|
|
Periodic Survey of Status of Negotiations and Agreements
Burundi, Central African Republic (CAR), Chad, Congo (DR), Ivory Coast, Sudan, Uganda; Colombia; Kashmir-India/Pakistan, Korean Peninsula, Nepal, Philippines, Sri Lanka; Cyprus; UK-Northern Ireland; Israel-Syria, Palestine-Israel; and Western Sahara. Burundi Conflict: Most recent country-wide fighting between Hutus and Tutsis began in 1965. Hutu organizations: Defense of Democracy Forces (FDD), National Council for the Defense of Democracy-National Liberation Forces-Agassa Rwasa faction (CNDD-FDD), and National Liberation Forces (Palipehutu-FNL). Developments: The Arusha Peace and Reconciliation Agreement for Burundi was signed on 28 August 2000. The Ceasefire Agreement between the Parties was signed in Arusha on 2 December 2002 and the Joint Declaration of Agreement addressing the practical implementation of the December 2002 Ceasefire Agreement in Pretoria on 27 January 2003. In February 2005 a new constitution was adopted by popular referendum which came into force on 1 November 2005. Parliamentary elections were held in June and July 2005 and a president elected in August 2005, ending a four-year transitional process under the Arusha Peace and Reconciliation Agreement. The last of the rebel groups, the FNL, agreed on 5 January 2004 to enter into peace talks and on 22 April declared a unilateral cease-fire. A cease-fire agreement was signed on 7 September 2006 in Dar-es-Salaam. The UN Security Council on 25 October 2006 approved Resolution 1719 ending the mandate of the UN Operation in Burundi (ONUB) on 31 December 2006 and establishing the UN Integrated Office in Burundi (BINUB) on 1 January 2007.
Status: Ceasefire in place but not all provisions have been implemented. There are isolated fire attacks and the FNL remains present in Bujumbura Rural, which surrounds the capital.
Central African Republic (CAR) Conflict: Former armed supporters, incl. mercenaries, of the army chief of staff who overthrew the elected president in early 2003, attacked his troops on 3 June 2005 in the northeast in order to force the general into sharing power. The fighters later organized into the Union of Democratic Forces for Unity (UFDR). French forces from neighboring Chad are supporting the government. Another armed group of supporters of the former elected president, the Popular Army for the Restoration of the Republic and Democracy (APRD), is also present in the northeast. Developments: By September 2006, fighting between government troops and former supporters in the north had caused not only considerable casualties but major population movements. On 3 February 2007, the government and the Democratic Front signed a peace agreement in Sirt, Libya. On 13 April, a representative of the government and the leader of UFDR signed a peace agreement in Birao, Vakaga Prefecture, to end the conflict, disarm, and join the national army.
Status: Peace agreement in place with one rebel group; continued strife in the northeast of the country.
Chad Conflict: Aside from spillover encounters with armed groups from Algeria and Sudan, there are two separate conflicts: (1) In the Tibesti Highlands in the north, Tuareg people have been waging a struggle for self-determination and autonomy since 1998 through the Movement for Democracy and Justice in Tibesti (MDJT) and the United Front for Democracy and Peace (FUDP). (2) Armed opposition in the east is carried out by groups opposed to the current government, by ethnic groups feeling excluded from sharing in the income from the country’s resources, and by groups drawn into the strife in neighboring western Sudan: National Rally for Democracy (RND), Union of Democratic Forces for Unity (UFDR), Union of Forces for Development and Democracy (UFDD), United Front for Change (FUC), and the United Front for Democratic Change (FUDC). Developments: Government and ANR signed a peace agreement in January 2003. Government and the MDJT signed a peace agreement on 18 August 2005. Another peace agreement was signed between government and FUDC on 24 December 2005 in Tripoli with assistance from the Libyan leader. A spokesman for the ANR said fighting would continue. Status: Several peace agreements in place but not being observed and small splinter groups of the ANR and MDJT continue to refuse acceptance of the agreements.
