Political Violence Against Americans, 1998

Special thanks are extended to the Graphics Section of the Department of States Multi-Media Services which is responsible for most of the original art work in this publication; the Office of Protective Intelligence Investigations (DS/DSS/PII); and to regional security officers (RSOs) at embassies worldwide who provided DS/DSS/ITA with the necessary information and photographs on a timely basis.

Andrew Corsun

Editor

Introduction

Political Violence Against Americans, formerly Significant Incidents of Political Violence Against Americans, is produced by the Bureau of Diplomatic Security’s Office of Intelligence and Threat Analysis (DS/DSS/ITA) to provide readers with a comprehensive picture of the broad spectrum of political violence that American citizens and interests have encountered abroad on an annual basis.

This publication encompasses major anti-U.S. incidents; however, some incidents have been omitted due to the sensitive information associated with them.

Incidents for this study were selected based upon lethality, substantial property damage, use of unusual tactics or weapons, and perceptibility of targets as U.S. or representative of U.S. interests.

No Double Standard

The policy of the U.S. Government is that no double standard will exist regarding the dissemination of threat information that may affect U.S. citizens.

U.S. Government employees may not benefit from possession of information that may apply equally to the American public, but is not available to them. The U.S. Government maintains information on threats to Americans overseas—from terrorism, crime, or health hazards—and makes this information available to all those affected.

An office clock remains intact at the precise moment of detonation of the bomb that exploded outside the

U.S. Embassy, Nairobi, Kenya.

A Statistical Overview of 1998

Areas of Anti-U.S. Incidents

93 Western Hemisphere

22 Europe

7 Sub-Saharan Africa

6 Near East Asia

3 South Asia

3 East Asia and the Pacific

Targets of Anti-U.S. Incidents by Region:

Western Hemisphere

4 U.S. Government

86 U.S. Business

3 Private

Europe

7 U.S. Government

15 U.S. Business

Sub-Saharan Africa

3 U.S. Government

2 U.S. Business

2 Private

Near East Asia

3 U.S. Government

1 U.S. Business

1 Private

2 Other

South Asia

3 U.S. Business

East Asia and the Pacific

3 U.S. Government

15 U.S. Business

Western Hemisphere (WH)

(Formerly Inter-America—Central and South America. This designation now includes Canada.)

January 1 – December 31, 1998— Colombia:

Over the course of 1998, Colombian Marxist guerrillas belonging to the National Liberation Army

(ELN) and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) carried out 77 terrorist bombings of the Cano Limon-Covenas oil pipeline, bringing the total number of attacks to 581 since 1986. Many of these attacks caused breaks in the pipeline structure, resulting in serious oil spills and the halting of production. Repair costs over the past 13 years have been estimated at $238 million and the value of lost output is estimated at more than $1.5 billion. The Cano Limon-Covenas oil pipeline is a multinational venture between Ecopetrol of Colombia, U.S. Occidental Petroleum, and other foreign oil firms. Guerrilla forces are vehemently opposed to multinational involvement in Colombia’s oil industry, charging that foreign interests are violating the country’s sovereignty and exploiting its natural resources.

February 7, 1998—Southwest Huila Province, Colombia:

A flotilla of helicopters carrying U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Randy Beers and Colombia’s Defense Minister (among others) was fired upon by FARC guerrillas. The helicopters came under fire while flying into an area where coca, marijuana, and poppies were being grown illegally. There were no reports of injuries or damage to the aircraft.

March 21, 1998—La Vega, Colombia:

A U.S. citizen was kidnaped in the area of his farm located in La Vega (25 miles northwest of Bogota), by guerrillas belonging to FARC. The American was released unharmed on September 6, 1998, to International Red Cross officials in the municipality of Medina.

March 23, 1998—Cundinamarca Department, Colombia:

FARC rebels killed 3 persons, injured 14 others, and kidnaped 27 persons, including 4 U.S. citizens, at a roadblock on a highway linking Bogota to Villavicencio. Members of the 51st and 53rd FARC fronts blocked the highway and forced motorists to give up their possessions, and in some cases, stole their cars. The blockade, which began around 2 p.m., was not lifted until approximately 10 p.m., after the Colombian Army appeared on the scene and clashed with the guerrillas. Six rebels were killed in the skirmish as the guerrillas used the kidnaped victims as human shields when they retreated. The burned-out rental car of the Americans was discovered near the scene of the clash.

On April 2, 1998, one of the American hostages escaped from his FARC captors and was trans- ported to Bogota by Colombian military elements. On April 24, 1998, the rebels released a U.S. hostage who had been injured in a fall during her captivity. The two remaining American hostages were released unharmed to International Red

Cross officials on April 25, 1998, after a FARC communique denouncing “a long history of U.S. intervention in Colombia’s guerrilla war” was broadcast over Colombian media.

March 25, 1998—Cusiagua, Colombia:

A rebel bomb exploded at a British Petroleum (BP) oil site, causing critical injuries to an American oil worker and minor injuries to two British employees. The bomb, which detonated shortly before midnight, was planted near the employee sleeping quarters by guerrillas who were able to successfully penetrate BP’s security perimeter by cutting a hole in the fence surrounding the facility. ELN guerrillas were blamed for the attack, given the sophistication of the explosive device. A second bomb placed near an oil rig failed to explode.

