Month: May 2019

Special counsel Robert Mueller speaks on May 29, 2019. (Photo: Jim Lo Scalzo/epa-EFE)

Cuba 

Cuba announced this week that it would legalize private Wi-Fi networks and allow foreign companies to import equipment like routers to the country. The move will expand connectivity across the island, where up until 2013, Wi-Fi could only be accessed at tourist hotels. The new rules will go into effect on July 29 and allow private businesses to provide customers with wifi. The many existing wifi networks built using smuggled equipment will now be legal and regulated, and the creation of new networks will be encouraged. While citizens will now be able to access the internet easier and legally, the state has not loosened their control of the internet, itself. The only internet provider on the island, state-owned Etecsa, will still be the only option for connectivity.

Bolivia 

Bolivia’s committee for the Defense of Democracy and other large opposition groups claim to declare a “state of emergency” after President Evo Morales and Vice President Alvaro Garcia Linera announced their unconditional bid for a fourth term last week. Opposition leaders met Friday in Santa Cruz, Bolivia to demand the resignation of the Supreme Electoral Tribunal after the members sided with the nation’s Constitutional court to allow Morales to seek a fourth term. The opposition parties have also called for all party leaders to step down by May 31st. Opposition leaders argue if successful in his reelection, Morales will become a dictator for life and will set a dangerous precedent for leaders worldwide.

Despite Morales’ power grab, opposition leaders, including former President Carlos Mesa, failed to commit to any alliances with other opposition leaders against Morales. Mesa was met with protesters shouting “Are you with Bolivia? Are you with democracy?” after leaving the meeting on Friday. While opposition parties did not reach a consensus, President Morales solidified support for his reelection after Luis Almagro, Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS) recently gave approval to Morales’ reelection bid. The Trump Administration and other Latin American countries have largely remained silent after Morales launched his campaign for a fourth presidential term despite constitutional restraints limiting.

Nicaragua

The Organization of American States passed a resolution on Wednesday calling for Nicaragua to take several steps in order to reach a peaceful solution to the political crisis which has been ongoing since April last year. The resolution specifically calls on the government to ensure freedom of expression and press, allow peaceful protests, bring back the Special Monitoring Mechanism for Nicaragua, and unconditionally release all political prisoners by June 18. Along with these requests, the OAS also asked that the arbitrary detentions stop, and that refugees who were forced to leave be allowed to return safely, without reprisals. The decision to pass the resolution was split, with 20 countries supporting the measure, 10 countries abstaining from voting, and 3 voting against it.

Also this week, the Civic Alliance for Justice and Democracy moved to suspend all negotiations with President Ortega’s regime after the murder of political prisoner and American citizen, Eddy Montes, in jail. The decision gives the Alliance opposition group room to find a new path of political pressure, calling for a revitalized nationwide strike to follow last week’s 24 hour strike. The group continues to call for the freedom of all political prisoners, different from Ortega’s strategy of releasing prisoners without actually liberating them.

North Korea 

Thae Yong-ho, former North Korean deputy ambassador to the UK who defected in 2016, has called on European tourists and travel companies to boycott cultural displays that appeal to first-time visitors. He called many of the displays “child exploitation”, and accused the country of encouraging brainwashing and forced labour on young children. This is not the first time the official has engaged in such accusations, as he spoke to the Oslo Freedom Forum in Norway condemning the gymnastic displays and their tendency to both take children away from school and excuse malnutrition and forced exercise.  

On Monday, US President Donald Trump told reporters that he did not think the recent North Korean missile test violated UN resolutions. He was quoted saying, “My people think it could have been a violation. I view it differently”, and he referred to Kim Jong Un as a man “who wants to get attention”. The missile test was North Korea’s first since 2017 and is an indication of the frustration the leader feels in the months following the February Vietnam summit held between Kim Jong-Un and Donald Trump. US Secretary of Defense, Patrick Shanahan, contradicted Trump’s statements by stating on Wednesday that the tests were a violation of UN resolutions. He added that the Department of Defense’s job is to both enforce sanctions and, “be ready in the situation that diplomacy fails”.

A recent UN human rights report released on North Korea highlighting the severity of the food shortage in the country. The World Food Programme estimates that 10.1 million people in the country are suffering from food shortages. Michelle Bachelet, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, stated her concern that the nuclear issues in North Korea are detracting the international community from the significant violations of human rights occurring in the country.

Myanmar 

Myanmar has granted early release to seven soldiers jailed for the killing of 10 Muslim Rohingya men and boys during a 2017 military crackdown in the western state of Rakhine. The seven soldiers were the only security personnel the military has said it has punished over the 2017 operation in Rakhine, which drove more than 730,000 Rohingya Muslims to flee to Bangladesh. The soldiers were freed in November of last year, serving less than a tenth of their 10-year prison sentence, which is less time served than the two Reuters reporters who uncovered the killings, Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo. Prison officials declined to provide further details about the release, which was not disclosed publicly.

In other Myanmar military news, an Amnesty International Report released Wednesday says that the Myanmar military is again committing war crimes. In the report, the organization claims “indiscriminate” attacks against civilians began on Jan. 4, after the Arakan Army, an ethnic Rakhine armed group, launched a series of coordinated attacks on police posts that left 13 officers dead.

A court in Myanmar has issued an arrest warrant against Wirathu, a notorious Buddhist monk know for hate-speeches against the Rohingya and other minority Muslims have stoked religious tensions. Officials did not state why the arrest warrant was issued, but the Monk’s recent speeches derailing the government in which he attacked Myanmar’s Aung San Suu Kyi are suspected. Wirathu has not been arrested as of Friday, May 31st.

United States 

Robert Mueller spoke publicly on Wednesday about the findings of his two-year investigation into Russia’s interference in the 2016 presidential election. In his statement, Mueller made it clear that President Trump had not been exonerated of obstruction of justice, and that the president’s conduct had warranted a criminal investigation. He also alluded to the possibility of impeachment, saying that it was not possible to indict a sitting president, but that the “Constitution provides for another remedy to formally accuse a president of wrongdoing”. When Attorney General WIlliam Barr discussed the findings in April, he was much more lenient, saying that Mr. Trump was not guilty of “obstructive conduct,” and his attempts to stop the investigation were out of frustration rather than criminal intent. In response to Mr. Mueller’s statement, three more democratic senators joined fellow presidential hopefuls in calling for impeachment. Despite the growing support for impeachment proceedings, House Majority Leader Nancy Pelosi has continued to avoid the issue, saying it would be counter-productive. Mr. Trump addressed Mueller’s statement on Twitter, posting “How do you impeach a Republican president for a crime that was committed by the Democrats? WITCH-HUNT!”

President Trump also announced on Thursday that beginning on June 10, all goods coming from Mexico into the United States would be taxed an additional 5 percent. This tariff would apparently increase over time if the inflow of undocumented immigrants did not stop. In a presidential statement after the initial announcement, Trump stated that the tariff would increase to 10% by July 1, and an additional 5% per month “if the crisis persists”. After three months, the tariff would stay at 25% until Mexico acted. The tariff on all Mexican goods is likely to take a toll on American consumers and businesses, and also compromise Trump’s plans for revising NAFTA.