Congo (DR) Conflict: Country-wide war began in 1997 and is waged by Congolese Liberation Front/Congolese Liberation Movement (FLC/MLC), Congolese Rally for Democracy (RCD), Hema Union of Congolese Patriots (UPC), Interahamwe Rwandan Hutu militia, Lendu Front for National Integration (FNI), Mayi Mayi militias, and others. Developments: An agreement to end hostilities between Congolese Rally for Democracy-Goma (RCD-Goma) and the Mayi-Mayi militia was signed on 1 October 2003. A ceasefire agreement was signed on 2 June 2004 between the Congolese Army and army dissidents and RCD-Goma members in the Bukavu region. Two Mayi-Mayi militias in Katanga Province agreed on 8 February 2005 to disarm about 20,000 militants. A new constitution, passed by referendum in December 2005, entered into force on 18 February 2006. The three-year transitional period drew to a close with multiparty presidential and National Assembly elections on 30 July, and presidential runoff and provincial assembly elections on 29 October. Government announced on 17 January 2007 that the Laurent Nkunda militia will be absorbed by the national arms. The commander and officers of FNI, the last remaining militia group in Ituri District, surrendered to the government on 7 April. The UN Security Council on 15 May approved Resolution 1756 to extend the mandate of the UN Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUC) until 31 December 2007. Status: International peacekeepers of MONUC and government troops continue attempts to control a number of armed groups in remote areas of the east, including North and South Kivu provinces, the Ituri District of Orientale Province, and northern Katanga Province where fighting continues.
Ivory Coast/ Côte d'Ivoire Conflict: Anti-government and ethnic north-south conflict erupted in September 2002 and is waged by Patriotic Movement of Ivory Coast (MPCI), Movement for Justice and Peace (MJP), Liberation Front for the Grand West (FLGO), and the Ivorian Popular Movement for the Greater West (MPIGO). In mid-2003, the three rebel groups adopted the name of New Forces (FN). Developments: Ceasefire was agreed upon on 3 May 2003. On 4 July, government officials and rebel leaders declared an end to the civil war. At the close of a summit meeting of president and representatives of political opposition parties and rebels in Accra, on 31 July 2004 , all political factions signed a new peace accord. After delays in disarmament of loyalist and rebel forces a new agreement was reached on 31 May 2006 in Yamassoukro. Presidential election was held in January 2006 and a new peace agreement, the 14th, was signed by him and the leader of the FN on 4 March 2007 in Ouagadougou. UN Security Council on 10 January 2007 approved Resolution 1739 to extend the mandate of the UN Operation in Côte d’Ivoire (UNOCI) until 30 June 2007.
Status: Agreement on ceasefire and 14 peace accords; reports of continuing killing and disappearance of civilians in NF-held territories.
Sudan Conflict: Armed struggle for self-determination and equality broke out in the east in Darfur in February 2003, waged by the Beja Congress, Front for the Liberation of Darfur (FLD) (Sudan Liberation Movement/Army (SLM/A) since March 2003), National Movement for Reform and Development, Shahamah Movement, and the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM). Later the Eastern Front was created including Beja Congress which had absorbed the Rashaida Free Lions, and JEM. The government armed local Arab Janjaweed militias whose murdering of non-Arabs and scorched-earth activities were publicized by the UN in April 2004. (The region of Darfur is administratively divided into three States of Shamal [North] Darfur, Gharb [West] Darfur, and Janub [South] Darfur.) Developments: Government and rebel groups in Darfur agreed to a 45-day cease-fire on 9 April 2004, followed by other agreements in September 2004. Faced with growing number of victims reaching genocide proportions in Darfur, the UN Security Council on 30 July 2004 approved Resolution 1556 demanding that the Sudanese government disarm the Janjaweed militias, apprehend and bring to justice its leaders and their associates within 30 days. Sudanese government, on 30 September 2004, informed the UN that it agrees to the deployment of an expanded African Union (AU) peacekeeping force in western Darfur. In December 2004, two new groups, the National Movement for Reform and Development, of northern Darfur, and the ash-Shahamah Movement, of Kordofan, joined peace talks. Government, JEM, and SLA signed an agreement of principles on 5 July 2005 in Abuja. UN Security Council approved Resolution 1713 on 29 September 2006 extending the mandate of the four-member Panel of Experts monitoring the arms embargo until 29 September 2007. After having signed a ceasefire agreement on 19 June 2006, government and Eastern Front signed a peace agreement on 14 October 2006 in Asmara. The government announced it would disarm the Janjaweed militias over the next two months, a promise yet to be fulfilled. The African Union (AU), on 1 December, extended the mandate of its peacekeeping force for six months. UN Security Council approved Resolution 1755 on 30 April 2007 extending the mandate of the UN Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) until 31 October 2007. Government, JEM, and SLA agreed to a 60-day ceasefire in Darfur, it was reported on 6 January 2007.
