Security Fences Around the World (anti-semites in Europe single out Israel?)

Defense of Democracy ^ | 2/23/04 | dod

[Mark Felton]

Security Fences Around the World

By Jonathan L. Snow

February 23, 2004

Background

·          Security fences have been built around the world, often in disputed territories, with the purpose of disrupting the movement of terrorists, smugglers, and illegal immigrants. These fences frequently cause difficulties for civilians living along the border zones.

·          While security fences are common throughout the world, Israel's decision in 2003 to build a terrorism prevention security fence in disputed West Bank territory was met with protests by the international community and a hearing at the International Court of Justice (the UN court).  No other security barrier has ever been met with such resistance.

 

Anti-terror Security Fences in Disputed Territories

·          India/Pakistan:  India is constructing a fence along the majority of its 1,800 mile border with Pakistan in the disputed territory of Kashmir. The fence is designed to keep terrorists from crossing the border from Pakistan to launch attacks in India. Made up of barbed wire, concertina wire, and giant 25-foot-tall floodlights, it swallows up acres of fertile farmland in Jammu. It is unclear that the owners were ever compensated for their losses.

·          Saudi Arabia/Yemen:  Saudi Arabia has begun building a separation barrier along its border with Yemen in order to stop the flow of terrorists and smugglers over the porous border region.  The Saudis, while consistently critical of the similar actions of the Israelis, claim that the security fence is necessary to ensure the safety of Saudi nationals.  On February 18, 2004, responding to protests from Yemen, the Saudis announced that they were halting construction of the barrier. It is not yet confirmed whether this halt will be permanent.

·          Kyrgyzstan/Uzbekistan:  A land dispute led to the unilateral construction of a barbed wire fence by Uzbekistan to secure their border with Kyrgyzstan in the fall of 1999.  The fence was constructed after Islamic terrorists from Kyrgyzstan were blamed for bomb attacks in the Uzbek capital of Tashkent.  The construction of the fence has caused economic hardships in the poor agricultural areas of the Ferghana Valley and has separated many families in this traditionally integrated border region.

Sources:

·          “With Wrath and Wire, India Builds a Great Wall,” Somini Sengupta, The New York Times, January 2, 2002.

·          “Saudi Arabia Enrages Yemen with Fence,” John Bradley, The Independent (UK), February 11, 2004.

·         "Bad Neighbors, Bad Fences," Nick Megoran, Asia Times, March 15, 2000.

 

Other Anti-terror Security Fences

·          Northern Ireland:  In the 1970's, the British government began to construct a series of separation fences known as the “Peace Line” to divide the Catholic and Protestant areas of Belfast.  These fences, many of which are 12 meters in height and average 500 meters in length, have multiplied over the years, from 18 in the early 1990's to 40 today.  This expansion is due to the success of the fences in disrupting terrorist activities.  The gates of the fence remain closed at night, allowing two policemen to do the security job that used to take dozens.

·          India/Bangladesh:  India has been constructing a fence on its border with Bangladesh, complete with flood lights, to keep armed rebels from infiltrating into India and attacking its citizens. Villagers who were evicted from what India claims to be “no man's land' have taken their cases to court.

·          Thailand/Malaysia:  In February 2004, Thailand announced plans to build a concrete fence along parts of its border with Malaysia in order to keep terrorists and smugglers from sneaking across Thailand's southern border.  Still in the early planning stages, it is unclear what the final length and makeup of the fence will be.

Sources:

·          "Belfast Separation Fences Divide, but Slow Violence," Sharon Sadeh, Ha'Aretz, September 4, 2003

·          "India Finishes Fence along ‘Sensitive' Third of Bangladesh Border," Agence France-Presse, November 11, 2003.

·          "Fencing Out Troublemakers," The Straits Times (Singapore), February 19, 2004.

 

 

Security Fences Separating Conflict Zones

·          Turkish Cyprus/Greek Cyprus:  A 180 kilometer buffer zone known as the “Green Line” has been in place since 1974, separating the Turkish part of the Island from the Greek section.  The buffer zone cuts the Island in half, and until last year was uncrossable.

·          Kuwait/Iraq:  In 1991, the UN Security Council established a demilitarized zone to separate Iraq and Kuwait.  The DMZ extends six miles into Iraq, three miles into Kuwait, and across the full length of the 120-mile border from Saudi Arabia to the Persian Gulf.  The barrier, made of electrified fencing and concertina wire, is braced by a 15-foot-wide and 15-foot-deep trench, complete with a 10-foot-high dirt berm and guarded by hundreds of soldiers, several patrol boats, and helicopters.  In January 2004, Kuwait decided to install a new 217 Km iron separation barrier as well.

·          North Korea/South Korea:  The DMZ, which has separated North and South Korea since 1953, is the most heavily fortified border in the world, consisting of sensors, watchtowers, razor wire, landmines, automatic artillery, tank-traps, and heavy weaponry.  The DMZ stretches 250 km in length, averages 4 km wide and is patrolled by two million troops.

Sources:

·          "Facts & Figures," United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus.

·          "Kuwait Installs Iron Barrier on its Borders with Iraq," Arabicnews.com, January 14, 2004.

·          “120-Mile Barrier Keeps Iraq, Kuwait at Arm's Length," Darrin Mortenson, North County Times, March 5, 2003.

·         "Korea's DMZ: 'Scariest place on Earth,'" Joe Havely, CNN, August 28, 2003.

 

Security Fences Against Illegal Immigration

·          US/Mexico:  In an effort to curb the flow of illegal immigrants coming from its southern border, the United States under the Clinton Administrations instituted two new programs, Operation Hold the Line and Operation Gatekeeper.  These programs included the construction of miles of reinforced fencing, supported by flood lights, infrared scopes, and underground sensors.  Critics argue that these measures have caused the deaths of thousands of illegal aliens who are now forced to attempt to infiltrate the border over more dangerous terrain.

·          Botswana/Zimbabwe:  The government of Botswana, angered by the flow of illegal immigrants and fearful of the spread of foot-and-mouth disease has erected a 10-foot high electrified fence on its border with Zimbabwe.

·          Spain /Morocco:  In 2000, the European Union helped finance a £200 million razor wire border fence between the Spanish enclave of Ceuta and Morocco.  This fence, designed to curb the flow of illegal immigrants into Europe, has undoubtedly played a role in the death of more than 4,000 people who have died trying in vein to cross the strait to enter Spain.

 

Sources:

·          "Operation Gatekeeper: New Resources, Enhanced Results," US Citizenship and Immigration Services, July 14, 1998

·          "Electric Fence to Cut Cross-Border Crime," AllAfrica.com, December 3, 2003.

·          "Mustafa, the Swimming Fridge Smuggler, and His Macabre Pact," The Telegraph (UK), October 19, 2003.

 

 

Additional Information

FDD Brief to the International Court of Justice, Foundation for the Defense of Democracies, January 30, 2004

“Saving Lives: Israel's Anti-Terrorist Fence,” Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Israel), January 2004.

[Mark Felton]

It is not private property if you cannot exclude whomever you choose.

[the OlLine Rebel]

"Israel's decision in 2003 to build a terrorism prevention security fence in disputed West Bank territory was met with protests by the international community and a hearing at the International Court of Justice (the UN court)"


Oh boo hoo. :*<(

Forget the "defense" and blow them to smithereens.

[aimhigh]

Great post.