Cambodia 

International observers are beginning to notice a pattern of abuse and harassment of political opponents of Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen. It seems the recent EU threat to withdraw its trade agreement with Cambodia due to human rights violations in the country has only worsened treatment of opposition supporters, as Hun Sen threatened a crackdown on the opposition if Europe did not reconsider their threat. While the CNRP has been disbanded at the national level, their influence and history remains strong, which has forced many former party members and supporters to go into hiding. Since March, at least three people have been assaulted in Cambodia, all of which could be described as being politically motivated.

This week, the National Union Alliance Chamber of Cambodia (NACC), a trade union that represents around 400,000 Cambodian workers, wrote an open plea to the EU trying to dissuade them from revoking Cambodia’s tariff-free access to the EU. NACC wrote, “We are most concerned about the prospect of losing our hard-earned livelihood”. The EU’s threat came from ongoing concerns of human rights violations as well as political repression under Prime Minister Hun Sen.

Chhun Dymey, a hip-hop artist in Cambodia that goes by Dymey-Cambo, was forced to delete his song after opposition leader Sam Rainsy shared the song on Facebook. The song discussed economic inequality, police brutality, and corruption within the government.

Mexico 

Mexico asked the United States to fund 7 projects aimed at promoting economic well-being and opportunities in Central America to mitigate the northward flow of migrants. Mexico’s Foreign Secretary Marcelo Ebrard met with the United States’ Deputy Secretary of Defense John Sullivan to discuss the Northern Triangle of Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador. Secretary Ebrard also meet with officials to urge the United States “to commit to the development of Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador.” Two of the economic development plans presented were investments in natural gas and electricity grids, and a $1-billion plan for schools. Secretary Ebrard also hoped that the United States would commit additional funds to development funding in Southern Mexico and Central America after the US committed 10.6 billion in December.  

Later this week, President Donald Trump threatened on Thursday to add a 5% tariff on all Mexican imports going into effect on June 10th. The administration stated that the tariffs should be added pressure for Mexico to more faithfully deal with the surge of Central American migrants heading towards the US. The tariff threat jeopardizes both Secretary Ebrard’s diplomatic talks in the US and the newly passed USMCA deal. Mexico has vehemently attacked the recent tariffs.

While Secretary Ebrard was busy with immigration talks in the the US, so too were other ranking Mexican officials. Minister of the Environment, Josefa González-Blanco, and Germán Martínez Cázares, head of the Mexican Social Security Institute resigned last week. González-Blanco resigned after facing backlash for delaying a commercial flight and Cázares did so because of funding cuts.

Maldives 

India announced this week that they will appoint financial experts in the Maldives to work on matters of money laundering and financial crime. The officers will initially be located in the country for a year working with local government, law enforcement, and agencies. Together, they will work to stop the prevalence of financial crime and assist in investigations, as well as suggesting methods to receive further assistance from Interpol, the FBI, and more.

Zimbabwe 

Zimbabwe’s main opposition group, The Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), elected unopposed new leadership hoping to boost a party plagued by infighting since the death of revered founder, Morgan Tsvangirai. The MDC elected Nelson Chamisa as its next president, who took the party helm after becoming its champion in the first presidential elections since the authoritarian Robert Mugabe was ousted.

This week, a message was circulated on social media calling for a National Shutdown on Thursday, May 30 in Zimbabwe. The message urged Zimbabweans to stay indoors on Thursday, saying that if they were outdoors they would be considered “enemies of the struggle”. In the message, the group stated that they “are not afraid of the army”, and that “blood will be shed”. The Zimbabwean police force responded by telling people to disregard the message, and to disengage from any form of violent protest.  

Democratic Republic of the Congo 

The Democratic Republic of Congo is seeing its ebola crisis worsen as the virus continues to spread. Health workers are not only facing difficulties containing the deadly virus, but are finding themselves under attack as more than 30 armed militia groups vie for control of the region. Treatment centers and health workers have been repeatedly targeted, hampering efforts to contain the virus. The virus is not the only thing spreading either: misinformation regarding health workers and the virus is impeding the DRC and health worker’s ability to curb the virus that has already killed over 500 people.

Politically, the DRC’s prominent business leader and one time presidential candidate, Moise Katumbi, returned to the CDR after three years of exile. Katumbi was barred from running in the last December election; however, Katumbi seeks to run again and unite opposition leaders. He was met by thousands of supporters when he arrived at the airport last week.

Colombia 

Colombian officials announced Thursday that the aid sent to Venezuela by the United States in February would be distributed in Colombia instead. Venezuelan president Maduro repeatedly blocked foreign aid from entering, leaving the envoys sitting unused at the Colombian border for months. The decision was reached with Colombian and US officials, as well as representatives of Juan Guaido. The national disaster agency released a statement saying that the aid would be distributed among some of the 1.2 million Venezuelans who have fled into Colombia since the crisis began. The aid will also benefit some Colombians living in poverty.

Venezuela 

This week, Venezuela was at the forefront of international discussion as Norway hosted potential negotiation talks between Nicolas Maduro and opposition leader Juan Guaido in the hopes of ending the political and economic crisis. Juan Guaido’s office announced late this week that talks ended “without agreement”. Despite this, his office stated their willingness to continue discussions, with evidence of notable progress being made. Representatives of Guaido stated that during their meeting their provided a “road map” for ending Maduro’s presidency, and installing a transitional government before holding free elections. Following announcements of the failed negotiations, Guaido stated that street protests will continue. Ine Eriksen Soreide, Norwegian Foreign Affairs Minister, remained hopeful about continued talks, stating that “the parties have demonstrated their willingness to move forward in the search for an agreed-upon and constitutional solution for the country”.

In the midst of negotiations in Oslo, the United States remained steadfast in their stance that the only thing that should be actively discussed is the end of Maduro’s leadership. Morgan Ortagus, US State Department spokesperson, told reporters, “As we have repeatedly stated, the United States believes the only thing to negotiate with Nicolas Maduro is the conditions of his departure”.

Malaysia 

Malaysia has ordered several thousand tonnes of imported plastic waste to be sent back to the countries it came from. The country’s government says it has become a dumping ground for wealthier nations and that much of the refuse was imported illegally. It is estimated that the country will return approximately 450 tonnes in a refusal to become a dumping ground by wealthy countries waste. A recent Greenpeace report found that US import to Malaysia doubled since 2018 to Malaysia.

Philippines 

After a 6 year long dispute with Canada over 1,500 tons of garbage illegally dumped in the Philippines, the trash is finally being sent back to Vancouver. The waste will arrive by the end of June, and Canada is paying for all shipment costs, moving quickly in recent weeks to solve the issue after years of avoiding it. On Thursday, Philippine environmental groups urged the Duterte administration to ban all imports of waste and ratify the Basel Ban Amendment, which bans the import of waste, including recycling, for any reason. Other Southeast Asian countries have followed suit in moving to no longer accept garbage from Western countries, with Malaysia announcing this week that they would ship back 450 tons of garbage to its sources.

