Get documents about "PICT NEWSLETTER VOLUME 6_ 2010
Document Sample
1 VOLUME 6, 2010 PICT UPLINK NEWSLETTER
PICT NEWSLETTER VOLUME 6, 2010
PICT/CATR Book Launched at book provides a collaborative and multi-national
CATR Conference in Manila analysis of a series of new and emerging
transnational threats, including terrorism, organised
The Centre for Policing, Intelligence and Counter crime, ideological/cultural radicalisation and
Terrorism is pleased to announce the publication environmental and demographic instability.
of a new peer reviewed academic book Asian
Transnational Security Challenges: Emerging Trends, Asian Transnational Security Challenges was launched
Regional Visions (Macquarie University, 224 pages, on 29 October at the tenth bi-annual conference of
2010). the Council for Asian Transnational Threats Research
in Manila, the Philippines. The launch was held as
part of a special International Forum on Asia Pacific
Security, co-organized by the Philippines Institute
for Peace, Violence and Terrorism Research (PIPVTR),
CATR, the Institute for Defense Analyses (IDA) and
the Asia Pacific Security Forum. PICT was represented
by its Director, Professor Peter Anderson, Adjunct
Professor Clive Williams, Shanaka Jayasekara and
Dr. Julian Droogan. At the Forum, PICT’s Shanaka
Jayasekara presented on Sri Lanka post the Tamil
war, and presentations were also delivered by
other CATR members including Hekmat Karzai from
Afghanistan and Dr. Katy Oh Hassig from the United
States. (For press coverage of the Forum click here)
The Forum and book launch were attended by
delegates representing government agencies, the
armed forces, the Diplomatic community, the foreign
press and academic institutions and research centres
from Australia, the USA and Asia.
Table of Contents:
1. The Council for Asian Transnational Threat
Research – Peter Anderson
Edited by Dr. Caroline Zeimke-Dickens and PICT’s Dr.
2. Afghanistan – Hekmat Karzai
Julian Droogan the book is the result of a two-year
research project coordinated by the Council for Asian 3. Pakistan – Muhammad Amir Rana, Safdar Sial
Transnational Threats Research (CATR) exploring 4. Bangladesh I – ANM Muniruzzam
Asia’s emerging threat landscape. Drawing on the
work of some of Asia’s best regional security experts, 5. Bangladesh II – Golam Mohammad, A. K. M.
the volume explores the coming security challenges Nasrul Islam et.al
for ten key Asian nations at a time of rapid economic 6. Sri Lanka – Rana Kalansooriya, Shanaka
and strategic change, and considers how these Jayasekara et.al
developments will affect the wider Asia region. The
7. Malaysia – Kamarulnizam bin Abdullah
2 VOLUME 6, 2010 PICT UPLINK NEWSLETTER
8. Singapore –Kumar Ramakrishna PICT Participates in IISS Country
9. The Philippines – Rommel C. Banlaoi Dialogue in London
10. Indonesia – Jamhari Makruf PICT Associate Lecturer Shanaka Jayasekara
participated at the Country Dialogue on Sri Lanka
11. Australia – Milton Baar, Julian Droogan, Shanaka
held at the International Institute for Strategic
Jayasekara et.al
Studies (IISS) in London on 19 October 2010. He
12. Japan – Katsuhisa Furukawa, Naoko Noro co-presented with Prof Rohan Gunaratna on the
13. The Emerging Trends – Caroline Ziemke-Dickens, topic countering terrorism and transnational fronts.
Julian Droogan The IISS country dialogues provide an opportunity
for detailed discussion on country specific issues
relating to political, social, economic and security
interests. The IISS is the primary source of accurate,
objective information on international strategic
issues for politicians and diplomats, foreign affairs
analysts, international business, economists,
the military, defence commentators, journalists,
academics and the informed public. The Institute
is independent, owing no allegiance to any
governments or any political or other organisations.
The IISS stresses rigorous research with a forward-
looking policy orientation and places particular
CATR Delegates in Manila in October
emphasis on bringing new perspectives to strategic
discussions.
