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PEACE & SECURITY REPORT
IPSI's Peace & Security Report (PSR) is a concise weekly e-publication intended to keep busy students, academics, advocates, and practitioners in the conflict management community briefed on pertinent global news, events, and trends.  Meticulously researched and written by IPSI, the PSR empowers us all to take a step back from our immediate deadlines each Friday and gain a greater understanding of the week's global events.

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Africa
KENYA: More than 70 killed in Nairobi slum fire
A leaking gas pipeline exploded early Monday morning, killing at least 70 and injuring more than 100 residents of Nairobi's Sinai slum. People living atop the pipeline had gathered to collect the leaking fuel when a cigarette, reportedly tossed into an open sewer, sparked the explosion and ensuing fire. Local television coverage of charred bodies, many of them children, accompanied angry criticism of the Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC), headquartered about a kilometer from the site. Comment: The state-owned KPC pipeline has been operating since 1978, outlasting the 25-30 year lifespan prescribed by international standards. A 1999 report, commissioned by the KPC itself, recommended that the pipeline be shut down. A similar accident occurred in Kenya in 2009, when 122 people were killed trying to collect fuel from an overturned tanker near the western town of Molo. (The Standard, Business Daily, Reuters, BBC)

SIERRA LEONE: Political violence leaves one dead and 18 wounded
Fighting broke out on Friday in the southern city of Bo between supporters of the All People's Congress (APC) and the opposition Sierra Leone People's Party (SLPP). According to witnesses, SLPP presidential candidate Julius Maada Bio was hit in the head with a rock during a tour of Bo, Sierra Leone's second largest town. The APC regional offices were burned down and gunshots fired in the subsequent violence. Police reported that one person was killed and 18 treated for injuries. Comment: The presidential election scheduled for next year is the second since the withdrawal of UN peacekeepers in 2005, following the end of the country's decade-long civil war. In response to the unrest, President Koroma stressed the importance of upholding the rule of law and prosecuting all those who would resort to violence. (Sierra Express Media, All Africa, Reuters, AP)

TANZANIA: Nearly 200 die in ferry accident
The MV Spice Islander, a ferry heading to Zanzibar's island of Pemba, capsized a few hours after leaving Dar es Salaam late on Friday night. The boat had a legal capacity of 610 passengers but was carrying more than 800 when it sank, killing almost 200 people. The official death toll is likely to rise as recovery operations continue. Comment: The accident underscores longstanding critiques that the public ferries are outdated and dangerous, not to mention very poorly-regulated. Overcrowding and overloading of ferries is commonplace in the region, especially on night boats, which are slower and cheaper than the daytime boats used by tourists. (Daily News, The Standard, IPP Media, Pretoria News, BBC)

Researched/Written by  Nori Kasting
Americas
GUATEMALA: Presidential battle Continues
Polls on Sunday in Guatemala led to the announcement of a runoff presidential election on November 6 between candidates Otto Perez Molina, a former general, and Manuel Baldizon, a businessman. In their campaigns, both have vocalized concerns about poverty and cross-border crime from Mexico. Comment: This is the fourth time that elections have been held since the end of Guatemala's civil war in 1996. There is speculation from analysts concerning a possible return to the right-wing policies of the past spurred by General Molina's campaign slogan "Iron fist, head and heart." (LA Times, IPS, CNN)

HAITI: Calls to end abuse
Uruguayan President Jos� Mujica apologized on Thursday on behalf of UN peacekeepers accused of sexually assaulting an 18-year-old Haitian man last week As a result, five troops were sent home, the navy commander for the mission was fired, and an investigation was launched. Other cases of sexual abuse by UN forces have been reported in Port Salut, mostly towards women. Comment: In 2003, the UN Secretary General discouraged sexual relationships between UN staff and beneficiaries. On Monday, 300 people protested outside the UN compound to decrease the number of UN peacekeepers; an additional protest took place on Wednesday outside the presidential palace in Port-au-Prince. (BBC, IPS, Latin America News Dispatch)

MEXICO: Peace Caravan Continues
Last Friday, Javier Sicilia, a poet-turned-activist, continued leading a procession of vehicles filled with some 600 activists and families from Mexico City to the southern border with Guatemala; the popular movement opposes the militarization of Mexico in the fight against drug trafficking. Along the way they will collect local testimonies of the violence against citizens and migrants perpetrated by state authorities. Comment: The government has attributed many of the deaths to fights between security forces and traffickers over lucrative smuggling routes to the United States. A member of the Movement for Peace said that the movement marches on behalf of the 50,000 who have died, the 10,000 who remain missing, and the many others who are displaced due to the war on drugs.( La Prensa, Reuters, IPS)

 

Researched/Written by  Laura Castelli
East Asia
BURMA: Political exiles invited to return to Burma
Some Burmese exiles, including political satirist group Thee Lay Thee, have decided to accept President Thein Sein's recent request that they return to Burma. The President has indicated that a law will be passed to offer amnesty to returning exiles, but many are skeptical that such a law would protect them. It is unclear if the government intends to extend this amnesty to the estimated 2,000 political prisoners believed to be currently detained in Burma. Comment: The new civilian government has made efforts to improve its global image by urging exiles to return home and releasing Democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi. The government also recently announced the creation of a human rights commission to further protect its citizens. (BBC, BBC, IRIN, Burma News International)