Thailand 

Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, leader of Thailand’s Future Forward Party (FFP), was ordered out of office just minutes after being sworn in on Saturday. Thailand’s Election Commission has accused Juangroongruangkit of violating electoral law by holding shares in a media company. His parliamentary duties are currently suspended as the Constitution Court investigates allegations further. This is not the leader’s only investigation, as Juangroongruangkit is waiting for a decision expected on June 28 on his potential indictment for computer crimes after the release of a Facebook post in which he criticized the ruling military government during a speech.

This week, the Human Rights Watch has called on Thailand to investigate the increased number of attacks of pro-democracy activists. Brad Adams, HRW’s Asia Director, stated his concern that the junta is involved in the violence due to their failure to arrest attackers. Anurak Jeantawanich, a prominent critic of the Thai military government, has been attacked on several occasions, most recently on May 25 as six unidentified men attacked Jeantawanich near his home.

Vietnam

A Vietnamese law that came into effect this January is revealing its political consequences for local dissidents. The new law requires online data companies to set up local offices and store data in the country. Data analysts worry that the law enables for the Vietnamese government to have greater oversight on online political discourse . A Facebook report released last Friday, the tech giant said they increased online content restriction by 500% in 2018 as Vietnam seeks to crack down on online dissent. Another report from Amnesty International finds that nearly 10% of Vietnamese political prisoners were jailed for posting anti-state comments on social media platforms like Facebook.

An outbreak of African swine fever culled a further 500,000 pigs over the past two weeks to tackle an outbreak of African swine fever taking the total to 1.7 million pigs.

 Iran

This week, the United States stated that they have evidence linking Iran to attacks that took place earlier this month on oil tankers off the coast of the United Arab Emirates. US Security Adviser John Bolton has stated their desire to present evidence to the United Nations Security Council as early as next week.

An emergency Arab summit was held on Thursday of this week, where Saudi Arabai’s king stated that decisive action was necessary to effectively end Iranian “escalations” in the region, following attacks on oil assets in the Gulf. At this Arab Summit, Saudi Arabia stated that they were joining the United States and Israel to mobilize regional opinion against Tehran, a statement that Iran calls “baseless”.

Earlier this week, Donald Trump stated that he will support Japanese Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe’s efforts to act as a mediator between the United States and Iran. Reports suggest that the Japanese Prime Minister will be traveling to Tehran next month to meet with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani.

Other News 

EU: Last week, voters in 28 European countries went to the polls to elect their European Parliament representatives in the world’s largest multi-country vote. The results yield mixed results for the future state of the EU as parties on the Left and Right saw wins and losses across the board. (Politico)

Brazil: In over 350 cities across Brazil, thousands took to the street to support President Bolsonaro and to further push for his reform agenda. These pro-Bolsonaro movements hope to act as a catalyst of support as in recent weeks, Bolsonaro has faced massive street protests against his education budgets freezes and cuts, a sharp decline in approval ratings, and rising opposition in Congress.

South Africa: South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced a new cabinet this week, in which 50 percent of all ministers are women. This is the first gender-balanced cabinet in the country’s history, and many journalists have admitted their surprise at the announcement. Ramaphosa also included a significant number of young people as well as an opposition party leader. Ministers will be sworn into office later this week. (BBC)

Israel: Although Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu won another term, after what seemed like a clear victory for in the April 9th elections, the long-time Israeli leader, failed to bring together a coalition government from the parties elected to parliament on April 9th for the first time in Israel’s history. Israel will hold a snap election in the late summer to elect leaders, Netanyahu is confident his Lukid party will maintain power and will be able to form a new government. .

A woman holds a sign that reads “Fighting cheated election” during a protest following the announcement of last month’s presidential election results outside the Election Supervisory Board (Bawaslu) headquarters in Jakarta, Indonesia. Source: Reuters

Cuba

Cuba is experiencing a food shortage in response to the current economic crisis in Venezuela. Towards the end of 2018, the country was mostly experiencing a flour shortage, and as the 2019 year progressed, the price of pork and chicken significantly rose in price. Cubans have taken to social media using the hashtag #LaColaChallenge to post pictures and videos showing the long waits in grocery stores, angry customers, and food queues. The government has blamed the lack of food on international providers and the poor state of the milling industry, as well as blames hoarders for preventing others from getting the items they need.

This week, the Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavu?o?lu said that Turkey will continue to support an end to sanctions and the embargo placed on Cuba. Following his meeting with Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez, he also reinforced Turkey’s support of Cuba through a series of tweets.

Gabon

President Ali Bongo dismissed both Vice President Pierre Claver Maganga Moussavou and Forestry Minister Guy Bertrand Mapangou this week in the midst of a scandal regarding the theft of nearly $250m worth of hardwood. In March, 392 containers of illegally felled kevazingo wood were found and seized by authorities, but by the end of April, 353 of the containers had disappeared. The kevazingo tree is very rare and therefore protected by law, though it remains in high demand in Asia. Several top Gabonese officials were fired at the beginning of May because of the scandal, but Bongo did not give an official reason for firing Moussavou and Mapangou.

Bolivia

This Saturday, current Bolivian President Evo Morales launched his campaign for a fourth term, despite his proposal to amend the constitution to allow him to seek a five-year term being rejected by voters in 2016. He worked around this by winning a court ruling which came to the conclusion that refusal to allow him to run would be a violation of human rights. The latest Ipsos survey shows Morales is leading with 33% support.  

In an even more surprising move, the Organization of American States (OAS) has supported Morales’ decision to seek another term. Luis Almagro, the secretary general of OAS, visited Bolivia on May 17, and was vocal about his support for Morales. Almagro even joined Morales in the Chapare province, and stated that, “it would be absolutely discriminatory” to deny Morales’ right to run for a fourth term.

Nicaragua

Nicaragua’s opposition forces called for a 24-hour general strike on Wednesday in order to put pressure on President Daniel Ortega and his promise to release political prisoners. The government announced on Monday that they were in the process of releasing 100 prisoners  as part of the effort to release as many as 300 prisoners by June 18. The list of prisoners set to be released was decided on by Ortega’s government and the opposition earlier this year, though the two parties differ on how many political prisoners remain in custody. One of the prisoners held since last May’s protests, U.S. citizen Eddy Montes, was killed earlier this week while in custody. In response, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights called on Nicaraguan authorities Wednesday to protect 17 prominent detainees.

North Korea

This week, the North Korean state-run Korean Central News Agency published an article targeting Democratic presidential contender, Joe Biden, calling him an “imbecile” and “a fool of low IQ”. North Korea is responding to Joe Biden’s comments at a campaign launch event last week in which he asked a crowd, “Are we a nation that embraces dictators and tyrants like Putin and Kim Jong Un?”. The North Korean article responded by stating, “what he uttered is just sophism of an imbecile bereft of elementary quality as a human being, let alone a politician”.

This week, North Korea’s UN ambassador, Kim Song, sent a letter to the current UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, stating that the Trump administration committed “an unlawful and outrageous act” by taking over the North Korean ship Wise Honest and moving it to the American Samoa. Song stated that the seizure of the ship was a violation of the UN Charter. The US defended their decision to seize the ship by stating that it carried coal that was in violation of UN sanctions.