PICT has a limited number of complimentary
volumes to offer to students and friends of the
Centre. To order, direct your enquiries to:
Dr. Julian Droogan - Julian.droogan@mq.edu.au
Centre for Policing, Intelligence and Counter
Terrorism (PICT).
Building Y3A MACQUARIE UNIVERSITY
NSW 2109 AUSTRALIA
Telephone: 61 2 9850 1425
Facsimile: 61 2 9850 1440
Shanaka Jayasekara (right) at the IISS Country Dialogue in
London in October
3 VOLUME 6, 2010 PICT UPLINK NEWSLETTER
Public Seminar on Terrorism in development and peace building. CAPS produces
the Philippines a monthly newsletter providing in-depth analysis
of current issues in Afghanistan and its region. For
latest developments in Afghanistan, and a monthly
overview of recent news regarding Afghan security,
insurgency and conflict, log onto the CAPS website
at http://www.caps.af/. The Centre for Conflict and
Peace Studies and PICT are partner members of
the Council of Asian Transnational Threat Research
(CATR).
PICT Profile
Dr Ian Wells – Senior Lecturer
PICT would like to
welcome Dr. Ian Wells to
Prof. Peter Anderson, Prof. Rommel Banlaoi, and Reverend the Centre. Ian joined PICT
Father Eliseo Mercado on 21 June as Coordinator
of Learning and Teaching.
On 30 September PICT hosted one of the world’s
He has taken on an
leading authorities on Southeast Asian terrorism,
exciting role focused on
Professor Rommel Banlaoi, who visited the
developing PICT’s
centre to present a lecture on the ‘Private Armed
approach to learning and
Violence and Terrorism in the Southern Philippines:
teaching with a particular
Protecting Australia’s National Interests in a Troubled
aim of improving the Centre’s online delivery of
Neighbourhood’. Professor Banlaoi’s lecture
courses. Ian is working with teaching staff to improve
provided a useful and revealing update of the latest
assessment practices and PICT’s ability to support
information on Islamic secessionist and terrorist
students studying at the Centre. Ian is also
organisations such as the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) in
convening the Intelligence stream within the
Western Mindanao and the Sulu Archipelago, and
program and is currently immersed in reviewing
what this means for Australia. The lecture was well
existing intelligence courses and developing new
attended by Macquarie University academics, staff,
courses for offer in 2012.
students and representatives from the government
and private sector from both Sydney and Canberra. Ian has had a long career in intelligence and
intelligence education. Prior to joining PICT he spent
Keep Abreast of the Situation in ten years as a senior academic with the Queensland
Afghanistan with CAPS University of Technology (QUT). He developed the
postgraduate intelligence program, held a range
Afghanistan is currently one of the most volatile of senior service positions, including as Director of
and fast changing regions in the global security Undergraduate Programs in the QUT Law Faculty
landscape, therefore reliable local sources are highly and won appointment as a Teaching Fellow. Ian
useful if one is to stay abreast of developments as continues to hold an adjunct role at QUT and has
they occur. The Centre for Conflict and Peace Studies published on teaching in the online environment.
(CAPS), based in Kabul, Afghanistan, under the Prior to this Ian held a wide range of intelligence
Directorship of Mr Hekmat Karzai, is an independent appointments, including Principal Intelligence
research centre that conducts action-orientated Analyst with the Queensland Criminal Justice
research aimed at influencing policy-makers in key Commission and Coordinator Intelligence and
areas including security, state building, governance, Manager Asia Branch (Analysis) within the Australian
4 VOLUME 6, 2010 PICT UPLINK NEWSLETTER
Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO). Ian also Each month the Asian Conflict Reports update
served two terms as senior South Asia analyst with readers on important emerging security issues from
the Office of National Assessments. Ian was a senior across Asia written by and for regional professionals
policy officer in the Department of Defence in and analysts.
international relations and capability development,
June, 2010: Includes reports on China’s foreign
at various times heading up the areas responsible for
energy quest and ASEAN, Six-Party Talks on North
developing peacekeeping policy, counter terrorism
Korea, CBRN terrorist incidents in Japan, and the
policy and major capability investment.
challenges for manpower export from Bangladesh.