Status: Ceasefire and peace agreement as well as the agreement on principles by participants in the separate Darfur conflict in place; continuing conflict.
Uganda Main conflict: War by ethnic and Christian fundamentalists against the government began in 1988 and is waged by Lords Resistance Army (LRA) of the Acholi people. Developments: The government on 20 April 2003 accused the insurgent Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) of refusing to respond positively to a 6-week unilateral truce. The government planned no further peace efforts and announced an all out military offensive to defeat the LRA. LRA called for an immediate ceasefire on 17 September 2004. Government declared a week-long limited ceasefire on 14 November which was quietly extended to 15 December. LRA commanders met with representatives of government and civic organizations on 28 December and expressed their readiness to stop the violence. Although an LRA spokesman later promised peace in 2005, signing of a ceasefire on 31 December was postponed. Hostilities resumed on 1 January 2005. Government announced new 18-day ceasefire effective 4 February 2005. On 19 February, the truce was extended to 22 February and fighting resumed on 23 February. The government launched an emergency plan for northern Uganda on 5 May 2006 and on 17 May gave the LRA a two-month ultimatum. On 14 July, peace talks between government and LRA opened in Juba, Sudan, and on 26 August a cessation of hostilities agreement was signed. The government dropped its deadline for peace talks in September which were later resumed.
Status: Ceasefire agreements signed on 26 August 2006 and on 14 April 2007; continued fighting.
***
Colombia Conflicts: (1) Country-wide warfare started in 1964 to replace the government with a communist regime, waged by Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia-People’s Army (FARC-EP), National Liberation Army (ELN), and the People’s Liberation Army (EPL). (2) In 1990, the reconstituted United Self-Defense Forces (AUC) opened warfare to protect economic interests—incl. narcotics trade—and to combat perceived communist insurgents locally. Developments: Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia-People’s Army (FARC-EP) and the National Liberation Army (ELN) ruled out peace talks with the government on 24 August 2003. During November 2003, members of the right-wing United Self-Defense Forces began to disarm. A new government offer to open talks was rejected by the National Liberation Army (ELN) on 28 December 2003. Leaders the United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC) agreed on 13 May 2004 to disarm and relocate to a site where they will be monitored by international observers. The government released an imprisoned ELN leader for one day, on 4 June, to allow him to submit a proposal to a congressional forum on land mines. Representatives of government and the right-wing United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC) started peace talks on 1 June in a “safe zone” in the north. On 9 July, the government offered a ceasefire which FARC rejected on 20 July as long as the current president is in power. President said on 2 August that he was prepared to offer a second safe-haven for FARC and FLN. FARC, on 23 August, rejected the government’s offer to exchange imprisoned rebels for kidnapped hostages. The government offered FARC a new exchange of prisoners on 29 October which FARC rejected on 8 November. Government and AUC on 15 July 2003 signed a peace accord at Santa Fé de Ralito. AUC fighters in Antioquia region began handing in arms on 22 November. Government issued ultimatum to FARC on 30 December demanding the release of hostages threatening top leaders with extradition to the US on narcotic trafficking charges. AUC said on 24 February 2006 that it will abandon peace talks if the government insists on imprisoning group members who committed serious crimes. On 16 August, police arrested the top leaders of AUC, reportedly for violating the peace accord. In October, FARC and government talked about exchanging prisoners but after a bombing in the capital, the government broke off negotiations on 20 October.
Status: Peace accord with AUC, experimental ceasefire agreement with ELN; conflict continuing.