A North Korean restaurant in the northern Vietnamese city of Hanoi is being accused by a think tank in the United States of being a cover for a company selling high-tech facial recognition software. Sales of such software could be a possible violation of UN sanctions imposed in 2017, which regulates businesses that financially support Kim Jong Un and his regime.

Myanmar

Last week, the World Bank published details for a new development program meant to fund cash-for-work programs and support small businesses in Myanmar’s Rakhine state. Since its announcement, human rights advocates and aid groups have condemned the $100m project, saying it could worsen tensions in the already conflict-driven area. More than a dozen Myanmar-based NGOs sent a letter to the World Bank saying that the underlying human rights issues must be addressed before meaningful recovery and development can begin. Specifically, the letter stated that before implementing the project, the World Bank would need to ensure that Muslims in the state had access to citizenship and freedom of movement. The World Bank acknowledged the letter, saying they too were concerned about the restrictions on Rohingya Muslims, and had raised those concerns with the government.

United States

This week, tensions between the United States and Iran continue to rise, as United States President Donald Trump took to Twitter, writing, “If Iran wants to fight, that will be the official end of Iran. Never threaten the United States again!”.

This tweet comes after Washington officials continue to debate whether Iran or militias supported by Iran are planning attacks on US assets. In an interview that evening, Donald Trump lessened the harshness of his comments, instead stating that he “does not want to fight”, and that he just “does not want them to have nuclear weapons, and they can’t be threatening us”. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Major-General Hossein Salami, responded to Trump’s comments by stating that, “Iran is not looking for any type of war, but it is fully prepared to defend itself”.

Cambodia

Prime Minister Hun Sen continues to crackdown on political dissent in Cambodia, with many opposition party members forced to flee or fear for their lives. Since March, at least three members of the opposition party CNRP have been assaulted in what they say are politically motivated attacks. One man, Tith Rorn, was arrested on April 15 for a fight with a pro-government activist that took place 13 years ago, then died a few days later while in prison. Meanwhile, former CNRP members still face almost daily harassment, threats, and even attacks. As many as 60 former members have also been summoned to court over the past few weeks, facing hours-long questionings over allegations that they’ve continued their party’s activities. On May 10, the group Asean Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR) responded to the situation, calling for an independent investigation into Rorn’s death, and urged the Cambodian government to stop targeting opposition members.

Mexico

Concern among human rights groups of rising violence against journalists and reporters in Mexico continues, as another journalist was killed on May 16. The journalist Francisco Romero received a tip about a potential story, and upon arriving at La Gota bar, he was murdered by an unidentified gunman. Reporters Without Borders states that Mexico is one of the deadliest countries in the world for news reporters. Romero was popular in his covering of topics such as crime and violence in the city, and upon his death he was receiving protection from the country’s federal protection mechanism for journalists and human rights defenders.

Migrants seeking asylum in the United States are facing pressing threats as the wait process for their court hearings is becoming longer, forcing them to wait months in Mexico just for a judge to hear their case. This is an effect of the Trump administration’s Migrant Protection Protocols, also known as the “Remain in Mexico” policy. Some areas where migrants are forced to wait have seen significant rises in violence, like the city of Juarez, that has seen 575 homicides in the city just this year. There is also an increased hostility towards migrants in border cities, making it an unsafe stay for long periods of time.

Maldives

The Maldives High Court ruled on Monday that former Vice President Ahmed Adeeb’s conviction on terrorism charges would be overturned. They also ordered a new trial looking into Adeeb’s alleged attempt to assassinate former president Yameen Abdul Gayoom. The charges came out of an incident in 2015 when an explosion occurred on Yameen’s boat. Some say the charges may have been political, as a way for Yameen to disable his political opponents. Adeeb still faces corruption charges, and his sentence is now set at 18 years, though it could be reduced to 8 depending on if another challenged conviction is overturned.

Zimbabwe

On May 25, the Zimbabwean city of Gweru will host 6,200 MDC delegates for the fifth MDC congress. The Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party has already elected Nelson Chamisa as their party leader, but still have to hold elections for the youth and women’s assembly leadership.         

Zimbabwe is experiencing a food crisis, as it was reported that 37% of the urban populace require food aid in Zimbabwe. Famine Early Warning Systems Network has cited the current food shortage to being an effect of poor rainfalls in November. Zimbabwean families and households have had to adjust to the food shortage by reducing their meal sizes. It was reported by the Zimbabwe Vulnerability Assessment Committee that 2.4 million people were in need of food aid between January and March in rural communities.

Democratic Republic of the Congo

President Tshisekedi has named Sylvestre Ilunga Ilukamba as the new Prime Minister of the DRC, announced on Monday by the presidential spokesman. Ilukamba is a known supporter of former president Joseph Kabila, his appointment even being the result of a deal between Tshisekedi and Kabila.  

Health workers are becoming concerned over the continued violence in the DRC, and its impact on the spread of the Ebola epidemic. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies have warned that the virus could spread to urban areas and across international borders if the violence continues. International health workers are also experiencing a severe shortage of money, inhibiting their ability to safely treat patients amidst violence. The DRC Ministry of Health has reported that Ebola in the country has a 66% fatality rate. Ilunga Kalenga, the DRC Health Minister, spoke to reporters in Geneva, ahead of the World Health Assembly, stating that, “the real emergency we face right now is security”.

Colombia

Last week, Colombia’s army implemented new orders instructing commanders to double the number of criminals and militants they kill, capture, or force to surrender in battle in rural Colombia. Some senior army officials were concerned by the orders, saying the intense pressure heightened the risk of civilians being hurt or killed in the attacks. A similar measure was implemented in the mid-2000s, and as many as 5000 illegal killings occurred as a result. Because of backlash, the army announced Tuesday that they were changing their pledge, going back on their original call for double killings.

Venezuela

It was reported this week that Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido was considering negotiations with Maduro, as the political and economic crisis does not seem to be wavering. Both sides have sent representatives to Norway for talks, a move that Guaido previously rejected. Guaido has continued to encourage supporters to protest Maduro and his regime.

This week, Nicolas Maduro proposed early elections for the National Assembly. The National Assembly is headed by opposition leader Juan Guaido, who is recognized as the country’s leader by most western countries. At a pro-government rally, Maduro stated, “We will legitimize the sole institution which has not been legitimized in the last five years”. Juan Guaido called the proposal “a farce”.  

U.S. oil sanctions on Venezuela are showing their effects, as drivers wait hours, sometimes a full day, in lines for fuel. People have even been napping on the hoods of their cars as they wait, and some have become so fed up with the lines that they pay police the equivalent of $3.60 just to cut into a shorter line.  In an interview with Reuters on Wednesday, Guaido suggested that the United States should protect Citgo from seizure to keep the refiner in Venezuelan hands. Citgo is a subsidiary of the Venezuelan state oil firm PDVSA, and is the country’s most important overseas asset. Guaido stated, “Our objective is to protect the nation’s assets, (which is necessary) because of irresponsible borrowing”.

