Hotspots Digest

Hotspots Digest
Tuesday - May 11, 2004 To Tuesday - May 18, 2004

Employees comeEmployees go.
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AMERICAS
Argentina (3)
Bolivia
Brazil (2)
Colombia
Cuba
Dominican Republic
Nicaragua
Peru (2)
Venezuela (2)


ASIA
Afghanistan
Bangladesh
China
India
Indonesia
Nepal (4)
Pakistan
Philippines (2)
Thailand (2)


EUROPE
Armenia
Denmark
France (2)
Greece
Italy (2)
Russia
Spain
Turkey
United Kingdom


MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA
Iran
Iraq (2)
Israel
Saudi Arabia
Syria


SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA
Chad
Ethiopia (2)
Kenya (2)
Liberia (2)
Nigeria (4)
Sierra Leone
South Africa
Sudan
Zimbabwe (2)


WORLD
Worldwide


GOVERNMENT WARNINGS
Bangladesh
Malaysia
Pakistan
Portugal
Yemen
Burundi
Nigeria
Sierra Leone



AMERICAS


Argentina: The Argentinean Workers Union (CTA) convoked a nationwide march
on 18 May 2004 to protest against gas price hikes, to demand a more
balanced distribution of national wealth, autonomy from international
credit organizations such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and
other social plans. In Buenos Aires, the march will begin at 1300 local
time at the intersection of Avenida de Mayo and Avenida 9 de Julio, in
Plaza Once, and on the corner of Corrientes and Callao, and then proceed
to the congressional building. Further demonstrations will take place in
the cities of Salta, Jujuy, Santiago del Estero, Neuquen, Misiones,
Corrientes, Entre Rios, Rosario, Catamarca, Tierra del Fuego, San Luis,
San Juan and Mar del Plata.


Argentina: Thousands of demonstrators blocked approximately 124 roads,
highways and bridges nationwide on 12 May 2004, causing severe traffic
disruptions, especially in the capital city of Buenos Aires. According to
local reports, approximately 2,000 demonstrators (who are demanding social
plans and pay hikes and are rejecting the hike in gas tariffs announced on
10 May) marched to Plaza de Mayo, where a group of about 15 demonstrators
attacked the offices of the Repsol-YPF oil company, located in downtown
Buenos Aires, breaking the main entrance door and windows, throwing tar
bombs and burning tires. The smoke and fire produced by the bombs caused
panic among the company's employees. No injuries were reported during the
attack, but some of the employees reportedly suffered from respiratory
difficulties and fainting.


In a related story, a home-made explosive device was found at 2205 local
time in front of an Edesur electric station in south Buenos Aires.
According to police reports, pamphlets with the inscription "no blackouts,
no tariff hikes" were found near the device.


Argentina: After a court ruling that classified as an offense any kind of
road blockage and the announcement by the Security Ministry in Buenos
Aires on 11 May 2004 that police officers were allowed to use any means to
guarantee the free flow of traffic, members of labor unions and picketing
groups decided to block -- between 1000 and 1700 local time -- more than
120 roads, highways and bridges nationwide. According to these groups,
access routes to Buenos Aires will be the most affected areas. The
demonstrators are demanding social plans for retired workers, pay hikes
for all workers and are rejecting the hike in gas tariffs announced on 10
May.


Bolivia: Labor unions and manufacturing workers' unions will gather on 11
May 2004 at 1800 local time in front of the General Cemetery in La Paz,
and march through the main streets of downtown La Paz carrying torches.
The Urban Teaching Union has also announced a massive participation in
this march, which is part of the protest activities of the general strike
and road blockage that began on 3 May, organized by the Bolivian Labor
Union (COB). The demonstrators are protesting against the policies of
President Carlos Mesa. Protests in Bolivia have turned violent in the
past.


