Bar Association of Sri Lanka: Statement of the Executive Committee of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka on the Ongoing Protests (05.04.2022)

Somaliland: Nagaad Network – Press Release (03.04.2022)

Russia: Zakharova spells doom and gloom over the West because of the sanctions…

The results of a European Council meeting, held jointly with the US leadership, confirmed once again that the collective West needs Ukraine which is fully under the control of Washington and is gripped by Russophobia only as a geopolitical battering ram against Russia” (…) “While declaring the readiness for new anti-Russian restrictions, Brussels forgets to add that their approval will be advantageous only for the US, that gains on the outflow of capitals from the EU, on an increase in supplies to the European markets of their arms and liquefied natural gas at jaw-dropping prices” (…) “Through their actions, officials in Brussels are in fact undermining the economy of European Union countries” (…) “They doom rank-and-file Europeans to the demolition of a socially oriented economic model, to life in conditions of exorbitant prices for electricity and fuel, cuts in social payments in favor of military budgets, galloping inflation and mass unemployment” – Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova (28.03.2022).

The ironies of this uttering is ridiculous … as the sanctions are hitting the Russian financial market and the possibility for trading with the West and the United States of America. That the Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Zakharova is doing this to spread fear. Like the sanctions are supposed to backfire and the European Union (EU) isn’t considering the implications, the prices and possible inflation.

Zakharova can say these things… but Europeans know they will pay a price over the sanctions. Many are prepared for it and also know it is coming. Everyone can see it from a mile away. It is inevitable, as the sanctions and the lack of gas to the market. The prices will become higher and the EU Member States has to subsidize and find other solutions to fill in the gap. This is why we know it isn’t an overnight solution or find a measure that can solve the energy crisis this has created.

However, it isn’t doom and gloom yet. The EU and the Member States are finding new measures and means to an end. It isn’t like they want to be addicted to the Russian oil and gas anymore. They know the consequences of buying it and feeding the Russian state with this foreign currency. It makes the Russian state able to fight illegal wars like the one in Ukraine.

Zakharova acts like the EU and NATO isn’t amping up the Military Budgets in reference to the war itself in Ukraine. That is connected to the war and as a reaction to the invasion of Ukraine. This is all inter-connected… and it is not like coincidence that the EU nations does it now. They are seeing the bombing, destruction and the war that Russia is willing to do. Therefore, the nations are in association and seeing the need to address it with higher military budgets. Because, they fear that Russia might find reasons to target others…

So, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs better find arguments that can be validated. Nevertheless, I don’t expect it….

Zakharova thinks the Europeans will believe the propaganda and Kremlin messaging. Well, I hate to break it too you, but we won’t. That is not happening. This is empty words with no flair or finesse. It is just like the spokeswoman doesn’t think EU and U.S. can prepare or consider the implications of what they are doing. Like they are foolish with no mechanisms or even studying the sort of backlash a sanction package could have on themselves. It is just like no one else thinks… but Putin and the mighty Kremlin.

I beg to differ, but that is maybe just me. Zakharova is trying to spread fear… with doom and gloom. I am awaiting Armageddon and the sky is supposed to fall on our heads. Until that happens, I am sure Europeans can pay more for gas and electricity. While Russians can have empty supermarkets and try to get substitutions of Western products and the quick tanking of local economy, as a real consequence of the invasion of Ukraine. Peace.

Bar Association of Sri Lanka: BASL Files FR Application on the Economic Crisis (25.03.2022)

RDC: Communique de la Cellule de Communication de l’Inspection Generale des Finances (18.03.2022)

Opinion: Museveni – “China might be a problem in the future” – it will be if you default on your debt

Africa has been having problems for the last 600 years due to the slave trade, colonialism, neocolonialism — and none of it was from China” (…) not seen any serious problem, because their approach is different” (…) “They do not impose their offers if you do not want them, so we have not seen a problem for now. Maybe a problem in the future, but not now” – President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni (Sinan Tavsan – ‘Uganda leader says China-style diplomacy ‘better than’ the West’s’ 17.03.2022, Asia Nikkei).