Malaysia

A Malaysian man arrested in Singapore for drug trafficking and sentenced to death was granted a stay of execution on Thursday. Malaysian Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Liew Vui Keong said he was pleased with the news and had liaised with counterparts in Singapore. Singapore has received three requests from Malaysia to intervene with death penalty cases, two of which are for drug trafficking. Singapore’s Home Affairs and Law Minister Shanmugam, though, said that he wished Malaysia would respect their death penalty punishment despite the two countries’ ideological disagreements.

Philippines

This week, an Indonesian woman convicted in the Philippines in 2012 for drug trafficking was released and sent home. She was originally charged with smuggling 6 kilograms of cocaine into the Philippines, and was arrested at Ninoy Aquino International Airport in September 2012. Indonesian Embassy officials helped her return home on Sunday.

This week, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte demanded that containers of garbage originally sent from Canada be immediately returned to their country of origin. The containers have been sitting in Manila International Container Port and Subic Container Terminal for about five years. The Canadian government responded by stating that they hired a shipping company to remove the rotting garbage that is in the Philippines. According to the Canadian Environment Minister Catherine McKenna, “the removal will be completed by the end of June”.  

Thailand

Thailand’s newly elected parliament will meet for the first time today since the long-delayed election took place on March 24. The election had controversial results, with the country’s armed forces keeping the power they had held since the military coup in 2014. General Prayuth Chan-ocha, who led the coup, is expected to become Prime Minister, as his party – the National Council for Peace and Order – will likely hold a majority in both parliamentary houses. In their first meeting, the pro-military parties and pro-democracy parties will try to form coalitions and create majorities, stabilizing their power.

Iran

The United States Pentagon met with Donald Trump on Thursday to discuss sending an additional 5,000 to 10,000 troops to join the more than 80,000 US troops already stationed in the Middle East. If approved, the US would also send more missile batteries, warships, and warplanes to the region. Secretary of Defence Patrick Shanahan and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo emphasized that the decision to send more troops would be to boost US defenses and deter attacks from Iran, rather than create a crisis. Later on Thursday, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said that they will not surrender to US pressure and will never abandon their goals, even if they are attacked or bombed. Iran’s top military chief called the worsening tensions and standoff with the United States a “clash of wills”, warning that any enemy attack would be met with a crushing response. Tensions have been very high between the two countries since Donald Trump pulled out of 2015’s nuclear deal last year – and show no signs of easing up anytime soon.

Other News:

Sudan – This week, Sudan’s main protest group called a general strike, following stalled talks with the country’s military leaders on the next leader for the anticipated three-year transition. The protesters want a civilian-lead sovereign council, while the Sudanese Professionals Association (SPA) state that the army is adamant on their leading the transition with a military majority council. SPA called for a large civilian presence for a general political strike. (Al Jazeera)

Indonesia – Deadly protests broke out in Jakarta this week after official election results were released showing current president Joko Widodo beating his opponent Prabowo Subianto. The protests started out peaceful, but quickly turned violent when six people died, and more than 200 were injured. The causes of death are being investigated, but police say they were likely caused by a group of provocateurs. Access to social media has been blocked in certain areas in order to “stop the spread of rumours” regarding the protests. (BBC)

United Kingdom – Theresa May, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Conservative Party, announced this morning that she has resigned from office. She has served since 2016, and she will officially step down as the Leader of the Conservative Party on June 7 of this year. In her resignation speech she stated, “It is and will always remain a matter of deep regret to me that I have not been able to deliver Brexit”. (BBC)

People take part in a rally in support of same-sex marriage near the Presidential Office in Taipei on November 18, 2018, ahead of a landmark vote on LGBT rights on November 24. CHRIS STOWERS/AFP/Getty Images

Cuba

Cuba announced this week that rationing would begin on basic food items such as chicken, eggs, and sausages, as well as hygiene/cleaning products. In addition to the cut-back on basic supplies, Cuba has also faced a shortage of oil coming from Venezuela in the wake of their own economic crisis. The decision to begin rationing comes after weeks of empty store shelves and markets in the wake of Trump’s increased sanctions against the “troika of tyranny”: Cuba, Venezuela, and Nicaragua. The move is part of the Trump administration’s latest effort to put pressure on Nicolas Maduro’s regime and allies.

The 12th annual march against homophobia in Havana ended Saturday with a number of arrests and violent clashes between protesters and police. The official “Cuban Conga Against Homophobia and Transphobia” was initially canceled last week because of “new tensions in the international and regional context”. Despite its cancellation, more than 100 demonstrators still showed up to recognize the day. Without permission from the government to march, those present were met with a number of police and state security officers willing to use violence in order to stop the event.

Gabon

This week, over 350 containers of protected hardwood disappeared in Gabon, the wood worth nearly $250 million. The government of Gabon has vowed to find and punish all who are responsible for the disappearance. The hardwood stolen was from the rare kevazingo tree, which is protected by law, but remains in high demand in Asia.

Nicaragua

The Catholic church has been involved in the mediation talks, known as the National Dialogue, between Ortega’s government and the opposition, and thus far Bishop Guevara has stated that the government has “no intention of seeking a peaceful solution to the socio-political crisis”. Rosario Murillo, wife of Daniel Ortega and vice president of Nicaragua, insists that the government is doing its part at the negotiation table, despite opposition leaders claim that over 640 people are being held following arrests, mostly due to anti-government protests. Ortega promised to release political prisoners within 90 days, a deadline that expires on June 18.

North Korea

The United States seized a North Korean cargo ship late last week after accusing it of violating international sanctions. American prosecutors say that the ship was being used to export coal and heavy machinery in violation of the sanctions, and was initially detained in Indonesia last year. Just hours after North Korea fired off two short-range missiles on Thursday, US officials announced that the boat was being impounded to American Samoa. In response to the boat’s seizure, Kim Jong Un has called for “full combat posture” and demanded the return of the ship, calling the action an “unlawful robbery”.

North Korea announced this week that they are experiencing the worst drought the country has seen in nearly 40 years. The news comes shortly after the UN released a report saying that as many as 10 million, or 40 percent of North Koreans were “in urgent need of food assistance”. The country’s state media outlet has reported that only 21 inches of rain has fallen since the beginning of the year – the lowest levels since 1982. With the drought and food shortages already happening, it is estimated that the North will need to import as much as 1.5 million tons of food to make up for their current shortages. While North Korean media has reported that sanctions against the country have worsened the food crisis, it is unclear what effect they have actually had, as sanctions do not ban humanitarian aid.

Myanmar

On Tuesday, a UN fact finding mission called on  influential world powers to cut financial ties and other forms of support to Myanmar, as top generals must be held accountable for violence and human rights abuses inflicted upon Rohingya Muslims. Australian human rights lawyer, Christopher Sidoti, stated that the severance of financial support would have the dual effect of boosting pressure and reducing violence in the country. The UN panel also stated that they continue to receive reports of human rights abuses in the Rakhine and Chin states, abuses that have now displaced over 30,000 people.