Ian’s current research interests include intelligence Download here.
ethics and governance, intelligence as a nascent
July-August, 2010: Includes reports on China, North
profession and intelligence education. He currently
Korea-Iran Nuclear Axis, Muscular Secularism in
supervises PhD students in a range of areas,
Singapore, Wahhabism in Sri Lanka, Privately Armed
including futures of terrorism, intelligence systems
Groups in the Philippines. Download here.
theory, airport security and intelligence and the
media. September-October, 2010: Includes reports on
Maoism in India, Terrorism in Japan, Transnational
Student Services Update Security Threats to Bangladesh, and Secularism vs.
Radical Islam in Bangladesh. Download here.
Semester two is fast coming to an end. PICT staff
would like to wish everyone who is completing their
PICT and Australian Cybercrime
program every success with their future endeavours.
To continuing students we wish you all a safe and Through September-October 2010 PICT Associate
happy holiday and look forward to seeing you in Lecturer Stephen McCombie presented on
2011. cybercrime at a number of high profile Australian
crime conferences. Stephen is the coordinator of
• Semester Two marks will be released on 17
PICT’s new Postgraduate Certificate and Diploma
December and they will be available via
programs in Computer Forensics.
eStudent.
• If you wish to obtain an official academic The High Tech Crime Conference
transcript please refer to: http://www.student. https://www.ahtcc.net/Default.aspx
mq.edu.au/ses/academictranscript.html
In Sydney, early September, Stephen presented on
• Semester one enrolment information will be ‘Voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP) Honeynets’,
sent out by email in January 2011. and on how a VOIP honeynet was used to study the
behaviour of hackers who are targeting VOIP systems
CATR Asian Conflict Reports with specialised tools such as Sipvicious.
PICT, in conjunction The High Tech Crime Conference was hosted by the
with the Council for Australian Federal Police in conjunction with the
Asian Transnational University of Technology Sydney. The HTCC brought
Threats Research together domestic and international experts
(CATR), offers you the and leaders from the Judiciary, legal fraternity,
opportunity to stay government, law enforcement agencies, academia
abreast of current and the private sector. Through the HTCC, these
developments in the stakeholders shared information and knowledge
security landscape of in order to build Australia’s capability and response
our region through links to the latest Asian Conflict against this complex and pervasive form of
Reports. criminality.
5 VOLUME 6, 2010 PICT UPLINK NEWSLETTER
National Identity Crime Symposium The International Anti-Money Laundering
http://www.police.qld.gov.au/News+and+Alerts/ Forum 2010
campaigns/synergy/hitechsymp/ http://liquidlearning.com.au/documents/AML1010/
AML1010_E.pdf
In Brisbane, late
September, Stephen In late October Stephen presented on ‘Phishing and
presented on ‘Phishing and Money Laundering’ at the International Anti-Money
ID Theft’. His presentation Laundering Forum in Sydney. His talk explained that
argued that cybercrime the easiest way to defeat phishing was treating it
groups have compromised as a money laundering problem. The practical and
large numbers of personal applied focus of Stephen’s presentation was part of
credentials including the International Anti-Money Laundering Forum’s
millions of social strategy to provide practical tools and strategies
networking site credentials to improve program compliance, prevent money
which can be easily used to laundering and create a culture around anti-money
commit ID theft. laundering.
The National Identity Crime Symposium explored the
increasing influence and impetus of hi tech upon the Conference Reviews
identity crime movement. With leading experts from
the field, this conference was designed to enable
AIPIO Forum, 15 October, 2010
participants to gain insight into many domestic and
international issues surrounding cyber crime and ID
crime. The theme of the symposium was “Identity
Crime in a Hi Tech World.”
