HOTSPOTS 2/7/11 - Committee engineering

UN Takeover

Thailand / Cambodia (Security threat levels - 4 / 3): On 7 February 2011 Thai and Cambodian troops exchanged gunfire for the fourth consecutive day near the disputed border area surrounding the 11th century Preah Vihear temple. No injuries have been reported in the recent outbreak of fighting. At least five people have been killed in gunbattles across the border region since the clashes began on 4 February. Thousands of people have fled their homes on both sides of the border. The Preah Vihear temple complex has reportedly sustained some damage, but the extent remains unclear. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen has called for U.N. peacekeepers to end the fighting along the border. Members of the Thai group People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), known as the "yellow-shirts" staged protests in Bangkok on 5-6 February, calling for the government to take a tougher line on the border issue.

 

Committee Austerity

Italy (Security threat level - 2): On 6 February 2011 hundreds of demonstrators clashed with police officers outside Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi’s villa in the Milan suburb of Arcore. Protesters threw bottles and other objects at the riot police officers and attempted to break through the security cordon. Demonstrators also clashed with police officers in front of Arcore’s train station. Several people were injured in this clash, and two people were arrested. The developments came a day after thousands of protesters gathered in both Milan and Florence to demand Berlusconi's resignation over a recent sex scandal.

Portugal (Security threat level - 2): Subway workers in Lisbon staged a five-hour strike during the morning rush hours on 7 February 2011. The strike, which began at 0530 local time/UTC, was organized to protest the fiscal measures the government has taken to resolve its debt crisis, including pay cuts and tax increases. The action caused traffic congestion due to the increased number of private cars and taxis, but the situation had normalized by 1200 local time/UTC. Additional transportation strikes are planned in the coming week. Workers from Transtejo, Carris and the Society of Collective Transport Porto (STCP) are scheduled to strike on 9 February. Rail workers will also stage a work stoppage on 10 February.

Committee World Order Transition

Egypt (Security threat level - 3): Despite ongoing protest actions in Cairo and some other locations, Egyptian authorities are attempting to return some degree of normalcy to daily life in the country. In an important development on 6 February 2011, financial institutions and some other businesses reopened for the first time in a week; schools, however, remain closed. Officials have also reported that traffic levels are slowly resuming in parts of Cairo and other cities.

Anti-government protests continue to occur, with the main focal point of demonstrations being at Tahrir (Liberation) Square in central Cairo. The square remains barricaded by the military and its tanks, and attempts to get demonstrators to leave the site have failed. Protesters remain entrenched at the square, however the number of participants has declined compared to the height of the protests. The military continues to deploy tanks at key intersections and around the square, and there have been no reports of significant violence in recent days. Nevertheless, the situation remains tense and further outbreaks of disturbances remain possible for the time being. A nationwide curfew remains in place from 2000-0600 local time.

In an effort to satisfy opposition demands, several government figures, including Vice President Omar Suleiman, engaged in talks with opposition groups on 6 February. The opposition had previously declined to engage in talks until President Hosni Mubarak resigned; however, Mubarak remains in office and intends to finish out his term that is due to expire in September 2011, when presidential elections are scheduled to be held. No major agreements were reached during the meeting, but it was described as positive. In another political development, several leaders of the ruling National Democratic Party (NDP) resigned their positions on 5 February; although the purge was made as another measure to satisfy protesters, it had little impact on the anti-government demonstrators who vow to continue their actions until Mubarak resigns.

Although protests are not anticipated to stop completely in the coming days or possibly weeks, they are showing some indications of declining in size and intensity. Many who remain camped out at Tahrir Square have stated their commitment to remaining in place, but there are calls for an end to the unrest in view of the economic toll the upheaval is inflicting on the economy and daily life. The situation remains tense, and as events over the past two weeks have demonstrated, the situation could again change quickly.

Meanwhile, several security incidents occurred in Egypt over the past several days. During the early hours of 5 February, an explosion occurred on a pipeline in the area of el-Arish, located in the northern Sinai Peninsula. The blast, which occurred on a pipeline that supplies gas to Israel and Jordan, was initially called a terrorist attack and later downplayed as being an accident. Many plots involving attacks on pipelines supplying Israel have allegedly been thwarted in the past several years, and in light of the situation in Egypt at present, it is highly likely that the blast was in fact an attack. In another incident later on 5 February, an explosion occurred inside a Coptic church in the town of Rafah, which is located in the northern Sinai Peninsula that borders the Gaza Strip. There were no injuries in the blast, as the church was empty. Early on 7 February, unidentified assailants in the Gaza Strip fired several rocket-propelled grenades at an Egyptian police barracks in Rafah. While the threat of attacks is not new in the Sinai Peninsula and Egypt’s enforcement of a blockade against Gaza has only compounded this issue, it is probable that the recent incidents are linked to the recent turmoil in Egypt. These incidents lend credence to concerns that the unrest may adversely affect the security situation. Further security incidents remain possible.

Committee Wellstoning?

Iraq (Security threat level - 5): A private jet crashed shortly after taking off from Sulaymaniyah International Airport (ORSU/ISU) in Sulaymaniyah, located in the semi-autonomous Kurdistan region, at approximately 1700 local time (1400 UTC) on 4 February 2011. The aircraft reportedly caught fire before it crashed in a nearby area, but there were no reports that the flight crashed in a populated area or caused wider damage on the ground. Seven people onboard were killed while six others were injured. Among the casualties were three crew members and several executives or shareholders of the Iraqi telecommunications company Asiacell as well as two executives working for J.P. Morgan. Some reports indicate that British, Spanish and U.S. nationals were among the victims. Details regarding the type of aircraft involved in the crash were not provided. The cause of the crash is currently undetermined; however, an airport official stated that the weather was bad at the time of the mishap. Aviation officials have also cited the possibility that a mechanical issue may have been a contributing factor.

GOVERNMENT WARNINGS

Mexico (Security threat level - 4): The U.S. Consulate in Monterrey issued the following Warden Message on 4 February 2011: "Recently, Monterrey has seen a significant increase of armed robberies in restaurants, coffee shops and convenience stores. The robberies follow a similar modus operandi: a small group of armed individuals enter their target location, guard the doors and take purses, wallets, phones and other valuables from the patrons inside. None of these robberies have resulted in violence or kidnapping.

"You should remember that it is crucial to remain aware of your surroundings at all times, and to look for alternate entry/exit points at places you routinely visit, shop or dine. You could also consider not carrying many valuables with you. If you notice suspicious activity, getting out of the area before being confronted is likely your best option. If caught in a robbery with no ready way out, your safest strategy is to comply with demands to surrender whatever valuables you have on hand…"

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SOUNDS LIKE WHAT THE GOVERNMENT IN MEXICO DOES ALL THE TIME - BUSINESS AS USUAL