United States

The United States’ trade war with China continued to escalate in a big way this week, with US stocks suffering their biggest one-day loss since the beginning of January on Monday. Late last week, President Trump announced the US would more than double tariffs on $200 billion worth of Chinese imports. In retaliation, China announced it would raise tariffs on $60 billion of US goods starting on June 1st. Experts say that these recent actions could affect economic growth in both countries, though neither shows any signs of backing down.

Alabama became the latest state to restrict abortions this week by passing a bill banning the procedure in almost all cases, including those of rape or incest. Under the new law, doctors could face up to 99 years in prison for carrying out the procedure. This law comes shortly after Georgia passed the “heartbeat bill” which bans abortions after 6 weeks – the point when a fetus’ heartbeat can be detected. Other states, including Ohio, Kentucky, and Mississippi are also in the process of passing a similar bill. The strict bans are expected to go to court, eventually working their way up to the US Supreme Court where Republican lawmakers hope Roe v. Wade will be overturned. Passed in 1973, Roe v. Wade determined that women had a constitutional “right to privacy”, protecting their decision to have an abortion.

Cambodia

The Human Rights Watch has called on Cambodia to cease harassment of opposition party members in courts, as the Battambang prosecutor Ky Bunnara summoned 25 former officials from the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) to appear in court for questioning on May 8. Despite the former CNRP having since been dissolved, former opposition members have been vocal on social media outlets regarding their denouncement of Prime Minister Hun Sen’s government. Brad Adams, Asia director with the Human Rights Watch, stated, “the government should immediately end the political harassment campaign against the CNRP and drop this latest batch of absurd court cases”.

Mexico

Volunteer search groups in Mexico’s states of Jalisco and Sonora discovered 45 bodies this week in two “clandestine burial sites”. The bodies found were likely kidnap victims or rivals of drug cartels, and killed just a few weeks ago. As homicides in Mexico continue to rise and the government remains largely inactive in searching for missing persons, volunteer groups like those that found the bodies are becoming more common. The groups are usually organized by people looking for missing family members, and are mostly comprised of women.

Maldives

Former President, Mohamed Nasheed, has called for thorough screenings of Islamic priests visiting the Maldives, in response to the extreme caution those living in the Maldives are taking following the attacks in Sri Lanka. On Friday May 10, Nasheed tweeted, “While we are not certain if Zahran Hashim came to the Maldives in 2016 as a preacher, we should screen well before allowing people to come here posing as sheikhs and preachers”.

Zimbabwe

People in Zimbabwe experienced some of the worst rolling blackouts in 3 years this week. The cause of the blackout stems from a drought hitting the Kariba Dam hydropower station, forcing the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority to either scale back or potentially face full outages 4 months from now. For now, households are expected to be without power for 10 hours per day, though this could change depending on how much rainfall the DRC and Zambia receive. The power cuts will also hurt the mining industry, which requires electricity for operations and safety. With mining making up more than ? of Zimbabwe’s export earnings last year, this will have a direct negative effect on Zimbabwe’s already failing economy.

Laos

The fatal hydropower dam collapse in Laos in 2018 is being blamed on poor construction methods, specifically due to the poor method of soil being used in the place of concrete. The collapse created what many referred to as the country’s “worst flooding in decades”. A new dam is currently under construction a little over a kilometer away from the previously failed dam.

Democratic Republic of the Congo

The ebola outbreak in the DRC continues to worsen, with 1100 people now dead and 1600 infected. The fightback by UN doctors and personnel has been hampered by fighting armed groups in the area, in addition to disbelief in the disease and its treatment from the local community. Earlier this week, police and soldiers stopped an attack on an ebola clinic in the eastern region of the country, killing one of the attackers. The UN representative to the DRC had to shut down rumors last week that the international body was trying to cash in on a nonexistent disease, calling the speculation “sheer madness”.

Colombia

Mauricio Lezama, a Colombian filmmaker was murdered while filming a documentary about armed conflict in Northeastern Colombia. Lezama was an advocate for nonviolence, specifically nonviolent strategies to combat widespread violence in Colombia.

This week, the US government announced that they will provide $160 million in aid to Colombia in an effort to encourage the implementation of the peace accord between the state and the FARC rebels. US Agency for International Development Administrator, Mark Green, told reporters that funds are allotted for the “implementation of peace” and to “formalize land” in the areas specifically affected by the armed conflict.

Venezuela

A Chinese cargo plane arrived in Caracas this week carrying 2 million units of medical equipment. The items provided included medicine and surgical medical supplies, and are set to be distributed by agencies designated by President Maduro’s government. China has remained supportive of Maduro’s regime, repeatedly opposing any actions that would cause tensions or unrest in Venezuela.

By reopening borders with Brazil and Aruba this week, Maduro tried to show that the situation in Venezuela was “under control”. However, at least 10 legislators from the opposition were stripped of their diplomatic immunity this week by the Venezuelan Supreme Court, forcing them into hiding. Additionally, at least 5 people have died and over 200 were detained during opposition protests taking place since April 30. Meanwhile, envoys from the Venezuelan government and opposition party went to Oslo this week to have talks on resolving the situation at home. Members of the opposition National Assembly party said that members from both sides will be involved in the talks.

Malaysia

Three temples in Kuala Lumpur are on high alert after making the decision to tighten their internal security, after four suspects linked to extremist religious groups with ties to ISIS have been arrested. Sri Maha Mariamman Temple Devasthanam Kuala Lumpur, which oversees and runs the temples, stated that the heightened security measures are due to reports that the attack was meant to avenge the death of fireman Muhammad Adib Mohd Kassim, whose death was caused by a riot at the Seafield Sri Maha Mariamman Temple in Subang. Malaysian Muslim opposition parties feel that his death was ignored by the government.

Philippines

Midterm voting took place this week in the Philippines, with President Duterte’s allies winning most of the 12 contested Senate seats. The vote was largely seen as a referendum on his controversial administration, but showed that Filipinos remain confident in Duterte’s presidency, despite his harsh tactics and human rights abuses in his “war on drugs”. With his new support in the Senate, Duterte will be protected from legislative inquiry and his agenda is likely to easily be pushed through.

Thailand

A document released in Thailand shows that over a third of the 250 newly appointed senators both appointed by the junta and approved by King Maha Vajiralongkorn have military or police backgrounds. Opposition parties have voiced their concern that this will only extend the power of the junta, as they have successfully taken over the Upper House. The 250 senators have significant power when selecting the leader of the new government.

Three men known for being critical of Thailand’s monarchy and military government have disappeared, raising concern among prominent international human rights organizations. Specifically, Amnesty International is concerned that this is becoming a trend with governments in Asia. The men were in exile in Laos, then moved on to Vietnam where they were reportedly arrested and taken back to Thailand.

Vietnam

Vietnam sentenced ten people to death this week and two more to life in prison for smuggling drugs across the country. The group was caught transporting 300 kilograms of meth, ecstasy, and ketamine on a train from northern Vietnam to Ho Chi Minh City in the south. Their trial comes shortly after a number of huge drug busts in Vietnam, which has some of the world’s strictest drug laws.

