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International Dates to Watch
December 2004

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1. spacer December 1, 1998. INDONESIA. West Papuan State Proclaimed
Anniversary of the proclamation of a West Papuan State by tribal chiefs in 1961. Demonstrations may occur in Jayapura and other towns of Irian Jaya on this date.
 
2. spacer December 1, 1822. Liberia. Matilda Newport Day
This festival is in honor of a widowed pioneer who lit a cannon with her pipe and saved her country in 1822 when under siege by tribespeople. SOURCE: Shagtown.com
 
3. spacer December 1, 2004. Mozambique. National Elections
Mozambique will hold its third multiparty Presidential and Parliamentary Elections on 1 and 2 December. SOURCE: Agencia de Informacao de Mocambique
 
4. spacer December 1, 1970. YEMEN. Declaration Of The Pdry
The People's Democratic Republic of Yemen (PDRY) was declared following the takeover of the government by a radical wing of the National Liberation Front (NLF).
 
5. spacer December 2, 2002. Armenia. Legislative Elections
Legislative elections will be held.
6. spacer December 2, 1975. LAOS. Communist Party Seizes Control
The monarchy was abolished and the Lao People's Democratic Republic was established. National holiday.
 
7. spacer December 2, 1983. SPAIN. Bombing Of U.S. Facilities
Basque terrorists bombed eight U.S. facilities in Spanish Basque territory to protest U.S. involvement in Central America.
 
8. spacer December 2, 1971. UNITED ARAB EMIRATES. Independence Day
The British protective treaty with the Trucial Sheikhdoms ended on December 1, 1971 and on December 2, six of the Shaikhdoms entered into the union of the United Arab Emirates. The seventh Sheikhdom, Ras al-Khaimah joined in early 1972.
 
9. spacer December 3, 1984. INDIA. Chemical Leak At Bhopal
A chemical leak at Union Carbide's Bhopal plant resulted in two thousand deaths and nearly 150,000 injuries.
 
10. spacer December 3, 1934. PERU. Birthday Of Abimael Guzman
Abimael Guzman, also known as "president Gonzalo," is the founder and leader of the Sendero Luminoso guerrilla organization. Guzman's followers often "celebrate" his birthday by carrying out attacks or murdering soldiers, public servants and municipal authorities.

 

11. spacer December 4, 1984. IRAN. Hijacking Of Kuwaiti Airliner
Four Islamic Jihad terrorists hijacked a Kuwaiti airliner bound for Pakistan from Kuwait and ordered it flown to Tehran. Two USAID personnel were killed during the hijacking, while two others, another USAID official and an American businessman, were tortured during the ordeal. Iranian troops stormed the aircraft on December 9, retaking it from the hijackers.
 
12. spacer December 4, 1984. KUWAIT. Hijacking Of Kuwaiti Airliner
Four Islamic Jihad terrorists hijacked a Kuwaiti airliner bound for Pakistan from Kuwait and ordered it flown to Tehran. Two USAID personnel were killed during the hijacking, while two others, another USAID official and an American businessman, were tortured during the ordeal. Iranian troops stormed the aircraft on December 9, retaking it from the hijackers.
 
13. spacer December 4, 2004. Niger. Legislative Elections
Legislative Elections will be held across Niger on 4 December 2004. These elections are the last of a series of three elections held this year, starting with local elections several months ago and Presidential Elections just last month. The unicameral National Assembly has 83 seats. Representatives are elected for five-year terms.
 
14. spacer December 5, 1981. LEBANON. Kamal Jumblatt Assassinated
Lebanese president-elect Kamal Jumblatt was assassinated.
 