International Serious and Organised Crime
Conference 2010
http://www.aic.gov.au/events/aic%20upcoming%20
events/2010/isoc.aspx
In Mid-October Stephen spoke on ‘Russian and
Ukrainian Cybercrime in Australia’ at the ISOC Ian Wells and David Kimber, Australian Crime Commission,
Conference in Melbourne. Stephen noted that when second and third from right
international organised crime groups launched the
PICT Coordinator of Learning and Teaching Dr. Ian
first wide-scale phishing attacks in 2003, their targets
Wells and Associate Lecturer Becky Mitchell attended
weren’t the United States or the United Kingdom but
the inaugural Australian Institute of Professional
actually the customers of one of Australia’s major
Intelligence Officers (AIPIO) “Forum”, held on the
banks, the Commonwealth Bank of Australia. His
Gold Coast on 15 October. Dr. Wells was the keynote
presentation was subsequently covered in a feature
speaker, delivering a presentation on “best practice
article in the e-magazine Computerworld: The Voice
within intelligence”. The day included a half-day
of IT Management (http://www.computerworld.com.
seminar of real-world intelligence case studies.
au/article/365585/commonwealth_bank_served_
Other speakers included David Kimber from the
training_ground_global_phishing_attacks/.)
Australian Crime Commission regarding the ACC
Intelligence Fusion Project, a representative from
the AFP presenting a Child Protection case study,
a Queensland Police representative discussing
the Evolution of Criminal Intelligence, Janet Evans
6 VOLUME 6, 2010 PICT UPLINK NEWSLETTER
from the ARC Centre of Excellence in Policing
and Security presenting her research on what
makes an effective intelligence analyst, and a BAE
Systems representative discussing Data Fusion in
International Law Enforcement.
Global Futures Forum (GFF), General
Meeting, Singapore, October 2010
Brigadier (retd) Vince Williams and Associate Lecturer
Rebecca Mitchell represented PICT at a recent GFF
General Meeting held in Singapore. The title of the
meeting was “Building Resilience in the Face of Rebecca Mitchell, Professor Kumar Ramakrishna and Vince
Future Shocks.” Williams
The GFF describes itself as “a multinational,
Professor S. Jayakumar, Singapore’s Senior Minister
multidisciplinary intelligence community that
and Coordinating Minister for National Security,
works at the unclassified level to identify and make
opened the General Meeting and provided a
sense of emerging transnational threats. Its primary
thorough outline of the four major trends facing
goal is to foster the collaborative development
the globalized world (the multi-polar compact, the
of insight and foresight through the exchange of
continued threat of violent, extremist, religious
different perspectives.” The GFF achieves its primary
fundamentalism; climate change and the security
goal by establishing a number of communities
of scarce resources). He outlined what initiatives
of interest (COI), which address issues of specific
Singapore had taken to address these trends
concern to GFF member states. These COI conduct
including establishing a Centre for Strategic Futures
their business at general meetings, COI specific
and forming a whole of government Strategic
meetings and through the GFF website. COI include
Futures Network in order to develop “resilience
the following substantive topics: Radicalization and
frameworks, structures and processes.” The General
Counter Terrorism, Illicit Trafficking, Emerging and
Meeting itself was conducted as a series of Panel
Disruptive Technologies, Strategic Foresight and
Meetings, break out meetings, parallel COI sessions
Warning, Practice and Organization of Intelligence,
and parallel sessions with keynote addresses at
Proliferation and Human and Natural Resource
formal functions.
Security.
While in Singapore attending the Global Futures
The US Centre of Excellence for National Security
Forum, Becky Mitchell also met with research
(CENS) organized the General Meeting, with support
analysts at Rohan Gunaratna’s International Centre
from the National Security Coordination Secretariat
for Political Violence and Terrorism Research
(NSCS), the U.S. Department of State, the U.S.
(ICPVTR) at Nanyang Technological University for
Department of Homeland Security, and the GFF
an afternoon of briefings. The briefings included
Steering Group. The hosts of the meeting were the
an “Introduction to the ICPVTR”, “Political Violence
Singapore Government and the S. Rajaratnam School
and Extremism in Southeast Asia”, “Threats to the
of International Studies, Nanyang Univerity, headed
Federally Administered Tribal Area (FATA) in Pakistan”
principally by PICT’s CATR colleague Professor Kumar
and “Terrorist Rehabilitation in Singapore.”