Brazil: A Brazilian-manufactured Brasilia-120 twin-engine turboprop plane
owned by Rico Linhas Aereas, or "Rico Airlines," crashed near the city of
Manaus, the capital of the north-central state of Amazonas, located 1,500
mi/2,414 km north of Sao Paulo, on the night of 14 May 2004. The plane was
carrying 30 passengers and three crew members. There were no survivors.
The aircraft departed from the city of Sao Paulo de Oliveira near the
border with Colombia and was en route to Manaus. It disappeared from radar
screens at Manaus' Eduardo Gomes International Airport at approximately
1830 local time, approximately 10 mi/16 km from the airport's runway.
Airport search and rescue teams located the crash site at 1937 local time.
Aviation authorities are investigating the cause of the incident


Brazil: On 13 May 2004 at 0000 local time, approximately 60,000 members of
the Road Workers Union, including bus drivers in Rio de Janeiro, began a
24-hour strike, demanding a pay hike of 11.5 percent. According to local
reports, the unexpected strike caused traffic jams along the main access
highways to Rio de Janeiro. At 1000 local time, the president of the union
announced that because the strike had achieved its purpose -- which was to
draw attention to their problems -- 50 percent of the bus drivers had
resumed operations.


Colombia: Approximately 800,000 state workers will begin a 24-hour
nationwide strike on 18 May 2004 to protest against the Free Trade
Agreement between the Andean Pact members and the United States, and the
presidential re-election project. In Cartagena, demonstrators from the 10
coastal departments and Antioquia will march at 1400 local time from Pedro
de Heredia Avenue to the Convention Center, where negotiators from the
United States, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru will be meeting. According to
local reports, approximately 1,000 security force members will be guarding
the city to prevent terrorist acts and riot police will be positioned in
strategic locations to guarantee the security of the demonstrators.. In
Bogotá, demonstrators are scheduled to begin gathering at 1000 local time
in the downtown area and then proceed to Bolivar Square.


Cuba: Hundreds of thousands of Cubans staged a massive demonstration in
Havana on 14 May 2004 to protest recent measures by the United States
aimed at reducing hard U.S. currency on the island. The measures
implemented by the U.S. government will limit how often Cuban-Americans
can visit Cuba, decrease the amount of U.S. dollars they are allowed to
spend in Cuba, and prohibit money transfers to Cuban officials and
Communist Party members. Many demonstrators arrived by bus from areas
outside Havana in order to participate in the protest. After giving a
speech denouncing U.S. President George W. Bush and U.S. policy, Cuban
President Fidel Castro led demonstrators along the oceanfront Malecon
Boulevard past the U.S. diplomatic mission. There were no reported
incidents.


Dominican Republic: Supporters of rival presidential candidates exchanged
gunfire outside a school serving as a polling station in the southern
coastal town of Barahona, located approximately 80 mi/130 km west of Santo
Domingo, on 16 May 2004. Three people were killed and two others were
injured in the violence. Meanwhile, on the outskirts of Santo Domingo,
armed men fired shots in the air as they tried to steal a ballot box. The
incident resulted in a clash that left one man wounded. In several other
areas, armed supporters of incumbent President Hipolito Mejia surrounded
polling sites and threatened to take ballot boxes. It was not clear
whether or not any ballots went missing.


Late on the night of 16 May, Mejia conceded defeat to former President
Leonel Fernandez. At the time of the announcement, only 3 percent of the
election results had been officially released. Turnout was estimated at 70
percent of the nation's 5 million registered voters.


Nicaragua: Students demanding increased government funding for Nicaragua's
universities demonstrated in Managua on 17 May 2004. Police officers fired
rubber bullets and tear gas in order to disperse the demonstrators.
According to local reports, the most severe clashes between protesters and
police officers occurred near the Central American University, located in
a southern district of Managua, and the National Agrarian University,
located in northern Managua. Dozens of people reportedly suffered injuries
during the protests. Police officers arrested a number of student
protesters. Nicaragua's Supreme Court recently ordered the government to
assign 6 percent of the national budget to universities, but government
officials stated that they did not have sufficient funds to comply.


Peru: Thousands of anti-government protesters, including coca farmers,
health care workers and unionists, marched through Lima on 11 May 2004.
The protests were generally peaceful, but security forces fired tear gas
to prevent coca growers from pushing their way into the prime minister's
office. Meanwhile, an estimated 4,000 people participated in the second
day of a strike in Ilave, which is located in eastern Peru near the
Bolivian border. Protesters briefly blocked a bridge connecting Peru and
Bolivia, but there were no reports of serious violence.