15. spacer December 6, 1992. INDIA. Mosque At Ayodhya Destroyed
Hindu extremists destroyed the 16th century Moslem mosque at Ayodhya in India's Uttar Pradesh state. The subsequent rioting and Moslem-Hindu clashes that engulfed India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and other nations resulted in over 1000 deaths. Hindus claim the mosque was built on the birth site of the Hindu god Rama, a claim disputed by Moslems.
16. spacer December 6, 1992. MIDDLE EAST. Mosque At Ayodhya Destroyed
Hindu extremists destroyed the 16th century Moslem mosque at Ayodhya in India's Uttar Pradesh state. The subsequent rioting and Moslem-Hindu clashes that engulfed India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and other nations resulted in over 1000 deaths. Hindus claim the mosque was built on the birth site of the Hindu god rama, a claim disputed by Moslems.
 
17. spacer December 8, 1982. SURINAME. Opposition Leaders Executed
Fifteen prominent opponents of the military-backed regime, including journalists, lawyers and a trade union leader, were executed without trial while in government custody. In response, the Netherlands and the U.S. suspended their economic and military assistance programs in Suriname.
 
18. spacer December 8, 2002. Serbia-Montenegro. Presidential Elections
This is the second presidential election this year in Serbia. The previous election was nullified because of low voter turnout.
 
19. spacer December 9, 1987. Israel and West Bank/Gaza. Beginning Of The Intifada
Date used to mark the beginning of the intifada, or uprising, on the West Bank and the Gaza strip.
 
20. spacer December 9, 1961. TANZANIA. Independence Of Tanganyika
21. spacer December 10, 1920. Burma. National Day in Burma
Anniversary of student leaders boycotting classes leading to the national struggle for independence. Note: December 10 was based on the Burmese calendar in 1920, therefore National Day does not fall on December 10 every year.
 
22. spacer December 10, 1959. NAMIBIA. Old Location Day
Commemorates the killing of twelve Namibians by South African colonial authorities during a protest against their forced removal from the old location to Katutura. Shortly after the incident, Sam Nujoma and other SWAPO leaders went into exile.
 
23. spacer December 10, 1997. WORLDWIDE. Mir Aimal Kansi Convicted
In Fairfax County, VA, Islamic terrorist Mir Aimal Kansi, a native of Baluchistan Province, Pakistan, was convicted of killing three CIA employess, at the turnoff to CIA headquarters in Langeley, VA, in January 1993.
 
24. spacer December 11, 1990. BANGLADESH. President Ershad Ousted
President Ershad was forced to resign after massive protests against his government.
 
25. spacer December 11, 1964. KENYA. Republic Day
Celebrates Kenya's joining the British Commonwealth one year after its independence.
26. spacer December 12, 1963. KENYA. Independence Day
Kenya achieved independence from Britain and joined the commonwealth one year later.
 
27. spacer December 12, 1983. KUWAIT. Bombing Of Embassies
The U.S. and French embassies were bombed by al-Dawa party members. Similar attacks occurred at a U.S. housing compound, a Kuwaiti oil facility, an airline terminal, and a Kuwaiti government office. Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for the bombings.
 
28. spacer December 12, 1984. MAURITANIA. Military Coup In Nouakchott
Chief of Staff Maayouia Ould Sid'Ahmed Taya led a bloodless coup that ousted Mohamed Khouna Ould Haidalla, leader of the Military Committee for National Salvation (CMSN). This is also known as the CMSN Restructuring Anniversary.
 
29. spacer December 14, 1983. CHILE. Fpmr Terrorist Group Founded
The Manuel Rodriguez Patriotic Front (FPMR), a leftist terrorist group that announced its abandonment of armed struggle in 1991.
 
30. spacer December 14, 2003. Russia. Parliamentary Elections
Parliamentary elections will be held on 14 December 2003 in Russia.
31. spacer December 16, 1971. BANGLADESH. Independence Day
Also known as Victory Day, commemorating when Bangladesh won independence from Pakistan. On this day in 1971, the nine-month War of Liberation ended with the surrendering of Pakistan's army and Bangladesh emerged as an independent country on the globe. SOURCE: internet, Bangladeshi press
 
32. spacer December 16, 1996. PERU. Mrta Residence Takeover
The Tupac Amaru Revolutionary Movement (MRTA) seized the Japanese ambassador's residence. In the past, fears have existed that the rebels may mark this date as an anniversary and plan a similar attack.
 
