights, and Article 8 of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights.
In all these instruments, exceptions to combat crime are provided for but
have to respect specific conditions.
[*Article 29 Opinion 10/2001 on the need for a balanced approach in the
fight against terrorism; WP 53,
http://ec.europa.eu/justice_home/fsj/privacy/workinggroup/wpdocs/2001_en.htm]
IMMEDIATE ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN TO IMPROVE THE CURRENT SITUATION:
In view of the above, the Working Party therefore calls for the following immediate actions to be taken to improve the current situation:
a) Cessation of infringements: SWIFT and the financial institutions shall comply with their legal obligations under national and European law. This includes taking steps to ensure that any transfers of personal data are in line with the law. In the case of noncompliance, data controllers can expect to be subject to sanctions imposed by the competent authorities under the Directive and national law, in order to enforce compliance.
b) Return to lawful data processing: The Article 29 Working Party calls upon SWIFT and the financial institutions to immediately take measures in order to remedy the currently illegal state of affairs, and to return to a situation where international money transfers may be made fully in compliance with the data protection law. The Working Party welcomes that some DPAs are already today urging the financial institutions to find a solution without delay.
c) Actions as regards to SWIFT: For all its data processing activities, SWIFT as a controller must take the necessary measures to comply with its obligations under Belgian data protection law implementing the Directive.
d) Actions as regards to Central Banks: The present situation calls for a clarification of the oversight on SWIFT. The Working Party recommends that appropriate solutions are found in order to bring compliance in particular with data protection rules clearly within the scope of the oversight, without prejudice to the powers of national data protection supervisory authorities, as well as to ensure that relevant authorities are duly and timely informed where necessary. The Working Party considers that the lack of compliance with data protection legislation may actually hamper consumers trust in their banks and might thus affect also the financial stability of the payment system (reputation risk). Legal obstacles such as professional secrecy obligations of the overseers that could be used as argument to limit the effective control by the independent data protection authorities, shall not be relied upon in case of possible violation of constitutional or human rights.
e) Actions as regards to Financial institutions: All financial institutions
in the EU using SWIFTNet Fin service including the Central banks have to
make sure according to Articles 10 and 11 of the EU Directive 95/46/EC
that their clients are properly informed about how their personal data
are processed and which rights the data subjects have. They also have to
give information about the fact that US authorities might have access to
such data. Data protection supervisory authorities will enforce these requirements
in order to guarantee that they are met by the all financial institutions
on a European level and they will cooperate on harmonized information notices.
The Article 29 Working Party recalls in this connection its opinion adopted
on harmonized information provisions**. It also seems appropriate for financial
institutions and Central Banks to consider alternative technical solutions
to the procedures that are currently used, in accordance with the principles
of the Directive.
[**Article 29 Working Party “Opinion on More Harmonized Information
Provisions”, 25 November 2004. WP 100;
http://ec.europa.eu/justice_home/fsj/privacy/docs/wpdocs/2004/wp100_en.pdf]
The Working Party also stresses the following:
f) Preservation of our fundamental values in the fight against crime: The Working Party recalls that any measures taken in the fight against crime and terrorism should not and must not reduce standards of protection of fundamental rights which characterize democratic societies. A key element of the fight against terrorism involves ensuring the preservation of the fundamental rights which are the basis of democratic societies and the very values that those advocating the use of violence seek to destroy.
g) Global data protection principles: The Working Party considers it essential that the principles for the protection of personal data, including control by independent supervisory authorities, are fully respected in any framework of global systems of exchange of information.
Opinion 10/2006 (WP 128) will soon be published on website
http://ec.europa.eu/justice_home/fsj/privacy/workinggroup/wpdocs/2006_en.htm
in the various languages of the European Union.