April 17, 1998—Santiago, Chile:

At approximately 6:50 a.m., terrorists lobbed a grenade and fired machineguns into a Chrysler automobile dealership during the visit of U.S. President Clinton to Santiago for the Summit of the Americas. No injuries were sustained during the attack, but six cars were damaged by bullet holes and spent 9mm cartridge cases were discovered in the area. The terrorists also set fire to a U.S. flag displayed at the showroom and left pamphlets at the scene calling for the freedom of “. . . political prisoners who are on a hunger strike.” The dealer- ship was not located near any of the venues visited by President Clinton.

April 19, 1998—Cali, Colombia:

Unidentified terrorists bombed a Coca-Cola bottling plant, demolishing a wall and damaging equipment inside the facility. The expansion wave from the blast destroyed three vehicles and dam- aged buildings within a six-block radius. No injuries were reported.

May 27, 1998—Santa Marta, Colombia:

ELN guerrillas bombed the offices of a subsidiary of the Dole Fruit Company. At approximately 1 a.m., 20 ELN rebels overpowered the firm’s guards, gagged the employees, and destroyed files before detonating four bombs, causing structural damage but no injuries. The rebels painted graffiti on office walls accusing the com-

Terrorists lobbed a grenade and fired machineguns at a Chrysler dealership in Santiago, Chile. No one was hurt in the attack.

pany owners of supporting paramilitary groups in the region and opened fire on police who responded to the scene as the guerrillas were escaping.

May 27, 1998—Santiago, Chile:

A recently opened McDonalds restaurant was damaged by Molotov cocktails and rocks thrown by approximately 15–20 people. No injuries were reported. Other businesses located in the same area as the McDonalds restaurant had previously been the target of vandalism by students who resented the proximity of these firms to their university.

July 3, 1998—Medellin, Colombia:

An improvised explosive device was discovered and defused at the Centro Colombo-American USIS Binational Center (BNC). A BNC security guard came across the device as he was making his rounds in the building. The bomb consisted of a steam pressure cooker pot, a clock attached to the top, and four wires connecting the pot and the clock. Inside the pot was black powder, four detonators, and 20 meters of fuse. No one claimed responsibility for the incident.

August 3, 1998—Medellin, Colombia:

At approximately 10 p.m., unidentified terrorists detonated a bomb outside the Xerox building, causing only property damage.

October 5, 1998—Aguas Blancas, Ecuador:

Two American oil employees of Baker Hughes, a subcontractor for the Santa Fe Company, were kidnaped along with an Ecuadorean near the Colombian border. The incident started at approximately 4:30 p.m., when 30 heavily armed men attacked a Santa Fe truck near the company’s oil platform, wounding two Ecuadorean employees. The assailants then moved onto the platform proper where they seized the Americans and the Ecuadorean. With the hostages in tow, the abductors fled on a dirt road leading north to Colombia. At about midnight on the same day, one of the Americans escaped from his captors and made his way back to the Santa Fe oil platform. The American was able to escape when his captors split the party in two. The second American was released unharmed on November 23, 1998.

November 14, 1998—Cundinamarca Department:

At approximately 5 a.m., the 11-year-old son of a U.S. businessman was kidnaped from his family farm located between the towns of Silvana and Fusagasuga, Cundinamarca Department, about 25 miles south of Bogota. The kidnapers followed the family home and abducted the son after stealing money, jewelry, an automobile, and two cellular phones. The kidnapers told the businessman (who was involved in the mining and selling of emeralds) that they knew he was wealthy and accused him of stealing Colombia’s treasures. The abduction was claimed by a previously unknown group calling themselves the Leftist Revolutionary Armed Commandos for Peace in Colombia. The boy was released unharmed on January 21, 1999.

November 19, 1998—Quito, Ecuador:

At approximately 10 p.m., a quarter stick of dynamite was tossed over a wall onto the northeast section of the U.S. Embassy’s roof, causing no injuries and only minimal damage. No claim of responsibility was received.

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Western Hemisphere

November 20, 1998—Buenos Aires, Argentina:

A bomb detonated outside a Citibank branch causing minor property damage but no injuries.

Argentine authorities received an anonymous phone call alerting them to the bomb and the explosion occurred while police were attempting to deactivate the device. A note extolling Argentine sovereignty and signed by the Vuelta de Obligado Commando was found at the scene.

November 30, 1998—Sao Paulo, Brazil:

At approximately 9 a.m., a homemade bomb exploded in the bathroom of a McDonalds restaurant, causing nearly $5, dollars in property damage but no injuries. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack.

December 17, 1998—Brasilia, Brazil:

At approximately 10:30 a.m., a Brazilian state police patrol roving outside the U.S. Embassy compound discovered an incendiary device (Molotov cocktail) hidden in the grass at the northwest corner of the Embassy compound wall. The device consisted of a glass beer bottle filled with gasoline and a cloth wick stuffed in the opening. The device may have been positioned to be used at a later time in an attack on the compound.

January 16, 1998—St. Petersburg, Russia:

A bomb exploded outside a McDonalds restaurant. Damage was minimal and no one was injured.