33. spacer December 16, 1961. SOUTH AFRICA. Anc'S Military Branch Founded
Umkhonto We Sizwe, the military branch of the African National Congress (ANC) was founded.
 
34. spacer December 16, 1983. UNITED KINGDOM. Pira Bombing Of Harrod'S
Harrod's department store in London was bombed on December 16, 1983 by the Northern Ireland terrorist organization the Provisional Irish Republican Army (PIRA). The bombing killed five, including one U.S. citizen, and injured ninety-one others.
 
35. spacer December 17, 1981. ITALY. Kidnapping Of U.S. General
U.S. Army General James Dozier was kidnapped in Milan by Red Brigade terrorists. The general subsequently was rescued by Italian counterterrorist squads on January 28, 1982 in Padua. Five Red Brigade members were captured.
36. spacer December 17, 1992. MIDDLE EAST. Israel Deports Hamas Suspects
Following the kidnap-murder of a member of the Israeli border police, the government of Israel deported more than 400 suspected members of Hamas to Lebanon. The government of Lebanon refused the Hamas suspects entry and they camped in the Israeli "security zone" in southern Lebanon.
 
37. spacer December 17, 2004. Mozambique. Election Results Announced
Definitive results from the 1 and 2 December Presidential Elections will be announced by this date. SOURCE: Missionary Service News Agency
 
38. spacer December 17, 1992. OCCUPIED TERRITORIES. Deportation Of Hamas Suspects
Following the kidnap-murder of a member of Israel's border police, the gov't of Israel forcibly expelled more than 400 suspected members of Hamas. The deportees were sent into southern Lebanon but the government of Lebanon re-fused them entry. The deportees were camped in the Israeli "security zone" in southern Lebanon.
 
39. spacer December 18, 1960. Niger. Republic Day
SOURCE: Shagtown.com
 
40. spacer December 18, 1960. Niger. Republic Day
Republic Day is a national holiday in Niger. SOURCE: Shagtown.com
41. spacer December 18, 1975. PERU. Anniversary Of Rcp
The Revolutionary Communist Party's founding.
 
42. spacer December 18, 1999. SRI LANKA. Assassination Attempt
On 18 December 1999, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) attempted to assassinate Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga. A female suicide bomber detonated as Kumaratunga left an election rally of her People's Alliance Party. Kumaratunga received injuries from shrapnel, including the loss of sight in her right eye. Twenty-one people were killed, with over 100 injured. Minutes later a second blast occurred at a United National Party rally. Twelve people were killed from the second bombing, with over 70 injured. Colombo was placed on alert as these bombings preceded the presidential elections scheduled for 21 December.
 
43. spacer December 20, 2004. Malaysia. Legislative Elections
The National Front [Barisan Nasional-BN] will attempt to maintain its coalition and dominance of Malaysia in the face of electoral challenges by PAS [Pan Malaysian Islamic Party]. SOURCE: Local Media
 
44. spacer December 20, 1989. PANAMA. U.S. Intervenes In Panama
U.S. military forces intervened in Panama to protect the 35,000 Americans residing there and to install a democratically-elected government. Panamanian strongman Manuel Noriega surrendered to U.S. forces on January 3, 1990 after having taken refuge in the Papal nunciature.
 
