Bangladesh's advisory council this week gave initial approval to tough new anti-terror laws, allowing for a maximum penalty of death for those involved in terrorism. The new laws will provide for the "speedy trial of terrorists by special courts," empower authorities to ban extremist groups, and punish broadcasters and publicists of material favouring outlawed organisations. Details of the legislation - referring to powers of arrest and detention, collection of evidence, and government access to personal information - have yet to be fully confirmed.
The toD verdict: Across the world, governments are wrestling with legislation against acts of terrorism. The perennial issue is how to balance national security against civil liberties. In the immediate wake of 9/11, the tendency in many countries was towards the erosion of constitutional safeguards and individual rights, but increasingly this is being recognised as playing into the hands of terrorists, supporting their assertions that the governments they oppose are morally-bankrupt. We see this in the reactions to Guantanamo Bay and the monitoring of private communications in the United States, or in the response to the decision by Canada's lower house to allow indefinite detention of foreign terror suspects without evidence, or in accusations that the Sri Lankan government are abusing anti-terror laws to silence the press. Keep up to date with the latest developments and sharpest perspectives in a world of strife and struggle.
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Some analysts in Bangladesh argue that the tough approach is necessary - that "an extraordinary situation calls for an extraordinary law." But increasingly, the world is waking up to the fact that such an approach can back-fire - that the erosion of civil liberties risks alienating minority groups, fanning the flames of insurgent propaganda, and ultimately undermining national security.
The debate in Britain this week shows a belated appreciation of this dilemma by the Labour government. The extension to 42-day pre-charge detention is perhaps another step in the wrong direction, given that the existing limit of 28 days is already far greater than in similar democracies, and that many police chiefs see further extension as unnecessary. But today's announcement by Home Secretary Jacqui Smith that the legislation will run alongside projects to de-radicalise Islamic extremists without recourse to prosecution shows an acceptance that tackling terrorism is as much the responsibility of society as it is that of the police.
NWFP accepts sharia law in Taliban peace deal
In Pakistan, the North-West Frontier Province government has been forced to strike a deal with militants, agreeing to enforce sharia law in parts of the region. The peace accord signed with the Tehrik-e Taliban includes the release of several Taliban prisoners, the withdrawal of legal cases against its members, and allowing radio broadcasts by a prominent rebel. The hope is that the deal will stem the daily tide of suicide attacks that have crippled the region's infrastructure. Accepting elements of sharia law as a means to prevent attacks has been tried before in Pakistan, often without success. Indeed, just as this deal was being put together, two girls' schools and a gas pipeline were blown up in Kabal, and two picnic points and a house were set on fire in Mingora.
Karzai: "I wish I had the Taliban as my soldiers"
In an interview with Der Spiegel, Afghan president Harmid Karzai has admitted that dirty deals are still a reality of politics in Afghanistan while his government lacks the power and resources to overcome international interference. He says "really terrible" warlords have to be kept on the payroll by the international community as the only way to ensure fragile peace in outlying regions. He also said that those who had only joined the Taliban out of desperation would be welcomed back to the country, stating: "I wish I had the Taliban as my soldiers ... serving me and not people in Pakistan or others." Karzai described claims that he was using his position to enrich family and friends as "a lot of rubbish" and denied rumours that there was a list of drug lords involved in the establishment, claiming its existence is a "myth".
The return of the Shining Path
There are fears in Peru that the long-dormant Shining Path insurgency is on the rise again. The Canadian Press reports that the rebels are taking a more peaceful approach compared to their campaign in the 1980s and 1990s, when almost 70,000 people were killed. This time they appear more motivated by money than Maoist dogma, protecting coca plantations against government attempts to eradicate drug production, and providing security to smuggling operations. Military leaders say the group has grown to around 800, and has developed "logistics, intelligence, and local support."
Fatah al-Islam claim Lebanese attack
A Muslim group has claimed responsibility for the bomb attack in northern Lebanon that killed one soldier on Saturday, reports Al-Jazeera. Fatah al-Islam fought the Lebanese army in the Palestinian refugee camp of Nahr el-Bared in 2007. They claim to be behind this week's attack on an "army intelligence den" in the nearby town of Abdeh, designed as retaliation for the deaths of those in the camp. The authenticity of their claims has yet to be confirmed.
Somali groups call for sanctions
Somali civil rights groups have called on the UN to apply targeted sanctions against political leaders whothat are attempting to derail the peace process. The report by Reuters says that nine groups representing rights activists, women and elders, issued the statement, which also demanded the removal of Ethiopian troops from Somalia. The latest attack by insurgents saw three people die and four wounded when a bomb was thrown into a video hall in Galkayo on Monday night.