Ramakrishna. Notable attendees at the GFF included
Sir David Omand (King’s College London), Ms Melissa
Applegate (National Intelligence Officer for Warning
from the US Office of the Director of National
Intelligence) and Professor Stephen Flynn (President,
US Centre for National Policy).
7 VOLUME 6, 2010 PICT UPLINK NEWSLETTER
Hong Kong Independent Commission Executive Director, CACS, chaired a half-day meeting
Against Corruption, Conference on of academics attending the Conference to explore
Collaborative Governance and Integrity ideas for anti-corruption research and collaboration,
Management, September 2010 - a report in which I also participated. It is not feasible to
from Adjunct Professor John McFarlane. summarise all the issues that came out of this
At the invitation of Mr conference, but the following points appeared to me
Gerry Osborn, Executive to be of special significance:
Director, Centre of Anti- -Corruption is becoming increasingly recognised as
Corruption Studies (CACS), a major social, economic and criminal problem by
within the Hong Kong many countries. The entry into force of the United
Independent Commission Nations Convention Against Corruption in 2005 has
Against Corruption (ICAC), provided a very useful guide for all countries seeking
Adjunct Professor John to eliminate the scourge of corruption and abuse of
McFarlane attended a authority in their own countries.
Conference on
-China is clearly taking corruption very seriously and
Collaborative Governance
is introducing a number of initiatives, many of them
and Integrity Management,
based on ICAC experience, to deal with this problem.
held at ICAC Headquarters in Hong Kong. The CACS
China claims that is anxious to develop a fair and
was founded in April 2009 to provide “resources for
efficient administration.
the study and analysis of issues pertaining to the
fight against corruption in Hong Kong and
internationally.” The objective of this conference was
to “examine the way various jurisdictions approach
integrity issues within government institutions and
the role played by different oversight bodies within a
particular jurisdiction; identify and discuss any
generic changes in behaviour of public employees;
and examine whether there have been amendments
in the law or imaginative use of existing laws to Mr Gerry Warner, Executive Director, Centre of Anti-
accommodate a broader range of offences Corruption Studies, ICAC; A/Professor John McFarlane, PICT;
committed by public employees.” Dr Timothy Tong Hin Ming, Commissioner, ICAC; Mr Ryan
Wong Sai Chiu, Director of Investigations (Government
This was an extremely interesting and well- Sector), ICAC; Deputy Commissioner Tim Godwin, Chief
Operating Officer, Metropolitan Police, UK
conducted conference. The papers delivered, the Q
and A sessions, and the out of session discussions
-China has recently introduced a Code of Conduct
were all valuable from the perspective of expanding
for Building a Clean Government which is now being
our understanding of the nature and impact
implemented to prevent corruption.
of corruption in the public sector, and various
measures in place to deal with this problem. ICAC -The recent revelations of corruption and malpractice
Hong Kong is an extremely effective and interesting by a number of members of the British Parliament
organization, which has had a profound impact on have not only led to a loss of public confidence
corruption in Hong Kong. It is a model for other in politicians, but more positively, has led to the
countries to emulate, including Australia, when introduction of an MP’s Code of Conduct and the
establishing their own anti-corruption agencies and establishment of an independent body to oversight
devising appropriate local strategies to deal with this future alleged infringements in this area.
threat. -There is serious concern in the UK law enforcement
In addition, on 18 September, Mr Gerry Osborne, community about the impact of the forthcoming
8 VOLUME 6, 2010 PICT UPLINK NEWSLETTER
cuts to the police budgets. The cuts could be as Security Cooperation in the Asia-Pacific (CSCAP). We
much as 30% over the next five years. This will went around the room inviting each representative
inevitably lead to the retrenchment of a substantial to nominate the three or four transnational crime
number of police officers just at a time when the types that most concerned his or her country. As a
terrorist threats from both jihadi-inspired terrorists result, we were able to come up with an agreed list
and a resurgence of terrorist activities by dissident of nineteen, roughly prioritized “crime types”, which
elements of the Irish republican movement are then became our menu for policy development
assessed as serious threats to security. to counter the emerging regional transnational
crime threats. Corruption was not listed amongst
-In the US, the Obama Administration takes the
these nineteen crime types, and when I suggested
appointment of members of the Administration
that consideration should be given to corruption,
very seriously, and unless cleared by the Office of
you could have heard the sucking of teeth from
Government Ethics, the nomination will not go
Singapore to Sydney. No way, they said, that is an
forward for Senate confirmation.