45. spacer December 21, 1975. AUSTRIA. Attack On Opec Conference
Pro-Palesinian guerrillas attacked an OPEC conference in Vienna, killing three people, wounding seven, and taking eighty-one hostage. Forty-one Austrian hostages were released in Vienna, while the rest were taken to Algeria and released on December 23, 1975.
46. spacer December 21, 1991. C`WEALTH OF INDEPENDENT STATES. Founding Of Cis
ELEVEN OF THE TWELVE FORMER REPUBLICS OF THE SOVIET UNION MET IN ALMA-ATA, KAZAKHSTAN ON DECEMBER 2 1 1991 AND FOUNDED THE COMMONWEALTH OF INDEPENDENT STATES (CIS), THEREBY ABOLISHING THE UNION OF SOVIET SOCIALIST REPUBLICS. FOUNDING MEMBERS WERE ARMENIA, AZERBAIJAN, BYELARUS, KAZAKHSTAN, KYRGYZSTAN, MOLDOVA, RUSSIA, TAJIKISTAN, TURKMENISTAN, UKRAINE AND UZBEKISTAN. |
 
47. spacer December 21, 1991. KAZAKHSTAN. Kazakhstan Joins Commonwealth
At a meeting in Alma-Ata, Kazakhstan on December 21, 1991, Kazakhstan joined with ten other former republics of the Soviet Union (which ceased to exist on December 25, 1991) in establishing the commonwealth of independent states. The commonwealth is expected to have military and economic coordinating functions and will be headquartered in Mensk, Byelarus.
 
48. spacer December 21, 1948. NEPAL. Independence Day
Independence gained from Britain.
 
49. spacer December 21, 1988. UNITED KINGDOM. Bombing Of Pan Am Flight 103
Pan Am flight 103, outbound from London for New York with 259 people aboard, was destroyed by a bomb on December 21 1988 while over Lockerbie, Scotland. All aboard the aircraft were killed as were eleven persons on the ground at Lockerbie.
 
50. spacer December 22, 2002. Lithuania. Presidential and Municipal Elections
On December 22, 2002 the presidential and municipal elections will be held.
51. spacer December 22, 2002. Yugoslavia (Serbia-Montenegro and Kosovo). Presidential Election in Montenegro
Presidential election held in Montenegro.
 
52. spacer December 23, 1975. GREECE. U.S. Embassy Official Killed
U.S. embassy official Richard Welch was killed outside of his home in Athens. The Greek terrorist organization "17 November" subsequently took credit for his assassination.
 
53. spacer December 24, 1951. LIBYA. Independence Day
Independence gained from Italy.
 
54. spacer December 25, 1991. AZERBAIJAN. U.S. Recognition
President Bush formally recognized Azerbaijan and eleven other former soviet republics on December 25, 1991.
 
55. spacer December 25, 1978. CAMBODIA. Fall Of Phnom Penh
Khmer Rouge regime toppled from power, as Phnom Penh falls to invading Vietnamese forces. (Khmer Rouge forces retreat west, and set up base camps on the Thai border and in the Cardamon mountains to continue resistance against the Vietnamese.
56. spacer December 25, 1991. C`WEALTH OF INDEPENDENT STATES. U.S. Recognition
PRESIDENT BUSH FORMALLY RECOGNIZED TWELVE OF THE FORMER SOVIET REPUBLICS ON DECEMBER 25, 199 1 ELEVEN OF WHICH ARE MEMBERS OF THE CIS. PRESIDENT BUSH ALSO INDICATED THAT THE U.S. WOULD ESTABLISH AS SOON AS POSSIBLE DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WITH SIX OF THE REPUBLICS BUT THAT DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WITH THE OTHERS WOULD ONLY BE ESTABLISHED WHEN THEY MET CERTAIN POLITICAL CONDITIONS. |
 
57. spacer December 25, 1991. GEORGIA. U.S. Recognition
President bush formally recognized Georgia and eleven other former soviet republics on December 25, 1991.
 
58. spacer December 25, 1991. KAZAKHSTAN. U.S. Recognition
President Bush formally recognized Kazakhstan and eleven other former Soviet republics on December 25, 1991.
 
59. spacer December 25, 1991. KYRGYZSTAN. U.S. Recognition
President Bush formally recognized Kyrgyzstan and eleven other former soviet republics on December 25, 1991.
 
