New guy, huh? ANd a self identified "GranpaVet" and I think you are a partisan hack. Don't think you"re fooling anybody, next time come on here as Shill for the Democrats!
NIS Nuclear Trafficking Database: What's New
11 June 2003 Update:
Reported thefts and seizures in this release:
21 May 2003: Europium Thieves Arrested in Kazakhstan
8 May 2003: Orphaned Cesium-137 Sources Found in Tbilisi, Georgia
8 May 2003: Slightly Radioactive Cargo Seized, Released in Komi Republic, Russia
21 April 2003: Radioactive Container Seized in Kaliningrad, Russia
14 February 2003: Suspects with Radioactive Material Arrested in Odessa, Ukraine
Other items in this release:
23 May 2003: Professor Claims Greece is "Crossroads" of Nuclear Trafficking
15 May 2003: Russian Minister of Atomic Energy Minimizes Threat of Nuclear Materials Theft
8 May 2003 Update:
Reported thefts and seizures in this release:
5 May 2003: Radioactive Container Discovered in Magadan Oblast, Russia
17 April 2003: Stolen RTG Recovered in Leningrad Oblast, Russia
16 April 2003: Radiation Sources Found at Destroyed Grozny Chemical Plant
Other items in this release:
21 January 2003: Chornobyl NPP Management Denies Theft Charges
15 April 2003 Update:
Reported thefts and seizures in this release:
4 April 2003: Cesium-137 Seized in Akhtubinsk, Russia
2 March 2003: Osmium-187 Seized in Omsk, Russia
12 March 2003: "Radioactive" Mercury Seized in Tajikistan
26 February 2003: Radioactive Equipment Found in Bashkortostan, Russia
17 February 2003: Radioactive Cesium Missing from Georgian Military Base
13 February 2003: Cesium Peddlers Arrested in Belarus
12 February 2003: Radioactive Container Seized on Belarusian-Polish Border
17 January 2003: Radioactive Cargo Turned Back at Kazakhstani-Chinese Border
20 December 2002:Paper Alleges Uranium Theft from Novosibirsk Chemical Concentrate Plant
3 October 2003: Radioactive Cesium, Cadmium Found in Chita Oblast, Russia (updated)
Other items in this release:
25 March 2003: Trial of Accused HEU Smugglers Opens in Paris, France
21 March 2003: Central Asian Customs Officials Receive Countersmuggling Training in United States
13 March 2003: International Conference Discusses Security of Radiation Sources
13 March 2003: Minister of Atomic Energy Rumyantsev Announces Antiterrorism Measures
13 March 2003: Russia Takes Steps to Account for Radiation Sources
21 February 2003: Gosatomnadzor Official Admits "Two or Three" Attempted Nuclear Material Thefts in 2002
5 February 2003: Minister of Atomic Energy Says All Stolen Nuclear Material Recovered
30 January 2003: Russian General Says Chechen Rebels Still Hope to Steal Nuclear Warheads
19 January 2003: Kazakhstan Reports Data on Illicit Trade Activity in 2002
15 January 2003: Report Alleges Soviet Atomic Demolition Munitions Placed in United States
14 January 2003: Russian Environmentalist Says Russia Vulnerable to Nuclear Terrorism
14 January 2003: Minatom Official Says Chechen Rebels Cannot Build Nuclear Weapons
25 December 2002: Article Analyzes Illicit Radioisotope Trafficking in Russia
4 February 2003 Update
Reported thefts and seizures in this release:
30 January 2003: Uranium Dioxide Found on Moscow Street
9 January 2003: Europium Stolen from Kyrgyzstani Factory
10 December 2002: Unidentified Radioactive Material Reported Stolen from Sosny Institute, Belarus
5 December 2002: Cobalt-60 Peddlers Arrested in Tver Oblast, Russia
5 November 2002: Radioactive Scrap Metal Found in Volgograd, Russia
22 October 2002: Radioactive Scrap Seized on Kazakhstani-Chinese Border
18 September 2002: Radioactive Material Seized in Krasnodar Kray, Russia
23 May 2002: Uranium and Cesium Siezed in Poltava Oblast, Ukraine
Other items in this release:
18 December 2002: Joint Abkhaz-Georgian Committee to Examine Radiation Security
7 December 2002: U.S. To Help Equip Kazakhstani Border Posts
5 November 2002: Tatarstan Case Involving Radioactive Scrap Dismissed
1 November 2002: Russian Paper Analyzes Threat of Nuclear Terrorism
Summer 2002: Joint Abkhaz-Georgian Proposals on Radwaste Safety and Security
20 December 2002 Update
Reported thefts and seizures in this release:
6 December 2002: Suspects in December 2001 Seizure of LEU in Balashika, Russia, Tried, Convicted
5 December 2002: Cesium-137 Stolen from Bulgarian Factory
21 November 2002: Radioactive Container Found in Samara, Russia
29 October 2002: Cesium-137 Thieves in Sukhumi, Georgia (Abkhazia) Exposed to Radiation
27 March 2002: Radioactive Containers Found in Ust-Kamenogorsk, Kazakhstan
15 October 2002: Radioactive Material Seized on Russian-Azerbaijani Border (updated)
17 April 2001: Bulgarian Police Seize Radioactive Sphere
Other items in this release:
30 November 2002: Russia to Install Radiation Monitors at All Border Posts during 2003
11 November 2002: Soviet Research Project Abandoned Thousands of Radiation Sources
14 October 2002: Gosatomnadzor Official Admits Thefts of Nuclear Material in Past Decade
3 October 2002: IAEA Conducts Countersmuggling Training in Vladivostok, Russia
1 July 2002: IAEA Finds No Additional RTGs in Georgia
10 November 2001: Security Increased at Russian Nuclear Facilities
18 November 2002 Update
Reported thefts and seizures in this release:
15 October 2002: Chechen Resident Arrested on Russian-Azerbaijani Border for Smuggling Radiation Source
3 October 2002: Radiation Source Discovered in Chita Oblast, Russia
9 October 2002: Paperwork Dispute Leads to Seizure of 27 t of LEU by Russian Customs
30 September 2002: Radioactive Sand Seized on Kazakhstani-Chinese Border
20 September 2002: Russian Attempting to Sell Strontium-90 Arrested in Ukraine
21 September 2002: Russian Arrested in Ukraine for Peddling Uranium
18 September 2002: Cesium Seized in Almaty, Kazakhstan
17 September 2002: LEU Seized in Minsk in January 2002 Probably Stolen from Chernobyl NPP
6 September 2002: Cesium Source Found in Petrozavodsk, Russia.
4 September 2002: Children Found Playing with Radiation Source in Irkutsk Oblast, Russia
22 May 2002: Belarusian Arrested in Moscow While Peddling Radioactive Material
16 May 2002: Bulgarian Police Arrest Two for Possession of "Plutonium Sensors"
Other items in this release:
27 October 2002: Media Reports Claim Osmium Smuggling Threatens Russia
9 October 2002: Ukrainian Institute Denies Possible Sale of Uranium
12 September 2002: Ukrainian Communist Parliamentarian Claims 200 Former Soviet Nuclear Warheads Unaccounted For
11 September 2002: Communist Russian Duma Deputy Claims Osmium Smuggling a Proliferation Threat
28 August 2002: Finnish Security Police Probe Possible Nuclear Smuggling
8 October 2002 Update
Reported Thefts and Seizures in this release:
1 October 2002: Material Seized in Sunliurfa, Turkey not Uranium
25 August 2002: Cesium-137 Source Found in Dagestan, Russia
11 July 2002: Suspected Paris HEU Smuggler Arrested in Portugal
19 July 2002: British Paper Alleges Plutonium Theft at Volgodonsk NPP
4 July 2002: Cesium-137 Seized in Pavlodar, Kazakhstan
10 June 2002: LEU Seized in Izhevsk, Russia
1 June 2002: Cesium Seized in Lithuania not Radioactive
21 May 2002: Cesium-137 Stolen from Belarusian Cement Plant
23 April 2002: Cesium-137 Stolen from Ukrainian Sugar Factory
9 April 2002: Radiation Source Seized in Kazakhstan
31 January 2002: Russian Customs Intercepts Contaminated Cargo
May 2001: Navy Accused of Violating Spent Fuel Transport Regulations
21 November 2001: Russian Nuclear Regulatory Official Reveals Nuclear Material Accounting Discrepancy
Other items in this release:
4 September 2002: Russian Ministry of Defense Says Nuclear Warheads Secure
14 August 2002: Kazakhstan to Tighten Radiation Monitoring at Borders
7 August 2002: Uzbekistan Tightens Radiation Monitoring at Borders
1 August 2002: Article Analyzes Threat of Nuclear Smuggling in Turkey
29 June 2002: Abkhaz, Georgian Officials Disagree about Missing HEU
23 April 2002: Russia Tightens Antismuggling Laws
19 February 2002: Lithuanian Court Confirms Russian Ownership of Beryllium Seized in 1993
5 February 2002: Radiation Detectors Installed on Lithuanian-Belarusian Border
1 May 2002 Update
Reported thefts and seizures in this release:
4 April 2002: IAEA Recovers Soviet-Made Cobalt-60 Source from Kabul Hospital
4 April 2002: Lithuanian Troops Recover Part of Stolen Nuclear Fuel Assembly near Ignalina
3 April 2002: Russian Customs Agents Find Radiation Source at Leningrad Checkpoint
3 April 2002: Cesium-137 Sources Discovered in Groznyy
27 March 2002: Tajikistani Authorities Arrest Four, Recover 2kg Natural Uranium Stolen from Vostokredmet
26 March 2002: Iran Covertly Mining Uranium in Azerbaijan, Baku Newspaper Reports
18 March 2002: Thorium-232 Seized on Russia-Kazakhstan Border
16 March 2002: Lithuanian Officials Recover Uranium Stolen from Ignalina in 1992
11 March 2002: Kazakhstani Officials Confiscate 1.5kg Uranium Oxide, Heroin
6 March 2002: Belarusian Police Seize Weapons, Radioactive Materials from Crime Ring
20 February 2002: Radiation Source Discovered at Georgian Port
14 February 2002: Two Krypton-85 Sources Stolen in Smolensk Oblast
12 February 2002: Cesium-137 Source Discovered in Zestafoni, Georgia
4 February 2002: Contaminated Metal Seized from Train Car on Russia-China Border
31 January 2002: Radioactive Medical Waste Delivered to Moscow Refuse Plant
27 January 2002: Turkish Police Seize Two Grams of “Red Mercury” from Russian Couple
15 January 2002: Radiothermal Generators Containing Strontium-90 Discovered in Liya, Georgia (Updated)
28 December 2001: Osmium Seized in Russia (Updated)
22 December 2001: Georgia Arrests Uranium Smuggler
31 October 2001: Cesium-137 Container Stolen from Ore-enriching Plant
15 October 2001: Plutonium Seized from Tbilisi Apartments
29 September 2001: Cesium Stolen, Radioactive Isotope Warheads Reportedly Unsecured in Moldova
Other Items in This release:
18 March 2002: Radiothermal Generators in NIS Uncontrolled, Unprotected
19 February 2002: Russian Physicist Rules out Theft of Weapons-Grade Nuclear Materials
5 February 2002: Radiation Detection Equipment Installed at Turkish Border Crossing
1 February 2002: U.S. National Intelligence Council Issues Report on Security of Russian Nuclear Weapons and Materials
18 January 2002: Bulgaria to Take Measures against Trafficking in Nuclear Material
24 December 2001: Uzbekistan to Produce Radiation Monitoring Equipment
11 December 2001: DOE Antes up $1.2 Million for IAEA to Combat Nuclear Terrorism
1 November 2001: Threat from ‘Dirty’ Bomb Analyzed
22 February 2002 Update
Reported thefts and seizures in this release:
17 January 2002: Belarusian Police Arrest Uranium Smugglers
17 January 2002: Suspect Selling Strontium-90 Arrested in Minsk, Belarus
15 January 2002: Radiothermal Generators Containing Strontium-90 Discovered in Liya, Georgia
28 December 2001: Osmium Peddlers Arrested in Moscow, Russia
18 December 2001: Cobalt-60 Traffickers Arrested in Yekaterinburg, Russia
4 December 2001: LEU Peddlers Arrested in Balashika, Russia
21 October 2001: Uranium Seized in Paris in July 2001 Reportedly from NIS (update)
30 August 2001: Workers at Novosibirsk Chemical Concentrate Plant Arrested for Zirconium Theft
29 August 2001: Zirconium Shipment Seized in Belarus
23 September 2000: Radioactive Scrap Seized on Russian-Chinese Border
29 August 2000: Russian Nuclear Regulatory Agency Reports May 2000 Seizure of HEU in Elektrostal, Russia
30 June 2000: Instruments Containing Cesium-137 and Americium-241 Stolen in Raichikhinsk, Russia
Other Items in This Release:
9 January 2002: Georgian Minister Says Former Russian Military Base Must be Searched for Orphaned Radiation Sources
22 October 2001: Ukraine and United States Sign Export and Border Control Agreement
4 October 2001: IAEA Outlines Program to Combat Nuclear Smuggling
2 October 2001: Radiation Monitors Installed at Uzbekistani Border Crossings
25 September 2001: Physics Conference in Uzbekistan Discusses Combatting Illicit Trafficking