President Museveni had an exclusive interview with a journalist from Asia Nikkei and it was published today. These few quotes are from there and it is striking. The former donor darling of the West. The President who has pandered to the interests of the United States and their allies for ages. Who has eaten of the buffet of aid, grants and all sorts of prepositions, which has given him a larger than life persona.

That man is now blaming the West for if all. He is right in going after the colonial past of the West and the neocolonial structures, which are hampering development and continues the cycle of rich versus poor. This is justified, but he also shows a little nativity in concern to China.

It is just like he don’t think the monies, the funds and the China Exim Bank, which works like this:

The China Exim Bank is increasingly making use of a deal structure – known as the “Angola mode” or “resources for infrastructure” – whereby repayment of the loan for infrastructure development is made in terms of natural resources (for example, oil). While this approach is by no means novel or unique, and follows a long history of natural resource – based transactions in the oil industry – China has taken its implementation to a higher level. By providing preferred lines of credit to Chinese state-owned enterprises and foreign governments wishing to purchase Chinese made goods, the China Exim Bank supports the overseas expansion of Chinese firms in line with the country’s “Go Global” strategy, whose long-run goal is to increase the productivity and competitiveness of these enterprises vis-à-vis their global competitors. The arrangement is used for countries that cannot provide adequate financial guarantees to back their loan commitments and allows them to package natural resource exploitation and infrastructure development” (Institute of Developing Economies – Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) – ‘China in Africa’ October 2009).

What Museveni is not saying is what the costs of the debt and the structure of the Chinese support to Uganda or anywhere else. It is like Museveni haven’t seen what has happened when Republics or Nations defaults or fail to pay on the debts. Since, the Chinese Banks or Funds are coming with strings, which isn’t always public. That’s why we have seen what has happened to Sri Lanka and Tonga, which both has to give up key infrastructure to be licensed. The same has been told to happen Zambia and there are already fear of what could happen to Entebbe International Airport.

President Museveni should consider all of this, as it is next generation that will cover the debt he has been accumulated during his reign. There will be more than the Toll Road on the Entebbe Express-way to secure revenue for the added debt. It is like Museveni isn’t concerned about this and the threshold for repayments are coming closer. Therefore, at one point or another… if there is lacking domestic revenue… the Chinese companies or China can cease or capture collateral.

So, Museveni is right… China could become a problem. Especially, for all the nations who has eaten loans for the infrastructure projects in the Belt Road Initiative (BRI), which will pass the grace period and the debt of these has to be repaid. It wasn’t free money to build roads, buildings or rail-roads. No, it was an investment, which the Chinese plans to get profits out of. They didn’t give away this money. The first loaned the money, got a Chinese developer and Chinese Engineering company to build it and now later the debtor has to repay it with interests.

That is the brutal truth… I am not saying the loans are a problem, but they could easily become it. Especially, if the debtor doesn’t pay on time or in a fashion, which the creditor accepts. If they defaults or fails to repay. This gives the creditor leverage and possible freedoms or liberties to ensure collateral. Therefore, it could easily become a huge problem…

Museveni should also study how this happened to others. As sooner or later, this could happen in Uganda or anywhere else in Africa. The Chinese is right in doing this. The debtors signed the agreements and the stipulations on the loans are giving it legal binding rights to get it repaid. That is why … they might not use colonial techniques to get resources, ownership or have influence. They just borrowed money and with that has the upper-hand of their poorer states. It is a wise move, because the Chinese knows greed is an easy way of corrupting minds and get them into the fold. The same ways happens here. They don’t come with guns or war, but they are financially binding, which can easily be triggered.

