News

Summit for Democracy: Hypocrisy & Provocation.

Published

2 years ago

08/12/2021

On 15^th September 2021 U.S. President Joe Biden announced that it would be holding a Summit for Democracy on 09^th December 2021. According to U.S. President Joe Biden, the summit will seek to bring the heads of world governments, civil societies and the private sector to “set forth an affirmative agenda for democratic renewal”.

From the onset, red flags were raised on the exact intended function of the summit as the U.S. provoked major global powers and democratic countries were left uninvited for the Summit for Democracy. China, Russia, Sri Lanka were among those who were not invited to the summit. Moreover the U.S. strategically provoked some of the nations which posed a threat to U.S. imperialism.

In the case of China, the U.S. invited Taiwan to the summit. Taiwan, which is an undeniably a part of China was invited to the summit in an act of provocation at a critical juncture as U.S. and its allies continue to threaten the stability of the region through their unwarranted military presence in the South China Sea. If we were to turn the tables around and analyze a hypothetical scenario where Russia were to invite Puerto Rico or Guam to a similar summit while blocking the U.S., they would retaliate with military action citing intimidation, provocation and the need to defend their territories.

Along with China, Russia and Sri Lanka, several other nations were also left uninvited for the summit, including countries like Bolivia and Venezuela where the U.S. has been accused of funding anti-government factions and meddling in domestic affairs.

The reason these democratic countries were left uninvited was due to the lack of democracy, or to be more precise for not meeting the definition of democracy by the U.S. This is in contrary to what U.S. President Joe Biden said on 15^th February 20201, where he said that “No democracy is perfect, and no democracy is ever final. Every gain made, every barrier broken, is the result of determined, unceasing work.”.

While U.S. President Joe Biden claims that every democracy requires time to evolve to cater to its host country, the U.S. in practice does not adhere to this belief. The western nations which spent hundreds of years at war with each other and themselves, adopted their current democratic system through centuries of bloodshed. Now, laced with Eurocentricity the very same western nations demand the rest of the world to forgo their culture, history and social identify and to adopt their definitions of democracy overnight, or face economic sanctions or military action.

Just as the parliamentary democratic system under the monarchy is unsuitable for the U.S., the U.S.’ definition of democracy may be unsuitable for a nation halfway around the globe.

Moreover, the U.S.’ monopolistic claim over democracy and its projection as the global defender and savior of democracy is questionable due to its historically backed fact that the U.S. has toppled more democratic governments than any other country and due to their weak internal democratic system.

According to Sweden’s International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA)¹, democracy in the U.S. is regressing. They stated that there was visible deterioration of democracy in the U.S. including decline in civil liberties, increasing polarization, voter participation suppression. These factors have led to the U.S. people to even lose faith in their democratic system.

A recent study² by the U.S. think tank Pew Research Center showed that amongst U.S. allies nations, only 17% saw the U.S. as an ideal democracy while only 19% of Americans believe that they are a model for democracy. While this shows the lack of faith in the system by both the American people and their allies, the study also revealed that 57% of their allies believe that U.S. democracy is in a state of regression.

As the U.S. President Joe Biden surrounds itself with autocrats like Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi who has been accused of being engineering the decline of democracy in India and the rise of ethnocracy, the U.S. President Joe Biden’s Summit for Democracy is more akin to a global summit on hegemony and intimidation.

If the U.S. is sincere in their efforts to promote democracy, they should first and foremost address their undeniable domestic decline in the democratic system and its social fabric. Intimidation, provocation and hegemony will not pave way not promote democracy. As long as the U.S. continues to meddle with the natural evolution of the democracies around globe, the ideal democratic society for world nations will never be achieved.

1- https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2021/11/22/united-states-backsliding-democracies-list-first-time/

2- https://www.pewresearch.org/global/2021/11/01/what-people-around-the-world-like-and-dislike-about-american-society-and-politics/

World

Hamas plans to suspend Gaza ceasefire negotiations if Israel attacks Rafah

Published

23 hours ago

02/05/2024

Hamas said on Wednesday that ceasefire negotiations with Israel would be suspended if Israel attacks the city of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip.