internal matter! Well, not any longer.
-As a State Party to the United Nations Convention
Over the last few decades, increasing effort has been
Against Corruption, 2005, the Commonwealth
given to devising means to counter the scourge of
Government should establish a Commonwealth
corruption. The International Chamber of Commerce
Anti-Corruption Agency, appropriately empowered,
Rules of Conduct, first issued in 1977; the OECD
to proactively investigate and, where appropriate,
Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign
prosecute, members of the Australian Parliament and
Officials in International Business Transactions,
their staff, the lobby industry and Commonwealth
adopted in November 1997; and a number of
departments and agencies, which may be involved
other valuable global and regional anti-corruption
in corrupt or related behaviour. The Agency should
initiatives have all contributed to an environment in
also have a public education role in relation to
which corruption in now very much on the agenda,
damage caused by corruption. The Agency should
and is recognized as a potential threat to global,
have the following powers: coercive information-
regional and national sovereignty and stability.
gathering hearings and notices; telecommunications
interception and data access; electronic surveillance; This led to the development of the United Nations
controlled operations and assumed identities; search Convention Against Corruption which entered in to
warrants, and; scrutiny of financial transaction force in December 2005 and has been ratified by
records. more than 145 countries, including Australia. In
spite of the lack of coercive powers, this instrument
Recognising the Importance of is a major step forward for a number of reasons: It
Corruption: The Inauguration complemented the important initiatives generated
of the International Anti- by the UN Convention Against Transnational
Corruption Academy Organised Crime, and its three Protocols; It
was the first legally binding international anti-
Adjunct Professor John McFarlane corruption instrument, which obliged its State
Recognising the nature and importance of Parties to implement into domestic law a wide
corruption in its various forms – bribery, extortion, range of measures which have both domestic and
nepotism, embezzlement, and so on – is a very international implications.
recent phenomenon. In February 1997 in Singapore, However, the study of the phenomenon of
I had the honour of chairing a regional working corruption is still very limited, so we still have a long
group comprising some 14 countries, all of which way to go in understanding how good governance,
were concerned about the emerging threat of economic stability, sovereign state interests, and
transnational crime. The working group was corruption relate to each other. Fortunately, one
established under the aegis of the Council for useful initiative was taken recently in Vienna to
9 VOLUME 6, 2010 PICT UPLINK NEWSLETTER
contribute to closing this gap. On 2 September other relevant regional and international treaties and
2010, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, conventions. In doing so it will observe geographical
Ban Ki-Moon, opened the Inaugural Conference of and cultural diversity, and seek broad partnerships
an International Anti-Corruption Academy (IACA) in with public and private sector institutions, including
Vienna in front of some 800 ministers, ambassadors, academia, civil society and NGOs.
officials, members of international organizations,
non-government organizations, the corporate Afghanistan and the Uruzgan
sector, academics and other invited guests from dimension
110 countries. Unfortunately there was no official
Australian representation at the conference - two Adjunct Professor Clive Williams
Australians attended in their private capacity: Mr Much of the recent debate
Barry O’Keefe, a former head of the New South Wales about Afghanistan has
Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC), been misleading or
and the author. reflective of wishful
The Academy, which is located in a beautifully thinking on the part of
refurbished 17th century building in Laxenburg, both the Gillard
just outside Vienna, is jointly sponsored by the government and the
United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime (“as the Opposition. A common
guardian of the United Nations Convention Against claim is that we need to be in Afghanistan to stop it
Corruption”), the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) from becoming a safe haven for al-Qaeda. The
and the Government of the Republic of Austria, prospect of al-Qaeda re-establishing itself there
with support from the International Criminal Police seems low, and why would it need to, when it can
Organisation (INTERPOL). operate much more effectively from Pakistan or
Yemen/Somalia, and North Africa? South East Asia’s
extremists are unlikely to want to go to Afghanistan
for training when they can do so more conveniently
in Indonesia or the southern Philippines.
