Month: December 2020

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen hit out at China saying the country is not a dumping ground for Beijing in terms of vaccine trial” adding that the first batch of COVID-19 vaccines will come from the UN-backed COVAX.

“Cambodia is not a dustbin.. and not a place for a vaccine trial,” Hun Sen said in blunt terms during a marathon speech on December 15, adding that he will only trust and accept vaccines approved by the World Health Organization (WHO), reported Asia Times.

Asia Times cited reports that Cambodia’s government has so far collected US$48 million in donations, mostly from wealthy tycoons allied to Hun Sen’s ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP), which will go towards the US$200 million needed to purchase inoculations.

The first batch of China’s Sinovac vaccines has already been delivered to Indonesia, yet there has been no official comment on whether Beijing will donate doses to its so-called “ironclad friend” Cambodia. This is despite pledges from Chinese Premier Li Keqiang in August that mainland Southeast Asian states would be given priority once shots are ready, reported Asia Times.

David Hutt, writing for Asia Times reported that a call for a neutral foreign policy is rising in Cambodia.

Taking note of the schism between the ruling elites and the general masses, he opined that the foreign policy of Cambodia, shaped by political elites is not in line with the majority of the public.

They are fearful of China’s economic and strategic influence. Locals accuse Chinese firms of only hiring Chinese workers and engaging in land grabs. They also carp Chinese outprice local in property deals. This is most keenly felt in Sihanoukville, a coastal city and hub for Chinese investment, where locals have complained since 2017 that the city is being turned into a Chinese “colony”, reported Asia Times.

Not only the locals but regional neighbours too are wary of Cambodia’s foreign policy. The Southeast Asian bloc was furious over Cambodia’s 2012 and 2016 insistence to tone down its communique against Chinese aggression in the South China Sea, where it claims ownership of territory already claimed by four regional states. It made Phnom Penh the source of frustration amongst its neighbours.

There has even been recent talk that Cambodia and Laos, another close friend of China, should be kicked out of the regional bloc because their foreign policies are overly aligned with Beijing’s, reported Asia Times.

“Cambodia needs also to rethink its foreign policy approach…It needs to improve its tarnished international image, in particular, by addressing the widespread perception that it is a Chinese proxy,” wrote Kimkong Heng, a PhD candidate at the University of Queensland, last month. (ANI)

Chinese Police have detained filmmaker and writer Du Bin, who is known for highlighting human rights violations in China through his work, in Beijing.

Friends of the 48-year-old former photojournalist said Du was being held at a detention centre in Daxing district, accused of “picking quarrels and provoking trouble” – catch-all charge police often used to stifle dissent, South China Morning Post reported.

His family had been warned not to speak to the media, the friends said, the Post added. Lawyer Wang Yu tweeted that Du was taken away by police on Wednesday.

Du who formerly worked for The New York Times as a freelance photographer, but had to stop working due to the pressure by the Chinese authorities in 2011.

He has since produced a number of well-known documentaries focusing on human rights violations and political events in China, and published several books on the Communist Party’s history.

In 2013, he was held for 37 days after he released a documentary exposing the inhumane treatment of Falun Gong practitioners at a labour reform facility in Shenyang in the northeastern province of Liaoning.

Wu Yangwei, a Guangzhou-based activist, said Du’s detention could be related to his publishing projects.

“The authorities have already significantly tightened control over the media and the internet in China and are extending control over publishing overseas now, as well as the use of social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter outside China,” Wu said.

Du’s criticism of the authorities made him both vulnerable and an obvious target, Wu said.”The authorities have purged civil society [in China] in the past few years, suppressing free speech and any defiant activities,” he said. “[Activists in China] now live in a state of despair and fear, so I doubt that the detention [of Du] will cause any pushback.”

On Tuesday, the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists said China topped the global ranking of imprisoned journalists for the second year in a row, with at least 47 journalists behind bars since December last year. (ANI)

By sharing a glimpse of her training session from her upcoming film ‘Dhaakad’, actor Kangana Ranaut on Friday treated fans to an intriguing clip featuring the action rehearsals.

The ‘Queen’ actor took to Instagram and posted a short clip that showcased the actor indulging in the practice of an action sequence to be shot for her next project.

In the clip, the ‘Tanu weds Manu’ star is seen holding a tool, with the help of which the actor swiftly enacts sword fighting. Sporting grey jeggings and a dark green T-shirt, the actor bore a casual look with a high ponytail as she engaged in the intense training session with her trainer.

The ‘Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi’ star also penned a note with the short clip.

She noted, “Action rehearsals for #Dhakaad going on whole day in Manali, as I swiftly leave the political world of Jaya Maa behind, kick n punch in to the world of Agent Agni, breaking bones and pulling out eye balls, probably my most favourite things to do, LOVE, (with red heart emojis).”

With the post hitting the photo-sharing platform, it garnered more than 84,000 likes with many fans leaving red heart and fire emoticons. Besides ‘Dhaakad,’ Ranaut also has the patriotic film ‘Tejas’ in the pipeline. (ANI)

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday requested the Deputy Election Commissioner to deploy female CPF personnel in Muslim-dominated areas to verify burqa-clad voters in the forthcoming Assembly polls in the state.

