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Emergency and Disaster Management

2004

Non-State Actors

Articles 1 - 5 of 5

Full-Text Articles in Defense and Security Studies

Non-State Actors In Nepal, Cisr Jmu Nov 2004

Non-State Actors In Nepal, Cisr Jmu

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Since the end of the monarchy in 1951, Nepal has faced governmental problems. A multi-party democracy was established in 1990, but since then Nepal has had 14 governments. A Maoist insurgency began in 1996 and has claimed thousands of civilian, government and rebel lives. In 2001, nine members of the royal family were killed in a shooting spree by Prince Diprendra, son of the late King Birendra, who then turned the gun on himself. The Maoist insurgency has tried to fill the void left by the monarchy and an ongoing struggle ties together the government and rebel groups, also known …


Non-State Actors In Sri Lanka, Cisr Jmu Nov 2004

Non-State Actors In Sri Lanka, Cisr Jmu

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

What happens when an irresistible force hits an immovable object? Something gives. Or does it? In the war-torn country of Sri Lanka, there remains a constant clash between the country's government and non-state actor (NSA) groups that terrorize the region and its people. The chief NSA that opposes the government is the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), an insurgency group whose goal is to form an independent state for the 3.2 million Tamil people that make up the minority ethnic community.


Engaging Non-State Actors In The Fight Against Landmines: A Key To Negotiating Peace In Colombia, Elisabeth Reusse-Decrey Nov 2004

Engaging Non-State Actors In The Fight Against Landmines: A Key To Negotiating Peace In Colombia, Elisabeth Reusse-Decrey

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Today, one of the populations in the world that suffers the most from landmine use by armed non-state actors (NSAs) is the population of Colombia. Since 2003, Geneva Call, a humanitarian, independent and neutral international organisation dedicated to engaging NSAs in a total ban against anti-personnel landmines, has established a line of communication with Colombian armed groups. With the support of the national government and the collaboration of the Colombian Campaign Against Landmines—a partner organisation—representatives of Geneva Call have met with members of the government, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) operating in Colombia, other local and indigenous organisations, as well as members …


Non-State Actors In The Philippines, Cisr Jmu Nov 2004

Non-State Actors In The Philippines, Cisr Jmu

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

On December 3, 1997, the Philippines signed the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention to end mine use in the country. However, implementation of this act did not come soon enough to prevent the loss of innocent lives from terrorist attacks that began in the early 1990s and continue through today. In the Philippines, several main rebel groups terrorize the countryside, creating havoc in order to further their own interests. They are non-state actors (NSAs), rebel groups who fight for certain beliefs. Geneva Call defines a NSA as "any armed actor operating outside state control that uses force to achieve it political/quasi-political …


Non-State Actors In Colombia, Guatemala And Nicaragua, Cisr Jmu Nov 2004

Non-State Actors In Colombia, Guatemala And Nicaragua, Cisr Jmu

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The majority of wars fought in the last 50 years have involved non-state, anti-state or stateless actors. These groups, commonly referred to as insurgents, dissidents, freedom fighters, rebel groups or guerillas, act independently from recognized governments. These non-state actors (NSAs) typically use low-tech, homemade weapons, such as landmines, improvised explosive devices (IEDs), and other small arms and light weapons to wage guerilla warfare. Civil war, economic instability and a booming illegal drug trade have resulted in a build-up of arms and have thus empowered Latin American NSAs. Due in part to growing insurgent strength, parts of Latin America has been …