60. spacer December 25, 1991. MOLDOVA. U.S. Recognition
President Bush formally recognized Moldova and eleven other former soviet republics on December 25, 1991.
61. spacer December 25, 1991. RUSSIA. U.S. Recognition
President Bush formally recognized Russia and eleven other former soviet republics on December 25, 1991.
 
62. spacer December 25, 1982. SENEGAL. Casamance Movement Founded
MFDC, the Casamance Separatist Movement, was founded. Armed attacks by the group have occurred on this date, to mark the anniversary of the founding of the MFDC.
 
63. spacer December 25, 1991. TAJIKISTAN. U.S. Recognition
President Bush formally recognized Tajikistan and eleven other former soviet republics on December 25, 1991.
 
64. spacer December 25, 1991. TURKMENISTAN. U.S. Recognition
President Bush formally recognized Turkmenistan and 11 other former Soviet republics on December 25, 1991.
 
65. spacer December 25, 1991. UKRAINE. U.S. Recognition
President Bush formally recognized Ukraine and eleven other former Soviet republics on December 25, 1991.
66. spacer December 25, 1991. UZBEKISTAN. U.S. Recognition
President Bush formally recognized Uzbekistan and eleven other former Soviet republics on December 25, 1991.
 
67. spacer December 26, 1991. ALGERIA. Fis Wins First Round Of Voting
The Islamic Salvation Front (FIS) won the first round of voting in Algeria's parliamentary elections. The second round of elections, scheduled for January 16, 1992, were cancelled when Algerian president Benjedid resigned on January 12, 1992.
 
68. spacer December 26, 1968. PHILIPPINES. Founding Of The Cpp
Founding of the Maoist Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) by Jose Maria Sison.
 
69. spacer December 27, 1979. AFGHANISTAN. Anniversary Of Soviet Invasion
On 27 December 1979, the Soviet Union's Red Army invaded Afghanistan. The invasion was an attempt to prop up a pro-Moscow regime. During the ten years of occupation, more than 1.5 million Afghans and 15,000 Soviets were killed. In 1989, the Soviet Union pulled its troops out of Afghanistan.
 
70. spacer December 27, 1985. AUSTRIA. Attack On The Vienna Airport
The Abu Nidal Organization (ANO) attacked the Vienna airport.
71. spacer December 27, 1985. ITALY. Attack On Rome Airport By Ano
The Abu Nidal Organization (ANO) attacked the Rome airport.
 
72. spacer December 28, 1972. ISRAEL. Embassy In Bangkok Seized
Black September terrorists took hostages after seizing the Israeli embassy in Bangkok. The hostages were released in exchange for safe conduct.
 
73. spacer December 28, 2000. NEPAL. National Holiday
This holiday celebrates the king's birthday.
 
74. spacer December 28, 1972. THAILAND. Seizure Of Israeli Embassy
Black September terrorists took hostages after seizing the Israeli embassy in Bangkok. The hostages were released in exchange for safe conduct.
 
75. spacer December 29, 1945. SERBIA-MONTENEGRO. Proclamation Of The Republic
Commemorates the proclamation of the Federal People's Republic of Yugoslavia.
76. spacer December 31, 1978. INDONESIA. Killing Of Fretilin President
Indonesian military forces surrounded and killed Fretilin president and supreme commander Nicolau Dos Reis Lobato.
 
77. spacer December 31, 1968. PHILIPPINES. Marxist-Leninist Party Founded
The Marxist-Leninist Communist Party of the Philippines was founded.
 
78. spacer December 31, 1991. RUSSIA. U.S. Diplomatic Relations
President Bush on December 25, 1991 recognized the independence of all 12 former soviet republics and proposed the establishment of full diplomatic relations with 6 of them, including Russia. Russian president Yeltsin responded formally and positively on December 31 1991. Therefore, the U.S. established formal diplomatic relations with Russia on that date.

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