Peru: Coca growers announced that they will march on 11 May 2004 through
the main streets of Lima, demanding an end to the coca eradication
program, recognition of the coca leaf as a Peruvian traditional crop and
freedom for their leader, who is in jail for alleged terrorist acts.
According to a leader of the coca growers, the march will begin in Campo
de Marte and proceed to the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, then
proceed to the Justice Palace and end at the Congress; she assured that
the march will be peaceful, but traffic congestion is inevitable.
Approximately 3,000 coca growers are expected to participate. The local
government did not grant permission for the march, as the petition was not
made at least 72 hours before the demonstration as required.


Venezuela: On 18 May 2004 at 1800 local time, opponents of President Hugo
Chavez will march with torches in Caracas protesting against the
imprisonment of the Baruta municipality mayor, who was arrested on 11 May
and accused of leading an attack against the Cuban Embassy in Caracas on
12 April 2002. The demonstrators will depart from Santa Fe Highway and
Altamira and proceed to the headquarters of the Baruta municipality
located in Bello Monte. Heavy traffic is expected throughout the city as
the demonstrators will march at rush hour in two of the three highways in
east Caracas.


Venezuela: On 11 May 2004, the Public Ministry issued an arrest warrant
for Henrique Capriles Radonski, the Baruta District Mayor. Capriles was
arrested shortly thereafter. According to the district attorney, Capriles
is accused of "breaking international principles, attempt of murder
against government members, kidnapping, private violence, abuse of office,
public intimidation and material damages" for the events that occurred on
12 April 2002 in front of the Cuban Embassy in Caracas. Capriles -- who is
a member of the Democratic Coordinator, an umbrella organization of
opposition groups -- has constantly challenged President Hugo Chavez's
government.


Members of the Venezuelan opposition responded by blocking several
highways in Caracas. On 12 May at 0830 local time, the streets remained
closed. Violence has occurred in the past during these kinds of
demonstrations.


ASIA


Afghanistan: An unidentified assailant, or assailants, fired a rocket into
an International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) base in eastern Kabul at
approximately 0900 local time on 11 May 2004. At least one soldier was
injured in this attack. ISAF soldiers apparently raided a nearby village
shortly after the incident, but no details are available regarding their
findings there. Rocket attacks occur frequently against such targets in
Afghan cities.


Bangladesh: At approximately 1000 local time on 12 May 2004, Biman
Bangladesh Airlines pilots went on strike over various issues, including a
demand that the airline's deputy director resign. The action forced the
airline to cancel approximately 60 percent of its flights. The strike was
called off later in the day. According to reports, the Bangladesh Airlines
Pilots Association is considering an indefinite strike action.


China: On 18 May 2004, an Azeri II-76 cargo aircraft bound for Baku
crashed shortly after takeoff from Urumqi's international airport, located
approximately 1,500 mi/2,400 km west of Beijing. The Russian-made aircraft
crashed in a residential area of the city approximately two minutes after
takeoff. There have been no casualties reported on the ground, and
official media sources are reporting that the aircraft crashed into a
series of farm houses. Investigators are attempting to determine the cause
of the incident. All seven crewmembers are presumed dead.


India: Early election results on 13 May 2004 indicate that the main
opposition Congress Party has defeated the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party
(BJP) alliance. (At last count, Congress and its allies have secured 272
out of 543 seats in the Lok Sabha [People's Assembly].) According to
reports, Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee has conceded defeat and
resigned. The apparent opposition victory will see the installation of a
secular government led by the Congress Party, replacing the BJP's Hindu
nationalist coalition. Congress' victory was a surprise for the BJP, which
had called early elections in expectation of capitalizing off a variety of
positive conditions.


Indonesia: The Indonesian government has announced that it will be ending
the state of martial law in the restive province of Aceh, where
separatists have been fighting government security forces, on 19 May 2004.
The state of martial law, which has existed for a year, is to be replaced
by a state of civil emergency. The leadership of the Free Aceh Movement
(GAM) rebel group has dismissed the change as window dressing


Nepal: On 18 May 2004, Maoist rebels enforced a three-day general strike
throughout Nepal, paralyzing daily life in Kathmandu. Schools and
businesses throughout the country closed in observation of the general
strike, and the country's roads and highways were largely empty.
Government workers did go to work in Kathmandu.


