International Crisis Group

Jun 19

“The best way forward for the MILF and Manila may be to develop a shared vision for improving security.” — from Crisis Group’s recent report, The Philippines: Dismantling Rebel Groups

“The MILF’s fighters have good reasons to hold onto their guns until the government can convince them it will scale down the presence of the military and other state-aligned forces in Mindanao.” — from Crisis Group’s recent report, The Philippines: Dismantling Rebel Groups

“The Aquino government tried to find new ways of delivering and monitoring socio-economic assistance, such as gathering data on beneficiaries. These improvements are real, yet implementation has been painstakingly slow.” — from Crisis Group’s recent report, The Philippines: Dismantling Rebel Groups

“The future of thousands of fighters is at stake following an historic deal with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).” — from Crisis Group’s recent report, The Philippines: Dismantling Rebel Groups

The Philippines: Dismantling Rebel Groups Jakarta/Brussels  |   19 Jun 2013 The Philippines has had some recent success in winding down decades-long negotiations with rebel groups, but achieving peace with the country’s biggest insurgency, in Mindanao, requires both new energy and fresh thinking. In its latest report, The Philippines: Dismantling Rebel Groups, the International Crisis Group examines President Benigno Aquino III’s efforts to end major insurgencies, including with the Mindanao-based, 12,000-strong Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). An October 2012 pact with the MILF – the most recent agreement in intermittent talks that began in 1997 – brought hope for peace. Government and rebels now need to find ways to improve security in Mindanao, which is awash in arms. FULL REPORT

The Philippines: Dismantling Rebel Groups

Jakarta/Brussels  |   19 Jun 2013

The Philippines has had some recent success in winding down decades-long negotiations with rebel groups, but achieving peace with the country’s biggest insurgency, in Mindanao, requires both new energy and fresh thinking.

In its latest report, The Philippines: Dismantling Rebel Groups, the International Crisis Group examines President Benigno Aquino III’s efforts to end major insurgencies, including with the Mindanao-based, 12,000-strong Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). An October 2012 pact with the MILF – the most recent agreement in intermittent talks that began in 1997 – brought hope for peace. Government and rebels now need to find ways to improve security in Mindanao, which is awash in arms.

FULL REPORT

Pondering Pyongyang: Beijing’s problem child | CNN By Kristie Lu Stout After the United Nations slapped tougher sanctions on North Korea after its third nuclear test in February this year, Pyongyang screamed in defiance. It canceled its hotline with South Korea, withdrew its workers from the Kaesong industrial complex it jointly operates with Seoul, and carried on with its over-the-top threats. China may have backed those sanctions but the economic lifeline is still there. Trade goes on between North Korea and China. In 2011, before some of these trade embargoes began, China accounted for an estimated 67.2% of North Korea’s exports and 61.6% of imports, according to the CIA World Factbook. “If you talk to officials at the border, there’s no change,” says Stephanie Kleine-Ahlbrandt, the North Asian head of the International Crisis Group. FULL ARTICLE (CNN) Photo: adaptorplug/Flickr

Pondering Pyongyang: Beijing’s problem child | CNN

By Kristie Lu Stout

After the United Nations slapped tougher sanctions on North Korea after its third nuclear test in February this year, Pyongyang screamed in defiance. It canceled its hotline with South Korea, withdrew its workers from the Kaesong industrial complex it jointly operates with Seoul, and carried on with its over-the-top threats.

China may have backed those sanctions but the economic lifeline is still there. Trade goes on between North Korea and China. In 2011, before some of these trade embargoes began, China accounted for an estimated 67.2% of North Korea’s exports and 61.6% of imports, according to the CIA World Factbook.

“If you talk to officials at the border, there’s no change,” says Stephanie Kleine-Ahlbrandt, the North Asian head of the International Crisis Group.

FULL ARTICLE (CNN)

Photo: adaptorplug/Flickr

Examining Prospects for Democratic Reform and Economic Recovery in Zimbabwe On Monday, 18 June, Crisis Group’s Senior Vice President, Mark Schneider, testified before the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee. His complete testimony can be found here. The uncontested constitutional referendum in March enabled Zimbabweans to participate in a voting process without fear of retribution. The pending parliamentary and presidential balloting is another matter. SADC remains the point vehicle for pressing for conditions on the ground to allow for credible elections and a process with integrity, including adequate domestic and international monitoring of all aspects of the process. The U.S. should support those efforts. Watch the video of the hearing on the Senate website.

Examining Prospects for Democratic Reform and Economic Recovery in Zimbabwe

On Monday, 18 June, Crisis Group’s Senior Vice President, Mark Schneider, testified before the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee. His complete testimony can be found here.

The uncontested constitutional referendum in March enabled Zimbabweans to participate in a voting process without fear of retribution. The pending parliamentary and presidential balloting is another matter. SADC remains the point vehicle for pressing for conditions on the ground to allow for credible elections and a process with integrity, including adequate domestic and international monitoring of all aspects of the process. The U.S. should support those efforts.

Watch the video of the hearing on the Senate website.

Open Letter to U.S. Special Envoy to the Great Lakes Region, Russ Feingold The Enough Project and a coalition of human rights experts, including Crisis Group’s Senior Vice President Mark Schneider, congratulate Special Envoy Russ Feingold on his appointment as U.S. Special Envoy to the African Great Lakes region and call on him to lead the efforts for stability and peace in central Africa. Read the open letter here. Photo: JD Lasica/Flickr

Open Letter to U.S. Special Envoy to the Great Lakes Region, Russ Feingold

The Enough Project and a coalition of human rights experts, including Crisis Group’s Senior Vice President Mark Schneider, congratulate Special Envoy Russ Feingold on his appointment as U.S. Special Envoy to the African Great Lakes region and call on him to lead the efforts for stability and peace in central Africa.

Read the open letter here.

Photo: JD Lasica/Flickr

Jun 18

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Indonesia’s police: The problem of deadly force | Lowy Interpreter by Jim Della-Giacoma, Asia Program Director My four year-old daughter recently came home from her Jakarta kindergarten with a story about a visit to the school from the head of our local police station. ‘If there is a robber and he’s running away, the policeman will pull out his gun, fire in the air, and if he doesn’t stop then he will shoot him in the leg’, she recounted breathlessly. I have spent 25 years working in and around conflict zones, including more than a decade in Indonesia. My reaction might not have been that of the average parent. ‘That’, I replied, ‘is a violation of Perkap Number 8.’ Needless to say, my reference to Police Regulation Number 8 of 2009 regarding Implementation of Human Rights Principles and Standards in the Discharge of Duties of the Indonesian National Police was lost on her. She thought the visit was great. FULL ARTICLE (Lowy Interpreter) Photo: Satu Lagi/Flickr

Indonesia’s police: The problem of deadly force | Lowy Interpreter

by Jim Della-Giacoma, Asia Program Director

My four year-old daughter recently came home from her Jakarta kindergarten with a story about a visit to the school from the head of our local police station. ‘If there is a robber and he’s running away, the policeman will pull out his gun, fire in the air, and if he doesn’t stop then he will shoot him in the leg’, she recounted breathlessly.

I have spent 25 years working in and around conflict zones, including more than a decade in Indonesia. My reaction might not have been that of the average parent. ‘That’, I replied, ‘is a violation of Perkap Number 8.’ Needless to say, my reference to Police Regulation Number 8 of 2009 regarding Implementation of Human Rights Principles and Standards in the Discharge of Duties of the Indonesian National Police was lost on her. She thought the visit was great.

FULL ARTICLE (Lowy Interpreter)

Photo: Satu Lagi/Flickr