Iran

This week, the University of Toronto’s Citizen Lab released a report that accuses Iran of spreading fake news, specifically by mimicking media brands and spreading misinformation about Israel and Saudi Arabia. The group, known as “Endless Mayfly”, depends on the short attention span of most readers, and have allegedly copied Britain’s Guardian newspaper, a French newspaper known as Le Soir, and have had accounts deactivated on Facebook, Google, and Twitter. The Citizen Lab says that a group most likely from Iran is behind this misinformation.

An Iranian national has been sentenced to ten years in prison in Iran for spying on Britain, the charge being made following clear confessions. Gholamhossein Esmaili, a judiciary spokesman, stated that the man was, “in charge of the Iran desk in the British Council and was cooperating with Britain’s intelligence agency”.

This week also exhibited rising tensions between Iran and the United States, as the US state department ordered the departure of “non-emergency employees” from Iraq, a country that neighbors Iran. The US military stated their concerns over Iran-backed forces in the Middle East, thus making the region more dangerous for US government personnel and citizens.

Other News

Afghanistan – Mina Mangal, a political adviser and former prominent television presenter, was recently shot to death in Kabul on her way to work. While the government claims that the motives remain unclear, women’s rights activists and Afghan politicians have called for a thorough investigation into the reasons behind her death. Mangal had recently posted on Facebook that she feared for her life after receiving threats, prompting responses from women’s rights activists. Police are continuing their investigation of her death. (BBC)

Bangladesh – Concerns over restricted freedom of speech in Bangladesh continue, as police have arrested three people this week, two writers and an activist, under the country’s controversial Digital Security Act (DSA) and Information and Communication Technology Act (ICTA). International rights groups and activists have condemned the arrests, the sentencing of which could be serving up to 14 years. (Al Jazeera)

Taiwan – Lawmakers in Taiwan approved a bill Friday legalizing same-sex marriage, making the self-ruled island the first place in Asia to pass gay marriage legislation. Two years ago, the island’s Constitutional Court ruled that the law stating marriage was between a man and woman was unconstitutional, and gave a two year period to amend or make a new law. With the bill passed, same-sex marriage will become a reality in Taiwan starting next week on May 24. (CNN)

Thousands gathered outside the palace to celebrate the coronation of Thailand’s King Maha Vajiralongkorn. Source: BBC

Cuba

This week, President Donald Trump threatened Cuba with the “highest-level sanctions” following Venezuela’s Juan Guaido’s attempted uprising against Nicolas Maduro and his government. Cuba has been a known supporter of Maduro, along with Russia. Trump stated, “with the right moves, Cuba could do very well. We could open it up but we’re going to end up closing it up if they don’t get out of Venezuela”.

The Cuban government decided to cancel its 12th annual Conga Against Homophobia March this week, a move concerning LGBT rights activists. The cancellation of the march comes after Cuba’s decision to backtrack on their plans to approve same-sex marriage under a new constitution. Norge Espinosa Mendoza, LGBT activist, stated, “Not allowing [the parade] is a signal that we are not welcome”.

Gabon

Ten members of Gabon’s opposition signed a request last week for a neurologist to examine Gabon’s President Ali Bongo to determine if he was fit to continue ruling. The request was quickly dismissed by a trial court, stating that “only a majority of either the government or the parliament’s two chambers can request the Constitutional Court to call for a vacancy of power”. Despite his prolonged absence from the country since his stroke in November, his doctors still expect him to make a full recovery.

Nicaragua

Nicaragua’s national independent newspaper La Prensa suffered a large-scale cyber attack this week, the latest in Nicaragua’s worsening press freedoms. The attack started Friday night when 11,000 bots per second tried to enter the site, causing the newspaper’s website to crash for 24 hours. After many attempts, the site was back up and running by Sunday, although slowly. While it is still unclear who called for the attack to be carried out, the editor of La Prensa publishing group Jaime Chamorro Cardenal described the incident as “a direct attack on press freedom and freedom of expression.”

North Korea

North Korea has launched an unidentified projectile, its first confirmed launch of its kind since 2017, as reported by South Korea’s military. While Pyongyang said that the launches were purely “routine and self-defensive”, weapons experts who analyzed the launch say that it could be a test launch for an “advanced short-range ballistic missile”.

In response to “a number of short-range projectiles” fired into the Sea of Japan on Saturday, US President Donald Trump tweeted that the Kim Jong-un, “knows that I am with him & does not want to break his promise to me. Deal with happen!”.

Myanmar

Two Reuters reporters were released from prison in Myanmar on Tuesday after serving over 500 days of their seven year sentence. The reporters, Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo, were arrested for breaking the “Official Secrets Act” for their investigation into the killing of Rohingya people by the government in 2017. The men were released along with 6,520 other prisoners given presidential amnesty in relation to celebration of the traditional New Year. Their arrest angered human rights advocates and diplomats worldwide, raising questions about Myanmar’s progress toward democracy.

A spokesman for Myanmar’s army confirmed last week that at least six people were detained and killed in the Rakhine state. The detainees were being held for potential ties to the rebel Arakan Army made up of ethnic Rakhine Buddhists. The spokesman said that group was shot after they tried to grab the soldiers’ weapons.

United States

This week, the United States announced strict sanctions on Iran, specifically sanctioning Iran’s steel, aluminum, copper, and iron, all of which are crucial parts of Iran’s economy. This decision comes after Tehran announced that they would quit certain parts of the 2015 nuclear agreement with global powers. President Donald Trump even threatened further sanctions, stating, “because of our actions, the Iranian regime is struggling to fund its campaign of violent terror as its economy heads into an unprecedented depression”.

Cambodia

The death of a CNRP member’s son while in custody has led to calls from the group for an investigation into the man’s death. Tith Rorn died on April 18th supposdely from a fall in the prison’s bathroom. However, the number of bruises covering his body suggest that he may have been beaten to death by prison guards. The Cambodian National Rescue Party, who has faced much repression from the current government fears that this attack could have been politically motivated and has called on human rights groups to investigate.

Mexico

Towards the end of April, Pope Francis donated $500,000 to aid migrants attempting to reach the US border, stuck in Mexico. The Pope has condemned the Trump Administration’s goal of building a wall in the past, and has stated that aid to migrants has significantly decreased. The donation will come from the Catholic Church’s Peter’s Pence fund, collected from churches around the world.   

It has been ten months since Mexico’s President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador was elected, and analysts are examining his current impact on the country. The murder rate continues to rise in Mexico, despite his efforts to reduce crime and violence. He has provided temporary humanitarian work visas to Central American migrants passing through the country, and supports the protection of human rights of each individual.

Zimbabwe

This week, Zimbabwe’s high court led by Judge Edith Mushore declared that Nelson Chamisa of the Movement for Democratic Change Party is not a legitimate leader, as the party had not properly conducted its own internal processes in 2016 when appointing Chamisa as vice-president. The party must now begin the process of finding new leadership within the month. Nkululeko Sibanda, spokesperson for Chamisa, stated that the decision was, “politically motivated”. He stated, “we see this as the latest and probably the last attempt to derail the Chamisa presidency that Zanu-PF are so scared of”.