***
Kashmir-India/Pakistan Conflict: The armed struggle by Kashmiris for independence and the Indo-Pakistani territorial and border war began at partition in 1947. Besides security forces of India and Pakistan, combatants belong to the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF), Army of Mohammed (JEM), Army of the Righteous (LT), Hizbul Mujahideen, and Movement of Combatants (HUM). Politically, the All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) which was formed on 9 March 1993 joined on the side of 26 political, social and religious Kashmiri organizations, Developments: Indian and Pakistani negotiators agreed on a framework for a peace dialog on 17 February 2004. Later they agreed to hold confidence-building talks on 25-26 May and on 15-16 June. Because of a change in government after the May elections, the dates were changed to 19-20 June and 27-28 June 2004 respectively. The new Indian government declared its support for autonomy of Kashmir on 7 June and foreign secretaries of the two countries met on 19-20 June in Islamabad and decided to set up a new telephone hotline for alerts of nuclear accidents. The two foreign secretaries met again on 27-28 June in New Delhi. On 20 July, Pakistan’s prime minister vowed to pursue peace with India. Defense secretaries of India and Pakistan met on 6 August in New Delhi to discuss demilitarization of the Siachen Glacier-Saltoro Ridge. No agreement was reached but the two sides said they would continue their discussions. Foreign ministers of India and Pakistan held further talks about Kashmir on 5-6 September in New Delhi but reached no concrete agreements. Pakistani and Indian prime ministers held their first meeting in a New York hotel while attending the UN General Assembly on 24 September. They agreed to several confidence building measures and to explore several options to resolve the dispute. Pakistan proposed to India on 7 October to hold seven meetings in November and December. Talks would be held at the foreign secretary and expert level and would deal with confidence building measures as well as with such mundane items as bus service between Muzaffarabad and Srinagar. India and Pakistan agreed to hold talks at the expert level on bus service, confidence-building measures, and narcotic controls, beginning on 29 November, on 3-4 December, and on 7-8 December, all taking place in New Delhi. Indian reactions to proposals by the Pakistani head of state were described as “cool.” Indian prime minister on a visit to Kashmir on 17 November rejected any withdrawing of borders in the region. Indian and Pakistani prime ministers met on 24 November in Delhi. They agreed on further talks by foreign secretaries on 23-24 December in Islamabad. Talks about restoring bus service between the two countries ended on 8 December without resolution but both sides agreed to meet again. Indian and Pakistani foreign ministers meeting in Islamabad announced on 16 February 2005 agreement on bus service across the ceasefire line. After a 57-year interruption, bus service between Kashmir and Pakistan was restored on 7 April. Indian prime minister and Pakistani president held talks in New Delhi on 17 April and even attended an Indo-Pak cricket game together, projecting cordiality. Indian and Pakistani governments announced on 5 May that four sets of talks would be held in May, including bus service and Siachen glacier and Sir Creek. Kashmiri leaders crossed the Line of Control into Pakistani-administered territory on 2 June and began talks with other Kashmiri and Pakistani leaders there. An APHC leader proposed on 11 June to form a United States of Kashmir, combining areas in India and Pakistan. Peace talks continued in 2006 and on 5 December Pakistan offered to give up its claim to Kashmir if India supports more autonomy.
Status: Agreement on continuing talks; continuing but limited incidents.
Korean Peninsula Conflict: Armistice of 1953 in force between South and North Korea and United Nations Forces. Developments: North Korea announced on 2 October 2003 it is building atomic arms from plutonium from spent nuclear fuel rods. Continuing intermittent talks between the two Koreas as well as between them, China, Japan, and the United States of America: 18-22 December 2006, 2nd phase of 5th round since 2003.
Status: Armistice in place; occasional incidents.