January 26, 1998— Thessaloniki, Greece:

Two bombs exploded outside the offices of Hewlett-Packard. No one was hurt and damage was minor. A previously unknown group called the Revolutionary Subversive Faction-Commando Unibomber group claimed responsibility. The group stated, “The attack on the state will not end. State terrorism will not succeed.” The attacks came 1 week after the sentencing in the United States of the “Unabomber,” Ted Kaczynski, to life imprisonment.

February 3, 1998—Athens, Greece:

At approximately 3:50 a.m., an improvised explosive device (IED) exploded outside a McDonalds restaurants in the Halandria area of Athens. Ten minutes later at 4 a.m., a second IED exploded outside another McDonalds restaurant located in the Vrilissia suburb of Athens. No one was hurt in either attack, and material damage was minimal. The terrorist group Revolutionary Organization 17 November claimed responsibility for the attack in a subsequent communique it issued following the April 7, 1998, bombing of Citibank in Athens, Greece. (See April 7, 1998—Athens, Greece, below).

February 3, 1998—Athens Greece:

An IED exploded at a McDonalds restaurant in the Halandria suburb of Athens.

February 3, 1998—Athens Greece:

Pictured is the bomb damage done to a McDonalds restaurant in the Vrillissia suburb of Athens

March 12, 1998—Athens, Greece:

Pictured is the vehicle at the Chrysler dealership that ws targeted by an IED. The arrow shows were the IED was placed.

February 19, 1998—Athens, Greece:

Shortly after midnight, a bomb exploded outside the showroom of the Detroit Motors Company. There was significant damage, but no one was hurt. No one claimed responsibility for the attack.

The Detroit Motors Company sells a variety of new General Motors vehicles. The terrorist group Revolutionary Organization 17 November claimed responsibility for the attack in a subsequent communique it issued following the April 7, 1998, bombing of the Citibank in Athens, Greece. (See April 7, 1998— Athens, Greece below).

March 12, 1998—Athens, Greece:

At approximately 12:15 a.m., an improvised explosive device (IED) was detonated under a vehicle outside a Chrysler dealership. The vehicle was owned by the Chrysler dealership. No one was hurt in the attack, but there was significant material damage. The terrorist group Revolutionary Organization 17 November claimed responsibility for the attack in a subsequent communique it issued following the April 7, 1998, bombing of the Citibank in Athens, Greece. (See April 7, 1998—Athens, Greece below).

March 12, 1998—Athens, Greece:

At 12:20 a.m., an IED was detonated at an Opel car dealership. The device was placed outside the door of the boiler room adjacent to the under- ground garage of the dealership. No one was hurt, but there was significant damage. The terrorist group Revolutionary Organization 17 November claimed responsibility for the attack in a subsequent communique it issued following the April 7, 1998, bombing of the Citibank in Athens, Greece.

(See April 7, 1998—Athens, Greece below).

March 12, 1999—Athens, Greece:

Pictured is the Opel dealership that was targeted. The IED was placed outside the boiler room, which is located adjacent to the dealership’s underground parking garage (see arrow).

April 7, 1998—Athens, Greece:

At 11:45 p.m., a 2.36-inch antitank rocket was fired at an office of Citibank. The rocket penetrated the office and caused damage, but did not explode. No one was hurt in the attack. The rocket was fired from a makeshift launcher placed atop a vehicle parked some 20 feet from the bank. The rocket was remotely detonated using a garage door opener.

The group Revolutionary Organization 17 November claimed responsibility for the attack in an eight- page communique sent to the Greek newspaper

Eleftherotypia. In the communique, the group stated in part, “. . . we decided to strike against American imperialism-nationalism for all the designs that it has on our country’s sovereign rights. Because it is the main culprit for the continual Turkish occupation of Cyprus, for Turkey’s claims in the Aegean at the expense of country’s sovereign rights, for the plans to divide the Aegean and for its placing heavily armed Turkey as its policeman and caretaker over half of the Aegean.”

The group also claimed responsibility for a number of previously unclaimed bombings of U.S. targets in Athens in 1998, “We assume responsibility for the attacks with bombs against the two branches of McDonalds restaurants, the American car dealer shops of General Motors, Chrysler, and Opel (subsidiary in Germany of General Motors) and for the attack with a rocket against the American bank Citibank.”

August 6, 1998—Merksem, Belgium:

A McDonalds restaurant was firebombed. Damage was minimal and no one was hurt. The Belgian Animal Liberation Front (ALF) claimed responsibility.

August 9, 1998—Antwerp, Belgium:

The ALF claimed responsibility for attacking a McDonalds restaurant with a firebomb. Damage was minimal and no one was hurt.

April 17, 1998—Stavropol, Russia:

A bomb exploded at a Pizza Hut restaurant under construction. There was extensive damage, but no one was hurt.

August 26, 1998—Pristina, Serbia:

An unidentified man threw a Molotov cocktail at the United States Information Center (USIS).

Damage was minimal and no one was hurt.

August 29, 1998—Puurs, Belgium:

A McDonalds restaurant was firebombed. No one was hurt, and damage was minimal. The ALF claimed responsibility.

November 7, 1998—Deinze, Belgium:

The Belgian Animal Liberation Front (ALF) claimed responsibility for an arson attack against a McDonalds restaurant. There was fire damage, but no one was injured.