In this instance, Museveni is partly outsmarted. Both are getting their interests nurtured, but at one point he could easily get into real trouble. It would be a huge problem and the state has to find currency or liquidity to actually cough up funds to pay on old loans. This is on the horizon and evidently, people are speaking to soft-heartedly about it. Peace.

South Sudan: New UN Report states how the R-TGoNU have failed the R-ARCSS

The United Nations Human Rights Commission Report on South Sudan has been released. What it says is striking. I am only taking a few paragraphs from it. As it shows how the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS) haven’t been implemented and what sort of affects it has on the Republic in general.

Not that it’s breaking news in March 2022 to say the R-ARCSS is working slow… that is being stated in the February 2022: “Report of the Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan”. What it says… is showing what sort of problems that is ahead and at this point in time. The international community shouldn’t push for elections, but pressure to actually fulfil R-ARCSS. Because, if they do that. It can create a timeline and possibilities for a roadmap and institutions of the state to actually govern. Instead of holding elections, which will be directed and controlled by the President by decree.

The Report starts with:

The Revitalized Agreement raised the hopes of the people of South Sudan for a long-delayed peace and the recovery and reconstruction of their country. However, further delays in establishing the Government and fierce political contestation between the signatories to the Agreement reflect the continuing failure of leaders to reach a position of political accommodation and manage diversity and are fuelling insurgencies and localized conflicts. Led by the President, Salva Kiir Mayardit, the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Government (SPLM-IG) remains the dominant political force in South Sudan, through its effective control of the defence and security agencies and of resources, including oil revenues. Meanwhile, the National Salvation Front (NAS) and other armed groups outside of the Agreement have continued their insurgency” (A/HRC/49/78 – UN Report, February 2022).

Just reading this should make you worry. As it shows what is occurring and the insurgencies shouldn’t be an issue. Especially not at this scale… but the state and the government of Juba should find mechanisms and able to talk to stop the reoccurring communal violence. As that is causing more harm and insecurity, which was supposed to cease by signing the R-ARCSS.

It doesn’t get better:

The deeply disillusioned people of South Sudan lament the delays and failings of the key parties and the fragmentation of various armed forces, which remain under different, ethnically aligned, command structures.1 In December 2021, the interim Chair of the reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission, Charles Tai Gituai, warned of the growing frustrations of citizens, while the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for South Sudan criticized the reduced momentum on implementing critical aspects of the Agreement” (A/HRC/49/78 – UN Report, February 2022).

The signatory parties of the R-ARCSS, all parties and involved should be worried about the statement by Chair of R-JMEC in December 2021. Because that sentiment is saying it all. They are disappointed by the slow and delayed movements of the current government. Therefore, the government should be concerned that they are betraying their role as a representatives and as a governing body. The citizens deserve peace and a proper government…

Brutal crackdown of civil society:

All these repressive measures, including the banking directive, appear to be arbitrary, be without any legal basis and lack a process for judicial or other review. The brutal State crackdown on the People’s Coalition for Civil Action implicates National Security Service, police, military and telecommunications officials, as well as the central bank, and suggests coordination and direction at the highest levels. The violations, emblematic of broader patterns documented by the Commission, severely undermine prospects for credible elections and for public participation in the transitional justice and constitution-making processes envisaged in the Revitalized Agreement” (A/HRC/49/78 – UN Report, February 2022).

Part II:

Arbitrary detentions, enforced disappearances, unlawful killings and threats to life have become commonplace in South Sudan. These acts are violations of the rights to life and liberty, which are protected under national law and applicable international human rights law and which typically also involve other human rights violations. The targeting of civil society actors for their membership of, or association with, civic organizations constricts the civic space and discourages public participation. This, in turn, prevents the emergence of a culture of accountability, transparency and respect for human rights” (A/HRC/49/78 – UN Report, February 2022).