1 June 2001: Radiation Monitors Tested on Austrian-Hungarian Border
1 June 2001: Journal Article Assesses Threat of Nuclear Trafficking
17 January 2002 Update
Reported thefts and seizures in this release:
13 September 2001: Cesium-137 Seized from Car in Nalchik, Russia
30 August 2001: Osmium-187 Seized, Thieves Arrested in Istanbul, Turkey
30 August 2001: Radioactive Object Found in Nizhniy Novgorod Oblast, Russia
26 August 2001: Uranium Seized from Villager in West Bengal, India
24 August 2001: Cesium-137 Found on Vaziani Military Base, Georgia
1 June 2001: Plutonium Source Reported Seized in Liepaja, Latvia
1 June 2001: Plutonium Source Reported Seized in Kara-Balta, Kyrgyzstan
Other items in this release:
29 August 2001: Kazakhstani President Warns of Terrorist Nuclear Threat
28 August 2001: NIS Border Officials Trained in US to Combat Nuclear Materials Smuggling
15 September 2001 Update
Reported thefts and seizures in this release:
23 August 2001: Cesium-137 Stolen in Vologda Oblast, Russia
24 July 2001: LEU Seized in Batumi, Georgia
23 July 2001: 5g HEU Seized in Paris, France
18 July 2001: Radiation Source Stolen in Orenburg Oblast, Russia
9 June 2001: Radiation Source Found in Ulyanovsk Oblast, Russia
Other Items in this release:
18 July 2001: Lithuanian Convicted in US of Attempted Sale of Tactical Nuclear Weapons Deported to Lithuania
1 June 2001: Radium Traffickers Trial Begins in Novosibirsk, Russia
21 May 2001: Russian Customs Officials Discuss Nuclear Smuggling Threat
21 May 2001: Physicist Discusses HEU Missing from Research Institute in Sukhumi, Georgia
23 July 2001 Update
Reported thefts and seizures in this release:
16 May 2001: Radiation Source Found in Sverdlovsk Oblast, Russia
14 May 2001: Radioactive Materials Found in Moscow Apartment
7 May 2001: Kazakhstani Customs Detains Truck with Radiocative Cargo
28 April 2001: Russian Naval Officers Arrested for Selling Radioactive Instruments
27 April 2001: Radioactive Metal Rods Discovered in Vladivostok, Russia
18 April 2001: Turkish Police Arrest Osmium Traffickers
11 April 2001: Radiation Source Stolen from Plant in Mykolayiv, Ukraine
6 April 2001: Radioactive Cargo Detained by Kazakhstain Customs at Chinese Border
5 April 2001 Update
Reported thefts and seizures in this release:
10 March 2001: Moscow Police Halt Radioactive Cesium Deal
7 March 2001: Radioactive Cargo Stopped on Russian-Kazakhstani Border
3 March 2001: "Nuclear Projectile" Seized in Turkey
27 February 2001: Radioactive Container Detected in Sverdlovsk Oblast
1 February 2001: Radioactive Material Handed in to Moscow Metro Police
31 January 2001: Stolen Radioactive Instruments Seized in Kamchatka Oblast, Russia (Updated)
30 January 2001: Plates Containing Plutonium Seized in Greece (Updated)
Other Items in this release:
27 February 2001: Nuclear Smugglers Convicted in North Ossetia, Russia
26 February 2001: Israel Concerned Iraq May Smuggle in Nuclear Material
16 February 2001: Tajikistani Official Notes Threat of Nuclear Smuggling
23 January 2001: Five Indicted in Romania for Nuclear Smuggling
15 February 2001 Update
Reported thefts and seizures in this release:
31 January 2001: Stolen Radioactive Instruments Seized in Kamchatka Oblast, Russia
30 January 2001: Plates Containing Plutonium Seized in Greece
30 January 2001: Radioactive Thorium Seized on Russian-Kazakhstani Border
26 January 2001: 35 Loads of Radioactive Scrap Interdicted on Russian-Kazakhstani Border in 2000
25 January 2001: Radioactive Scrap Metal from Chornobyl Exclusion Zone Seized
19 January 2001: 100kg of Radioactive Material Seized by Transbaykal, Russia Border Guards in 2000
22 December 2000: Uranium Seizure in Vladivostok, Russia Recounted
Other Items in this release:
2 February 2001: Cyprus Denies Involvement in Plutonium Smuggling
15 January 2001: Russian Atomic Energy Minister Questioned About Nuclear Technology Leakage
10 January 2001: DOE Task Force Says Russian Nuclear Material Insecure, Urges Increased Assistance
9 January 2001: Turner, Nunn Form "Nuclear Threat Initiative"
25 December 2000: Bin Laden Reportedly Trying to Purchase Former Soviet Nuclear Weapons
20 December 2000: Bashkortostan, Russia Firm Bribed to Illegally Dispose of Radwaste
8 December 2000: Bulgarian Weekly Examines 1999 HEU Smuggling Case
15 December 2000 Update
Reported thefts and seizures in this release:
27 November 2000: Zirconium Trafficker Arrested in Omsk, Russia
27 November 2000: Cesium-137 Stolen from Ukrainian Mine
10 November 2000: Ukrainian Customs Seizes Radioactive Cobalt
14 October 2000: Radioactive Cesium Missing From Plant in Sverdlovsk Oblast, Russia
16 September 2000: Uranium Traffckers Arrested in Romania
Other Items in this release:
30 November 2000: Lithuanian Experts Discuss Nuclear Trafficking
17 November 2000: Nuclear Material Secured at Novosibirsk Chemical Concentrate Plant
13 November 2000: IAEA to Assist Belarus Combat Nuclear Trafficking
1 November 2000 Update
Reported thefts and seizures in this release:
30 October 2000: Minatom Official Says 1998 Theft Attempt in Chelyabinsk Involved HEU
20 October 2000: Radiation Source Seized from Car in Rivne, Ukraine
6 October 2000: Police Seize 150g Uranium in Erdine, Turkey
16 September 2000: Uranium, Plutonium Seized from Smugglers in Tbilisi, Georgia
27 September 2000: Radiation Sources Discovered in Grozny, Chechnya
21 August 2000: Radioactive Instrument Lost in Krivoy Rog, Ukraine
18 July 2000: Radioactive Scrap Metal Detected at St. Petersburg Port
4 April 2000: Radioactive Scrap Metal Seized in Mangistau Oblast, Kazakhstan
Other Items in this release:
30 September 2000: Radioactive Shell Fragments Recovered in Donetsk, Ukraine
29 September 2000: Problems with Orphaned Radiation Sources in Pavlodar, Kazakhstan
28 September 2000: Minatom Official Discusses Attempted Thefts of Fissile Materials
14 August 2000: Bulgarian Official Discusses May 1999 Seizure of HEU
11 August 2000: General Notes Delays in Upgrading Nuclear Weapon Storage Sites
22 March 2000: Five Sailors Killed in Attempted Theft from Decommissioned Nuclear Submarine (updated)
22 August 2000 Update
Reported thefts and seizures in this release:
9 August 2000: Radioactive Instrument Detected in Scrap Metal Shipment in Komsomolsk-na-Amure, Russia
29 July 2000: Smoke Detectors Containing Pu-239 Discovered in Krasnoyarsk
28 July 2000: Uranium Seized from Traffickers in Vladikavkaz, Russia
27 July 2000: Radioactive Instruments Discovered in Kaliningrad, Russia
25 July 2000: Radioactive Substance Confiscated from Smugglers in Kaunas, Lithuania
24 July 2000: 10 MT of Radioactive Pipes Stolen from Chornobyl, Ukraine Plant
18 July 2000: Radioactive Container Found in Downtown Stavropol, Russia
