Daily Intelligence Briefing

Friday, January 27, 2012

AUSTRALIA (Security threat level - )

TROPICAL STORM LASHES WESTERN AUSTRALIA; FLOODING CONTINUES IN QUEENSLAND

Severe weather continued to impact several regions of Australia on 26 January 2012. In Western Australia, Tropical Cyclone Iggy has strengthened to a Category 1 storm as the outer bands of the main storm system brought heavy rains and strong winds to coastal communities in the northern part of the state. Although the storm is currently not forecast to make landfall before turning in a westerly direction out into the Indian Ocean, many residents along the Pilbara coast have already been evacuated to higher ground ahead of expected flash flooding. The cyclone will likely lash the coastal region over the 27-29 January weekend and cause widespread transportation disruptions. Many of the Pilbara’s coast’s economically important oil and mining facilities have been shut down due to the storm.

Meanwhile, severe weather is also affecting much of Queensland state in northeastern Australia where several days of torrential rains have caused widespread flooding. Meteorologists have warned that over the next 24 hours more severe thunderstorms will pass through central and southern regions, including the Brisbane areas. Many suburban communities and rural towns surrounding Brisbane have experienced high floods since the remnants of a tropical cyclone dumped rain on the Sunshine coast beginning on 23 January. Power outages are hampering some evacuation orders that have been given to residential areas under threat of being cut off by the flooding. The severe thunderstorms are expected to dissipate over the 27-29 January weekend. (26 Jan 2012)

BOTSWANA (Security threat level - )

STUDENTS PROTEST AT UNIVERSITY OF BOTSWANA

Students at the Gaborone campus of the University of Botswana staged a demonstration on 25 January 2012 to protest the suspension of several student representatives. Reports indicate that the students vandalized some buildings on campus, prompting the deployment of anti-riot police officers. There were no reports of injuries or arrests. (25 Jan 2012)

CHINA (Security threat level - )

PANIC CAUSES RUSH TO BUY WATER IN SOUTHERN CITY

A rumor that pollution had contaminated the local water supply sparked a public panic in southern China’s Guangxi province on 26 January 2012. Residents in the city of Liuzhou and many surrounding communities have reportedly stockpiled bottled water from markets in the region after a mining company admitted to dumping toxic waste into the nearby Longjiang River. Authorities in Guangxi tested public water sources and reassured residents that the supply is not contaminated and is safe for drinking and bathing. Despite the government's assurances,, local stores have run out of nearly all the bottled water supply. Some vendors have even reportedly sold bottled water at nearly five times the normal price. Although tests on water upstream on the Longjiang River have found excessive levels of toxic waste contamination, environmental protection agents are confident that the pollution will not cause health problems to residents further downstream in Liuzhou. (26 Jan 2012)

CHINA CONTINUES LOCKDOWN ON TIBETAN AREAS

On 26 January 2012 a security lockdown tightened in ethnic Tibetan regions of western China in the aftermath of a wave of violent unrest. Reports indicate that the communist regime in Beijing has ordered all phone and Internet communications cut off to the province of Sichuan, where security forces clashed with Tibetan protesters in two small towns earlier in the week. Anti-riot police officers reportedly opened fire on demonstrators in the towns of Luhuo and Seda where many ethnic Tibetans reside. Roadblocks have been set up and rail services suspended to restrict access to many areas of Sichuan.

The security measures are allegedly being put in place to prevent the wave of unrest spreading to other Tibetan community areas in Sichuan and neighboring provinces. In the provincial capital of Chengdu, eyewitnesses stated that police cars have been deployed on nearly every inner city street to monitor public activities, especially in predominantly Tibetan ethnic neighborhoods. While the civil unrest has so far remained limited to the two small towns, similar small violent clashes have in the past sparked limited unrest in other areas such as the Tibet Autonomous Region, Qinghai, Gansu and Yunnan. Despite these concerns, there is little threat that the recent wave of unrest could affect the overall security situation in mainland China as a whole. (26 Jan 2012)

COLOMBIA (Security threat level - )

SECURITY FORCES RAID GUERRILLA CAMPS

On 25 January 2012 the Colombian Director of Narcotics announced that officers from Colombia's anti-narcotics division had successfully conducted raids on rebel camps in the country's Guaviare department. The officers destroyed 17 cocaine production labs and an arms factory, and captured 10 FARC members and a coca farmer. The raids also resulted in the confiscation of 22 boats and two aircraft used in drug-trafficking activities, as well as various weapons, chemicals and drugs. (25 Jan 2012)