Nepal Conflict: A country-wide rebellion against government and monarchy began in 1996 and is waged by the Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist (CPN(M)) to establish a “people’s government.” Developments: The ceasefire, in place since January 2003, was ended by the insurgent Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist (CPN-M) on 27 August 2003. It also withdrew from talks with government representatives because—after three rounds—they were intransigent about the content of the draft constitution. CPN-M insists that an elected assembly draft the constitution and decide whether the monarchy should continue or a communist state be created. The government announced on 25 November 2004 that it would hold general elections in 2005 even if the Maoists will not resume peace talks by 13 January 2005. Maoists rejected the peace deadline on 27 November but expressed great interest in resuming the talks. After week-long attacks, CPN-M imposed another blockade on roads leading to the capital on 23 December but called it off on 29 December. A Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) was signed between government and CPN-M on 21 November 2006 in the capital providing for an interim constitution, interim legislature and government and new elections. A disarmament agreement was signed on 28 November.
Status: Peace agreement in place and civil war ended; regional hostilities in March 2007.
Philippines Conflicts: (1) A regional insurgency to overthrow government and establish a Marxist state started in 1969 and is waged by the Marxist New People’s Army (NPA). (2) A regional ethnic armed struggle for self-determination—independence—broke out in 1974 and is waged by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), and Pentagon Group of former MILF members. (3) Regional and trans-border armed attacks began in 1991, waged by the Islamic Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) which has links to al-Qa’ida. Developments: The government’s unilateral truce ended on 6 January 2004. Government and communist National Democratic Front (NDF) negotiators began peace talks on 30 March in Oslo. The government announced on 21 April that talks would be interrupted until the end of May to allow the presidential elections in May to proceed unimpeded. Representatives of government and rebels resumed negotiations on 22-25 June, meeting in Norway. Government announced a three-week ceasefire with the communist National People’s Army (NPA) rebels on 15 December for the period 16 December to 5 January 2005. Government announced on 18 March 2005 that new talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) would begin on 16 April in Kuala Lumpur. Representatives of government and MILF held talks on 19-21 April in Port Dickson, Malaysia, and reached some agreement on ancestral tribal domains. Government and MILF signed a ceasefire agreement on 10-11 July 2006.
Status: Pending talks; continuing insurgency.
Sri Lanka Conflict: The ethnic armed struggle for self-determination to establish an independent or autonomous Tamil state began in 1983 and is waged by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). Developments: Government and the rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTEE) agreed to a ceasefire on 22 February 2002, however peace talks were suspended by the government on 10 November 2003 and Norway pulled out of acting as a peace broker on 14 November. After talks between army and LTEE the two-year old cease-fire was resumed on 15 April 2004. LTEE rejected the government’s peace panel on 4 October. LTEE rejected the government’s peace proposals on 24 December because of not addressing LTEE demands. A strong earthquake on 26 December which was centered in the Indonesian Aceh Province on Sumatra released strong tsunamis spreading across coastal areas of Southeast and South Asia to Kenya and Somalia and hitting Sri Lanka especially hard. For the duration of the severe humanitarian emergency government and LTEE were cooperating in disaster relief. The Norwegian peace envoy returned to Sri Lanka on 21 January 2005 and met with the LTEE chief negotiator. Government announced a deal to share aid for tsunami victims with LTEE-controlled areas on 21 June. Later the Supreme Court suspended the deal. In September 2006 both sides agreed to hold new peace talks which opened in Geneva on 28 October but ended in failure one day later. In December, Norway put off talks with LTEE and heavy fighting resumed.
Status: Peace talks suspended; February 2002 cease-fire in place but is not being observed; heavy fighting.
***
Cyprus Conflict: International conflict caused in December 1973 by the attempted union of the Greek portion of the island with Greece and the subsequent unilateral establishment of the Turkish Federated State of Cyprus (TFSC) and invasion of Turkish troops. Developments: Reunification of the Greek and Turkish parts of the island by 1 May 2004 failed when the referendum on a UN plan on 24 April was rejected by the majority of Greek Cypriot voters. The Turkish prime minister said on 10 December that Turkey would not recognize Cyprus ahead of the European Union (EU) summit in December that will decide on opening admission talks with Turkey. In December 2006, the Turkish government asked the European Union (EU) to relax its trade restrictions on the TSFC in exchange for lifting of the Turkish ban on Cypriot aircraft and ships.
Status: Unresolved.
