Opinion: Big-Men’s Medical Tourism is temporary suspended [and their neglect will be obvious]

We have seen over the years, that big-men from developing countries instead of fixing their own health-care system or even supporting the needs of the Ministry of Health. They have at every junction instead used foreign health care and hospitals to salvage the hurt and heal.

Now in this COVID-19 or Coronavirus times, the borders are closed, ending flights between the nations and the quarantine of people crossing borders. The big-men cannot flea their own health care facilities, but instead has to trust them like everyone else. The neglect, the lack of investment and the years of brain-drain has hurt these hospitals and health care facilities.

They have gotten aid, gotten grants and promised to build sustainable health care facilities. However, the big-men have never trusted these ones. Only the ones whose retired and the ones who hasn’t saved up in office. Has in the end of their days and because of lack funds. They have used them and seen the grim state.

Like there been high ranking officials, who suddenly needs care and been brought to the closest hospital after a public function. Usually picked up by a army chopper and flown to the best nearby facility. However, than they have lacked electricity, enough beds, medicines or needed technical apparatus to function. That was okay, when the locals needed it, but when they pop-by than its an outcry. The state cannot even procure enough ambulances and have proper levels of in-need educated professionals in the field.

That is why, this sort of crisis undress the years of neglect, the years of corruption and lack of investment in the field. If they will lack blood, air and other needed things. It will be, because they didn’t care in days of sunshine. Now, that its raining and the roads are getting muddy. Than, the big-men will suffer with the general public.

They are maybe VIPs and have giant convoys. They are maybe paid a fortune for their high office and high ranking in society. However, they have to enter the same facilities, which they didn’t think of or consider. Because, there was always, China, Singapore, France or United States. Where they could go for check-ups and healing. Where they got better treatment and with modern facilities made for patching the hurt.

Now, they cannot go there. They are blocked. They cannot risk to enter there and the borders are closing in. The Big-men doesn’t have the meal-ticket or ability pay an easy way out. Instead, they have to suffer with public.

There is no way out. Just continue, but maybe their eyes will be opened when they will be questioned why they didn’t spend the needed funds in sunshine, but cries out during the rain. They spent on the army, ghosts and side-dishes. Nevertheless, they didn’t care for the health care, for the structures of healing and proper treatment.

Now, they will hold prayer sessions and ask for the Gods to intervene. Instead of using their minds and used their time to invest. They could have invested and could have made a difference. Instead, they got warplanes, got ammunition to start wWrld War III, but cannot have enough beds for a pandemic. Peace.

China-US Standoff: The “Tit-for-Tat” enterprise continues

The US President calls the Corona Virus or COVID19, the “Chinese Virus”. While the Chinese comes with an conspiracy of US intervention and making up the virus itself. This is a common practice of deflections and also disinformation practices of parties that doesn’t want to take responsibility and also deflect their own inability to cape with the new problems at hand. Than, its easier to blame another party or make a make-belief story.

However, Trump dumb arrogance and ignorant attitude shouldn’t shape the world. Neither should the Communist party and their propaganda shape the world either. Nevertheless, we got to listen to them both and glean through it all, as we are all settled on this earth and got to live together on this planet.

Last month, the White House and Trump administrations put some new limits on the Chinese media houses in the United States. The 5 Chinese Media had to register itself and its employees. The Trump Administration also planned to limit the visas to the Chinese journalists in the US. These were targeting the Chinese media like Xinhua News Agency and China Global Television Network (CGTN).

This month and today, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China wrote this: “First, in response to the US designation of five Chinese media agencies as “foreign missions”, China demands, in the spirit of reciprocity, that the China-based branches of Voice of America, the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post and Time declare in written form information about their staff, finance, operation and real estate in China. Second, in response to the US slashing the staff size of Chinese media outlets in the US, which is expulsion in all but name, China demands that journalists of US citizenship working with the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal and the Washington Post whose press credentials are due to expire before the end of 2020 notify the Department of Information of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs within four calendar days starting from today and hand back their press cards within ten calendar days. They will not be allowed to continue working as journalists in the People’s Republic of China, including its Hong Kong and Macao Special Administrative Regions. Third, in response to the discriminatory restrictions the US has imposed on Chinese journalists with regard to visa, administrative review and reporting, China will take reciprocal measures against American journalists” (China, 17.03.2020).