Nepal: Maoist rebels committed a string of attacks, some against foreign
tourists, over the 14 - 16 May 2004 weekend. At approximately 1900 local
time on 14 May, suspected Maoist rebels detonated a bomb at the Fishtail
Lodge, a hotel that frequently houses foreign tourists in the town of
Pokhara, located approximately 100 mi/161 km northwest of Kathmandu. The
explosion damaged the hotel's reception area, kitchen and dining hall.
There were no reports of injuries. The assailants forced all the persons
in the hotel to evacuate the building before detonating the bomb. Most of
the hotel's guests at the time were Indian nationals; there were also
Europeans staying at the hotel. Members of the royal family of Nepal
reportedly own the hotel. Meanwhile, several other bombings were reported
around the country, including one at a government building in Kathmandu.
No injuries were reported in the attack in the capital.


Nepal: An opposition-led strike action paralyzed daily life in Nepal for a
second-straight day on 12 May 2004. Thousands of anti-monarchy protesters
staged demonstrations in Kathmandu as many schools and offices closed in
observance of the strike, while many public transportation vehicles
remained off the city's roads. Protesters set fire to piles of tires on
streets in several areas of the city. While minor clashes occurred between
demonstrators and police officers in several areas, no serious violence
was reported. Operations were reported as normal at Kathmandu's
international airport, but passengers had difficulty reaching the airport
due to the fact that public transportation was disrupted. Opposition
groups are demanding that the king re-institute a democratic government
and allow elections.


Nepal: On 11 May 2004, a strike called by Nepal's main political parties
to press the monarchy to restore democracy shut down most businesses and
public transportation in Kathmandu. Riot police officers were deployed in
the city, but there were no reports of violence or arrests.


Pakistan: On 12 May 2004, members of the Mutahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), a
partner in the ruling provincial coalition, clashed with members of the
opposition Islamic Mutahida Majils-e-Amal (MMA) in central and western
areas of Karachi in violence related to a local by-election. Security
forces were sent to the scene to quell the violence. At least six people
were killed and dozens more injured in the violence.


Philippines: Authorities halted marine transport off the east coast of the
Philippines on 17 May 2004 in preparation for an approaching storm,
Typhoon Nida. More than 7,000 commuters and at least 18 ferries were
stranded. Resulting floods left an unspecified number of vehicles stranded
as well. A typhoon alert was issued for several provinces and for Manila,
the capital. Disaster response units were put on standby. At approximately
0528 local time on 17 May, the eye of the storm was located 17 mi/60 km
east of Catanduanes province. The typhoon had winds of up to 105 mph/170
kph and gusts up to 127 mph/205 kph. It was moving northwest at 12 mph/19
kph and was expected to be 118 mi/190 km southeast of Cagayan province by
18 May.


On 16 May, tropical storm Dindo hit the eastern and central Visayas
islands, located in the central Philippines. Three fishermen were reported
missing as a result of the storm, and thousands of passengers and hundreds

of vehicles and seacraft were stranded in ports in the town of Allen and
in Cebu. Dindo had winds of up to 93 mph/150 kph and gusts of up to 115
mph/185 kph. As of 1000 local time on 16 May, the eye of the storm was
located 80 mi/130 km east-northeast of Guiuan, Eastern Samar and was
expected to be 68 mi/110 km southeast of Virac, Catanduanes by the morning
of 17 May.


Philippines: Supporters of presidential candidate Fernando Poe Jr. staged
peaceful demonstrations in Manila's Makati financial district, blocking
traffic, late on 11 May 2004 to protest against an exit poll that
forecasts an election victory for incumbent President Gloria Macapagal
Arroyo. Poe's supporters have threatened to stage protests if they detect
any fraud in the final election results, which will not be announced for
several weeks.


