Bi-Weekly Update 2: Terrorism and Counterterrorism

Philippines: Third phase of decommissioning Muslim Rebel forces completed. (10/8/2023)

The Philippine government has successfully decommissioned 28,844 soldiers of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) signalling the end of the third phase of the  decommissioning process, part of the government’s program to reintegrate former combatants into society. This has taken place alongside the withdrawal of 4,625 of weapons, utilised in a historic Muslim separatist effort in the southern region of Asia’s Catholic heartland. The Philippine Government promises ex-combatants who lay down arms PHP100,000 (around US$1,764) in transitional cash assistance for their reintegration into society. Around 5,499 former rebels have been provided with cash assistance at the completion of the third decommissioning phase. During his second State of the Nation Address on  the 25th of July 2023, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. asked Congress to support his promise to grant amnesty to former Moro rebels.

Niger: Junta Charges President Bazoum with ‘High Treason’, Detention Conditions Worsen. (15/8/2023)

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) denounced threats by Niger’s ruling military junta to prosecute President Bazoum on Monday under high treason charges. ECOWAS referred to concerns over the charges' negative impacts for the restoration of constitutional order in Niger through peaceful means. President Bazoum is charged with high treason alongside undermining Niger’s internal and external security. He has been held at the President’s official residence under house arrest in Niamey since the coup on July 26th along with his wife Hadiza and one of their children, Salem. According to media reports, the family has been denied adequate food and water by their captors. Bazoum’s daughter Zazia Bazoum disclosed that her family are surviving on dwindling rice and pasta supplies, and that all three detainees had lost weight, with her 22 year old brother apparently dropping 10kg.

Ecuador: Third Politician in a Month Killed as Ecuador Prepares for Presidential Elections. (15/08/2023)

Pedro Briones, a political leader and organiser in the agricultural region of San Mateo de Esmeraldas has been fatally shot only a week after the assassination of presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio. Villavicencio, a former journalist, was the frontrunner in the upcoming presidential election, campaigning on a platform of anti-corruption following a rise in organised crime in the country fueled by links between criminal groups and politicians. In response to his murder, current president Guillermo Lasso announced three days of national mourning as well as a 2 month national state of emergency in which soldiers would guard polling stations. Villavicencio’s own murder came just a week after the fatal shooting of Agustín Intriago, mayor of Manta, in the wake of his reelection. Whilst gang violence has been endemic in the country since the beginning of Lasso’s presidency, this recent wave of political violence has left many Ecuadorians uncertain about the future of their country and the priorities of their politicians.

Czech Republic: Clashes Between Roma and Ukrainian Refugees Following Fatal Knife Attack (14/08/2023)

On the 10th of June 2023, a Roma man, Nicolas Dirda, was stabbed to death on a tram outside the Czech city of Brno. Czech media reported the attack as having been carried out by a Ukrainian refugee, of which there are 350,000 in the country, despite having no confirmation from authorities of this. This has sparked both peaceful protests by Roma, a large minority of 250,000 in the country of 10.6 million,  as well as clashes between Roma and Ukrainians. Marketa Kocmanova, an expert on radicalisation at Prague’s Charles University has suggested that “some Roma resent feeling weaker than the Ukrainians because refugees are generally perceived as a more vulnerable community.” Equally, social media has fueled discontent as extremist Roma activists such as David Mezei have been promoting often false stories of attacks by Ukrainians against Roma people. This has spread outside of the two communities as the Czech far-right has sided with the Roma against Ukrainian refugees, despite both groups traditionally being targeted by the Czech right. Jana Zwyrtek Hamplova, who recently suggested Roma children should be put in segregated schools, has come out in favour of the protests, as anti-Ukrainian demonstrations increasingly include prominent Czech nationalist symbols as well as pro-Russian imagery. Commissioner for Roma affairs Lucie Fukova has called for calm.

Northern Ireland: Police Data Breach Leaks Names, Work Locations and Units of 10,000 Officers. (08/08/2023)

In response to a freedom of information request, Northern Ireland’s police force accidentally revealed the full names and locations of 10,000 officers including those who work in sensitive areas such as intelligence collection and surveillance. For many, PSNI employment remains a secret even from family members and many go to great lengths to protect their identity. The leak also included personal information including the officer’s rank or grade and the unit they belong to, putting the force at significant risk. 

The information was available on the requestor’s website for over two hours before being removed. Although there seems to be no immediate, direct threat, this comes after MI5 increased Northern Ireland’s domestic threat level from severe to highly likely. Further, PSNI Chief Constable Simon Byrne expressed his concern that dissident republican paramilitaries could harness the information to their advantage in generating fear and uncertainty. 

Iran: Terrorist attack on Shia Shine Leaves One Person Dead (13/08/2023)
A terrorist entered the shrine and indiscriminately opened fire at the Shah Cheragh mausoleum in Shiraz, leaving one dead and several wounded. The terrorist is believed to belong to ISIL (ISIS) although no group has formally claimed responsibility. This comes less than a year since the last deadly attack at the Shrine which IS claimed, killing 13 people in October. Last month, two of the perpetrators of this attack were executed and the governor of the province of Fars, Mohammad-Hadi Imanieh, believes that Sunday’s attack is likely to be in response. State media have claimed that ISIS-K (Khorasan province affiliate of IS) were present at the executions and appeared to threaten Iran for the punishment of their operatives.