We are now seeing a return of the favour, which is a way of using the same means of retribution. When one does this, I do that. When my brother steal my coke, I take his Pepsi and so-on. This is what is happening, the Chinese targets US media houses and the US targets Chinese media houses. In this regard none of them wins.

They are both stopping transparent reporting and also outsider looking in. No matter what sort of ideals you got. This is a diplomatic dispute between two parties. Who both seek to revenge. Who both uses this means on journalists and the media houses. While there are some underlying conflict between them. Stemming from the trade-war or the tariffs, maybe even the rhetoric of the Trump Presidency or the CCP Party officials. Because none of them are winning at this, only loosing.

This is just political mind-games with the usage of the media as the pawns. It is right to question the Chinese media houses and their affiliation with the ruling party. However, the US media houses have often played the tunes of the ruling regime and been the voice of whoever in-charge there too. Not so all to critical or questioning the status quo. That is why, this is more a question of imperialism and whose on first. Than whose the big bad wolf.

Yes, this here isn’t the whole story, there are more to glean into it. However, the stories shared from China wouldn’t have been uncovered by their own. Unless, they had more brave whistleblowers and such. Who dares to speak out, but not like there are so many big voices who doesn’t follow the corporate government agenda of Washington either? Who is in the mainstream media there and whose critical abroad, but a nice acting puppy at home.

Well, that is my take on it. You might not like it, but this is view of an outsider looking in. They are both playing each other. There are no innocent here. Both have their own agenda, not just trying to cover one side or another. They want to undress each other and uses all means.

This was a “tit-for-tat”. Let’s see where this one goes, but this is not last card in the deck. There comes more. Peace.

Opinion: Taliban is suddenly “geniune”, what is up with that?

The United States and their current diplomatic style seems a bit erratic and foolish. The ones deeming it fit. It is short-sighted and not all that well thought through. Even if the Department of State, the White House and all their jesters are speaking greatly of their efforts.

This week second big blow from them was the peace deals in Afghanistan. It is like the United States want to forget the years of destruction, killings, drones and active support of a internal civil war to deplete a Republic out of terrorists. Suddenly, they have been talking and negotiating peace with the Taliban.

They have negotiated with the “seekers”, with the gentlemen who has dismantled the values of woman and who was for an Islamic revolution in Afghanistan. A group forged out of the Pashtuns of Kandahar. The Taliban who even had a “Department for Promoting Virtue and Preventing Vice” after their interpretations of the Sharia laws. Therefore, this is not the sort of gentlemen that US really usually associate themselves with or even make break bread with.

For me its strange after this long war, after all the tours and all the weapons pushed upon the republic. To fight the Taliban as their enemy to suddenly back off. That just sounds weird. Peace is in everyone’s interest. No doubt, to build up a republic shattered by a long prevailing war like Afghanistan.

However, the timeline of moving away. The negotiations between the state will persist. The deadlock will eventually come. The questions will remain, was this all justified? Yes, the NATO and the US did interfere in Afghanistan for years. This after the Taliban in connection with Al-Qa’ida attack New York on 9/11 2001. The Taliban was already established in 1994. Therefore, the group and their power was already rising there.

What we can wonder about is the timing now and the reasons for it. Is to have a grand deal ahead of the elections? Is this is the big deal for foreign policy ahead of Presidential Elections in 2020 in the United States? Is it that simple?

Since, the Taliban has been the enemy for ages. The US has collectively and with all power said they are terrorists. President after President has hunted them down and used all weapons to catch them. Now, suddenly the US will work to stop sanctions and erase that. That is a bit strange isn’t it?

Is that the Taliban is now just a local group of militants with political connections, therefore they can now be left alone? They are not dangerous, not armed through teeth’s and has a belief system that can crush western society anymore? So, what is up?

I know, we should be happy that it is possible peace in Afghanistan. That is supposed a good thing. However, I am sceptical and questioning it. I don’t have all the answers, but there are some remaining factors out there.

Taliban was deemed as trouble, as someone who festered in terrorist for so long. They where evil and characterized as destroyers of society. How come they are now people the US intend to talk too?