Thailand: On the evening of 16 May 2004, at least three bombs exploded
simultaneously at Buddhist temples in the districts of Takbai, Ruesoh and
Rangae in the far southern Thai province of Narathiwat. At least one
person was injured in the attacks. In a separate incident, two
motorcycle-borne assailants assassinated a police officer while he was
traveling home in Pattani town on 17 May, while another police officer was
shot and wounded in Narathiwat. Meanwhile, hundreds of security personnel
stood guard at schools as they reopened for the new school year.


Thailand: Approximately 10,000 demonstrators marched peacefully on 11 May
2004 near the royal palace in Bangkok to protest against government
privatization initiatives. The event was an attempt to appeal to Thai King
Bhumibol Adulyadej in hopes of prompting his intervention. The government
plans to privatize many industries during 2004.


EUROPE


Armenia: Approximately 10,000 protesters demonstrated in Yerevan, the
capital, on 14 May 2004, demanding either the resignation of President
Robert Kocharian or a nationwide referendum calling for a confidence vote
on his presidency. The protesters also demanded that police officers
release protesters who were detained on 13 April, when they attempted to
march on Kocharian's residence. Police officers monitored the
demonstration but did not take any action despite a ban on unauthorized
demonstrations.


Denmark: Early on the morning of 17 May 2004 a crude home-made bomb
exploded outside the Danish defense ministry in Copenhagen. There were no
injuries and only minimal damage. The bomb consisted of several fireworks
placed inside of a box. Leaflets condeming the war in Iraq and saying
"Support the Arabian people, Yankees go home" were found inside the box
and around the ministry. This led local authorities to believe that
political activists who are opposed to the country's participation in the
occupation of Iraq are responsible for the bomb attack.


France: On 15 May 2004, approximately 100-150 protesters stormed the Star
Cinema movie theater in central Cannes, located approximately 400 mi/640
km southeast of Paris on the southern Cote d'Azur coast, during an annual
international film festival. The protesters smashed windows at the theater
and attempted to force out theatergoers. Riot police officers used batons
to disperse the protesters and closed all streets around the building,
where most of the screenings for the festival take place. Approximately
six people were injured and police officers detained at least five others.
The protesters had broken off from a larger, peaceful march staged
earlier. Protest organizers stated that 1,500 people took part in that
demonstration, while police officials put the number of participants at
500. Later on 15 May, protesters gathered outside the main police station
in Cannes to demand the release of the detained protesters.


France: French rail workers staged a nationwide strike on 13 May 2004 that
significantly disrupted domestic train travel. According to reports,
approximately 30 percent of the country's bullet trains and more than 40
percent of trains serving the Paris region were cancelled. With the
exception of train service to Italy, international train traffic remains
unaffected. The strike is expected to end on the morning of 14 May 2004.
Rail workers are protesting proposed job cuts.


Greece: On 13 May 2004, security forces defused an explosive device found
in a bag outside the office of the British-owned bank HSBC, hours after
small gas canisters exploded at a branch of Greek Alpha Bank located
nearby. No details are available on the nature of the device defused at
the HSBC office. The explosions at the Alpha Bank branch took place at a
cash machine at approximately 0200 local time. As is usually the case with
such explosions in Greece, they caused damage but no casualties.


Meanwhile, the Revolutionary Struggle, a domestic left-wing militant
group, has threatened government officials, business leaders, security
officials and wealthy travelers planning to attend the Olympic Games in
Athens, describing them as "undesirables." Reports have not revealed any
details of the threats. The Revolutionary Struggle also claimed
responsibility for three explosions that occurred outside an Athens police
station on 5 May 2004, stating that they were in protest against increased
security measures for the Olympic Games.


Italy: Airport personnel at Fiumicino Airport and Ciampino International
Airport in Rome staged a four-hour strike on 17 May 2004. Three labor
unions called for the strike on 14 May 2004, demanding that 180 temporary
positions be made full-time.


Italy: A passenger train derailed at approximately 1630 local time on 16
May 2004 near the town Serravalle Scrivia, which is located approximately
30 mi/50 km north of Genoa. Two locomotives passing in the opposite
direction hit the train shortly after it derailed. At least 28 people were
injured in the incident, which is currently under investigation. Rail
traffic on the Genoa-Turin line is expected to be interrupted for 48
hours.