The complexities of Afghanistan are exemplified
by the situation in Uruzgan (or Oruzgan) Province,
where we have our major Australian Defence Force
(ADF) deployment. Uruzgan is about ten times the
size of the ACT, with a population of approximately
350,000, mainly Pashtun. More than 97% of the
population lives in rural areas. The literacy rate for
males is 10% and females 5%. Singesar village in
Uruzgan is the birthplace of Taliban supreme leader
Mullah Omar.
In brief, the Academy will serve as a centre of
excellence for anti-corruption research, degree- Because of the geography of the province, which
based learning and the development of policies is divided by a mountain range, the “Kandahari”
and procedures to prevent and combat corruption. Taliban’s eastern and western networks reportedly
This will involve internationally recognised scholars have little contact, other than through the Quetta
and professionals to provide hands-on instruction, Shura in Pakistan. The reality on the ground in
peer-to-peer training and investigative assistance, Uruzgan, as elsewhere, is that local areas are
whilst integrating geographical, cultural and gender dominated by local leaders who may or may not
diversity in its activities. The Academy will also assist represent the Karzai government’s interests, and may
countries with the implementation of UNCAC and or may not be affiliated to the Taliban.
10 VOLUME 6, 2010 PICT UPLINK NEWSLETTER
When the Taliban were defeated after 9/11, important part in local politics. In Uruzgan there
most of the local Taliban made the traditional is traditional enmity between the Pashtun Durrani
accommodations with the winning side - which and Ghilzai tribes. But there is also enmity between
meant surrendering their weapons and being some of the Durrani sub-tribes. The Durrani
allowed to return home. However some of the local Popalzai have most influence because of their links
leaders in Uruzgan, who had been ousted by the to fellow Popalzai, President Hamid Karzai. Much
Taliban in the mid-1990s, saw this as an opportunity of the local violence is due to competition for
to seize power again and take their revenge. This power and resources. Other factors that may affect
in turn led to many former Taliban rejoining the local alliances including marriage, shared combat
insurgency in order to survive. experience, religious affiliations, and narcotics
trafficking interests.
Today in Uruzgan the Taliban have set up a
shadow government with their own administrators The strongman in Uruzgan is Jan Mohammad Khan,
and judges. The activities of Taliban leaders are another Popalzai. He controls a power network well
monitored by auditors from Quetta and if abuses known for its brutality and involvement in narcotics.
are reported by local villagers, the leaders are Jan Mohammad had been governor before the
supposedly called to account. Taliban takeover in 1994. He was jailed by the Taliban
and is strongly anti-Taliban. Hamid Karzai appointed
Most of the legal disputes in Afghanistan are over
him governor in early 2002, when he was given
land. Under the government adjudication system,
free rein to destroy rivals and appoint friends to key
the outcome is likely to favour the party that can
positions. He was replaced as governor in March
pay the most. By contrast, Taliban judges are not
2006 at the insistence of the Dutch commander
financially motivated and are said to be fair in their
because of his human rights abuses (including
judgements. The down side is that the Taliban
the rumoured murder of one of his wives) and
still come with their repressive religious baggage
corruption, but he continues to exercise power
and medieval mindset about female rights. But in
behind the scenes. Jan Mohammad loyalists hold
Uruzgan, a fundamentalist Islamic lifestyle based
key government positions in Uruzgan. The current
on Sharia law is more in line with local custom than
acting governor is Khodai Rahim Khan, a relative of
would be the case in Kabul or most other Afghan
Jan Mohammad.
cities.
