A NEW RUSSIA?

The Russian Presidential change did not portray itself to the West as a hopeful occasion, and questions were asked about the legitimacy of the newly appointed Prime Minister’s position which Putin now hold.

 

However, it might appear like President Medvedev might be the man to improve Russia’s relationship with the West after all. And most importantly, restore justice for the Russian people after he openly admitted the need for change in relation to the Russian justice system.

 

Medvedev spoke last week of the need to make Russian’s courts independent and described the current legal system as one which decisions were reached after pressure and for money. This is a gutsy stand by the newly elected President.   

 

What thus might be worrying the West and particularly Russia’s old enemy, USA, is Russia’s increasingly tight relationships with China, and how they seem to be creating a new super alliance, jeopardising the US place as the one and only super power.

 

But things could be worse and Medvedev’s interest in furthering talks with the EU in relation to trade agreements seems like a step in the right direction for EU to achieve a closer relationship with this powerful and slightly unpredictable nation.

DO WE DARE BELIEVE IN CHANGE?

 

As the Zimbabwean opposition leader Tsvangirai returned home two days ago, the election campaign is back on track and Tsvangirai seems certain about replacing Mugabe from his Presidential position.

 

Mugabe has tyrannised Zimbabwe for nearly three decades and does not appear to be ready to give up without a fight.

 

Mugabe lost the majority of votes in the recent election held on the 29^th March, but as the candidates need over 50 percent each to win completely, it is scheduled for a re election on the 27^th of June.

 

But not everyone is convinced that Mugabe won’t try and cheat himself to victory, as the March election has been shadowed by Mugabe’s desperate attempt to hold on to power. And the opposition and human rights groups have said hundreds of opposition supporters have been beaten up and at least 40 killed since the first round of the election.

 

After returning to Zimbabwe, Tsvangirai said that the South African Development Community would meet and discuss the possible deployment of peacekeepers and election monitors as fear of election violence might jeopardise the possibility to hold the re election.

 

But Mugabe is not a man that usually gives up with out a fight, and everyone that tries to challenge him is in danger. Even Tsvangirai return to Zimbabwe was delayed after rumours about the army having plans to kill him.

 

This Mugabe denies and said: “I don’t even have a bow and an arrow.” But history doesn’t vouch well for Mugabe’s credibility,  I guess we just have to wait in anticipation and see how far that moral stretched when Mugabe loses the election, yet again!

 

 

Related links: Back for the better…

HARMS TRUST

It seems like George W Bush’s dream of recreating ‘The Cold War’ is staying just that, a dream as both Russia and China have come together and condemned the US plan for a missile defence shield in Europe.

 

The US want to located a radar base In the Czech Republic and an interceptive missile site in Poland and their reason for wanting to do so is that they say it is a system key to the US’s own security and to that of their allies in relation to their continues attack on Iran and the Islamic world.

 

The new defence stations in Europe is US latest attempt to seek acceptance for their propaganda in relation to what they characterised as the ‘evil axis’ and ‘the war on terror’. Instead this is just another sign of the irrational behaviour of the Bush regime and their abuse of their power as a world super power, on the world.

 

Luckily, for once Russia and China come together as the rational part of a world debate, as their leaders expressed: “It harms the strengthening of trust between states and regional stability.”

 

It is time for Bush to wake up and smell the smoke of his own wrong doing. He has driven the world into a cultural and religiously ideological war that no one wanted in the first place. Bush’s actions over the last 7 years don’t reflect democracy but it reflects one of the most gruesome totalitarian violations of human dignity the world has ever seen, and there is really no surprise that this war hungry beast is trying to prolong the suffering and consequences of his game.

 

There is really no need for a missile defence shield to draw association between the happenings of the last 7 years to the cold war, but if the history of the Cuba crisis thought us anything,  this US proposal will for sure fuel a situation where no country, people or religion will benefit. Well, except maybe Bush himself.

 

 

 

Related links: Orwell was an optimist

THE COWARDS BOW TO PRESSURE

The cowards of the Burmese regime are now bowing under pressure as the Junta has declared three days of national mourning for the sufferers, and the 78, 000 confirmed dead, after Cyclone Nargis hit the country, 18 days ago.

 

Yes, 18 days it has taken for the regime to signalise a slight awareness of the huge levels of suffering that the citizens of Burma have faced in the recent weeks. Just unfortunate, that this realisation is coming too late to diminish the damages already caused.

 

It is thus a paradox, that the Burmese regime decide to declare three days of official mourning after it’s allied, China began it’s own mourning for the victims after Sichuan earthquake last week.

 

What made China different from Burma, was a government who participated and tried to diminish the consequence of the catastrophe faced, while in Burma, the people were left alone to die, by denying the extent and severity of the situation and preventing international aid to reach those in need. And this all due to a selfish fear of being exposed, as a corrupt regime, without any consideration for democracy and human rights, like that would come as a surprise to anyone!

 

On the upside though, this new turn of reaction from the Burmese government might signalise the effect and impact that China has on the junta. The Burmese regime is also accepting more foreign aid to assist the situation after an emergency meeting in Singapore on Monday, although foreign expert employed by UN aid agencies are still not allowed to enter the country.

 

Douglas Alexander, Britain’s International Development Secretary commented: “Anything which may see more aid getting to the victims of Cyclone Nargis who so desperately need it is to be welcomed, but we are continuing to pressure the Burmese government to accept direct assistance in the affected areas.”  

 

 

Related links: the planet out of balance

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