14 July 2000: Radium-226 Seized from Smugglers in Novosibirsk, Russia
8 July 2000: Radioactive Instrument Stolen from Factory in Novgorod Oblast, Russia
11 July 2000: Ukrainian Police Confiscate Radioactive Cesium in Dnipropetrovsk
7 July 2000: Cadmium Seized in Zheleznogorsk, Russia
4 July 2000: Kazak Police Seize 90kg of Radioacative Mercury
29 June 2000: Police Arrest Alleged Plutonium Smugglers in Dagestan Russia
3 April 2000: Orphaned Radiation Sources Recovered in Groznyy, Russia (updated with new information)
Other Items in this release:
28 July 2000: Azerbaijan Denies Receiving Shipment of Radioactive Cesium
27 July 2000: GAN Critical of Russian Nuclear Material Transport Regulations, Cites Violations
30 June 2000: Isotope Thieves Sentenced in Sverdlovsk Oblast
12 June 2000: Radwaste Theft Problems at Kara Balta Ore Combine, Krygyzstan
19 April 2000: Uranium Smugglers Sentenced in Tajikistan
7 July 2000 Update
Reported thefts and seizures in this release:
5 July 2000: LEU Seized in Almaty, Kazakhstan
21 June 2000: Osmium Seized in Novosibirsk, Russia
13 June 2000: Radioactive Container Found in Almaty, Kazakhstan
6 June 2000: Chinese National with Radioactive Material Arrested in Transbaykal
Other Items in this release:
17 June 2000: Azerbaijani Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Refutes Nuclear Smuggling Rumors
14 June 2000: Macedonian Paper Alleges Government Involvement in Nuclear Smuggling
9 June 2000: US State Department Official Reviews Threat of Nuclear Smuggling
25 May 2000: 2000 NPT Review Conference Addresses Threat of Nuclear Trafficking
2 May 2000: US DOE Program Trains Foreign Border Guards to Detect Nuclear Smuggling
27 March 2000: Aum Shinrikyo Alleged to Have Obtained Data on Russian, Ukrainian Nuclear Power Plants
25 March 2000: Baku Newspaper Criticizes Handling of Radioactive Materials in Azerbaijan
14 March 2000: Swedish Scholar Discusses Efforts by Global Nonproliferation Regime to Combat Nuclear Smuggling
1 March 2000: Article Analyzes Security Lapses at Russian Nuclear Facilities
1 January 2000: Article Discusses Russian Organized Crime and Nuclear Smuggling
10 June 2000 Update
Reported thefts and seizures in this release:
20 May 2000: Cesium-137 Container Stolen in Irkutsk Oblast, Russia
11 May 2000: Kazakhstani Police Seieze Radioactive Radium
5 May 2000: Radioactive Cylinder Discovered in Khabarovsk Kray, Russia
19 April 2000 Uranium Siezed in Batumi is HEU (item updated with new information)
Other Items in this release:
19 May 2000: IAEA Searches for Discarded Radioactive Sources in Georgia
9 May 2000 Update
Reported thefts and seizures in this release:
28 April 2000: 1997 Diversion of Uranium from Ulba Metallurgy Plant (Kazakhstan) Uncovered
19 April 2000: Georgian Police Detain Uranium Smugglers in Batumi
2 April 2000: Radioactive Material Seized at Kazakhstani-Uzbekistani Border
25 March 2000: Nuclear Fuel Theft Attempt at Khmelnytskyy Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine Thwarted
20 March 2000: Radwaste Reportedly Diverted from Radon Facility in Groznyy
Other Items in this release:
24 April 2000: US Experts Urge Increased US-Russian Cooperative Efforts to Block Illicit Trafficking
7 April 2000: US Department of Energy Increases Estimate of Russian Fissile Material Stocks at Risk
24 February 2000: German Intelligence Warns of Difficulties in Controlling Illicit Trafficking in WMD
19 February 2000: Russian Officer Criticizes Security at Nuclear Weapons Storage Sites
9 February 2000: Czech Republic to Install Radiation Detectors at Additional Border Crossings
1 November 1999: New Fiber Optic Technology to Detect Nuclear Smuggling Developed at PNNL
4 April 2000 Update
Reported thefts and seizures in this release:
22 March 2000: Five Sailors Killed in Attempted Theft from Decommissioned Nuclear Submarine
3 March 2000: Radioactive Cesium-137 Stolen from factory in Sverdlovsk Oblast, Russia
25 February 2000: Radioactive Stronium-90 Seized by Police in Donetsk, Ukraine
23 February 2000: Police Seize Bismuth in Krasnoyarsk Kray, Russia
23 February 2000: Russian Military Officers Attempting to Sell Radioactive Strontium Arrested in Primorskiy Kray
7 February 2000: Uranium Traffickers from Moldova Arrested in Bucharest, Romania
28 January 2000: Two Germans Arrested Trying to Smuggle Hafnium Across Ukrainian-Polish Border
Other items in this release:
25 February 2000: Russian Security Council Secretary Discusses Nuclear Trafficking Investigations
24 February 2000: Bulgaria Sends HEU Seized in May 1999 to United States for Analysis
3 February 2000: Internal Troops Tighten Security at Russian Nuclear Installations
1 January 2000: Swedish Nuclear Power Inspectorate (SKI) Releases Report on Nuclear Trafficking
11 February 2000 Update
Reported thefts and seizures in this release:
1 February 2000: Kazakhstani Police Arrest Three Suspects Selling LEU in Almaty, Kazakhstan
29 January 2000: Sailors Break Into Nuclear Submarine in Kamchatka, Russia, Steal Radioactive Isotopes
7 November 1999: Police Seize Contraband Zirconium in Vladivostok, Russia
Other items in this release:
2 February 2000: US Director of Central Intelligence Expresses Concern about Security of Russian Nuclear Materials
27 January 2000: Report Urges Increased US Effort to Secure Nuclear Material Worldwide
26 January 2000: Radioactive Chinese Citizen Detained in Irkutsk, Russia
25 January 2000: Russian Defector Repeats Allegations that Soviet "Suitcase Nukes" Were Deployed in United States
18 January 2000: Russian Federal Troops Secure Radioactive Waste Facility in Grozny, Chechnya
13 December 1999: Expert Group Formed to Advise on Revision of Physical Protection Convention
3 December 2000: Bulgaria Requests US Assistance to Combat Nuclear Trafficking
20 December 1999 Update
Reported thefts and seizures in this release:
3 December 1999: South Korean Customs Seizes Radioactive Cesium on Freighter from Russia
1 November 1999: Minatom Confirms Attempted Theft in Chelyabinsk in December 1998
22 October 1998: Radioactive Materials Discovered on Russian Train Bound for North Korea
6 August 1999: Suspects Arrested in Almaty, Kazakhstan Were Peddling LEU, not HEU (item updated with analysis of material seized)
Other items in this release:
1 December 1999: Intruder Injured During Arrest at South Ukraine Nuclear Power Plant
19 November 1999: Kurchatov Institute Expert Says Risk of Theft from Russian Naval Nuclear Facilities Persists
26 October 1999: Congressman Weldon (R-PA) Concerned Russian "Nuclear Suitcases" Possibly Deployed in United States
25 October 1999: Report Alleges that WMD Components Smuggled to Iran via Russian Caspian Sea Ports
