Terrorism, Defense and Security

• Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf has confirmed the presence of “foreigners” in Damadola, the village bombed by CIA Predator drones. It also appears that the CIA has developed or cultivated intelligence assets (spies) with the Pakistani Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) organization. It also appears that many former ISI operatives are in the CIA pay and report directly to Washington. Reportedly, these assets tipped off the CIA, which prompted the Hellfire missile attack. The Pakistani Federal Cabinet is speaking in conflict tones with the Prime Minister saying that no terrorists were killed while his President and other Cabinet members maintaining that there were terrorists. However, even after 10 days, no bodies have been recovered from the site. It is not known if al Qaeda operatives or CIA operatives removed the 13 (not 18 as reported earlier) bodies.

• European Human Rights investigator and Swiss Senator Dick Marty said that the United States systematically used torture through third parties as a weapon against captured Taliban fighters and suspected terrorists. Although he did not have clinching evidence on the presence of secret torture cells in Europe, there is strong suspicion that the US may have used Romania, Poland, Ukraine, Kosovo, Macedonia, and Bulgaria as places to host these centers. Marty said that the European Union knew about this strategy but decided to turn a blind eye to this “dirty work.” In a report to the 46-nation council in Strasbourg, he said that over 100 people have been “abducted, deprived of their liberty and transported to different destinations in Europe, to be handed over to countries in which they have suffered degrading treatment and torture.” The Washington Post had initially broken the story about the existence of secret torture prisons in Europe and the US has neither confirmed nor denied their existence. Supporters of the US and its allies in the Iraq War said that Marty’s report was full of inconsistencies and “has more holes than a Swiss cheese.” 

• The Bangalore police two more suspected Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) operatives in the city and retrieved several bombs and “incriminating documents.” The activists were carrying, tin bombs, carrier bombs, detonators, and a country-made revolver. The arrested individuals were in constant touch with other suspected operatives in custody and attended several meetings organized by the LeT. So far, six suspected operatives are in police custody.

Neighbors

• Norwegian Minister for International Development Erik Solheim met with Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse to bring the Government and the rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam back to the peace process. The Government has already said that they will not restart the civil war nor will they react to the escalation of violence by the LTTE. As Solheim was heading to meet the elusive LTTE chief Vellupillai Prabakaran, about 2000 strong protestors led a march up to the point of control dividing the rebel-held and Government held areas to protest the alleged killing of Tamils. They crowd burnt an effigy of Rajapakse but Government troops refused to be drawn in. The LTTE said that they did not instigate this protest but this is an issue of serious concern to the Tamils and would feature in their talks with Solheim. 

• Despite heavy opposition and protests, Nepal’s King Gnanendra seems intent on his local elections scheduled for February 8. A 7-party alliance has called the elections a “sham” and decided to boycott the elections. The Government has removed curfew in most of the country but clamped new prohibitory orders in some parts. Post-paid cell phones became operational but Indian and Kazakh joint venture service providers were not allowed to operate. A bundh (shutdown of businesses) is scheduled for January 26 to protest against “repressive” measures of the Government including curfews, prohibitory orders on rallies, and disconnection of phone services. The Government had requested the opposition to desist from rallies in sensitive areas so Maoist terrorists do not use this opportunity to infiltrate and implement terrorist attacks; the opposition largely ignored this request leading to large-scale detentions and arrests. The monarchy dismissed a democratically elected Government to assume overwhelming power to fight the Maoist uprising in the country.

World

• After four successive liberal Governments, Canada has elected the conservatives to power. Strained US-Canada relations, party scandals, and two years of inconclusive investigations spurred a desire for change. Conservative leader Stephen Harper convinced voters that he closer to the Center and emphasized tax-cutting and cleaner Government than abortion and gay rights. In a fractured vote, the conservatives won 36% of the votes but still short of a majority. They showed strong support across the board but more so in rural and sub-urban areas. Harper is a major supporter of the US in the Iraq war and opposes the Kyoto Protocol on climate control, which Canada has already signed and ratified.  Several Indian-Canadians were elected to the Parliament.

• After a space of 51 years, Saudi Arabian King Abdullah bin Abdul-Aziz al Saud is visiting India for a 4-day visit. Defying protocols, the Prime Minister received him at the airport. India and Saudi Arabia will be signing three Agreements on combating terrorism, preventing double-taxation, and promoting investments. Saudi Arabia with the largest oil reserves supplies about 25% of India’s 1.9 million barrels a day usage. Accompanied by a large entourage, the Abdullah will be the Chief Guest at the Republic Day parade. Coincidentally, Abdullah visited China and signed similar Agreements with that country before his trip to India. A large expatriate Indian community lives in and Haj pilgrims visit Saudi Arabia.