Russia: On 15 May 2004, a bus carrying 43 passengers to an aircraft struck
the port wing of a Tu-154 passenger aircraft operated by Aeroflot as it
was taxiing for take-off at Moscow's Sheremetyevo Airport. The aircraft,
which was bound for St. Petersburg, sustained damage in the accident. Nine
people were injured.


Spain: Spanish authorities will implement increased security measures in
Madrid for the royal wedding between Crown Prince Felipe and his fiancß
Letizia Ortiz planned for 22 May 2004. Officials expect several thousand
spectators to line the streets near Almudena Cathedral and along the
procession route. Hundreds of foreign dignitaries, including heads of
state and members of Europe's royal houses also plan to attend. The exact
route and timing of the procession has not been released. Approximately
20,000 police officers, military, paramilitary forces and cadets will be
stationed throughout the city, focusing primarily on the procession from
the cathedral to a church near Atocha train station where Ortiz will toss
her bridal bouquet. A no-fly zone covering an area of approximately 50
mi/80 km over Madrid will be in effect from 1800 local time on 21 May 2004
to 2000 local time on 22 May 2004, except for regularly scheduled
commercial flights. F-18 fighter jets will also patrol the skies along
with an AWACS radar aircraft that NATO is providing. Some reports indicate
that military jets will be authorized to shoot down small aircraft
violating the no-fly zone, but military officials refused to deny or
confirm those reports. During 22-23 May 2004 subway lines leading to the
royal palace and Almudena Cathedral in Madrid's old quarter will be
suspended. As previously reported, Spain will suspend the Schengen treaty
beginning on 22 May 2004 through 0000 local time on 23 May 2004, which
will allow border patrols to request identification from European Union
(EU) countries. Authorities are conducting intensive background checks on
residents whose apartments or businesses overlook the palace, or are along
proposed potential procession routes the royal couple will pass. Searches
of underground water, sewage and subway tunnels are also taking place.. As
a safety precaution, hospitals, fire departments, and the Red Cross will
be fully staffed in the event an emergency occurs.


Turkey: Four small percussion bombs exploded outside HSBC branches in
Istanbul and Ankara on the night of 16 May 2004. The bombs caused damage
but no casualties. The first two bombs exploded at approximately 2200
local time outside an HSBC branch in the Asian side of Istanbul. A third
bomb, which was believed to have been placed under a parked car, exploded
in Ankara at 2230 local time, shattering the windows of the bank branch
and damaging the car. It was followed by an explosion in front of another
branch in the city. No one has claimed responsibility for the bombs.. An
HSBC branch in Istanbul was targeted in a large-scale attack in November
2003. However, given both the scope and time of occurrence, these latest
attacks appear more similar to previous attacks attributed to small,
domestic groups than to the November 2003 bombing, which was attributed to
al-Qaeda.


United Kingdom: Reports emerged on 17 May 2004 that a security breech
occurred on 13 May 2004 at Scotland's Aberdeen Airport. According to the
British Aviation Authority, a 22-year-old inebriated woman scaled a
perimeter airport security fence and broke into a private jet aircraft,
where she fell asleep inside the cockpit for several hours before being
discovered. There is no indication that the woman had any hostile
intentions. The incident has prompted a complete security review of the
facility. The women was detained, but later released with a caution.. No
details about the ownership of the aircraft involved in the incident are
available at this time.


MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA


Iran: Iranian students rallied outside the British Embassy in Tehran on 15
May 2004. Participants chanted anti-U.S. and anti-British slogans and
burned British flags. The demonstration was small, involving approximately
200 people. Before the rally, a senior Iranian cleric was quoted as
stating that the U.S. military incursion into Shiite holy cities in Iraq
justifies attacks on U.S. and British interests throughout the world.


Iraq: A suicide car bomb exploded near a checkpoint outside the "Green
Zone," the headquarters of the U.S.-led coalition in Baghdad, at
approximately 0930 local time on 17 May 2004. The head of the
U.S.-appointed Iraqi governing council, Abdul Zahra Othman Muhammad, also
known as Izzadine Sa