8 November 1999 Update
Reported thefts and seizures in this release:
21 September 1999: Georgian customs seizes 1kg of LEU fuel pellets (item updated with results of analysis of material seized)
20 October 1999: Radioactive Box Detected on Russian Freighter Bound for South Korea
Other items in this release:
12 October 1999: Russian Military Reports Chechen Fighters Preparing to Sabotage Nuclear Power Plants
1 November 1999: Chechen Leader Threatens to Build Base on Radwaste Storage Site
1 November 1999: Joint US-Russian Nuclear Security Training Center Opens
21 October 1999 Update
Reported thefts and seizures in this release:
1 September 1999: Stolen cesium-137 recovered in Volgograd, Russia
11 September 1999: Moscow police arrest suspect with 2.6kg of tantalum
14 September 1999: Thief dies while trying to steal radioactive material in Grozny, Chechen Republic
21 September 1999: Georgian customs seizes 1kg of LEU fuel pellets in Batumi
25 September 1999: Ukrainian police arrest Russian with 300g of radioactive strontium-90 in Uzhorod
Other items in this release:
10 September 1999: Russian customs seizes China-bound equipment shipment
4 October 1999: European Union to assist Eastern Europe to combat nuclear trafficking
5 October 1999: US terrorism analyst claims Osama Bin Laden has purchased former Soviet tactical nuclear weapons
17 September 1999 Update
The Summary Table of Reported Incidents for 1998 is now available. This table contains information on reported cases of nuclear, radioactive, and dual-use material trafficking involving the NIS. It is supplemented by detailed quarterly report tables with links to reported cases. We will be releasing quarterly charts for 1999 later this year, and a 1999 summary chart in early 2000.
Reported thefts and seizures in this release:
11 August 1999: Istanbul police arrest suspects with cesium-137
11 August 1999: Instruments containing strontium-137 [sic] found in Sakhalin Oblast, Russia
26 August 1999: Cesium-137 found in a shipyard in Poti, Georgia
2 September 1999: Police seize 3.5kg of uranium-238 in Primorskiy Kray, Russia
Other items in this release:
5-6 August 1999: Soldiers attack guards at naval submarine base, murders at Strategic Rocket Forces facility
21 August 1999: Financial Times report on condition of, and theft of fuel rod from, the reactor in Kinshasa, Zaire
22 August 1999: Report alleging that Semyon Mogilevich, reputed crime boss, is involved in trafficking of nuclear materials
26 August 1999: US specialists visit Atomflot to inspect physical protection systems
2 September 1999: FBI representative states that most nuclear material smuggled is worthless
24 August 1999 Update
Reported thefts and seizures in this release:
24 April 1999: Plutonium and Americium in Sofia, Bulgaria
26 June 1999: Radioactive aluminum plates from Snezhinsk (VNIITF)
13 July 1999: Californium-252 in St. Petersburg
22 July 1999: Polonium and beryllium in Kazakhstan
29 July 1999: Iridium-292 in Aktyubinsk, Kazakhstan
4 August 1999: Uranium in Brussels
6 August 1999: HEU in Almaty, Kazakhstan
Other items in this release:
Organized crime gang members involved in Uranium smuggling arrested in Rome
Slovakia considering imposing visa requirements on Ukrainians
Tanker trailer used to store radioactive waste stolen/retrieved in Kazakhstan
For information on new material in the NIS Nuclear Profiles Database click here.
The Center for Nonproliferation Studies has not verified the accuracy or veracity of this report or the facts presented therein. For more information on the material in this database please contact Dr. Scott Parrish at
sparrish@miis.edu. This material is produced independently for NTI by the Center for Nonproliferation Studies at the Monterey Institute of International Studies and does not necessarily reflect the opinions of and has not been independently verified by NTI or its directors, officers, employees, agents. Copyright © 2003 by MIIS.
http://www.nti.org/db/nistraff/update.htm
So, with all these folks out there smuggling this stuff (see my post above) .... doesn't that imply there is a market for it all?
So, with all these folks out there smuggling this stuff (see my post above) .... doesn't that imply there is a market for it all?
WOW ... that's some list !
Also, here's something else to ponder from a South African news source...
(snip) South Africa will send experts in dismantling weapons of mass destruction to Iraq as part of Pretoria's bid to avert war, President Thabo Mbeki said in his state of the nation address today.
The intervention follows a visit to Baghdad by Aziz Pahad, the Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister, and comes ahead of today's crucial report-back by United Nations weapons inspectors to the Security Council in New York.
Addressing a special joint sitting of Parliament, Mbeki said it was hoped the UN report-back "will not serve as a signal to some that the time has come to unleash the fury of war".
"As we speak, a number of our citizens are preparing to travel to Iraq. These are the experts who led our country's programme to destroy our nuclear, chemical and biological weapons of mass destruction, as well as the missiles for the delivery of these weapons in conditions of combat."
The work they had done had resulted in South Africa becoming an international example of best practice in disarmament, he said. South Africa voluntarily disarmed its weapons of mass destruction in the 1990s. Pretoria had proposed to Iraq and to Kofi Annan, the UN Secretary-General that these experts share South Africa's experience with Baghdad, Mbeki said.
"I am pleased to inform the Honourable Members that Iraq has accepted our offer, which we have already discussed with the leadership of the weapons inspectors. "We trust that this intervention will help to ensure the necessary proper co-operation between the United Nations' inspectors and Iraq, so that the issue of weapons of mass destruction is addressed satisfactorily, without resort to war."
- "SA to send its nuclear experts to Iraq: Mbeki," http://www.sabcnews.com/politics/government/0,1009,52970,00.html., February 14, 2003, 11:15
Just what, exactly, did South Africa think its "experts in dismantling" would have to do in an Iraq with no claimed nuke program?
Dare I hazard a guess?
Now remember how often we've been told that South Africa is a model of disarmament, an icon of international oversight programs?
And note that Bush said "Africa" while the press keeps mentioning just Niger...
Now remember that North Korea just made an ass out of international oversight programs, and pretty much blew apart the illusions of the 1994 Agreed Framework of the last administration...