November 18, 1998—Athens, Greece:

At 12:20 a.m., an improvised incendiary device exploded at the branch office of Citibank in the Piraeus suburb. The device was placed next to the ATM machine. There was significant damage, but no injuries. No one has claimed responsibility.

December 17, 1998—Kiel, Germany:

Vandals broke windows of the American Information Center. The incident occurred as a

possible protest to the U.S.-British military action against Iraq.

December 18, 1998—Hague, Netherlands:

At about 3 p.m., some 300 individuals gathered in front of the U.S. Embassy to protest military action against Iraq and Iraq’s attitude towards the United Nations weapons inspection process.

During the demonstration, protesters threw rocks and broke some windows in the U.S. Embassy. The police had to use water cannons and truncheons to break up the demonstration. A number of the demonstrators were injured.

December 18, 1998—Copenhagen, Denmark:

Protestors stormed the U.S. Embassy compound and broke windows. The incident occurred during Operation Desert Fox.

December 19, 1998—Oslo, Norway

Approximately 200 demonstrators gathered outside the U.S. Embassy to protest the bombing of Iraq. Police arrested two people for breaking windows at the U.S. Embassy and attacking a police car.

December 29, 1998—Athens, Greece:

At approximately 12:15 a.m., explosions occurred outside the former location of the American Express Bank in the Athens suburb of Piraeus, and the current Piraeus site of Barclays Bank. No one was injured in either attack, but there was extensive damage. The Revolutionary Nuclei claimed responsibility for the attacks. Though American Express has not occupied the sited for at least 2 years, it had been there previously for 10 years, and American Express signs are still present on and inside the building. (The current American Express site is located eight blocks from the blast site.)

April 12, 1998—BELET KARIM, SOMALIA:

An American employee of the United Nations World Food Program was abducted. He was released unharmed 3 hours later. The motive for his abduction is not known.

Sub-Saharan Africa

April 12, 1998—Belet Karim, Somalia:

An American employee of the United Nations World Food Program was abducted. He was released unharmed 3 hours later. No motive is known for his abduction.

August 7, 1998—Nairobi, Kenya

At approximately 10:36 a.m., a truck bomb containing two terrorists approached the rear entrance to the U.S. Embassy. It is believed that the terrorists’ goal was to drive the truck bomb into the underground parking garage of the U.S. Embassy and detonate the device. When the terrorists approached the rear entrance to the Embassy, they were challenged by local unharmed Embassy guards who refused to let the truck enter the underground parking garage. In an effort to scare off the guards, the passenger in the truck got out and threw flash/bang grenades at the guards while the driver fired on the guards with a handgun. None of the guards were harmed.

When the driver realized that they could not penetrate the duel security perimeter protecting the underground basement entrance, he detonated the truck bomb. The passenger who was outside the truck at the time of the explosion was injured, but was able to flee the scene. The explosion killed 291 people and injured nearly 5,. Among the dead were 12 Americans and 32 Foreign Service nationals (FSNs) employed by the U.S. Embassy. Six Americans and 13 FSNs were injured. The majority of the deaths were caused by the collapse of the Ufundi Building located 2–3 meters from the blast site.

August 7, 1998—Dar es Salaam, Tanzania:

Almost simultaneously to the bombing of the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi (see August 7, 1998— Nairobi, Kenya, above) at approximately 10:39 a.m., a truck bomb pulled up to the front entrance of the U.S. Embassy in Dar es Salaam. As the truck bomb approached the entrance to the U.S. Embassy, an Embassy water truck was blocking the entrance to the Embassy. The presence of the water truck coupled with access control procedures prevented the truck bomb from entering the compound. The driver then detonated the truck bomb, which was located 10–12 meters from the

April 15, 1998—Mogadishu, Somalia:

Gunmen abducted nine foreigners after their plane landed at an airfield in the northern sector of the capital. The foreigners worked for the International Committee for the Red Cross (ICRC). Among those kidnaped were an American citizen, a German, a Belgian, a French, a Norwegian, and two Swiss Red Cross workers and one Somali Red Crescent Society employee. The two pilots, one South African and one Kenyan, also were being held. The gunmen are members of a subclan loyal to Ali Mahdi Mohamed, a Somali faction leader.

The kidnapings could have been an effort to derail the peace process or just for ransom. On April 24, 1998, the hostages were released unharmed. No ransom was paid.

April 24, 1998—Sanaa, Yemen:

A bomb exploded in the courtyard of the al-Khayr mosque. Two people were killed, and 26 other worshipppers, including two Americans, were injured. Note: The two injured Americans were not the intended targets of the bombings.

August 25, 1998—Cape Town, South Africa:

At 7:20 p.m., an explosion ripped through Planet Hollywood restaurant in the city’s waterfront area. One person was killed and 24 injured. The group Muslims Against Global Oppression claimed responsibility for the attack. The caller stated that the attack was in retaliation for U.S. military action against Sudan and Afghanistan. Another caller stated “we’re going to fight fire with fire.”