When civil society is attacked this way and the brutal crackdown of it. It doesn’t make it possible to organize or even be a voice of reason for the ones who is left behind. The CSOs and NGOs can bring valuable context and spread the lights of various of issues in society. Especially, if the state and government are failing to oversee or make a difference for certain groups. It can also be mediator or a platform for entry of the state, if they have disfranchised itself from others as well. Therefore, brutally silencing them isn’t the way to build a greater society.

General overview of life:

The humanitarian situation in South Sudan has become a human rights crisis of epic proportions: more than 8.3 million people, amounting to 70 per cent of the population, required humanitarian assistance in 2021, with more than half of them children, of whom 1.4 million were malnourished.1 More than 7 million people (over 60 per cent of the population) experienced acute food insecurity2 and hunger-related deaths linked to the suspension by the World Food Programme of lifesaving assistance owing to global funding shortfalls were reported in several camps for internally displaced persons.3 This also affected South Sudanese refugees in Ethiopia and Uganda, whose situation became increasingly desperate” (A/HRC/49/78 – UN Report, February 2022).

The reading of this paragraph is just tragic and sad. That the extent of suffering, lack of food security and insecurity forces people in this manner. The government have clearly failed it’s mission, when the numbers and the amount of plight is at this stage. This shows what is needed right now, but there is a need to ensure this not continue. The food insecurity has to worked on, by not only World Food Programme (WFP) or others, but by the state itself. As they can ensure and find ways to produce and store food in the states.

The South Sudanese citizens should need to beg or get help from foreign donors. The state itself should be self sufficient and has vast earnings of petroleum sales. The leaders and the state could forge way of funding and getting the needs covered. However, the R-TGoNU haven’t prioritized this and it’s sad at this point. Yes, some of the lack of food or growing food insecurity comes after the floods and such in the recent year. However, the state hasn’t prepared or ensured the safety in the other states either. It isn’t just one place, but nationally. That’s why the leaders and signatories or the R-ARCSS has huge tasks ahead.

South Sudan deserves better… as we know that most likely the R-ARCSS will be further delayed and get prolonged. That is just what the current leadership does. While this isn’t making things better, but only extending the pain and not finding solutions that could be implemented on behalf of the people. Peace.

Russia: Putin warns the oligarchs

They are trying to bet on a so-called fifth column, on traitors of the nation, on those who earn money here but live over there. And live there not just in a geographic sense, but in their minds and their consciousness which is that of slaves. I don’t judge those with villas in Miami or the French Riviera. Or who can’t get by without oysters or foie gras or so-called ‘gender freedoms.’ The problem is they mentally exist there, and not here, with our people, with Russia. They think this places them in a higher caste” – President Vladimir Putin (16.03.2022).

This is striking, unique and shows how his state of mind is these days. As the sanctions are hitting the economy hard. The wealth of the oligarchs is at stake and their foreign assets is ceased. Their investments, companies and all things are crashing. Not only the opportunities to have visa abroad, but all the money cannot buy them a life there now.

This means the wealth generated by the businesses and transactions in Russia. Cannot by the hegemony or lavish life in the West. We know Londongrad has been an issue, but Russian oligarchs has been involved in all parts of the West. That has been issue for a long time and the Russian money has funnelled across the continents.

It is really striking that Putin says this. We wouldn’t be shocked, if he has estates or assets across the globe. We wouldn’t be shocked, if he has vast accounts filled with massive amount of wealth in tax-havens like Switzerland or anywhere else. That would just make sense after all of these years in office.

President Putin and the Oligarchs has been a marriage of convenience. Where the oligarchs has enjoyed massive profits on the industries and resources of Russia. While they have supported and ensured the stability, which has been a needed political currency that Putin has thrived on. Now the sanctions are biting and the rich backers of the regime is hurting. They are losing stocks, estates and assets all over. Their riches is withering away and lost because of the invasion of Ukraine.