The ego of the folks doing oversight has to be stinging just a little, no, when coupled with a decade of no progress in Iraq?
Now let's return to South Africa for a moment. That country is sacred to the left since they toppled its government. What fun it was when the US delegation had to pull out of the racism conference, it was so rank. Wouldn't it be really embarassing for the world community if say, South Africa turned out to be the supplier Iraq had been hitting on, and still had a stash to sell after all the international overseers declared it clean?
FEBRUARY 11, 1990 : (SOUTH AFRICA : KLERK RELEASES NELSON MANDELA FROM PRISON)
1991 : (SOUTH AFRICA : NELSON MANDELA BECOMES PRESIDENT OF ANC)
JULY 8, 1991 : (SOUTH AFRICA SIGNS ACCESSION TO NPT) Abstract: On 8 July 1991, South African Foreign Affairs Minister Pik Botha signed his country's accession to the NPT. The signing, which had been authorized by South African President F.W. de Klerk, was witnessed by British Foreign Minister Douglas Hurd, who stated he was "delighted South Africa had taken this step". By signing the NPT, South Africa will now have to allow the IAEA to inspect its nuclear facilities.- "PIK BOTHA SIGNS NUCLEAR NONPROLIFERATION TREATY, " SAPA (JOHANNESBURG), 8 July 1991 via - "CNS Nuclear and Missile Developments Database: Sample Abstracts on South Africa's Nuclear Doctrine," These abstracts were selected from the over 30,000 entries in the CNS Nuclear and Missile Developments Database., http://www.nti.org/e_research/e1_safrica_nuclear.html.
SEPTEMBER 1991 : (SOUTH AFRICA SIGNS NPT) South Africa signed the NPT in September 1991 and agreed to IAEA safeguards at all its nuclear related facilities at that time. South Africa signed the NPT in September 1991 and agreed to IAEA safeguards at all its nuclear related facilities at that time. - "SOUTH AFRICA SAID TO ABANDON PURSUIT OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS," THE WASHINGTON POST, 18 October 1991, PP. A23, A26 BY DAVID B. OTTAWAY via - "CNS Nuclear and Missile Developments Database: Sample Abstracts on South Africa's Nuclear Doctrine," These abstracts were selected from the over 30,000 entries in the CNS Nuclear and Missile Developments Database., http://www.nti.org/e_research/e1_safrica_nuclear.html.
1991 : (SOUTH AFRICA SIGNS NUCLEAR NON-PROLIFERATION TREATY) - "Iraq 'sought African uranium' Britain says Iraq wanted African uranium, "BBC News World Edition, Tuesday, 24 September, 2002, 10:59 GMT 11:59 UK
OCTOBER 1991 : (SOUTH AFRICA'S CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF AEC DENIES THAT SOUTH AFRICA HAD EVER COOPERATED WITH ISRAEL, IRAQ, OR ANY OTHER COUNTRY IN NUCLEASR TECHNOLOGY) Abstract: According to Waldo Stumpf, Chief Executive of South Africa's Atomic Energy Corporation, South Africa has "abandoned its nuclear weapons program and is seeking instead to become competitive on the world nuclear fuel market within a few years." Stumpf cited change in South Africa's strategic concerns and the prospects for a future black government as factors in his country's decision. Stumpf, however, refused to comment on US intelligence allegations that South Africa had enriched uranium to a weapons-grade level. In an interview in October 1991 Stumpf denied that South Africa had ever cooperated with Israel, Iraq or "any other country" in the field of nuclear technology. ... This came despite 1989 reports from US intelligence sources that South Africa had provided weapons grade HEU to Israel. UN inspectors in Iraq have noted that Iraq had looked into the South African jet-nozzle enrichment process, however, the South African Atomic Energy Corporation was not mentioned among Iraq's suppliers of nuclear technology in the documents seized by the UN. Stumpf stated that South Africa's nuclear program is now geared toward the export of "nuclear fuel and nuclear industry-related technology." South Africa is therefore pursuing laser enrichment processes. South Africa signed the NPT in September 1991 and agreed to IAEA safeguards at all its nuclear related facilities at that time. Stumpf said that South Africa hopes to compete with the US, FRG, France and Japan in world nuclear fuel exports, particularly to Asia and Europe. South Africa is thought to have been capable of producing weapons grade HEU since the early 1980's, according to proliferation specialist Leonard Spector. However, Stumpf declined to comment on the highest level of enrichment attained by South Africa. Stumpf did say that South Africa's two research reactors had run on 90%-plus HEU before being reduced to 45% some years ago. - "SOUTH AFRICA SAID TO ABANDON PURSUIT OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS," THE WASHINGTON POST, 18 October 1991, PP. A23, A26 BY DAVID B. OTTAWAY via - "CNS Nuclear and Missile Developments Database: Sample Abstracts on South Africa's Nuclear Doctrine," These abstracts were selected from the over 30,000 entries in the CNS Nuclear and Missile Developments Database., http://www.nti.org/e_research/e1_safrica_nuclear.html.
1993 : (SOUTH AFRICA : KLERK ANNOUNCES DESTRUCTION OF THE COUNTRY'S NUCLEAR WEAPONS DEVELOPMENT CAPABILITY) In 1993 when F. W. de Klerk announced the destruction of South Africa's nuclear weapons capability, he claimed that no foreign assistance was provided for the development of nuclear weapons, but made no mention of South Africa's missile capability. - "Nuclear Scientists Threaten To Reveal Secret Arms Programs: 'Blackmail' Admitted," Sunday Times (Johannesburg), 27 March 1994, pp. 1-2 (original source) , JPRS-TND-94-008, 1 April 1994, pp. 1-2, 1 April 1994 via - "CNS Nuclear and Missile Developments Database: Sample Abstracts on South Africa's Nuclear Doctrine," These abstracts were selected from the over 30,000 entries in the CNS Nuclear and Missile Developments Database., http://www.nti.org/e_research/e1_safrica_nuclear.html.
