Headline News 20/09/2017

Headlines:

Suu Kyi Calls for "Return of Refugees"

Palestinian Conundrum

Egypt Trial sees Hundreds Imprisoned over 2013 protests

Details:

Suu Kyi Calls for "Return of Refugees"

On Tuesday 19th September, Suu Kyi made her first address to the Burmese Government about the ongoing issue with the Rohingyas in Rakhine. In her address, she spoke about the ongoing issue but did not condemn the violence on the side of the regime. She also explained the plan for the government to take back refugees to which U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson welcomed the Myanmar government’s commitment to allow the return of refugees, but urged it to facilitate humanitarian aid to those affected by the violence and to address “deeply troubling” human rights abuse allegations. It is clear that the highlighting of the issue by alternative media streams has forced world leaders to make a statement on the genocide taking place. However, the concern of the world is far from legitimate as their lack of intervention and continued soft condemnation demonstrates that their interests trump all their "sacred" values this genocide is contravening.

Palestinian Conundrum

Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah is planning to visit Gaza for talks after Hamas agreed to steps towards resolving a decade-long split with its West Bank-based rival Fatah. Nabil Shaath, a senior adviser to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, told journalists in the West Bank city of Ramallah that Hamdallah would meet Hamas officials in Gaza City and assert the government's control over ministries as a first step towards implementing a larger agreement. "We await the first steps on the ground. We want to see Mr Hamdallah received by Hamas, the door to all the ministries open," he said. "That really could happen in the next 24 hours." Hamas announced on Sunday it had agreed to demands by Abbas's Fatah party to dissolve what is seen as a rival administration in Gaza, while saying it was ready for elections and negotiations towards forming a unity government. Abbas's internationally recognised Palestinian Authority (PA) is located in the Jewish entity occupied West Bank, but it has had no control in Gaza for a decade - after Hamas seized the territory in a near civil war in 2007. This power struggle to rule over land essentially on behalf of the occupying Zionist entity has cost the people over the years and therefore it comes as no surprise that in recent months Abbas has sought to squeeze Hamas by reducing the power supply to the Gaza Strip, with the two million residents receiving only three or four hours of electricity per day as a result. No unity government that only cares for its own political gain will be able to solve the issues in Palestine nor reverse the occupation.

Egypt Trial sees Hundreds Imprisoned over 2013 protests

A shocking 43 people have been sentenced with life in prison after a trial in Egypt. In addition to this, hundreds of other protesters were given year-long sentences. Almost 500 people in total were charged with crimes over the violence in Egypt, which erupted following Mohammed Morsi’s removal in 2013. 300 of these trials received sentences from 5 to 15 years. It has been some time after the crackdown on the Muslim Brotherhood and its supporters, but the recent sentences highlight the existing attempt by the government to suppress any sort of sentiment towards Islam. In fact, thousands have been arrested on this agenda. In the latest mass trial alone, 43 were sentenced to life, 17 were sentenced to 15 years, 67 were give 10-year sentences, 216 were given 5 years and 52 were acquitted. This is the disgrace of the current regime, and its desperate attempt at silencing any opposition to its rule.