Osama Hamdan, a senior Hamas official, said in an interview with Lebanon-based al-Manar TV that Hamas would halt all indirect negotiations with Israel if it launches military operations against Rafah.

Accusing Israel of seeking “to blackmail all the parties by its threats of attacking Rafah,” the official said “the resistance is still having its power to defend our people.”

On Monday, a Hamas delegation left Cairo and said they would return with a written response to the latest truce proposal.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who is on his seventh visit to the Middle East, on Wednesday urged Hamas to accept the truce deal which would see 33 hostages released in exchange for a larger number of Palestinian prisoners and a halt to the fighting, with the possibility of further steps towards a comprehensive deal later.

“Israel has made very important compromises,” he said. “There’s no time for further haggling. The deal is there. They (Hamas) should take it.”

A senior Hamas official said on Wednesday that Hamas was still studying the proposed deal but said Israel was the real obstacle.

Israel is holding off sending a delegation to Cairo for follow-up truce talks, pending a response from Hamas’ leader in Gaza, Yahya Sinwar, an Israeli official told Reuters.

Israel’s military chief of staff Herzi Halevi on Wednesday said that the country’s offensive operation in Gaza “will continue with strength” and that Israel was “preparing for an offensive in the north.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has previously said that Israel will enter Rafah and eliminate the Hamas battalions there “with or without” a deal with Hamas.

With an Israeli ground operation in Rafah on the horizon, United Nations (UN) aid chief Martin Griffiths said on Tuesday that Israeli improvements to aid access in Gaza “cannot be used to prepare for or justify a full-blown military assault on Rafah.”

More than one million people face famine after six months of the conflict, the UN has said.

As night fell on Wednesday, Israeli planes and tanks pounded several areas across Gaza, residents and Hamas-linked media said.

Medics in Gaza said at least 27 Palestinians were killed in strikes on Wednesday, with others likely hurt or killed in areas they were unable to reach.

To speed the flow of humanitarian aid into the besieged enclave, the U.S. military has so far constructed over 50 percent of a maritime pier that will be placed off the coast of Gaza, according to the Pentagon.

However, U.S. lawmakers have questioned whether the pier is a worthwhile endeavor. On the one hand, it will cost the American taxpayers at least $320 million to operate the pier for only 90 days; on the other hand, the U.S. military personnel could become targets of Hamas militants, Republican Senator Roger Wicker told Reuters.

Source(s): CGTN

News

Solih reassures MDP dedication to protecting workers’ rights

Published

1 day ago

01/05/2024

Former President and Advisor of the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has reaffirmed the party’s commitment to safeguarding workers’ rights.

In a post on social media, Solih extended his congratulations to all Maldivian workers on International Labour Day, highlighting the advocacy of MDP for crucial policies like safeguarding workers’ rights and implementing a minimum wage. He also assured that the party remains dedicated to upholding the rights of workers

The world celebrates International Labour Day annually on May 1.

Source(s): PsmNews

News

Efforts underway to limit Hajj pilgrimage rates

Published

1 day ago

01/05/2024

Maldives Hajj Corporation (MHC) has initiated significant steps to substantially lower the prices of Hajj pilgrimage trips, aligning with President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu’s presidential pledge to reduce costs for travellers from Maldives.

In a post shared on social media, Managing Director Mohamed Shakeel announced the establishment of the “Hajj Fund,” aimed at reducing pilgrim expenses while creating income-generating opportunities for the corporation, thus strengthening its financial stability. He underscored that efforts are currently underway to minimise Hajj trip costs, with an increase in real estate investments.

Minister of Islamic Affairs Dr. Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed affirmed that restructuring the Hajj Corporation would substantially decrease Hajj pilgrimage rates. He further emphasised the Ministry’s proactive measures under the new administration to address this issue. This year, the Hajj Corporation has disbursed USD 4,537 with over 7,000 individuals on the waiting list. The government has officially allocated 100 quotas to the Maldives to mitigate the waiting list and alleviate high pilgrimage costs incurred.

Minister Shaheem stated that if additional quotas are to be granted, private entities will be engaged in organising pilgrimage trips, adhering to the list compiled by the Hajj Corporation.

Source(s): PsmNews