September 19, 1998—Monrovia, Liberia:

Government of Liberia (GOL) security forces seeking to apprehend United Liberation Movement for Democracy in Liberia-Krahn (ULIMO-K) faction

warlord Roosevelt Johnson attempted to force their way into the main gate security screening area of the U.S. Embassy compound. In the ensuing melee, Johnson and several of his colleagues made their way onto the U.S. Embassy compound. In the process, Liberian security forces indiscriminately fired automatic weapons into the U.S. Embassy compound, killing or wounding nearly 12 people. Among those wounded were a U.S. Department of State official and a U.S. Government contractor. Johnson was granted temporary refuge in the U.S. Embassy in accordance with international law because of an immediate and clear threat to his life.

On September 25, 1998, ULIMO-J leader Johnson and his entourage were helo-lifted in two helicopters from the helipad at the U.S. Embassy to an undisclosed third country. The departure of Johnson, one of Liberian President Charles Taylor’s foes in a 7-year civil war, ended the week-long standoff between the GOL and U.S. Government.

November 11, 1998—Bayelsa, Nigeria:

Militant youth kidnaped eight workers from an oil well under contract to Texaco Oil. Among the workers abducted were three Americans, one Briton, one Croatian, one Italian, one South African, and one Nigerian. The kidnapers were seeking employment and community development for the local citizenry. The workers were released unharmed on November 18, 1998.

Transnational/State-Sponsored Terrorism in Sub-Saharan Africa

1973 – Takeover of the Saudi Arabian Embassy—Sudan 1980 – Bombing of the Norfolk Hotel—Kenya

1986 – Attempted assassination of a U.S. diplomat—Sudan 1988 – Bombing of the Acropole Hotel and armed attack on the British Club—Sudan

1989 – Bombing and crash of UTA Flight 772 over Niger

1994 – Attempted assassination of a U.S. diplomat—Ethiopia

1995 – Attempted assassination of Egyptian President Mubarak—Ethiopia 1998 – Bombing of U.S. Embassies—Kenya and Tanzania

Prior to the bombings of the U.S. Embassies in East Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa had not been an active venue for transnational or state-sponsored terrorism. The aforementioned incidents resulted in the death of 21 Americans. Two U.S. diplomats were killed in the takeover of the Saudi Arabian Embassy in Sudan; seven Americans, including the wife of the U.S. Ambassador to Chad, were killed in the explosion aboard UTA Flight 772 over Niger; and 12 U.S. Government personnel were killed in the bombing of the U.S. Embassy in Kenya.

Near East Asia

April 24, 1998—Sanaa, Yemen:

A small bomb exploded in the inner courtyard of the al-Khayr mosque where 2 people were killed and 26 other worshipers, including two Americans, were wounded. In addition to hosting Muslims from various regions of the world, the mosque is at- tended by members of a fundamentalist group that rejects all forms of Western influence.

June 21, 1998—Beirut, Lebanon:

Unknown persons attempted to fire four RPG–7 rockets at the U.S. Embassy compound. All of the rockets fired, but fell short of the Embassy.

Two warheads detonated, a third broke up, and a fourth was recovered intact. Because the operation was so amateurish, both Lebanese and U.S. sources believe that the attack was not committed by Hizballah, a sophisticated terrorist organization.

December 10, 1998—Sherwa, Yemen:

A small bomb exploded at a U.S.-run oil pipeline resulted in minor damage. Local authorities believe that Yemeni tribesmen are probably responsible. Small pipeline bombings are common tactics employed by tribes to demonstrate their frustration at the lack of financial resources available to them.

December 19, 1998—Damascus, Syria:

An angry mob consisting of thousands of Syrians and Palestinians attacked the U.S. Embassy compound following a pro-Iraq demonstration that turned violent. Several of the demonstrators managed to break into the Chief of Mission’s residence and destroy the living quarters of the Ambassador’s family. The American Consular and General Services sections of the Embassy, as well as several U.S. vehicles, sustained significant damage. The U.S. Ambassador’s spouse was evacuated to a safehaven during the attack and was not harmed.

December 28, 1998—Mudiyah, Yemen:

Armed militants kidnaped 16 Western tourists in transit, including American, Australian, and British citizens. The following day, Yemeni security forces attempted a rescue during which three Britons and one Australian were killed. One American and one British citizen were also injured during the incident. It remains unclear whether the victims were killed by the kidnapers or during the rescue attempt. A group calling itself the Aden- Abyan Islamic Army has acknowledged responsibility for the kidnaping but blames the Yemeni security forces for the deaths of the hostages.

December 19, 1998, Damascus, Syria.

Damage to the Marine Security Guard Detachment December 31, 1998—Jerusalem,

Commander’s vehicle. Occupied Territories:

December 19, 1998, Damascus, Syria. Damage to the Consular section intake window and intercom.

An unidentified assailant(s) threw two Molotov cocktails at the unoccupied residence of a U.S. Consulate official, causing minor damage. This is the second time that this dwelling had been attacked during the year. During the spring of 1998, unknown assailants broke into the home and temporarily re- strained the occupants. Israeli police have no investigative leads into either incident.

December 19, 1998—Damascus, Syria:

Some of the estimated 2, demonstrators outside the

U.S. Embassy protesting U.S. military action against Iraq.

