|
PLUSES AND MINUSES IN OCTOBER 2009
After a period of uncertainty, there is likelihood of peace returning to Nepal with the Maoists and the government having agreed to end the deadlock through a process of dialogue. The socialists in Greece won a landslide victory in the country’s general elections. The Nobel Committee this year sprang a surprise by declaring the Nobel Prize for Peace for the US President Barack Obama. The Nobel Prize for Economics for the first time went to a lady, and in India for the first time a woman President has been elected as President of ASSOCHAM (The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India). A UN study shows Afghan opium is killing 1,00,000 persons worldwide every year. An analysis of foreign policy under the Obama administration in the Article section may also interest you.
While Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan remained the primary theatres of terrorism, Pakistan stole the show with terror attacks on its Army headquarters in Islamabad and other important towns like Peshawar and Lahore. The Indian Embassy in Kabul was again attacked – for the second time. Suicide bombers attacked Iran’s most elite force, namely, the Revolutionary Guards. Al Qaeda declared holy war against China. A message for terror attack by Al Qaeda against Germany has been hosted in the website. Top Indian political leaders have been put in the hit list of Al Qaeda. Pakistan’s Taliban chief declared India as the next target after they create an Islamic State in Pakistan. According to ISI channel, Laskar-e-Taiba, which remained determined to strike India again, had become richer after 26/11. The Talibans in Afghanistan, according to a CIA report, are running a sophisticated financial network for raising hundreds of millions of dollars from illicit drug trafficking, kidnapping, extortion and even foreign donations.
Maoists violence in India, on which we have recently sent a mailer separately, marked a high tide during the last month with a police inspector being brutally killed in the Jharkhand State of India, and an elite train, namely, Rajdhani Express between Bhubaneswar and New Delhi, being held hostage by the Maoists. A police station in West Bengal was attacked and its officer-Incharge kidnapped. Maoists presence in Assam and Chandigarh was reported. Though some leader indicated they were ready for talks, a senior Maoist leader declared ‘open war’ against the State. They had established contacts with Sri Lalka’s LTTE also, according to the Union Home Minister. The Deputy Prime Minister of Nepal said they had clear evidence of Maoists in India receiving help from their counterparts in Nepal. They have woman battalion ready to face special government forces like COBRA. Interestingly, the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) is also believed to have formed suicide squads.
The cyber world is indeed changing. According to a UN telecommunications agency, the next world war would be in space. Reports of China building its cyber warfare capabilities against US targets once again surfaced. A massive phishing scam of 10 lakh passwords being hacked was reported by Microsoft. Terrorists were reported sending coded messages in blog rants.
Significant developments took place in the field of industrial security. The International Institute of Security and Safety Management (IISSM) and IIRSM (International Institute of Risk and Safety Management, U.K.) signed an MOU for mutual cooperation. The IFSEC (International Fire Security Exhibition and Convention) held its IFSECINDIA 2009 Exhibition on October 29-31, 2009, at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi. The APSA-India Chapter received Platinum President Award at the 16th annual APSA International Conference held from September 30 to October 1, 2009, at Suntec Singapore International Convention and Exhibition Centre, Singapore. Readers may also like to see an excellent account of the growth of private security industry in a study undertaken by ‘Security Today’ in the Article section.
Would you like to know your longetivity? According to Danish experts, most of the babies born in rich countries this century might see their 100th birthday. The Government of Karnataka in India set up a Commission to study police culture. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) bombed the moon with hopes of hidden data. You may soon find a fan with no blades but cooling you better than air-conditioner. The first commercial flight with natural gas has since taken off. You will have loos sans water and stink. The Government of Maldives held its cabinet meeting under water. India is among the countries having the highest number of endangered languages. You might soon have a charger that would fit all mobiles. ‘Should you wish, you might see a proto-type of the mobile phone-gun in this Newsletter itself – all in the General File.
Thanking you and with best regards,
D. C. Nath, IPS (Retd.)
Former Special Director, IB (MHA), Govt. of India,
Executive President & CEO,
International Institute of Security and Safety Management,
New Delhi, India.
Go Top
|