1993 : (KLERK & MANDELA SHARE NOBEL PEACE PRIZE) The two [F.W. de Klerk and Nelson Mandela] shared the 1993 Nobel Peace Prize for their role in bringing about a peaceful end to apartheid. - "Ex-S.African first lady murdered," CNN.com, December 5, 2001 Ex-first lady murdered
APRIL 15, 1993 : (SOUTH AFRICAN NUCLEAR & ROCKET SCIENTISTS LAID OFF)
MARCH 1994 late : (SOUTH AFRICA : NUCLEAR & ROCKET SCIENTISTS THREATEN TO RELEASE WEAPONS SECRETS UNLESS PAID COMPENSATION) Abstract: In late March 1994, South African nuclear and rocket scientists threatened to expose secrets about South Africa's arms industry unless they were paid 4.5 million Rand as compensation for being laid off by Advena, a subsidiary of Denel, on 15 April 1993. A spokesman, claiming to represent 16 scientists, said that their disclosures would "prove embarrassing for Armscor [Armaments Corporation of South Africa], Denel [an offshoot of Armscor], and the National Government." In 1993 when F. W. de Klerk announced the destruction of South Africa's nuclear weapons capability, he claimed that no foreign assistance was provided for the development of nuclear weapons, but made no mention of South Africa's missile capability. The [South African nuclear & rocket scientist's] spokesman claimed that Israel had supplied rock[et] technology to South Africa as well as details on how to convert a space launch vehicle into a nuclear ballistic missile. According to the spokesman, the South African space program was originally intended to deliver nuclear weapons using a "clone" of the Israeli two-stage solid-fuel Jericho-2 missile. In 1988 and 1989, two mobile launchers were built and tested at the Armscor proving group at Advena, but were never used. The missile, code named RSA3, only underwent static testing. According to the spokesman, from 1989 to 1992 more than 200 South Africans secretly visited Israel and worked on the missile program. Israel sold technology to South Africa that would make its missiles accurate to within one kilometer by using a system of explosives that could stop the missile at a specific point in flight, allowing it to fall onto the target. - "Nuclear Scientists Threaten To Reveal Secret Arms Programs: 'Blackmail' Admitted," Sunday Times (Johannesburg), 27 March 1994, pp. 1-2 (original source) , JPRS-TND-94-008, 1 April 1994, pp. 1-2, 1 April 1994 via - "CNS Nuclear and Missile Developments Database: Sample Abstracts on South Africa's Nuclear Doctrine," These abstracts were selected from the over 30,000 entries in the CNS Nuclear and Missile Developments Database., http://www.nti.org/e_research/e1_safrica_nuclear.html.
NOVEMBER 1993 : (SOUTH AFRICA ENTERS INTO AGREEMENT WITH THE US WITH INTENT TO GET US TO RECOMMEND ADMISSION TO THE MTCR) In November 1993, South Africa entered into an agreement with the US on the restriction of missile-related imports and exports, adherence to which would result in a US recommendation for admission to the MTCR As a member of the MTCR, South Africa would have access to technology and markets currently not available. - "Nuclear Scientists Threaten To Reveal Secret Arms Programs: 'Blackmail' Admitted," Sunday Times (Johannesburg), 27 March 1994, pp. 1-2 (original source) , JPRS-TND-94-008, 1 April 1994, pp. 1-2, 1 April 1994 via - "CNS Nuclear and Missile Developments Database: Sample Abstracts on South Africa's Nuclear Doctrine," These abstracts were selected from the over 30,000 entries in the CNS Nuclear and Missile Developments Database., http://www.nti.org/e_research/e1_safrica_nuclear.html.
MARCH 1994 : (SOUTH AFRICAN COURT BARS NUCLEAR & ROCKET SCIENTISTS FROM DISCLOSING INFORMATION ON ARMSCOR) In late March 1994, the Transvaal Supreme Court issued an order preventing the 16 scientists from disclosing information to the media or unauthorized personnel regarding the "obtaining, marketing, importing, exporting, development, manufacture, maintenance or repair of armaments by Armscor or its subsidiaries" [1]. The decision followed a suit by Armscor claiming that disclosure of the information might harm South Africa's chances of admission to the MTCR [1].- [1] Stephanie Bothma, Business Day (Johannesburg), 30 March 1994, pp. 1-2; in JPRS-TND-94-008, 1 April 1994, p. 3, "Supreme Court Issues 'Gagging Order'." - "Nuclear Scientists Threaten To Reveal Secret Arms Programs: 'Blackmail' Admitted," Sunday Times (Johannesburg), 27 March 1994, pp. 1-2 (original source) , JPRS-TND-94-008, 1 April 1994, pp. 1-2, 1 April 1994 via - "CNS Nuclear and Missile Developments Database: Sample Abstracts on South Africa's Nuclear Doctrine," These abstracts were selected from the over 30,000 entries in the CNS Nuclear and Missile Developments Database., http://www.nti.org/e_research/e1_safrica_nuclear.html.
AUGUST 26-29, 1994 : (SOUTH AFRICA : ANC WINS ELECTIONS) 1994 : (SOUTH AFRICAN APARTHEID GOVERNMENT ENDS) Under the apartheid government, which was in power until 1994, it had a covert nuclear weapons programme. - "Iraq 'sought African uranium' Britain says Iraq wanted African uranium, "BBC News World Edition, Tuesday, 24 September, 2002, 10:59 GMT 11:59 UK
1994 : (SOUTH AFRICA : KLERK GIVES UP POWER TO MANDELA) F.W. de Klerk gave up power to Nelson Mandela after South Africa's first all-race elections in 1994. - "Ex-S.African first lady murdered," CNN.com, December 5, 2001 Ex-first lady murdered
Oops, getting friendly with China...
AUGUST 1997 : (SOUTH AFRICA SELLS ZIRCONIUM TUBING PLANT TO CHINA, NEWSPAPER REPORT OF ILLEGAL CHINESE WORKERS DISMANTLING PLANT ALERTS PEOPLE TO THE SALE RIGHT AROUND THE TIME CHINA HAD CONCLUDED AN AGREEMENT WITH IRAN TO BUILD A ZIRCONIUM TUBING PLANT THERE) Abstract : In August 1997, South Africa and China concluded a contract for the sale of a plant used to manufacture zirconium tubing at Pelindaba. The deal was not made public until a South African newspaper revealed the presence of "illegal" Chinese technicians dismantling the plant and packing equipment for export to China. The Chinese workers had entered South Africa with business visas, and had been working without the proper employment visas. According to an unidentified member of the South African government, had it not been for the newspaper report, "there might have been nothing to stop this sensitive equipment leaving the country." The South African Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) stated that there are three pieces of equipment, described as CNC [computer numerically controlled] machine tools used to make complex molds, require authorization for export under the Nuclear Suppliers Group dual-use guidelines. The South African government requires an end-user certificate from China before it will authorize the export of the equipment. US officials are concerned that China might ship the South African plant to Iran, because China has signed a contract to build a zirconium tube factory in Iran. - "Is Iran In RSA-China Zirconium Deal?," Jane's Pointer, February 1998, p.1 , 1 February 1998 via - "CNS Nuclear and Missile Developments Database: Sample Abstracts on South Africa's Nuclear Doctrine," These abstracts were selected from the over 30,000 entries in the CNS Nuclear and Missile Developments Database., http://www.nti.org/e_research/e1_safrica_nuclear.html.