South Asia

May 19, 1998—Ahmedabad, India:

Following the testing of a

nuclear device by India and the imposition of U.S. sanctions against that

country, activists stopped a Coca-Cola delivery van on a busy street and emptied some bottles.

The activists attempted to assault the employees in the van, but the police intervened.

May 21, 1998—Ahmedabad, India:

A Pepsi Cola truck was burned on the periphery of Ahmedabad. The driver and attendant were allowed to escape unhurt. The same day, a local politician of the ruling national party led a mob of 150 people in pouring out bottles of Pepsi Cola and Coca-Cola and shouting antisanctions slogans.

May 25, 1998—Ahmedabad, India:

A second Pepsi Cola truck was burned. The personnel occupying the vehicle were beaten.

April 10, 1998—Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia:

At 7:30 a.m. eight Acehnese asylum seekers forced their way onto

U.S. Embassy Kuala Lumpur’s grounds

by scaling a wall. In an attempt to avoid deportation back to Indonesia by Malaysian authorities, the intruders trespassed onto the compound and immediately began assaulting any individuals who approached them. They struggled with three American Embassy officials, one of whom sus- tained minor injuries. Six members of the Embassy local guard force finally overpowered the asylum seekers. Aceh is a province of Indonesia located in northern Sumatra. The Acehnese are an indigenous people pressing for greater autonomy or independence from Indonesia.

September 25, 1998—Seoul, South Korea:

At 1:30 p.m. 40 Kunsan Citizens Association (KCA) protestors began an anti-American demonstration outside of the Kunsan Army Base. While

U.S. security forces entered the Kunsan Army Base visitors’ center to accept a letter from the protestors, two members of the KCA brandished crowbars and broke the lock to the main gate. The rest of the demonstrators stormed the gate and began force- fully entering the base. Riot police came to eject the intruders and a struggle ensued; they remained deadlocked for 45 minutes. During this time, the KCA protestors defaced the shack at the main gate, the street in front of the gate shack, and the

“Welcome to Kunsan Army Base” sign in front of the base by writing anti-U.S. slogans with red paint. Finally, at 3:20 p.m., the protestors agreed to peacefully depart if their letter was accepted. The letter was accepted at 3:40 p.m. with no further incident.

December 18, 1998—Melbourne, Australia:

A dozen or more protestors against Operation Desert Fox deliberately vandalized the U.S. Consu- late office building in Melbourne at 4:10 p.m. These vandals were later identified by local police as “professional activists” who have attached them- selves to the environmental movement in Victoria. As the demonstrators chanted “No blood for oil” and “U.S. out of Iraq,” one figure wearing a balaclava hurled a mixture of motor oil/black ink and tomato paste/red ink onto the granite forecourt of the building. The group then defaced two white marble statues adorning the front of the building.

The protestors were blocked from forcing their way into the main entrance by Australian Protective

March 21, 1998—La Vega, Colombia:

A U.S. citizen was kidnaped near his farm by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). He was released unharmed on September 6, 1998.

March 23, 1998—Cundinamarca Department, Colombia:

FARC rebels kidnaped 27 persons, including four Americans, at a roadblock on a highway linking Bogota to Villavicencio. On April 2, 1998, one of the American hostages escaped from his FARC captors. On April 24, the rebels released a U.S. hostage who had been injured in a fall during her captivity. The two remaining American hostages were released unharmed to International Red Cross officials on April 25, after a FARC communique denouncing a “long history of U.S. intervention in Colombia’s guerilla war” was broadcast over Colombian media.

October 5, 1998—Aguas Blancas, Ecuador:

Two American oil workers were kidnaped along with an Ecuadorean worker near the Colombian border. At about midnight on the day of the kidnaping, one of the Americans was able to escape from his captors. The second American was released unharmed on November 23, 1998.

November 14, 1998—Cundinamarca Department, Colombia:

The 11-year-old son of a U.S. businessman was kidnaped from his family’s farm by a previously unknown group called the Leftist Revolutionary Armed Commandos for Peace in Colombia. The boy was released unharmed on January 21, 1999.

Sub-Saharan Africa

April 12, 1998—Belet Karim, Somalia:

An American working for a nonprofit organization was abducted by unknown gunmen. He was released unharmed 3 hours later.

April 15, 1999—Mogadishu, Somalia:

Gunmen abducted nine foreigners, including one American, at an airfield in the northern sector of the capital. The hostages worked for the International Committee for the Red Cross. They were released unharmed on April 24, 1998.

November 11, 1998—Bayelsa, Nigeria:

Militant youth kidnaped eight oil workers, including three Americans, from an oil well. The hostages were released unharmed on November 18, 1998.

Near East Asia

December 28, 1998—Mudiyah, Yemen:

Armed militants kidnaped 16 Western tourists, including an American. The following day, Yemeni security forces attempted a rescue operation. Four of the hostages were killed and one American and one British citizen were injured during the rescue attempt. A group calling itself the Aden-Abyan Islamic Armed claimed responsibility for the kidnaping.

Americans in Captivity

Western Hemisphere

January 31, 1993:

Three American missionaries were kidnaped in Pucuro, Panama, by (FARC). Efforts to deter- mine the fate of the missionaries continues throughout 1998. Several foreign governments have committed to pressing the FARC for a full accounting of the men’s whereabouts.

