Global Security Studies Practicum

8 October, 2011 World Uyghur Congress Leader Rebiya Kadeer warns Autralian Government about their proposed asylum seeker deal with Malaysia. Kadeer informed Austrailian Government about the Malaysian unlawful deportation of 11 Uyghurs back to China. All 11 refugees disappeared shortly after returning to China. Kadeer states, “I believe once the Uyghurs were deported back to china usually they were imprisoned and tortured to confess alleged crime they never committed. Then through sham trials they would be sentenced, some to life, in worst cases, even to death.” The World Uyghur Congress leader is a former Chinese political prisoner herself. Her advice to Australian Government is that they must be extremely cautious in making the asylum agreement with Malaysia. She warns Australia to reconsider whether Malaysia should be trusted or not. Source: http://www.uyghurnews.com/american/Read.asp?UighurNews=uyghur-leader-back-in-australia&ItemID=RG-1082011100764949302667 (Reliability...

Al-Qaeda’s North Africa branch is relentless to develop a stabilized network in Morocco, both to weaken the country and to gain easier access for attacks in Europe. According to Mali's report, because of the partnership that Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) and the Boko Haram group has there must be collaboration and cooperation by neighboring country’s, Niger, Nigeria and Chad, to oppose the group to successfully enter the country. Boko Haram is responsible for an attack that occurred on the 26 of August against the United Nations that claimed 23 people. AQIM is responsible for a variety of kidnaps and attacks, particularly against foreigners. Morocco recently broke up a three-man cell called the “Al Battar Squadron”, which had links to Al-Qaeda that intended to join camps of AQIM outside Morocco to undergo military training. The intent was to attend the training then return to the kingdom to conduct criminal acts. According to a Moroccan security source, this i...

5 October 2011 (Kenya, Africa) Somali pirates have made the coastline of Somalia a no-go area for sailors. In recent years the Somalia Pirates have hijacked small and large ships in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean. However, pirates have made recent alterations to their tactics of attack. The Pirates are aware that in international waters they are up against the fire power of US warships and other countries. Pirates have now found easier targets. Somali Pirates have gone into coastal resorts in Kenya. On 11 September at Kenya’s Lamu Archipelago Resort a Briton couple was attacked in their cottage, David Tebbutt was shot and killed while resisting his attackers and his wife, Judith was grabbed and taken aboard the pirates speedboat. She is believed to have been taken into Somalia. On 1 October another attacked took place in Manda Island where a French woman was taken. Officials representing the Kenyan government said that the Kenya Navy pursued a chase with the pirates and engaged in a...

05 October 2011 Israel Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and US President Barack Obama Israel has severed relations with many nations.   Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has succeeded in delaying peace negotiations.   Israel has withdrawn from Gaza and Lebanon to receive rockets in return.   Peace between Israel and Egypt is unstable and relations with Turkey have weakened.   Relations with the US and the Obama administration are strained.   Israel is the only one to blame for these deteriorating circumstances.   There has been an increase in anti-Israel sentiment throughout much of the Arab and Muslim world.   The Palestinians have a clear goal of using the United Nations to embrace the Arab Peace initiative .   Israel and Netanyahu have no plans or solutions to solve the many problems surrounding them.   The position they are in is dangerous and could increase violence and put the citizen’s safety at risk.   Reliabi...

5 October 2011 Sixteen people died and twenty injured by a suicide bomber attack at a crowded tourist café in Marrakesh, Morocco . Moroccan interests were threatened a week before in a Youtube video by men claiming to be members of al-Qaeda’s North African wing. Al-Qaeda ’s presence in the region is active making them strong suspects. Investigators continue to investigate all leads for the deadliest explosion attack in eight years to a tourist attraction. Condolences by Morocco's King Mohamed VI were offered to the families of the victims. Source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/morocco/8482799/Al-Qaeda-among-Moroccan-blast-suspects.html (Reliability: 8.5)

5 October 2011 Leopoldo Lopez talks to media outlets. Dow Jones Newswires (CARACAS) – The Inter-American Court of Human Rights ( IACHR ) ruled in favor of opposition politician Leopoldo Lopez on 17 September, allowing him to run in Venezuela ’s upcoming 2012 presidential elections. Venezuelan officials barred Lopez from seeking public office in 2005 through 2014 under allegations of mishandling public funds and corruption. Supporters of Lopez argue the charges are a ploy to prevent him and other opposition politicians from running for office. General elections are slated for 7 October 2012 amid questions regarding President Hugo Chavez’s health. Source: http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20110916-712977.html (Reliability: 9) Comment: Despite the IACHR’s ruling in favor of Lopez, Venezuelan officials under President Chavez have ignored the court’s rulings in the past and banned presidential hopefuls from running for office. Lopez is emerging as one of the top con...

26 September 2011 MANILA, PHILLIPINES – Officials have issued evacuations for more than 100,000 people, asking them to seek shelter from the powerful typhoon that hit the shores of the Philippines . The typhoon spanned as an incredible 400-mile cloud and dumped enormous amounts of rainfall on the country while pummeling it with winds over 100 miles per hour (170km), which threatened the main island on the Philippines known as Luzon Island . Due to the extensive downpour, Philippine officials were faced with having to shut down schools and Universities in the Philippine capital of Manila . Luzon Island is suffering from massive power outages, which left emergency services, hospitals, and hotels in the dark and without the basic necessities. In the Albay Province of the Philippines around 112,000 people have been instructed to leave their homes in order to safely escape massive landslides and flashfloods that the area is known for, while over 50,000 other pe...