INDONESIA: Religious violence kills five in Ambon
Violence erupted at a funeral for a Muslim taxi driver in Ambon on Sunday, killing five and injuring 80. Although police say the man was killed in a traffic accident, text messages were allegedly sent to many Muslims in the area indicating that he had been killed by Christians. Crowds on both sides of the conflict gathered at the funeral insulting each other, throwing rocks, and lighting cars and houses on fire. 400 police officers have since been deployed in the area to keep the peace. Comment: In an effort to prevent further violence, police have forbidden citizens of Ambon from carrying firearms or sharp weapons. An argument in Ambon in 1999 sparked religious violence that continued until 2002. During that time 5,000-8,000 people were killed, 500,000 people were displaced, and over 100 mosques and churches were damaged or destroyed. (BBC, Antara News, Antara News)

MALAYSIA: Indigenous groups' appeal dismissed
On September 8, Malaysia's Federal Court dismissed the appeal of multiple indigenous tribes from Borneo's Sarawak state, which challenged the legality of the state's seizure of tribal lands to build the Bakun dam. This is the culmination of a decade-long legal battle for compensation by indigenous groups. Although some members of indigenous communities have accepted compensation packages from the government, many continue to argue that the payments are inadequate for the size and value of their lands. Approximately 15,000 people have been forcibly relocated to make room for the dam and reservoir, which is about the size of Singapore. Comment: Although the court made no clear ruling on the constitutionality of this issue, dismissing the case mainly on technicalities, there is concern that this decision will strengthen the government's ability to displace indigenous populations. The state is able to appropriate land without significant recourse from indigenous populations since they do not formally own land. (AP, AFP, Malaysian Insider)
  

Researched/Written by Caitlyn Davis 

Europe & Central Asia
SWEDEN: Four arrested for suspected terrorism
On Saturday, Swedish authorities arrested four men of Somali and Iraqi descent for suspected terrorism in Gothenburg. Strict requirements regarding intent in terrorism cases forced the prosecution to reduce the charges against the men to "plotting murder" on one individual; no other information was given, although the charges may change again if new information is released. On Wednesday, a Swedish court detained three of the four men, but released the fourth due to lack of evidence. Comment: Unconfirmed reports linked the men to al-Shabab, a Somali-based insurgent group connected to al-Qaeda. The potential terrorist threat targeted an arts festival where approximately 400 people were to be gathered. The building was evacuated, but no explosives were found. (SvD, AP, Reuters)

UNITED KINGDOM: Police rescue 24 men from slavery camp
Over 200 police officers took part in a raid on Sunday, rescuing 24 British and Eastern European men held as slaves at a caravan site in Bedfordshire, and arresting four men and one woman for slavery offences. The suspects allegedly promised wages, food, and housing to men they found in soup kitchens and homeless shelters. Instead, the men were forced to do hard labor for no pay and little food in harsh living conditions under threat of violence, some for as long as 15 years. The four men remain in custody with several charges against them while the woman was released on bail. Comment: Accusations dating back to 2008 from former victims who escaped led police to the site. Under the anti-slavery law passed last year, anyone convicted of holding a person in slavery can receive a sentence of up to 14 years in prison. In the past two years, almost 1,500 cases of slavery and human trafficking have been reported to British police. (BBC, The Guardian, Reuters, CNN)

REGIONAL: Drug-resistant strand of tuberculosis (TB) spreading across Europe
The World Health Organization (WHO) released a report on Wednesday stating that multidrug-resistant (MDR-TB) and extensively drug-resistant (XDR-TB) forms of TB are spreading at an alarming rate and will kill thousands unless health officials take action. The report proposed a plan to find, diagnose, and treat cases of TB more effectively. If implemented successfully, the plan would diagnose 85 percent of TB patients, treat 75 percent, and could prevent 120,000 deaths in the region by 2015. Comment: The European region has 15 of the 27 countries with the highest number of MDR-TB cases (over 80,000 annually, a fifth of the world's total), most located in Eastern Europe and Central Asia. Western Europe has also seen a rise in TB and drug-resistant TB with London having the highest rate of 3,500 cases each year, an increase of 30 percent over the last decade. Approximately seven percent of patients with TB die; this figure rises to 50 percent in patients with drug-resistant forms. (WHO/Europe, Reuters, International Business Times, BBC)
 