In the letter, the BJP said that it is not possible for CPF jawans to establish the identity of burqa-clad females before permitting them entry into the booth during the polling.

“In minority (Muslim) areas, female voters normally come clad in burqa. It is not possible for CPF jawans to establish their identity before permitting them entry into the booth. You are requested to ensure that these areas are mapped in advance and adequate number of female CPF are deployed,” read the letter.

BJP further alleged that there has been a sharp rise in the numbers of electors, especially in many parts that are close to the Bangladesh border.

“From the draft electoral list that was made public on November 18, it was noticed that there has been a sharp rise in the numbers of electors, especially in many parts that are close to the Bangladesh border and those that are predominantly minority voters,” the letter said.

“As an example, we would draw your attention to 149 AC Kasba; 151 AC Sonarpur Uttar; 157 AC Metiabruz. In 149 AC Kasba ward number 66, there has been a rise of approximately 10 per cent in the number of electors. All constituencies have not had any new township or settlement, yet there is a substantial jump in electors. Also, we find that dead voters and those who have changed their dwelling place are not struck out from the voters’ list. In the past elections, it has been seen these votes have also been cast,” it said. (ANI)

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari condemned the arrest of Member of National Assembly (MNA) and Pashtun leader Mohammad Ali Wazir by stating that “it has been the modus operandi of the fascist governments to implicate the elected representatives in false cases to crush the public voice”.

He said the arrest of Wazir was “against the democratic traditions”.

“It has been the modus operandi of the fascist governments to implicate the elected representatives in false cases to crush the public voice,” Geo News quoted Bilawal as saying in a statement on Thursday.

Police arrested Ali Wazir here on Wednesday in connection with a case registered against him and several leaders of the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) in Karachi after a recent public meeting by the country’s opposition parties.

Bilawal said that holding public meetings is “no crime” and did not warrant arresting an elected representative, Geo News said.

He warned the Imran Khan-led government that if it “continues to muzzle freedom of expression”, it will “not bring good results”, Geo News reported.

He also said in the statement that the cases being registered against the elected representatives and political leaders are “baseless”.

The PTM leaders were accused of committing several offences, including hatching a criminal conspiracy and passing derogatory remarks against state institutions, reported Dawn.

Peshawar Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Mohammad Ali Gandapur said that Wazir was arrested at the request of the Sindh police.

According to Dawn, witnesses said Wazir was arrested after he attended a ceremony held at Shuhada APS Public Library in connection with the sixth anniversary of the Army Public School attack, where 147 people were killed.

Several leaders of the PTM, who have also been charged in the case, were also present but were not arrested.

Apart from Wazir, others named in the FIR include PTM chief Manzoor Pashteen and MNA Mohsin Dawar among others.

The complainant in the case claimed that when he reached the venue of the public meeting he saw the suspects addressing around 2,000 participants and trying to create hatred towards different groups and to create law and order problems, Dawn reported.

This comes as the rattled Imran Khan’s government registered a case against a central leadership of the opposition’s 11-party alliance — Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) — for causing irreparable damage to a national asset at the rally in Lahore. (ANI)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday appreciated Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar for “attempting to have a polite dialogue” with the farmers through an open letter, requesting them to read it.

“Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar has expressed his feelings by writing a letter to the farmer brothers and sisters, attempting to have a polite dialogue. I request all the farmers to read it. The countrymen are also urged that they should extend it to as many people as possible,” the Prime Minister tweeted.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah retweeted Tomar’s letter and said only Prime Minister Modi can fulfil the goal of doubling the farmers’ income, adding that people who have “looted” them for 60 years are “misleading” them.

“I assure the farmer brothers that if anyone in the country thinks about your interests and can fulfill the goal of doubling your income, he is just and only Narendra Modi ji. People who have looted your rights for 60 years are just misleading you,” Shah tweeted.

Earlier today, amid protests on Delhi borders against the new farm laws, Agriculture Minister Tomar wrote an open letter to the farmers, saying “misunderstanding has been created among some farmer unions” and “white lies” are being spread on Minimum Support Price. (ANI)

Amid protests on Delhi borders against new farm laws, Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar has written an open letter to farmers, saying “misunderstanding has been created among some farmer unions” and “white lies” are being spread on minimum support price.

The minister slammed the Congress saying that they had spoken in favour of such laws before they were enacted. He said that AAP and Shiromani Akali Dal were also speaking “in a different tone”.

In his eight-page letter, Tomar said he comes from a family of farmers and knows the finer points and challenges of farming. He said the government “will never stop” minimum support price mechanism.

The minister, who tweeted his letter, said that the government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi has worked on the mantra of “sabka saath, sabka vikas, sabka vishwas” to work for the welfare of every citizen without any discrimination and the past six years are a witness to it.

He urged farmers to have faith that “the reforms done for their welfare will be the foundation of a new chapter in Indian agriculture and will empower them and give them more freedom”.

