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Armed Conflict in Many Nations as New Year Begins 1998 saw armed conflict in some 60 nations, and many conflicts were in progress as 1999 began. By Michael Lindemann Start Date: 12/05/98 The Cold War is officially over, and the threat of large-scale nuclear war is much reduced -- extremely good news as we approach the new millennium. But armed conflict among human beings is as prevalent as ever. Some analysts believe that the collapse of the super-power standoff has actually contributed to the outbreak of more regional conflicts, partly because the threat of small wars becoming big wars has lessened. Another factor is the huge amount of conventional arms that are now flooding the international market, especially from the cash-strapped but weapons-rich nations of the former Soviet bloc. Now, almost unlimited supplies of guns, mortars, bombs, armored vehicles and other weapons are available to anyone with the means to pay. As a result, many small insurgent groups are becoming well armed and far more active. According to a report of the National Defense Council Foundation, 1998 saw armed conflicts of various kinds in 60 nations of the world, as compared with only 35 nations engaged in similar conflicts in 1989, before the fall of the Soviet empire. Here are some major conflict hot spots around the globe as the new year begins: Afghanistan (Central Asia) -- Leaders of the militant Islamic Taliban faction that has gained control of some 80 percent of Afghanistan during more than 20 years of civil war said on January 7 that they would reject any overtures from opposition leaders for a ceasefire or a coalition government. Taliban leaders reaffirmed their pledge of jihad or holy war against all their opponents. Algeria (North Africa) -- Rebels of the Armed Islamic Group were blamed for the massacre of 22 members of a family on January 2, apparently as punishment for the family's cooperation with Algerian security forces. The rebels have waged a bloody guerrilla war for seven years, resulting in some 75,000 deaths. Angola (Southwest Africa) -- UNITA rebels shelled the government-controlled town of Malanje on January 4-5, killing at least 25 people and wounding 100 or more. Civil war has ravaged Angola for more than 20 years. A precarious four-year peace accord broke down recently, re-igniting armed conflict. UN peacekeepers said recently they would withdraw all aid workers after two UN planes were shot down. Burundi (Central Africa) -- Hutu rebels attempting to overthrow the minority Tutsi-led government killed eight people in two separate attacks at year's end. Bloodshed in the small nation has claimed more than 200,000 lives, mostly non-combatants, since 1993. Colombia (South America) -- A complex multi-party civil war in Colombia pits several Marxist and Maoist factions against a coalition of ultra-right forces, with Colombia's government under President Andres Pastrana in the middle. The most powerful rebel force is FARC (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia), said to control up to 50 percent of Colombian territory, which aims to establish a socialist government. On January 7, FARC forces met with Pastrana in the first phase of long-sought peace talks. Democratic Republic of the Congo (Central Africa) -- In this nation formerly known as Zaire, rebel forces intent on toppling President Laurent Kabila reportedly engaged in a horrendous massacre of 500 or more civilians in the area of Makobola during the period December 30 to January 1. Ethiopia/Eritrea (North Africa) -- A long-running border dispute between these two nations threatened to break out into armed conflict during the first week of 1999. India -- Christians in Gujarat state, western India, have been repeatedly attacked by militant Hindus who accuse the minority Christians of conducting forced conversions. The violence has resulted in the burning of dozens of churches, attacks on many homes, and a wave of terror throughout the region. Indonesia -- Government military forces killed at least 17 rioters in renewed civil unrest during the first week of January. Armed rebels and civilian demonstrators have actively challenged the Indonesian government since the fall of authoritarian President Suharto last May. Iraq -- U.S. and British planes patrolling Iraq's so-called "no fly zones" have been repeatedly challenged by Iraqi planes and ground to air missile batteries since the end of Operation Desert Fox, which involved four days of intensive aerial bombing by combined U.S. and British forces December 16-19, 1998. Israel/Lebanon -- Israeli warplanes blasted suspected strongholds of the militant Islamic Hizbollah guerrillas inside Lebenon on January 3. Several civilians were injured. In a previous Israeli attack on December 22, seven Lebanese civilians were reportedly killed. Israel accuses Hizbollah of launching rocket attacks and other terrorist actions against Israeli targets from inside Lebanon. Israel/Palestine -- The Wey peace accord meant to settle the long-running conflict between Israelis and Palestinians has been repeatedly shaken by new outbreaks of violence as well as a vote of no