PACIFIC DISASTER MANAGEMENT INFORMATION NETWORK (PDMIN) 1 Jarrett White Road MCPA-DM, Tripler AMC, HI 96859-5000 Telephone: 808.433.7035 · [email protected] · http://www.coe-dmha.org Asia-Pacific Daily Report March 15, 2004 Afghanistan UN voter registration team attacked in southeastern Afghanistan A (UN) voter registration team was attacked yesterday morning (Sunday, March 14) in Afghanistan’s southeastern Paktia province, but there were no reports of casualties. Manoel de Almeida e Silva, spokesman for the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) told a press briefing that rocket propelled grenades (RPGs) were fired at the residence of the district chief in Chamkani district where a UN team of expatriates, responsible for organizing voter registrations was staying. He said no one was hurt in the incident that took place at 2:00 a.m. local time. A man claiming to be a Taliban spokesman reportedly claimed responsibility for the attack. The man who called himself Abdul Samad told Agence -Presse (AFP) over the phone from an undisclosed location that he did not know of any casualties, adding that several vehicles had been destroyed in the attack. Remnants of the ousted Taliban regime have threatened to disrupt this year’s nationwide general elections in June. The attacks against Afghans working for foreign organizations as well as against international and non-governmental organizations have increased in recent months. The Afghan government has requested the 19-nation North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) currently leading the charge of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), to provide backup security support across the country ahead of the general elections. NATO said last week that it was considering the Afghan government’s request. Only some 14 percent of an estimated 10.5 million Afghan voters have thus far registered to vote. http://www.dawn.com/2004/03/15/top11.htm

Nepal At least 5 die as clashes continue across Nepal Violence continued in Nepal as local media reports at least 5 Maoist-related deaths across the country. At least 4 Maoist rebels were killed in separate clashes with security troops in Bardiya district today. In another incident, Kantipur Online (KOL) reports that a group of Maoists killed a traffic police officer in Paanchthar district today. Yesterday, KOL reported that a suspected Maoist detonated a bomb at the Transportation Management Department in Pokhara. KOL reports that the bomb destroyed the three-room building, however, no casualties were reported. Close to 9,000 people have been killed in violence since the Maoist rebels began their rebellion to topple the country’s constitutional monarchy and replace it with a communist republic in 1996. http://www.nepalnews.com/ http://www.kantipuronline.com/php/kolnews.php?&nid=9016 http://www.kantipuronline.com/php/kolnews.php?&nid=8967

Pakistan Pakistani security officials intercept a car bomb near the US consulate in Karachi Today (March 15), Pakistani police discovered and defused an explosives laden van parked near the US consulate in the southern port city of Karachi. According to the Inspector General Police (IGP) of Sindh, Syed Kamal Shah, a high-top Suzuki van with a large quantity of chemical explosives, was found parked outside the US consulate earlier this morning (7:30 a.m. local time). The two men who were leaving the scene after parking the vehicle reportedly told police on duty that the vehicle had broken down and they were going to get some help. Later, upon inspection of the vehicle, the police officials found a water tank in the vehicle filled with liquid explosives and connected to a timer and detonator. Bomb disposal squads were called in, who defused the bomb and took it away for further testing. According to Shah, the bomb could not have caused major damage to the consulate, adding that it could have certainly created a scare and harassment. Andrew Steinfeld, spokesman for the US Embassy in Islamabad, confirmed that a vehicle was found but refused to go into details. According to the Associated Press (AP), the van was stolen in a carjacking incident a day earlier (Sunday, March 14) that left the owner of the van hospitalized with a gunshot wound in the leg. An investigation into the incident is currently underway. In June 2002, a suicide car bombing in front of the US consulate in Karachi left 12 Pakistanis dead. Islamic militants were blamed for the attack. The attack comes only days ahead of US Secretary of State Colin Powell’s visit to the Pakistani capital Islamabad. http://asia.news.yahoo.com/040315/afp/040315071426int.html http://edition.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/asiapcf/03/15/consulate.bomb/index.html http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/low/south_asia/3511852.stm Philippines Philippine troops clash with communist rebels in southern Philippines Philippine troops have clashed with communist New People’s Army (NPA) rebels over the weekend, which has left up to 5 people dead, officials said today. Army spokesperson Lt. Col. Joelton Kakilala said that government troops and some 40 NPA rebels clashed yesterday in Batuan in Bohol province, located some 640 kilometers (400 miles) south of Manila. At least one soldier was killed in the encounter and up to 4 rebels were reported killed. A separate clash occurred yesterday (March 14) as well, when government troops fought some 50 NPA rebels in Calamba town in the southern island of Mindanao. The 9,000-strong NPA has recently stepped up attacks ahead of the May 10 presidential election. NPA rebels have said that they are against President Gloria Macapagal’s government because of its ties with the United States. Washington considers the NPA a “terrorist organization.” http://hindustantimes.com/news/181_617803,00050004.htm http://www.inq7.net/brk/2004/mar/15/brkoth_4-1.htm

South Asia US Secretary of State Colin Powell begins a regional tour to South Asia US Secretary of State Colin Powell began a five-day visit to South Asia with his first stop in India. In a video taped message to India today, Powell said, “The farsighted steps toward the peaceful resolution of disputes being taken by India and Pakistan under the leadership of Prime Minister Vajpayee and President Musharraf have given fresh hopes to the citizens of both countries.” Powell, who is scheduled to arrive Monday night (March 15) for a two-day visit to the Indian capital New Delhi, will have talks with Indian leaders on wide ranging bilateral, regional and international issues, including the US-Indian strategic partnership, recent initiatives to improve Indo-Pak relations, nuclear non-proliferation, and the war against terrorism. In India, Powell is scheduled to meet with External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha, Leader of the Congress Party Sonia Ghandhi and Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Powell is scheduled to arrive in the Pakistani capital Islamabad to hold talks with Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf and other senior officials. Among other things, Powell is likely to discuss the export of nuclear secrets by one of its top nuclear scientists to countries such as Libya, Iran and North Korea. Powell is expected to seek Pakistan’s renewed support in the war against terrorism and the hunt for terrorist mastermind Osama bin Laden who is believed to be hiding in the rugged border mountains along the Pak-Afghan border. According to media reports, Powell will also visit Afghanistan and may also make a stopover in Saudi Arabia. http://www.jang.com.pk/thenews/index.html http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/low/south_asia/3511942.stm http://washingtontimes.com/upi-breaking/20040315-112609-2661r.htm http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2004-03/16/content_1367639.htm Other World News Officials say death toll from Gafilo up to 74 Officials in Madagascar said today that at least 74 people were killed from after it hit northern Madagascar a little over a week ago. At least 169 people were still listed as missing, including about 100 people from a ferry from neighboring Islands that sank during the cyclone. “Of the 120 people on board, three survived and 17 bodies have been recovered and were buried this weekend,” says a police commander in the northern port of , Patrick Tsifiregne. The death toll does not include the crew of a fishing boat that also sank. Tsifiregne says that 4 survivors of the boat had been found as well as the bodies of six victims. He says that rescuers are searching for five others who were also reportedly on board. Additionally, Agence France- Presse reports that some 200,000 have been left homeless by the storm. Gafilo hit the island nation on March 7, with winds of 120 kph (72 mph) and gusts up to 180 kph (112 mph). Gafilo was the second major storm to hit Madagascar this year. In late January and early February, Cyclone Elita hit Madagascar several times, and left at least 29 people dead, 100 injured and some 44,000 homeless. http://www.terradaily.com/2004/040315104907.x0k9gcnu.html