Researched/Written by Erin Bobst

Middle East & North Africa
IRAN: No bail for American "spy" hikers
On Tuesday, Iran promised to release two U.S. citizens who have been jailed for two years on charges of espionage by granting them a "unilateral pardon." President Ahmedinejad told the Washington Post that he is "helping to arrange for their release in a couple of days so they will be able to return home." However, the following day, the Iranian government denied making a decision regarding the release, and an official said that they would stay in prison "a bit longer." Comment: Efforts to release the U.S. hikers continue with the help of Oman, which has close ties to both the U.S. and Iran, and is negotiating a $1 million "bail-for-freedom" for the prisoners. Last year, Oman successfully brought back Sara Shourd on a bail of $500,000. Like the other two prisoners, she was also captured near the Iraqi-Iranian border. (Tehran Times, BBC, Washington Post, WSJ)

ISRAEL: Embassy in Jordan evacuated
On Wednesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman ordered the evacuation of the Israeli embassy in Amman, Jordan after 3,000 facebook users vowed to participate in anti-Israel protests. In addition, Israel recalled its diplomatic mission to Jordan. Comment: Israel fears an incident similar to the one that occurred last week in Cairo where hundreds of violent rioters, demanding an end to the diplomatic ties with Israel, stormed into the well-secured embassy. The embassy's security team was overpowered by the number of attackers and was eventually rescued by Egyptian commandos. (Haaretz, Ynet, CS Monitor, Aljazeera)

YEMEN: NGO receives prestigious humanitarian award
On Monday, the Society for Humanitarian Solidarity of Yemen received the 2011 Nansen Refugee Award, which was given by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees. The humanitarian organization monitors about 600 kilometers of Yemen's coast and provides assistance to tens of thousands of arriving refugees. Comment: Every month, thousands of refugees flee violence and hunger by crossing the Red Sea from the Horn of Africa to Yemen; over 60,000 people crossed the sea so far this year. Hundreds die in the process, and current humanitarian efforts are inadequate. Nasser Al-Hamairy, who founded the NGO, promised to use the Nansen award to "intensify efforts to improve the situation in Somalia to help dissuade people from attempting the risky crossing." (Alert Net, UN News, Khaleej Times)
 

Researched/Written by Ibrahim Al-Hajjri

South Asia
AFGHANISTAN: Kabul siege ends
NATO and Afghan forces ended a 20-hour siege in Kabul on Wednesday after heavily armed militants attacked the U.S. embassy and the NATO headquarters from a nearby half-built high rise that overlooks embassies and ministries. Five Afghan officers and 11 civilians, including six children, were killed in the attacks. The siege ended after the nine attackers were killed. According to the U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan, Ryan Crocker, the attack was carried out by militants belonging to the Pakistan-based Haqqani network. Comment: This was the most direct attack on the U.S. embassy to-date, which raises questions about the readiness of Afghan security forces, as well as points to extremist infiltration within these forces; many analysts point out that such a sophisticated attack could not be carried out without inside help. (Asia Times, CNN, NY Times, UPI)

PAKISTAN: Flood crisis worsens
230 people have been killed and more than 300,000 displaced as the flood crisis, which began late last month, worsens in Pakistan. 4.5 million acres of land have been inundated, destroying 1.2 million homes and affecting 5.5 million people. According to officials, 2 million people are suffering from flood-related diseases in Pakistan's Sindh province. There were eight dengue related deaths reported and 2,000 confirmed cases of malaria, with the numbers rising as the rains continue. Relief agencies are calling for expedited aid and the government is being criticized for a slow response. Comment: This disaster follows the 2010 floods in Pakistan, the worst in living memory. While aid agencies did prepare for rains, many have been taken by surprise by the intensity of this year's floods. The UNHCR stated that flooding was so bad in some areas that it could take months for the waters to recede. (Al Jazeera, APP, BBC)

PAKISTAN: Key al-Qaeda leader killed
On Thursday, U.S. officials stated that Abu Hafs al Shahri, al-Qaeda's chief of operations in Pakistan, was killed in a CIA drone strike this week in the Waziristan tribal region. Shahri was a key operational and administrative figure in the group and was seen as a contender to take over the number two position in al-Qaeda; Atiyah abd al-Rahman, who formerly held the position, was killed in August drone attacks. Comment: According to officials, Shahri's death is a major blow to al-Qaeda in the region. The U.S. has stepped up drone strikes since the killing of Osama bin Laden in May this year. Recent successful operations against al-Qaeda militants have reportedly weakened the organization. (AFP, BBC, Reuters)
 

Researched/Written by   Megha Swamy

September 9, 2011
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In This Issue
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Africa
Americas
East Asia
Europe & Central Asia
Middle East & N. Africa
South Asia

IPSI News IPSI Adviser Dr. Joyce Neu

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IPSI News IPSI Adviser Jan Eliasson

 IPSI Advisor Jan Eliasson discusses the importance of clean water in the following op-ed: A Tale of Sanitation: What Somalia Teaches Us.

 

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Alumni NewsIPSI Alumnus George Gachara

 IPSI Alumnus, George Gachara (Kenya) was selected for the 2011 Outstanding Leadership Award from the Association for Conflict Resolution (ACR) International Development Committee.

 

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Gareth Evans 
Dr. Ted Robert Gurr
Amb. Jacques Paul Klein
Peter Kyle 
Dr. Jean Paul Lederach
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