CENTRAL BANK EXPECTED TO MAINTAIN INTEREST RATES

On 26 January 2012 local media reported that the Colombian Central Bank is not expected to change its interest rate from 4.75 percent. Fears that inflation could exceed the bank's target range of 2 to 4 percent fueled speculation that an increase in interest rates could be seen in coming weeks. The current rate of inflation is 3.7 percent. The Central Bank is also considering open market operations as a means to curb the strengthening of the peso. Local experts, however, believe that such a move is unlikely given the current state of foreign exchange markets. (26 Jan 2012)

COSTA RICA (Security threat level - )

UNIONS STAGE RALLY, WARN OF MORE PROTEST MEASURES

Unions organized a rally on 25 January 2012 outside the Ministry of Labor and Social Security to protest a government decision earlier in January to announce a salary increase for public sector employees without consulting the unions. Reports did not specify the number of participants. Union representatives met with the minister of labor, but the meeting yielded no results. Therefore, union leaders stated that they will meet on 30 January to decide on ways to escalate the struggle against the government, possibly including a general strike. (25 Jan 2012)

TWO FATALITIES FROM H1N1 SO FAR IN 2012

The Costa Rican Ministry of Health confirmed on 25 January 2012 that on 16 January a 52-year-old man died of the H1N1 virus (commonly referred to as swine flu) in the Max Peralta Hospital in Cartago. This was the second H1N1-related death in Costa Rica so far in 2012. A health official stated that the man who died on 16 January delayed in seeking medical help; his symptoms began on 20 December and he came to the hospital on 4 January. The first victim -- who died in early January in Aserri county of San Jose province -- also delayed in seeking medical help. There are currently eight other identified cases of H1N1 in Costa Rica. (26 Jan 2012)

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO (Security threat level - )

AUTHORITIES SURROUND TSHISEKEDI RESIDENCE

Police officers blockaded several roads in Kinshasa’s Limete district and sealed off the residence of opposition leader Etienne Tshisekedi on 26 January 2012. Reports indicate that police officers dispersed Tshisekedi supporters with tear gas as they attempted to gather outside his home. At least four people were injured; authorities also made several arrests. Police officers also prevented journalists from accessing the area. Tshisekedi had reportedly intended to march to the presidential palace on 26 January, prompting the police actions, effectively placing him under house arrest. Tshisekedi came in second place in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DRC) November 2011 presidential election, but he has rejected the results and declared himself president. (26 Jan 2012)

EGYPT (Security threat level - )

EGYPTIANS RALLY ON PROTEST ANNIVERSARY

An estimated 10,000 protesters gathered in Tahrir Square on 27 January 2012 for the anniversary of a pivotal day during the 2011 demonstrations against the government of Hosni Mubarak. The "Friday of Anger" protest on 28 January 2011 was one of the most violent days during the uprising in which security forces killed and injured hundreds of protesters. Participants in the anniversary protest called on the governing military council to step down. At last report the demonstration remained peaceful. (27 Jan 2012)

BRITISH FCO REVISES TRAVEL ADVICE

On 26 January 2012 the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office updated its travel advice for Egypt, which reads in part as follows:
“Demonstrations have been called for Friday 27 January in Tahrir Square, Cairo. There remains a possibility of demonstrations taking place elsewhere in Cairo as well as other cities in Egypt, including Alexandria.

Protestors remain in Tahrir Square in Cairo and vehicle access is difficult. The road leading to the Ministry of Interior remains closed to traffic and Qasr al Aini is currently blocked near Tahrir Square. There is a risk of delay due to traffic congestion around some areas of downtown/Garden City. ...” (26 Jan 2012)

FIJI (Security threat level - )

FIJI DECLARES NATURAL DISASTER FOR FLOODING

On 26 January 2012 the Fijian government declared a state of natural disaster as heavy rains have caused extensive flooding throughout the country. The Fiji Disaster and Management office issued severe flood warnings for low lying areas on the main island of Vita Levu, including some urban districts of Suva and Nadi. As part of the natural disaster decree, a 12-hour nighttime curfew is in effect for the hardest hit areas of Ba, Nadi Lautoka, Rakiraki, and Sigatoka. At least six people have been killed in the floods, and authorities have urged residents to not venture out into the treacherous waters. Many major roads have been shut down due to swollen rivers and washed out bridges. The flooding has damaged the limited electrical and sanitation infrastructure in the Pacific islands nation, and caused power and water supply disruptions throughout the country. Approximately 3,500 residents on Vita Levu have been evacuated to emergency shelters set up in Nadi and Suva. Reports indicate that rising water has also cut off some resort areas and stranded foreign tourists along coastal communities. No foreign governments have issued any travel restrictions due to the natural disaster, although embassy officials stated that they are monitoring the situation closely. Meteorologists warn that severe thunderstorms are expected to cause more flooding well into the 27-29 January weekend. (26 Jan 2012)