Now, he who has needed them and gotten support of them. Now, he tells them not to be associated or worried about the West. A life and an aspect, which has enriched the oligarchs. Where they could spend on lifestyle goods, enjoy holidays in sunny areas of Europe and spend time in skiing resorts in the alps. The oligarchs could taste Hollywood, BAFTA sand Cannes without any issues, as they we’re living lives that no one else could.

That’s why Putin is afraid that the luxurious VIPs feels touched by the sanctions and don’t want to live in micro-USSR issues in Moscow. Where they cant’ drink Coke or have a latte at Starbucks. He is afraid that Western companies leaving Russia and the losses will be a burden to many for the oligarchs. That’s why he speaks of dogma and ethics. Because, of nationalism is now supposed to be more valuable than wealth. This is rich coming from a power-hungry man who has used all means to stay in power. That has changed the laws to ensure his longevity. This is another sort of greed, which he has filled his heart and mind with.

So, when he tries to teach a lesson to the oligarchs. It says something and should be worth to note. As the oligarchs and Putin has all thrived on a beneficial relationship together over the years. They have all traded and it has been profitable. That is the truth.

Putin continued where Yeltsin’s privatization left off and the oligarchs became a class on their own. Now he has to either reign them in or in fear of what they will do, as they are losing their wealth. They are losing their businesses and privileges, which they have become so accustomed too. Peace.

Ukraine: Putin says Ukraine prepared to attack Belarus [and Russia can survive sanctions like the USSR]

If they hadn’t done this (a special operation in Ukraine. – Ed.) a day before, believe me, in a few days we would have drunk all this cup with huge losses. They were not only preparing to strike at the Donbass – they built positions for strike on Belarus” (RIA Novosti – ‘Putin announced positive developments in negotiations with Ukraine’ 11.03.2022).

On the 16th Day of the Russian-Belorussian invasion of the Ukraine. President Vladimir Putin had a visit of Belarus President Alexander Lukaschenko. Where these quotes has been released to Russian media, as way of narrating a story and selling the reasons for the war. Alas, the “special operation” which is a modified conflict and making it seem less severe.

However, we do know what is happening, the reports of casualties, deaths and harm, which is inflicted on Ukraine is vast. While Putin make it seem all reasonable, which is it not. He now makes a story where the Ukrainian army was supposed to attack Belarus now. After 16 days of invasion. That just shows what he is willing to do and further his agenda here. There is no where he will go and we knew the Russian armies had stationed battalions and where ready for war inside Belarus in the weeks before. Therefore, the Russian President is out of line saying this, but it just follows a pattern of making up excuses and reasons for using their means to invade Ukraine.

Later in the talks with President Lukaschenko he talks of the sanctions, which he has described like this:

The USSR really lived under the conditions of sanctions, developed and achieved tremendous success. <…> Even after 1990, sanctions against Russia were preserved and then moved into new and modern times from the time of the Soviet Union” (RIA Novosti – ‘Putin announced positive developments in negotiations with Ukraine’ 11.03.2022).

The Soviet and the USSR is very important to Putin. That’s why the sphere of the USSR is vital for his interests and power. He needs to galvanize that period and install that in the memory of the current civilians. As he wants to extol that and exhilarate that at an amp speed. Where the Russian Federation is trying to take the former Republic’s under the wings.

Putin is clearly just making smoke and mirrors. All sorts of excuses for it. As Belarus has supported the war from the beginning and made it possible to attack Ukraine from a broader spectrum than just the bordering regions of Russia. Alas, Putin knows this very well, but needs to vilify Ukraine, which he does as much as he can.

Nobody should be surprised, he uses all means, panic and propaganda to defend his reasons to invade. He will fight his inner demons and ghosts of the past, which is the reason for it happening in the first place. Ukraine is the victim, because the Russian President wants more power and have real influence in Kyiv. Something that has withered with time. Now in 2022 he needs excuses to execute it and making up stuff to legitimizing furthering Belorussian participation in it. Peace.

Jamaica: Energy Minister Updates National Partnership Council on Country’s Fuel Supply (10.03.2022)