confidence against Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the Israeli parliament. Kosovo (Central Europe) -- Ethnic Albanians, seeking independence from Serb-dominated Yugoslavia, are fighting a bloody civil war against government forces in the province of Kosovo, where as many as 1,000 have died and more than 300,000 are homeless since fighting broke out last February. Mexico -- Indigenous Indians in the southern state of Chiapas vowed to continue their mostly peaceful struggle against the grinding poverty and racism which prompted an armed uprising in 1994, led by the Zapatista National Liberation Army (EZLN) Northern Ireland -- Though comprehensive peace accords in this war-torn nation were among the good-news stories of 1998, die-hard reactionaries continue to threaten terror. In the latest incident on January 6, extremist Protestants calling themselves the Orange Volunteers took credit for a small bomb attack in Magherafelt, 40 miles west of Belfast. One man was injured. Pakistan -- Warring factions of Shiite and Sunni tribesmen in northern Pakistan exchanged mortar fire on or about January 1, killing at least seven people. A few days later, gunmen opened fire on a crowded Shiite mosque, killing 16 or more. More than 1,000 Pakistanis were killed in ethnic fighting during 1998. Sierra Leone (West Africa) -- Rebels of the Revolutionary United Front stormed into the capital of Freetown on January 6, a year after being driven out by government forces and the Nigerian-led West African intervention force known as ECOMOG. A spokesman for ECOMOG said their forces remained in control despite the new rebel assault, but the UN evacuated all remaining aid workers and thousands of civilians fled the battle zone on foot. Sri Lanka -- Fierce fighting between government troops and rebel forces on January 2 left at least 66 combatants dead in the jungle of northeastern Sri Lanka. Civil war has raged since 1983 between minority Tamils and majority Sinhalese. More the 56,000 have been killed. World Vision, an international relief and development organization, on December 18 named ten nations or regions that are expected to be the worst conflict zones during 1999. They are (not in ranked order) Iraq, Central Africa, Colombia, Sudan, North Korea, Indonesia, Angola, the Balkans, Ethiopia/Eritrea, and India/Pakistan. Excelsior, Michael Lindemann's new novel (written under the pen name Michael Paul), depicts a wholly plausible near future in which human cloning is both widespread and widely abused; terrorists have access to target-specific biological weapons; recreational space travel is commonplace; and mounting pressures of global climate change, environmental decline, population growth and civil unrest inspire radical new approaches to urban security. Built by Frontier on a Macintosh on 6/17/00; 11:55:15 AM. Web Comments - Produced by Larry Lowe Served 1972 times since 12/05/98.

The Global Economy: Will It or Won't It? The U.S. economy continued to show strength in early 1999, but Japan, Russia and some other economies were troubled, raising questions of a possible global recession ahead. Snapshots From the 'Battle of Seattle' The WTO Conference in Seattle was met by massive protests, signifying that many people around the world do not believe trade should take precedence over human rights and the environment. Kosovo: Bombing Stops, But Major Challenges Ahead Serb troops began pulling out of Kosovo, NATO suspended bombing and peacekeepers awaited orders to deploy, raising hopes that the Balkan conflict was over and nearly one million refugees could soon start for home. Kosovo: The Long March Toward Settlement The NATO bombing campaign in Serbia entered its third month with Britain calling for a ground invasion, but most of the Alliance is resisting that impulse as efforts toward a negotiated settlement continue. Kosovo Crisis: What a Difference Two Weeks Can Make Ambivalence in the U.S. Congress, Milosevic's release of U.S. POWs, G-8 support of negotiations and NATO bombing of the Chinese embassy in Belgrade all contributed to the rapidly changing complexion of the Kosovo crisis. Step By Step, the Balkan War Unfolds NATO bombing over Yugoslavia continues into its fifth week with no end in sight, while U.S. leaders are increasingly divided over strategy. War In Europe -- Down The Slippery Slope Editorial: After 18 days of bombing, NATO seems farther from achieving its goals in Kosovo that Milosevic is to achieving his. The prospect of NATO ground troops looks increasingly likely, and with it the threat of a wider war in Europe. Kosovo: Is This The Only Way? Editorial: Though the policies of Slobodan Milosevic are reprehensible, NATO's resort to bombing brings with it enormous risks and slim likelihood of decisive victory. Conflict Update: Iraq, Kosovo, Ethiopia-Eritrea Shooting conflicts were underway in several parts of the world in mid-February, 1999, while prolonged efforts to negotiate a peaceful settlement in the Serb province of Kosovo reached a stalemate. Famine Pushes North Koreans to Cannibalism Widespread famine has driven some in North Korea to cannibalism, others to sell themselves or their children.