Done at Brussels, on 23 November 2006
For the Working Party
The Chairman
Peter Schaar
The Article 29 Working Party was set up under Article 29 of Directive
95/46/EC. It is an independent European advisory body on data protection
and privacy. Its tasks are described in Article 30 of Directive 95/46/EC
and Article 15 of Directive 2002/58/EC. The secretariat is provided by
Directorate C (Civil Justice, Rights and Citizenship) of the European Commission,
Directorate General Justice, Freedom and Security, B-1049 Brussels, Belgium,
Office No LX-46 01/43.
http://ec.europa.eu/justice_home/fsj/privacy/index_en.htm
SWIFT RESPONSE:
SWIFT strongly objects to advisory opinion from WP 29
Global solution needed to balance data privacy concerns with security
and public safety
Published on 23 November 2006
SWIFT strongly objects to the opinion of the EU’s Article 29 Working Party (WP 29) as outlined in their press release that SWIFT has failed to respect the provisions of EU Data Protection Directive 95/46/EC. SWIFT regrets that repeated requests to meet with WP 29 were turned down and therefore, SWIFT was not given the opportunity to explain its position. SWIFT is also concerned that WP 29’s opinion could have far-reaching consequences for SWIFT and other companies providing global information and financial services.
Leonard H. Schrank, CEO, SWIFT commented, “While we are clearly disappointed with the opinion of the WP 29 group, we have to move on. SWIFT has always taken data privacy very seriously and will work with its user community and competent authorities to seek solutions which further increase awareness and transparency about usage of global systems like SWIFT. It is clear however that only dialogue between the EU and US will provide the legal certainty which internationally active companies require.”
Earlier this month, SWIFT submitted a comprehensive legal rebuttal to a similar opinion from the Belgian Privacy Commission. Both opinions reflect serious interpretation issues surrounding current data privacy laws.
SWIFT strongly objects to WP 29’s opinion about the communication of personal data to the US Treasury (UST). SWIFT acted responsibly within applicable laws by complying with mandatory UST subpoenas for limited sets of data in the US for the exclusive purpose of terrorism investigations. It obtained from the UST extraordinary protections and control mechanisms that met both its obligations to protect the confidentiality of its members’ data and requirements to follow EU and US laws.
SWIFT is clearly caught in the middle and supports calls by national and EU officials for cooperation between Europe and the US to develop approaches for dealing with financial intelligence for counter-terrorism purposes while ensuring adequate data protection safeguards. It is encouraged by recent comments made by Stuart Levey, Under Secretary Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, U.S. Department of the Treasury, that discussions with senior EU officials, including Vice President Frattini, are underway.
Only governments can define the boundary between security and data privacy.
Private companies, like SWIFT, can play their part by upholding the law,
but they cannot make policy and cannot enforce compliance by others. Ultimately
they are dependent on governments and elected officials to develop the
legal framework in which they operate.
http://www.swift.com/index.cfm?item_id=60798
http://www.swift.com/index.cfm?item_id=60784
BACKGROUND/REFERENCES:
The New York Times and Wall Street Journal revealed details of a secret
US counterterrorism program that uses data from the Society for Worldwide
Interbank Financial Telecommunication (SWIFT), based in Brussels, to
examine US and others banking records.
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/23/washington/23intel.html?ex=1151208000&en=5521f14ba35f7ecc&ei=5087%0A
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/06/20060623-4.html
http://www.treas.gov/press/releases/js4332.htm
http://www.treas.gov/press/releases/js4334.htm
http://www.swift.com/index.cfm?item_id=59897
The European Parliament has called on the European Central Bank (ECB)
to state officially what it knew of the controversial US surveillance of
international banking transactions. The investigation also wants to know
whether central banks in Europe have broken data protection laws. A hearing
has been set for 4 October. The Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial
Telecommunication (SWIFT), which handles the transactions, said they had
been forced to deliver records to the US Treasury under a secret subpoena
following 9/11, and had informed its overseers.
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/hearings/20061004/libe/programme_en.pdf
http://www.swift.com/index.cfm?item_id=60531
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/29/world/europe/29swift.html
Switzerland's Federal Data Protection Commissioner, Hanspeter Thuer, said
that Swiss banks broke data protection laws when failing to inform customers
that their bank information has been transferred, through the Society for
Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (SWIFT), to US authorities.
Swiss Finance Minister Hans-Rudolf Merz believes the actions did not violate
bank secrecy rules.
http://www.finextra.com/fullstory.asp?id=16041
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/14/world/europe/14swift.html
Belgian Privacy Commissioner report
http://www.privacycommission.be/actualites/AV38-2006.pdf (in
French)
http://www.swift.com/index.cfm?item_id=60788 (executive
summary in English)
Congressional Research Service report, "Treasury's Terrorist Finance
Program's Access to Information Held by the Society for Worldwide Interbank
Financial Telecommunication (SWIFT)"
http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/natsec/RS22469.pdf
8. Asset Management Network News
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