This week, a public forum was held in Washington, D.C. to discuss the food insecurity crisis in Zimbabwe. 44% of poor households in Zimbabwe are spending more of their income on food. Jason Taylor, the USAID chief office of humanitarian assistance and resilience in Zimbabwe, shared his growing concerns that urbanites were spending significantly more on food in Zimbabwe.

Laos

Villagers who were displaced by the construction of the Don Sahong Dam over three years ago are still waiting for government assistance. While they were promised help from the government in exchange for losing their homes, many still don’t have jobs, and the only assistance has come in the form of livestock. An official said that villagers were given piglets and chickens to raise, but they were not familiar with raising these type of animals. Prior to dam construction, most people caught large amounts of fish in the river, though this is no longer an option since construction began. Environmental groups have also urged the government to stop building on the Mekong River, as the construction negatively affects a number of endangered species in the area.

Democratic Republic of the Congo

On May 4, a demonstration led by taxi drivers in Butembo temporarily halted medical response activities, after demonstrators put wooden barricades on the main road arteritis and attacked city-wide hand washing stations. Cases of Ebola have risen to 43, and health responders are finding the disease difficult to maintain as violence continues.

The DRC is continuing to administer its experimental vaccine, having given it to over 110,000 people at risk of contracting the disease. Health care workers are considering new strategies for administering the vaccine in main outbreak regions that are home to almost two dozen rebel groups.

Colombia

On Wednesday, Colombia called out Venezuela for “repeated provocations” after a reported 30 military personnel crossed into Colombia’s borders. The foreign ministry said in a statement that the Venezuelan unit had crossed 200 meters into their territory, leaving shortly after 20 minutes when Colombian soldiers arrived at the scene. The statement said that incidents like this have been more common since Colombia endorsed Juan Guaido as Venezuela’s interim president, calling current president Maduro “a dictator”. Since Venezuela’s economic crisis began in 2017, Colombia has taken the brunt of its effects with more than 2.7 million people fleeing the country – most of them moving into Colombia.

In northwest Colombia, more than 1600 people have been displaced in a turf war between illegal armed groups over the past two weeks. On Tuesday, the United Nations urged Colombia to take immediate action in controlling the groups and providing aid to those who have been displaced. On April 28th, a group of leaders from indigenous groups, who make up a majority of the displaced region, also requested immediate humanitarian aid including clean drinking water, education for the children, and cooking/sanitation facilities.

Venezuela

Last week, opposition leader Juan Guaido called on the army to overthrow Nicolas Maduro, resulting in Guaido having to go into hiding and injured anti-government protesters clashing with security forces. Maduro considered this an “attempted coup”, and has claimed himself successful. This week, Venezuela’s Supreme Court called for the arrest of seven National Assembly deputies, one of which being Edgar Zambrano, for treason. The National Constituent Assembly (ANC), consisting of Maduro supporters, lifted parliamentary immunity of the opposition lawmakers.  

The consequences of the coup have heightened this week, as Edgar Zambrano, vice-president of the National Assembly and deputy of Juan Guaido, was detained in Caracas by the country’s intelligence services. This is the first arrest of a senior opposition figure since the “attempted coup” against Maduro last week. Democratic Action party leader, Carlos Prosperi, was meeting with Zambrano in Caracas, stating that Zambrano’s car was surrounded, and he believes the vice-president was taken to El Helicoide, a prison in the city center. Many countries have called for Zambrano’s quick release. The EU condemned the arrest of Edgar Zambrano, calling the arrest, “another flagrant violation” of Venezuela’s constitution, also describing it as, “a politically motivated action aimed at silencing the National Assembly”.

Malaysia

Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International released a report Wednesday calling attention to Malaysia’s slow progress on reforms. When Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad’s coalition won the election one year ago, he made promises of human rights reform and weeding out corruption. However, his first year in office has seen little of these promises come to fruition. Human Rights Watch said that while there were plans for reform, many of his plans have been delayed or withdrawn by opposition groups worried about how the changes could affect rights of certain ethnic groups. Amnesty International concluded by saying that in order for the reforms to be successful, they must be laid out within a clear and accessible roadmap.

Philippines

This week, the President of the Philippines, Rodrigo Duterte, was accused of being linked to a drug syndicate. The accuser was a man online under the pseudonym “Bikoy”, after posting five videos in which he states that he has evidence that Duterte and those close to him are involved in narcotics trade. “Bikoy” later revealed his identity as Peter Joemel Advincula after saying that he has received a number of death threats and fears for his life. Advincula cites his legitimacy in these controversial claims in having been a part of the syndicate in the past.

President Duterte’s administration has strongly denied any connection he and those close to him have to a drug syndicate. The allegations are especially ironic as Duterte has launched a brutal and unforgiving war on drugs during his presidency.

Thailand

Thailand celebrated the coronation of King Maha Vajiralongkorn this weekend with a huge nationwide celebration. While the king has been ruling since his father passed away in 2016, this weekend recognized the end of the official mourning period and celebration of a new ruler. In Thai culture, the king has no political power but is seen as a representation of “divine on earth”. For many, witnessing his coronation is a once in a lifetime event, seeing as the last one took place almost 70 years ago. Hundreds of thousands of people gathered in Bangkok over the weekend to witness King Vajiralongkorn being carried through the streets on a royal palanquin and sitting on a golden throne, among other coronation traditions and festivities.

Vietnam

Three Thai activists were arrested in Vietnam this week under charges of insulting the monarchy, and rights groups are concerned about their sudden disappearance. Chucheep Chiwasut, Siam Theerawut, and Kritsana Thapthai have all been public with their political commentary and critique, and were supposedly turned over to Thai authorities on May 8, according to the Human Rights Watch. Prawit Wongsuwan, Thailand’s deputy prime minister, denies that the activists were ever in Thai custody.

  Iran

Iran announced this week that they would partially withdraw from the nuclear deal signed by world leaders in 2015. The announcement was made Wednesday morning in an address to the nation by President Hassan Rouhani, where he also said he would like to renegotiate terms with the remaining partners in the deal. As part of their partial withdrawal, Iran will “keep enriched uranium stocks in the country rather than sell them abroad” and potentially resume production of higher enriched uranium in 60 days. The French Defense Minister has responded by saying that European powers were trying to save the deal, but that sanctions against Iran may need to be reinforced. The nuclear deal was initially signed in 2015 as a way of “curbing Iran’s nuclear ambitions” in return for the relief of some sanctions. The deal has been in uncertain territory ever since President Trump withdrew the United States last year.

Other News:

South Africa – General election voting took place this week in South Africa, and while the official results won’t be announced until Saturday, it appears as though the ANC will retain power, though by a much smaller margin. As of Thursday, the African National Congress Party held 56% of the vote – the lowest since their initial election in 1994 after the end of apartheid. President Ramaphosa, who took power last year when Jacob Zuma was ousted, acknowledged and apologized for the country’s rampant corruption on his way to voting, asking voters to reinvest their confidence in his party. (The Guardian, BBC)