Re: Hot Spots, 2001

[MSaxena358@xxxxxxx]

    Other Hot Spots (of just a few; I think there's something like over 2 
dozen civil wars happening right now):

    Aceh - rebellion and unrest against the Indonesian military continues; 
movement for independence is growing

    Irian Jaya - as above

    East Timor - aggression from the Indonesian death squad ("militiamen") 
incursions across the border from West Timor continues: shootouts between the 
death squads and UN forces in East Timor (mostly Australian) occur 
sporadically.  There have been some reports that KOPASSUS (Indonesian Red 
Berets, roughly equivalent to Special Forces) troops have also been involved.

    West Timor - when they left East Timor over a year ago, the Indonesian 
military kidnapped roughly 30%-40% of the East Timorese population (over 
200,000 people) into West Timor, where they've been kept in concentration 
camps controlled by the militia groups, who intimidate people from returning 
(often through rather unpleasant means).  Figures differ, but it appears 
roughly half have been able to return home so far.  A few months ago, the UN 
relief headquarters in West Timor was forced to evacuate after militia forces 
attacked it, killing several aid workers, including one American.  

    Indonesia itself - the pro-democracy movement has made tremendous gains, 
with elections having been held, East Timor being freed, and now some former 
"militiamen" are being putting on trial for their crimes.  But the military 
still holds to its doctrine of "Dual Function", where it is also involved in 
politics.  Many are worried that social unrest may increase when IMF-type 
structural adjustment programs are enforced, which may prompt the military to 
stage a coup.

    Iraq -  The U. S. is currently in the process of working with the Iraqi 
National Congress, the main umbrella group for forces opposing Saddam 
Hussein. INC members will make clandestine forays into government-controlled 
areas to distribute relief supplies and propaganda. INC leaders view the 
operation as a precusor to an armed insurrection they hope to mount one day 
with the help of U.S. weapons and air support. The 1998 Iraq Liberation Act 
authorized the Pentagon to provide the INC with $97 million in arms and 
military training (AP, 01-14-01).  
    Also, other Iraqis may want to take revenge on the West for the harm that 
sanctions have caused the general population.

Best Wishes,

Manu

In a message dated 01/16/2001 12:06:07 PM Pacific Standard Time, 
blackeagleblackeagle@yahoo.com writes:

> Ignoring the ME timeline and MEFHCP for a moment...
>  
>  What hotspots are there that would be good campaigns
>  for ME?
>  
>  I'm going through the news, just today, and have a
>  few.  Please chime in and let me know of others that I
>  do not know of.
>  
>  Democratic Republic of Congo - Coup attempt today. 
>  Uganda and Rwanda are involved with the Rebels and
>  Angola, Namibia and Zimbabwe are backing the present
>  government.  News reports are stating that Kabila has
>  been killed, but not corraborated from multiple news
>  agencies yet.
>  
>  Kashmir - Attack on Kashmir Airport in Srinagar,
>  India, today.  Islamic Militants were blamed for an
>  attack on the Kashmir High Security Airport.  6
>  guerillas are dead, dressed as police.  2 civilians
>  and 3 airport guards were also killed.  Pro-Pakistan,
>  Lashkar-e-Tayyaba (LET) suicide squad claimed
>  responsibility.
>  
>  Pakistan - A group led by retired army officers is
>  threatening to establish its own Islamic state within
>  Pakistan unless the nation's military government
>  introduces Islamic rule within weeks.
>  
>  Franco-Swiss Plan to Mark Small Arms - France and
>  Switzerland have proposed putting a serial number and
>  date on all small arms produced anywhere in the world
>  so their movements can be traced, according to
>  documents circulated Tuesday.
>  
>  Somalia accuses Ethiopia of backing breakaway state -
>  Somalia ratcheted up its rhetoric against
>  EthiopiaFriday, accusing its Horn of Africa neighbor
>  of actively working to create a breakaway state in its
>  richest agricultural region. Prime Minister Ali Khalif
>  Galaid accused Ethiopian soldiers of occupying towns
>  in southwestern Somalia, detaining and intimidating
>  Somali nationals and arming anti-government groups in
>  a drive to undermine international efforts to rebuild
>  Somalia after a decade of chaos.
>  
>