RMS Funds Research Fellowship at New International Centre for Political Violence and Terrorism Research

Centre Based at the Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies (IDSS) in Singapore

Newark, Calif. – February 24, 2004 – Risk Management Solutions (RMS), the world’s leading provider of products and services for the management of catastrophe risk, has announced that it is providing funding for the first visiting research fellowship to be established at the new International Centre for Political Violence and Terrorism Research. The Centre is based at the Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies (IDSS) at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, and was officially inaugurated on February 20 by Wong Kan Seng, Minister of Home Affairs in Singapore.

The Centre's purpose is to train and prepare current and future generations of leaders to effectively manage the threat of political violence. It will engage in research, education, and networking and outreach programs to better understand and respond to politically motivated violence. Academic specialists and religious scholars, personnel from law enforcement, and military and intelligence agencies will staff the Centre.

Terrorism research carried out at the IDSS is highly regarded internationally, and is directed by Dr. Rohan Gunaratna, one of the world's most knowledgeable terrorism authorities. Personnel from the security services of countries around the world come to Singapore to work and train at the Institute, including members of the New York Police Department and other U.S. counter-terrorism agencies.

Michael Chandler, an experienced practitioner in the fight against terrorism, is the recipient of the RMS Visiting Fellowship for Terrorism Research. Mr. Chandler previously served two years as chairman of the United Nations monitoring group on Security Council sanctions on Al Qaeda. His work included monitoring the mobility, financing, and weapons acquisition of Al Qaeda, and the international efforts to prevent this activity.

"We are very pleased to have the opportunity to provide tangible support for the Centre’s research on the growing threat of terrorist groups such as Al Qaeda," said Hemant Shah, president and CEO of RMS. "In studying the global threat of terrorist attacks, and assisting other academic groups to carry out parallel research, we hope to better understand and model politically motivated violence."

RMS' support for the Centre illustrates the company's high level of commitment to advancing the understanding of terrorism risk. The company applies the latest research on the terrorist threat to its quantitative risk assessment models, which are used by the global insurance industry and risk managers.