GREECE (Security threat level - )

5.3 MAGNITUDE QUAKE STRIKES OFF GREEK ISLANDS

A magnitude 5.3 earthquake struck near the islands of Santorini and Crete in the Aegean Sea at 0818 local time (0618 UTC) on 26 January 2012. The quake occurred at a depth of 7 mi/11 km and was centered approximately 150 mi/245 km south-southeast of Athens. There were no immediate reports of significant damage or injuries. (26 Jan 2012)

INDONESIA (Security threat level - )

JAKARTA AIRPORT LAUNCHES ELECTRONIC PASSPORT GATE

On 26 January 2012 new automated electronic passport immigration gates began operating at Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta International Airport (WIII/CGK). Transportation managers stated that the new gates inside the main passenger terminal will now allow Indonesians to pass through customs and immigration procedures much faster and efficiently when arriving or departing the country. The automated system features six total gates where individuals with electronic passports -- also known as biometric passports -- issued by the Indonesian government can simply scan the barcodes of their passport and boarding pass. A fingerprint sample is then also taken along with a picture of the passenger. All the data is then sent in less than three minutes to the immigration information management center at the airport. Luggage is also searched while the electronic scanning is performed. Approximately 12,000 Indonesians have been issued the new biometric passports since early 2011. Foreign travelers holding electronic passports from their home countries are still required to go through the manual immigration procedures upon arrival or departure in Indonesia. (26 Jan 2012)

WORKERS PROTEST IN WEST JAVA

Approximately 30,000 people gathered in Bekasi town, located in West Java province, on 27 January 2012. The workers were protesting a court ruling on 26 January that canceled the provincial governor's plan to implement a wage hike. The case was brought to court by the country's employer organization, known as APINDO, after it deemed the raise too steep for employers to handle without facing financial difficulty. Protesters blocked a toll road and set up roadblocks on roads leading to factories, preventing them from opening for the day. A government official stated that Cabinet ministers scheduled a meeting in response to the protests and would seek a fair solution. (27 Jan 2012)

IRAN (Security threat level - )

IRANIAN GUARDS FIRE ON PAKISTANI NATIONALS NEAR BORDER

Guards stationed on Iran's border with Pakistan opened fire on a group of Pakistani nationals after they strayed into Iranian territory early on 27 January 2012. According to local officials, eight residents of Sunsar village moved into the area, prompting the guards to fire. Six villagers were killed and two others suffered injuries. Pakistani officials were working to have the victims' returned to their village. (27 Jan 2012)

IRAQ (Security threat level - )

CAR BOMB EXPLODES NEAR HOSPITAL IN BAGHDAD

A car bomb exploded near a hospital in Zafraniyah, located in eastern Baghdad, on 27 January 2012. The attack occurred at approximately 1100 local time (0800 UTC) as a funeral procession was leaving the hospital with the remains of a local real estate agent who was killed on 26 January. The blast killed at least 28 people and injured at least 50 others. (27 Jan 2012)

ISRAEL (Security threat level - )

ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN “EXPLORATORY” TALKS END IN AMMAN

“Exploratory” talks between the Palestinians and Israelis hosted in Amman ended on 25 January 2012 without having achieved any notable breakthroughs. The talks were recently undertaken in an effort to jumpstart full peace talks between the two sides, and 26 January had been set as a deadline for both to submit proposals regarding borders and security. (25 Jan 2012)

ITALY (Security threat level - )

PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION STRIKE UNDERWAY IN ITALY

As previously announced, a public transportation strike is underway in Italy on 27 January 2012 to protest against various government measures. Response to the strike call has been mixed. In Turin, for example, approximately 40 percent of the employees observed the strike, and the subway was functioning normally as of last report. Buses and trains, however, were operating on reduced schedules. Means of public transportation in Rome were also not at a total halt but were operating on a reduced schedule. Several hundred people staged a protest march in Rome; thus far there have been no reports of violence or disturbances during the protest. (27 Jan 2012)

THREAT LEVEL DEFINITIONS

- Security issues rarely affect individuals or organizations. These locations have an extremely low rate of violent crime.

- Locations may have several low-level security issues, but these generally have minimal physical impact on individuals and organizations.

- Incidents of violent crime, terrorism and/or extremist activity occur more frequently, but are still sporadic.

- Incidents such as armed robbery, carjacking, civil unrest, terrorism and/or extremist activity can occur frequently, and there is a greater risk that security issues could physically impact individuals and organizations.

- Locations can be affected by rampant violent crime, volatile situations of civil unrest, frequent terrorist extremist attacks and/or open military conflict.

1 | 2 | 3 | Next »