IANSA Update 29 August 2008

Colombia: Mayors will keep trying to restrict gun carrying
Sudan: At least 30 Darfur refugees shot dead by government troops
Cote d'Ivoire: Robbery at police stockpile
DR Congo: Rebel leader threatens attack over ceasefire violations
Somalia: Gunmen seize ships for ransom
Other news: ATT and sustainable development meeting in Nairobi; Control Arms WoA

Colombia: Mayors will keep trying to restrict gun carrying
The Mayor of Bogotá (Colombia) has vowed to continue the campaign to restrict civilians carrying guns in public places, following the shooting death of an eminent university professor on 25 August. The professor of engineering was driving his two sons home from Sunday lunch when a stray bullet penetrated his heart, killing him instantly. The shooter was a pedestrian firing at someone he believed was about to steal his car. Nearly 2 million Colombians have signed a petition launched by their mayors asking Congress to give municipalities the power to regulate civilian gun carrying. However, the House of Representatives allowed its calendar to run out without considering the petition. The Mayor of Bogotá insists that he and his colleagues will keep trying to transform their petition into policy change. Read more here.

Sudan: At least 30 Darfur refugees shot dead by government troops
At least 30 refugees were killed on 25 August when Sudanese government forces attacked a refugee camp in southern Darfur. The troops claimed they were searching for smuggled weapons hidden by Darfur's rebels, a statement which was refuted by camp officials. A further 118 civilians were injured in the attack. Medicins sans Frontiers treated 65 people for gunshot wounds. A spokesperson for the refugee camp, which hosts 90,000 displaced people, said the Sudanese troops surrounded the camp in dozens of heavily armed vehicles at dawn and opened fire. Camp residents believe the government intended to disband the camp and remove the inhabitants. Read more here.

Cote d'Ivoire: Robbery at police stockpile
NGOs in Cote d'Ivoire are urging the government to strengthen security at its state armouries, following a robbery at a police arsenal in Yamoussoukro. Kalashnikovs and grenades were taken during the raid. The West African Action Network on Small Arms (WAANSA) has called on the government to hold a nation-wide inspection of its stockpiles and to monitor its disposal of surplus weapons. WAANSA also recommended the creation of at National Commission on Small Arms, as required by the UN Programme of Action on small arms. Read more here.

DR Congo: Rebel leader threatens attack over ceasefire violations
Violence broke out in the North Kivu provinces of the Democratic Republic of Congo on 28 August, when the rebel Congres National Pour La Defense du Peuple (CNDP) exchanged machine gun and mortar fire with the Congolese army (FARDC). The fighting occurred outside a national park which contains some of the world's last mountain gorillas. It was one of the fiercest clashes in the region since the peace deal signed in January. The UN peacekeeping mission, MONUC, dispatched patrols to monitor the situation. According to the Congolese newspaper Le Potentiel, the threat of violence had been brewing all week, with CNDP leader Laurent Nkunda planning the attack after several violations of the peace deal by FARDC. Read more here and here.

Somalia: Gunmen seize ships for ransom
Gunman off the south coast of Somalia hijacked four ships in 48 hours last week, confirming its status as the world's most dangerous shipping area. At least 27 ships have been attacked so far this year. Seven vessels are currently being held. The pirates, who are typically equipped with AK-47s, are demanding ransoms up to $1 million, which NGOs say will be used to buy more weapons to fuel the war. In June 2008 the UN Security Council voted unanimously to allow warships to pursue hijacked vessels into Somali waters. Read more here and here.

Other news

• IANSA members from across Africa will participate in a regional meeting on how an Arms Trade Treaty could help facilitate sustainable development. The meeting will take place in Nairobi, Kenya on 3 - 4 September.
• With just over 2 weeks to go, over 45 events around the world have been planned for the Week of Action on the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) from 13-19 September. Once again Control Arms activists are showing their commitment and enthusiasm in their support for an ATT, and the Week of Action promises to be a great success. If you have an event planned for the ATT Week of Action please email bruce.millar@iansa.org
• If you would like to contribute to the IANSA Update, please send your news to Louise.Rimmer@iansa.org

Join the IANSA Women's Network: email women@iansa.org

Join the Million Faces petition in support of a global Arms Trade Treaty