Have they suddenly paid for Ivanka’s handbags or something? I don’t know what magic wand they used, but it certainly did the trick. Taliban is off the hook. They are apparently, not a crook anymore. Who knows, maybe they were saints all along, but Washington deemed them as sinners? Peace.

Philippines: House Joint Resolution No. 29 – Joint Resolution – Extending the Franschise of ABS-CBN Corporation until May 4, 2021 (26.02.2020)

Sri Lanka: Open letter to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa (25.02.2020)

Opinion: Maybe Duterte needs a Gag Order [on himself]

Now that the Solicitor General Jose Calida in the on-going “tax-case” with ABS-CBN, one of the biggest news-outlet and media corporations in the Republic of Philippines. Which has been under hard scrutiny from President Rodrigo Duterte since the end of last year. Now, the owners and everyone involved in ABS-CBN is feeling the same sort of legal ramifications as the Rappler did just a few brief moments ago.

We have seen this script before, now they are retaliating even harder. Not only at the foreign investor side, but also directly at the core of the business. Not allowed to speak of the case, which is implying themselves. If this succeeds, then the Duterte administration is setting the precedence of only one thing.

The Duterte administration won’t from now on, only a lovely press ass-kissing their every move. Singing the songs of the Malacañang Palace and their glories achievements. They want state-run TV and most likely in the tunes of Pyonyang. Because, why not go full tilt and full ego boost of Rodrigo?

No free statement, no free reporting and no fair judgement. Anyone who has an idea that counter the brilliant mind and the scholar, the entrepreneurial mastermind from Davao. Don’t you dare speak ill of him. Than the sickness, the moon will not shine on you and the devil will put a spell on you.

Since, they will not allow the ABS-CBN to report on it. Neither speak on it, when its their livelihood. What if the Malacañang Palace got an gag order? What if Duterte got one? If all of his cabinet and everyone involved? All his aides and secretaries? Just keep your mouth shut. The public will address your matters.

I cannot say that all reporting made by ABS-CBN has been good neither should it be either. There are always grounds for questioning the behaviour and the ways a network like that operates. However, to do this legal ramifications and these sort of steady attacks. Undermine their work and their justification for their freedom of expression in the Republic. Just like it did with Rappler too.

This is the same story, just another venue from the same people to the same ends. That is why the gag order would be fitted to the palace and its king. Not that the ones reporting on the acts of the palace and the king to get the blame. Because, they are telling the stories of the place, the way they deem fit. If it is done wrongly and with prejudice. Than the President and his men should state that and show the public their digressions. Not muffle them to silence and possibly try to revoke their license. What sort of game plan is that?

This isn’t about liberty, ownership or anything of the above. It is a about an administration whose so reckless and careless acts towards the expressions and freedom of speech. That is why the ones who dare to question Duterte get’s into trouble.

Yesterday it was Rappler, today its ABS-CBN. Soon its someone else, who has a foreign owner, who hasn’t paid tax and whose not “correct” in the eyes of the President. Maybe, he shouldn’t have travelled with the random lady in Hong Kong? Maybe, he shouldn’t have kissed  the woman in South Korea?

If you don’t like the headlines, Mr. President, don’t create them! Don’t utter the words, don’t speak ill and act with fury. Think rational and be humble. I know that is not Rodrigo, but he should consider it. Let that be his gag order. To actually think before he talks. That would be really refreshing, compared to random rants at various events across the Republic.

Well, I expect more to follow this. This story is not over. There was a lot more tricks of the trade in concern to Rappler. Therefore, there will be more for the ABS-CBN.  By the way, this story is not a song of greatness, but of mediocrity of Duterte. Since he again cannot stand comments or reporting on his actions. If he could, then would have been a better man and let this one go. Peace.

AU Executive Council solidarity statement with China (07.02.2020)

Embassy of Cameroon to China: Message to Cameroonians in the People’s Republic of China (07.02.2020)

Maldives Third-Way Democrats (MTD): Maldives Re-Admission to The Commonwealth – A great achievement to Maldives (02.02.2020)

Hong Kong: Kwok Ka-Chuen letter to Claudia MO (06.01.2020)