UK-Northern Ireland Conflict: Regional and trans-border armed underground struggle and confrontation by predominantly Catholic militants for reunification with Ireland and anti-reunification struggle by predominantly Protestant militants erupted in 1968. Catholic groups: Continuity Irish Republic Army (CIRA), Irish Republican Army (IRA), and Real IRA (RIRA). Protestant groups: Loyalist Volunteer Force (LVF), Orange Volunteers (OV), and Red Hand Defenders (RHD). Developments: Talks to revive power-sharing opened on 1 September 2004 in Belfast. NI government on 12 November recognized the ceasefire by the Ulster Defence Association (UDA). Prime ministers of Ireland and the UK presented their peace plan on 8 December but it was rejected by the loyalist Democratic Union Party (DUP) which by 13 December called off its boycott of talks. In October 2006, the Independent Monitoring Commission (IMC) reported that the IRA does not want to return to violence and can no longer mount a sustained campaign. Prime ministers of Ireland and the UK announced plans on 13 October to restore government in NI. On 8 May 2007 home rule was restored and a new government installed. Status: Home rule restored.
***
Israel-Syria Conflict: In the 1967 Six-Day War, Israel captured the Syrian Golan Heights and in 1981 effectively annexed the territory whose return is demanded by Syria. Developments: On 31 May 1974, the UN Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) was authorized by UN Security Council Resolution 350 to supervise the implementation of the Israeli-Syrian Agreement on Disengagement of 31 May 1974 and maintain ceasefire.
Status: Disengagement.
Palestine-Israel Conflict: The area-wide armed struggle for self-determination—independence—first began in 1964. Since 1975 there has been armed resistance to Israeli occupation forces which was renewed in 2000, waged by al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP), Movement of Islamic Resistance (HAMAS), Palestine Islamic Jihad (PIJ), Palestine Liberation Front (PLF), and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP). Developments: Israel and the Palestinians accepted a ‘road map’ to peace, proposed by the Quartet of the United Nations, European Union, Russia, and the United States on 25 May 2003. Israel’s parliament approved the government’s Gaza withdrawal plan on 26 October. Israeli prime minister and Palestinian president agreed on ceasefire but HAMAS and PIJ announced on 9 February 2005 that they are no bound by the cease-fire agreement of 8 February. Israeli cabinet approved plan to withdraw from Gaza on 21 February. International conference on Middle East peace was held on 1-3 March in London and called on the Israeli government to carry out its commitments under the Roadmap to Peace plan. The al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades ended their cease-fire on 14 April. Israel began withdrawing heavy equipment from the Gaza Strip on 20 April. A government, led by HAMAS, took office in March 2006, and the EU and US suspended direct aid. The Israeli foreign minister on 21 September 2006 said Palestinians should not expect to be allowed to return to their homes in Israel. The Palestinian prime minister repeated on 6 October that HAMAS will not recognize Israel but is willing to enter into a truce agreement. Israel and the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) agreed to a comprehensive ceasefire arrangement on 24 November. Foreign ministers of the Quartet group on 9 February 2007 welcomed the formation of a Palestinian National Unity Government. Quartet group met on 21 February in Berlin.
Status: Ceasefire arrangement in place but not being observed; continuing hostilities.
***
Western Sahara Conflict: The territory-wide armed struggle for self-determination and for independence began in 1976 and is organized by the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Saguia el Hamra and Rio de Oro (POLISARIO). Developments: A committee of the UN General Assembly approved a policy statement on 18 October 2004 underlining support of the peace plan for self-determination of the people in Western Sahara as an optimum political solution, on the basis of agreement between Morocco and the Sahrawi people. Polisario announced on 27 April 2005 that it rejects any final political solution which opposes the group. UN Secretary General on 18 October 2006 said Morocco and POLISARIO should drop any preconditions and begin negotiations to find a lasting solution to their conflict. The UN Security Council on 31 October 2006 approved Resolution 1720 to extend the mandate of the UN Mission for the referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) until 30 April 2007. A Moroccan advisory council proposed autonomy for Western Sahara on 6 December.
Status: Cease-fire of 6 September 1991 in effect; unresolved. Completion: Includes information available through 10 July 2007. |