South Asia

Two American tourists were kidnaped while trekking in Kashmir, near Srinagar, India. The act was committed by the al-Faran, an Islamic militant group. One of the Americans escaped on July 8, 1995. There has been no contact with the group since November 1995 and reports have been received that claim that other American tourists and other foreign hostages have been killed. These reports have not been confirmed, so their whereabouts remain unknown.

Special Section: Operation Desert Fox

Number of anti-U.S. demonstrations: 154—

7 of the anti-U.S. demonstrations were violent.

(Violent demonstration is defined as assaulting personnel and causing property damage.)

Most active region for anti-U.S. incidents: Europe

Primary target of ant-U.S. incidents: Diplomatic Facilities—

Only one attack was against U.S. business interests.

In response to the chief UN weapons inspector’s report that Iraq was still impeding inspections, U.S. and British forces launch air strikes against Iraq. The military operation, refered to as Operation Desert Fox, targeted military and security installations in Iraq that contribute to Iraq’s ability to store, maintain, and deliver weapons of mass destruction.

During the 4-day period of Operation Desert Fox, December 16–19, 1998, numerous anti- American incidents occurred worldwide to protest the military action against Iraq. The vast majority of the anti-American incidents were demonstrations against U.S. diplomatic facilities. A complete chronology of anti-U.S. incidents in response to Operation Desert Fox follows.

Western Hemisphere

December 16, 1998—Vancouver, Canada:

Approximately 75–100 demonstrators converged on the office building housing the U.S. Consulate in Vancouver.

December 16 1998—Merida, Mexico:

Approximately 18 people staged a demonstration in front of the U.S. Consulate in Merida.

December 17, 1998—Montreal, Canada:

Approximately 100 to 150 demonstrators gathered in front of the U.S. Consulate in Montreal.

December 17, 1998—Toronto, Canada:

Two peaceful demonstrations were conducted, one by approximately 30 persons and the other by 200 persons.

December 17, 1998—Vancouver, Canada:

Approximately 50 demonstrators protested in front of the office building housing the U.S. Consulate in Vancouver.

December 17, 1998—Halifax, Canada Approximately six demonstrators protested in front of the U.S. Consulate.

Areas of Anti-American Incidents

Targets of Attack

Types of Incidents

December 17, 1998—Brasilia, Brazil:

A state police patrol roving outside the U.S. Embassy compound found an incendiary device—a Molotov cocktail—hidden in the grass.

December 17, 1998—Brasilia, Brazil:

Approximately 15 peaceful demonstrators formed at the U.S. Embassy.

December 17, 1998—Ottawa, Canada:

Approximately 40 people demonstrated across the street from the U.S. Embassy.

December 18, 1998—Buenos Aires, Argentina:

Approximately 40 demonstrators protested in front of the U.S. Embassy.

December 18, 1998—Recife, Brazil:

Approximately 20 students demonstrated in front of the U.S. Consulate building.

December 18, 1998—Sao Paulo, Brazil:

Approximately 50 demonstrators protested in front of the U.S. Consulate.

December 18, 1998—Halifax, Canada Approximately six demonstrators protested in front of the U.S. Consulate.

December 18, 1998—Quebec, Canada:

Approximately 75 demonstrators protested in front of the U.S. Consulate.

December 18, 1998—Vancouver, Canada:

Approximately 15 demonstrators protested in front of the office building housing the U.S. Consulate in Vancouver.

December 19, 1998—Ottawa, Canada:

Approximately 40 people demonstrated across the street from the U.S. Embassy.

December 21, 1998—Buenos Aires, Argentina:

Approximately 50 members of the Shi’a community protested outside the U.S. Embassy.

December 21, 1998—Rio de Janeiro, Brazil:

Approximately 16 individuals demonstrated in front of the U.S. Consulate.

December 22, 1998—Brasilia, Brazil:

Approximately 25 individuals demonstrated in front of the U.S. Embassy.

December 22, 1998—Rio de Janeiro, Brazil:

Approximately 36 individuals demonstrated in front of the U.S. Consulate.

December 22, 1998—Vancouver, Canada:

A realistic-looking mock bomb was discovered on the loading dock of the building housing the U.S. Consulate. No warning or claim of responsibility has been received.

Europe

December 17, 1998—Brussels, Belgium:

Some 20 members of the environmental group Mother Earth presented a petition to the U.S. Embassy.

December 17, 1998—Brussels, Belgium:

Some 120 demonstrators staged a noisy, but peaceful demonstration in front of the U.S. Embassy.

December 17, 1998—Bonn, Germany:

Ten people staged a peaceful demonstration in front of the U.S. Embassy to protest the bombing of Iraq.

December 17, 1998—Kiel, Germany:

Vandals broke windows of the American Information Center.

December 17, 1998—Rome, Italy:

Members of the Italian Communist party staged a peaceful protest in front of the U.S. Embassy.

December 17, 1998—Rome, Italy:

A crowd estimated at about 40 individuals

demonstrated Embassy.

peacefully in front of the U.S.

December 17, 1998—Florence, Italy:

A loud but peaceful demonstration by the Communist Renewal Party was staged in front of the U.S. Consulate.