Another relative, Matiullah Khan, runs a powerful
The “new” Taliban can still be brutal in their
2,000 strong militia that protects the highway
exercise of power. They will kill anyone at a local
between Kandahar city and Uruzgan’s capital Tarin
level believed to be cooperating with the Karzai
Kowt, a key logistics supply route for foreign forces,
government or coalition forces. Unsurprisingly,
including the Australians. Matiullah Khan is said
therefore Afghans who expect the Taliban to prevail
to earn at least US$ 1,700 per truck to ensure each
in the longer term are cautious about assisting the
convoy arrives at its destination safely. With at least
government or Australian forces. In Uruzgan, the
200 trucks a month using the road, it is a profitable
Taliban now operate in smaller groups because
sideline.
coalition air strikes caused heavy losses to larger
concentrations. The Taliban are now more reliant Further complicating the local power mix is the
on sniping and the use of IEDs. They know that involvement of the International Security Assistance
foreign forces are on the way out and there is not Force (ISAF), Afghan National Army (ANA), Afghan
much point in mounting costly large-scale attacks National Police (ANP) and National Department of
when time is on their side. They also understand Security (NDS). Suspected Taliban fighters detained
the impact in Western countries of causing a steady by the ADF are handed over to the NDS which has a
stream of Western casualties. reputation for torturing and mistreating detainees.
Tribal affiliations and feuds continue to play an Our main Australian focus in Uruzgan is on
11 VOLUME 6, 2010 PICT UPLINK NEWSLETTER
reconstruction, and training and mentoring the ANA rights abuses, particularly against women. More
4th Brigade. The reconstruction aspect is generally broadly, security prospects for the south and east of
welcomed by everyone, including possibly the Afghanistan do not look favourable. The likelihood
Taliban. On a visit to Kandahar Province I found that of US and other ISAF combat forces leaving
local Taliban fighters were working for a Canadian prematurely, due to the financial and human cost of
military reconstruction team building roads, which counterinsurgency in Afghanistan, could mean that
everyone there saw as beneficial. The workers were our exit strategy will be determined for us.
being paid US$ 10 a day, which was more than the
When we eventually draw down our forces in
Taliban commanders were paying them. The typically
Uruzgan, we will also have to address the issue of
Afghan arrangement was that the roads would not
Afghans who have cooperated with us in Uruzgan
be tarred over because that would make it more
coming to Australia as asylum seekers.
difficult for the Taliban to later plant improvised
explosive devices (IEDs). This is an edited version of an article that first
appeared in the Canberra Times, 27 October, 2010.
The ADF and Australian Federal Police (AFP)
have a deservedly good reputation for providing
appropriate training to Third World forces
internationally, but our training support in Uruzgan
faces unusual difficulties. The high level of ANA
desertion (as high as 40% of establishment strength),
and the vulnerability of the ANP to Taliban pressure
(several policemen die every day in Afghanistan),
mean that it is difficult to achieve acceptable military Contact Details:
or policing standards. In any case, perhaps a more Level Two, Building Y3A
pressing requirement than police training is to sort Macquarie University NSW 2109
out the justice system. (Afghans joke about the UN Ph: +61 2 9850 1420
giving the Italians the job of reforming the justice Fax: +61 2 9850 1440
system when they have possibly the most flawed Email: pict.info@mq.edu.au
system in Europe.) Web: www.pict.mq.edu.au
There have been upbeat statements from the
Australian Government about the improving
readiness status of the 4th Brigade, but the ANA
tendency elsewhere in Afghanistan is to re-assign
soldiers once they have been trained to provinces
closer to Kabul. If this is happening in Uruzgan, as
seems likely, it means that the 4th Brigade may never
be able to secure the province without outside help.
There is insufficient information in the public domain
to form a judgement about the effectiveness of
ADF Special Forces operations - although they have
apparently disrupted the Taliban’s activities and had
an effect on Taliban morale, and created time and
space for our other activities.
It will take political manoeuvring and a long-
term Australian commitment to achieve stability
in Uruzgan. Inevitably, local governance will
continue to involve crime, corruption and human