Tomar said in the letter he is greatly satisfied as Agriculture Minister that after new laws came into force, the Union government did a record amount of procurement on minimum support price(MSP).

“It is a matter of great satisfaction for me as Agriculture Minister that after the new laws come into force, all previous records of government procurement on MSP have been broken. At a time when our government is setting new records of procurement at MSP, increasing the number of procurement centers, some people are lying to the farmers that MSP will be removed,” he said.

The minister urged farmers to “recognize this white lie” being spread by “motivated political interests”.

“I urge the farmers to recognize this white lie being spread by some people motivated by their political interests and reject it outright. The government, which gave farmers MSP at one-and-a-half times (the cost of production), which in the last six years, through the MSP, provided farmers almost double the amount in their accounts, that government will never stop MSP. It will be continued,” he said.

He said betterment of farmers has been one of the most important priorities in the life of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“The government under the leadership of Prime Minister has been taking continuous decisions for increasing income of farmers, bringing prosperity in their lives,” he said.

Tomar said the steps taken by the government will “hugely benefit” the 80 per cent of small farmers in the country who have been doing farming largely to feed themselves.

“You also know that 80 per cent of the small farmers in our country hold only one or two acres of land. The steps taken by the government are hugely beneficial to small farmers,” he said.

He attacked Congress for not implementing the suggestions of the Swaminathan Committee report for eight years and added the party also supported such reforms and even included them in its manifesto.

“The process of dialogue about these reforms began in 2001 during Atalji’s government. After Atalji, there was a Congress government at the Centre for 10 years and they were also in support of these reforms, even included them in their manifesto,” he wrote.

The Agriculture Minister also attacked AAP and Shiromani Akali Dal for opposing the farm sector laws.

“Why Aam Aadmi Party wrote in its manifesto at the time of Punjab election that it would allow farmers to sell products outside the mandi, and opposing it now? The Hooda Committee had also talked about agrarian reforms. The committee also had big leaders from the Akali Dal, so why are they speaking in a different tone today?” he asked.

He said that it is “nation’s misfortune” that some people who call themselves “neutral” and consider themselves “intellectual” are shamelessly speaking the exact opposite of what they said before about agrarian reforms.

The farmers are protesting on Delhi borders against three farm laws enacted recently by the government. (ANI)

Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Mahua Moitra on Thursday said that the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) order to summon three serving IPS officers for central deputation is an attack on the federal structure of the state.

“Hon’ble HM aka the kindergarten bully using MHA to forcibly give WB cadre IPS officers punishment postings in total violation of the federal structure. Each state isn’t Gujarat, Sir and every organisation is not the BCCI for you to control at whim!” Moitra tweeted.

Earlier on December 12, in a move conveying its concern over the attack on BJP president JP Nadda’s convoy on December 10, the MHA had summoned three IPS officers, at the level of ADG, DIG and SP, from West Bengal to serve in the central deputation.

Government sources had said that the three officers were called for central deputation for the alleged lapse in providing security to Nadda during his two-day visit to West Bengal.

Sources said the Centre can call central services officers on central deputation and they may also face some serious disciplinary action for any lapses.

They said the state has no role as cadre controlling authority of these IAS and IPS officers is the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) and MHA respectively.

The convoy of Nadda was attacked on December 10 and several BJP leaders including Kailash Vijayvargiya were injured when protesters pelted stones at their vehicles at Diamond Harbour in West Bengal.

The MHA had earlier summoned state Chief Secretary and Director General of Police (DGP) over the law and order situation in the state. However, the West Bengal government decided not to send them.

The MHA had yet earlier sought a report from West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar over the law and order situation in the state. (ANI)

Terming the tearing up of the copies of the new farm laws at a special Delhi Assembly session by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal his “latest nautanki (theatrics)”, Punjab Cabinet Minister Vijay Inder Singla on Thursday said it was another desperate attempt to cover up the Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) U-turn on the agricultural Acts.

“These theatrics will not help stop the implementation of the three legislation, one of which the AAP government in the national capital had itself notified less than a month ago,” Singla was quoted in a statement from the Punjab government.

He said that the Delhi CM’s “pathetic attempt to play to the public sentiment” only exposed him further as a “first-class fraud” who had no qualms about pretending to be concerned about the plight of the farmers while actually shamelessly stabbing them in the back.

“Even as his party was purportedly extending support to the farmers preparing to march to Delhi to fight for their lives and livelihood, Kejriwal’s government in Delhi was busy preparing the notification for implementing one of the very laws, which the farmers were fighting against,” he added.

The Congress minister compared Kejriwal’s “flip-flop” on the issue to the moral ethics of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), which made a U-turn within three months, instead of six months like the AAP.

“One could possibly blame Kejriwal’s lack of experience compared with the Badals that caused him to realise that antagonising the farmers could cost the AAP heavily in the 2022 Punjab Assembly polls,” the minister noted.

Singla, however, pointed out that despite this, the Kejriwal government would still execute the black farm laws in Delhi.

“Why else did he not take steps to withdraw the notification or come out with his government’s own Bills to negate the central laws, as was done by Punjab and some other states,” he asked. (ANI)