December 17, 1998—Oslo, Norway:

There was a small peaceful demonstration in front of the U.S. Embassy protesting the bombing of Iraq.

December 17, 1998—Oslo, Norway:

A second demonstration was held in front of the

U.S. Embassy protesting the bombing of Iraq.

December 17, 1998—Vladivostok, Russia:

A group of approximately 15–20 representatives of the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia and the Communist Party of the Russian Federation held a peaceful demonstration in front of the U.S. Consulate General in Vladivostok.

December 17, 1998—St. Petersburg, Russia:

A small group of Zhirinovskiy supporters demonstrated across the street from the U.S. Consulate General in St. Petersburg.

December 17, 1998—Stockholm, Sweden:

Two men were arrested for throwing eggs at the

U.S. Embassy and the Ambassador’s residence in protest of the bombing of Iraq. They did not appear to be affiliated with any particular group.

December 17, 1998—Ankara, Turkey:

A group of approximately 50 demonstrators from the Turkish Workers’ Party held a peaceful demonstration in front of the main gate at the U.S. Embassy in Ankara.

December 18, 1998—Yerevan, Armenia:

About 65 peaceful, vocal demonstrators, led by the Armenian Communist Party, held placards in opposition to the bombings against Iraq, and protested directly in front of the U.S. Embassy.

December 18, 1998—Vienna, Austria:

A peaceful demonstration of 150 people was staged near the U.S. Embassy to protest U.S. military action against Iraq.

December 18, 1998—Copenhagen, Denmark:

Protestors stormed the U.S. Embassy compound and started breaking windows.

December 18, 1998—Prague, Czech Republic:

A group of about 60 individuals calling itself “Union of Muslim Students in the Czech Republic” chanted anti-U.S. air strike slogans and demonstrated peacefully across the street from the U.S. Embassy.

December 18, 1998—Edinburgh, England:

Thirty protestors representing a Pacifist church group and a handful of members of the Socialist Workers’ Party demonstrated peacefully against

U.S. and U.K. military action in Iraq at the U.S. Consulate in Edinburgh.

December 18, 1998—Tallinn, Estonia:

An inebriated ethnic Russian individual, about 30 years of age, threw eggs and tomatoes at the front door of the U.S. Embassy in protest to the American-led bombing of Iraq. The individual made no verbal threats.

December 18, 1998—Marseilles, France:

Approximately 50 members of the French Communist Party, the Peace Movement Party, and the French-Palestinian Association demonstrated in front of the U.S. Consulate protesting U.S. military strikes in Iraq.

December 18, 1998—Paris, France:

An anti-American peaceful demonstration staged by the Communist Party of France, occurred across the street from the U.S. Embassy.

December 18, 1998—Berlin, Germany:

Approximately 85 protesters demonstrated outside the U.S. Embassy building against the U.S.-U.K. bombing in Iraq.

December 18, 1998—Leipzig, Germany:

Approximately 50–60 demonstrators gathered in front of the U.S. Consulate to stage a peaceful protest against the bombing of Iraq.

December 18, 1998—Bonn, Germany:

Some 30 people staged a peaceful demonstration at the U.S. Embassy protesting the military strike in Iraq.

December 18, 1998—Dusseldorf, Germany:

The Area Organization of the German Communist Party organized a small demonstration

in front of the U.S. Consulate. Approximately 15–20 people participated.

December 18, 1998—Munich, Germany:

Approximately 250 people demonstrated in front of the U.S. Consulate in protest of U.S.-U.K. military action against Iraq. The crowd dispersed without incident after approximately 30 minutes.

December 18, 1998—Thessaloniki, Greece:

Over 200 communist demonstrators protested the bombings in Iraq in front of the U.S.

Consulate in Thessaloniki.

December 18, 1998—Athens, Greece:

Demonstrations against the U.S. air strikes on Iraq were held in front of the U.S. Embassy in Athens.

December 18, 1998—Reykjavik, Iceland:

Approximately 75–80 people who call themselves the “Young Socialists” demonstrated peacefully in front of the U.S. Embassy.

“No to the war in the Gulf campaign”

December 18, 1998—Dublin, Ireland:

A group of 25–30 members of the “No to the War in the Gulf Campaign” gathered in front of the main entrance gate to the U.S. Embassy to protest against the use of military force in Iraq.

December 18, 1998—Milan, Italy:

Several hundred demonstrators gathered in front of the U.S. Consulate in Milan.

December 18, 1998—Riga, Latvia:

A small group of protesters staged a peaceful demonstration outside the U.S. and U.K. Embassies over the bombing of Iraq.

December 18, 1998—Hague, Nether- lands:

At around 3 p.m., some 300 individuals gathered in front of the U.S. Embassy to protest military action against Iraq and Iraq’s attitude towards the United Nations weapons inspection process. During the demonstration, protesters threw rocks and broke some windows in U.S. Embassy. The police used water cannons and truchons to break up the demonstration. Several demonstrators were injured.

December 18, 1998—Warsaw, Poland:

Approximately ten people gathered in front of the

U.S. Embassy to protest the bombing of Iraq.

December 18, 1998—Yekaterinburg, Russia:

Two small peaceful demonstrations took place outside the U.S. Consulate building entrance to protest U.S. military action in Iraq.