1998 : (FORMER SOUTH AFRICAN LEADER KLERK & WIFE ARE DIVORCED) The de Klerks divorced in 1998 after 39 years of marriage. As her husband rose through the ranks of the ruling National Party during apartheid, his wife also was politically active, eventually leading the party's women's organisation. - "Ex-S.African first lady murdered," CNN.com, December 5, 2001 Ex-first lady murdered
1999 : (GABON HALTS EXPORT OF URANIUM) Gabon ceased exports of [unprocessed uranium oxide] after 1999 - reserves at the largest mine, Mounana, had been depleted. - "Iraq 'sought African uranium' Britain says Iraq wanted African uranium, "BBC News World Edition, Tuesday, 24 September, 2002, 10:59 GMT 11:59 UK
MARCH 2001 : (BBC ALLEGATIONS ARISE THAT IRAQ PURCHASED URANIUM FROM SOUTH AFRICA IN 1988) The BBC television programme Correspondent reported in March 2001 that Iraqi defectors, including a nuclear engineer and an assistant to Saddam Hussain's son Uday, had revealed that Iraq obtained uranium for its nuclear programme from South Africa. The deal had been signed in 1986 and the uranium delivered in 1988 - "Iraq 'sought African uranium' Britain says Iraq wanted African uranium, "BBC News World Edition, Tuesday, 24 September, 2002, 10:59 GMT 11:59 UK SEPTEMBER 1, 2001 : (SOUTH AFRICA : US ENCOUNTERS RACISM CONFERENCE WHICH DEGENERATED INTO A HOSTILE MESS AGAINST THE US AND ISRAEL) Mideast dominates racism summit
SEPTEMBER 3, 2001 : (SOUTH AFRICA : US PULLS OUT OF UN RACISM CONFERENCE) Israel and the U.S. have pulled out of the U.N. Conference Against Racism after compromise over condemning Israel had failed U.S. pulls out of racism conference
SEPTEMBER 8, 2001 : (SOUTH AFRICA : UN RACISM CONFERENCE ENDS) Racism conference ends
SEPTEMBER 10, 2001 : (SOUTH AFRICAN SUMMIT) Southern African summit
SEPTEMBER 10, 2001 : (USA : LEFTWING WEBSITE TRUTHOUT.ORG IS REGISTERED; WOULD PLAY ROLE IN NIGER/IRAQ URANIUM FLAP)
SEPTEMBER 11, 2001 : (911 ATTACKS ON US)
Wow, what a country when former first ladies get "offed"...was it a random murder or something more?
DECEMBER 5, 2001 : (SOUTH AFRICA : FORMER FIRST LADY MARIKE DE KLERKE, WIFE OF SOUTH AFRICAN LEADER WHO HAD ONCE ANNOUNCED THE DESTRUCTION OF THE COUNTRY'S NUCLEAR WEAPONS DEVELOPMENT CAPABILITYIS, IS MURDERED) CAPE TOWN, South Africa -- The former first lady of South Africa, Marike de Klerk, has been murdered at her home in Cape Town. Police say an autopsy revealed that the 64-year-old former wife of F.W. de Klerk had been stabbed and strangled. Marike de Klerk's body was discovered on Tuesday afternoon, about 30 hours after coroners estimated she had died.The autopsy revealed that the cause of death was strangulation. Police spokesman Wicus Holtzhausen said she had also been stabbed in the back. "The stab wound ... was not the cause of death," he added. De Klerk also had cuts on her arms, which police believe could have been sustained trying to fend off a knife attack. There were no immediate arrests and police did not admit to having any suspects. South Africa has one of the world's highest per-capita murder rates. More than 9,800 homicides were committed in the first half of this year, according to police statistics. De Klerk's body was found about 4p.m. on Tuesday after her hairdresser, arriving for an appointment, became concerned when she did not answer the door. The hairdresser summoned neighbourhood security guards who found the body at the entrance to her bedroom. Nothing was missing from de Klerk's house and the motive for her killing was unknown, Holtzhauzen said. F.W. de Klerk said in a statement released on Wednesday he was devastated and deeply shocked at the circumstances under which his ex-wife had died. "I have learned with great shock and sorrow of the circumstances of the tragic death of my former wife, Marike," he said. "I have been informed that the South African Police Service is conducting a murder inquiry and hope that they bring the person or persons involved to justice as soon as possible." The former president cancelled plans to attend a ceremony to commemorate the centenary of the Nobel Peace Prize in Norway and was heading back to South Africa, his spokesman Dave Steward said. President Thabo Mbeki expressed his condolences Tuesday in a statement and described de Klerk as a "strong, charming and dignified woman." - "Ex-S.African first lady murdered," CNN.com, December 5, 2001 Ex-first lady murdered
JULY 8, 2002 : (SOUTH AFRICA : LEADERS LAUNCH AFRICAN UNION) Leaders launch African Union
AUGUST 24, 2002 : (SOUTH AFRICA : PRIOR TO EARTH SUMMIT, GREENPEACE VIOLATES SECURITY AT BUILDING AT KOEBEG NUCLEAR POWER PLANT) MELKBOSSTRAND, South Africa -- Police have detained up to a dozen Greenpeace environmental protesters who tried to scale a South African nuclear power plant two days before the start of the Earth Summit. Some of the demonstrators climbed a building at the French-designed Koeberg nuclear power plant on the coast near Cape Town on Saturday and strung up two yellow and black banners proclaiming "Nukes out of Africa -- Greenpeace." The nuclear plant is the only one in Africa. Police detained three of the anti-nuclear activists on the 15-metre (50 feet) high concrete building, which pumps water from the sea to cool the twin-domed reactor alongside, leaving another three dangling by wires from the installation. They also seized two inflatable speedboats, each containing three people, that brought the protesters from the Greenpeace ship Esperanza, Greenpeace said. Police declined immediate comment. But the local provincial commissioner expressed shock that Greenpeace could reach the tightly guarded installation from the sea. "We have to take firm action now, this situation is intolerable," commissioner Lennit Max told Reuters, adding the break-in "is a matter of concern for us, we will be looking into that." Greenpeace wants to put pressure on about 100 world leaders at the 10-day summit opening on Monday to agree ways to protect the planet while cutting poverty. It fears that their promises will fall short of real action. "This is Africa's one and only nuclear facility, it should be its last," said Mike Townsley of Greenpeace. "It creates deadly long-lived legacies of nuclear waste. It's a major terrorist threat, it's a proliferation threat and it's uneconomic... At a time when world leaders are meeting in Johannesburg to discuss how to solve the impending environmental crisis, and to meet the need for electricity of the two billion people who don't have any, we want to make the point that their needs cannot be met through nuclear power," he said. During its building, the plant was attacked by the now-ruling African National Congress (ANC) in the 1970s as part of a protest against white minority rule. - CNN.com, Greenpeace N-plant protest
SEPTEMBER 4, 2002 : (SOUTH AFRICA : EARTH SUMMIT : US SECRETARY OF STATE POWELL IS HECKLED) Powell heckled at Earth Summit
(* My note : Scores of lefties atended this thing from all over the world ...)
Thanks for the ping. This story has just infuriated me for weeks now. Even on Fox, Bush is being misquoted, and they're taking the word of known liars as solid evidence of the crime of the century--to hear them talk about it anyway.