#7: The Weekly Brief - Conflicts, Courts, and Elections

A 10 mins brief of the key world and Indian political events.

World:

Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict rages on:
Clashes broke out and escalated in the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding autonomous region which is controlled by ethnic Armenians but recognized as an Azerbaijan territory internationally. These former Soviet states, the Christian majority Armenia and Muslim majority Azerbaijan have clashed sporadically on the border, but the current escalations come in the background of global focus on dealing with the pandemic, diplomacy vacuum left by the US, and Azerbaijani loss of confidence in negotiations. Turkey declared full support to Azeri’s while Russia and Europe have called for talks. Explainer. Way Forward.

The main financier of the Rwandan genocide to face UN tribunal:
Félicien Kabuga, the richest man in Rwanda before the 1994 genocide of Tutsi’s and Hutu moderates, who is indicted of financially sponsoring, supporting, and promoting extremists using his radio station will be transferred from France to the UN tribunal in Tanzania. He was captured in May after a 26-year manhunt hindered by his influence and support from other nations. Story of his capture here.

New Zealand starts advance voting:
The 3-year national elections have started in New Zealand with early voting allowed 2 weeks before the election day on Oct 17. NZ follows a mixed-member proportional (MMP) system where adults vote a representative to their local seat and also vote for a party which is counted nationally, to proportionately allocate parliament seats to all parties. This system was adopted in 1993 to correct for small parties winning vote share but no parliamentary seats. This 2020 election will be a test for internationally popular Labour leader Jacinda Ardern and also includes a referendum on recreational cannabis and euthanasia. Link

Kuwait’s Emir and leading Arab Diplomat passes away:
Sheik Sabah Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah, the gulf state’s long-time foreign minister, and ruler for the past 14 years passed away at the age of 91. He mediated many crises in the gulf, promoting peace and gulf unity. He is succeeded by his 83-year-old half-brother who has about a year to decide his successor which needs to be approved by parliament. Link

India:

Hathras Nirbhaya will be remembered:
The moral and political backlash this incident and the handling of it is receiving is deserved. The more we focus on the caste power equations, nexus between politicians, police, and civil bureaucracy, the better it is. With attention, comes outrage and political pressure for action. All whose hands denied the respect and life of a young woman and her family, when living and dead must be punished.

CBI trial court acquits all in Babri Masjid criminal case:
The court did not consider the newspaper articles, photos, and videos as credible evidence and was not convinced that there was a criminal conspiracy behind the demolition of the mosque. Justice Liberhan's commission came to a different conclusion in 2009 though. The court only considers evidence submitted by CBI and it is hard to prove a conspiracy in our legal system. CBI can challenge the judgment further though it is unlikely. Link

Govt relaxes Defense offset requirements:
For govt-govt (ex: Rafale) and single vendor purchases, arms supplier’s, 30% of the deal spending in domestic investment, or export purchases (called offsets) are no longer required. This policy started in 2005 hoped to drive technology transfer and spur domestic production, but CAG reported that these commitments have not been met. The sticker price inflation offsets cause is not worth the value it generates. This is a right move along with the recent push for domestic production. Link

BJP - JDU to split seats equally for Bihar election:
Instead of 101-141 split from the 2010 states elections when they last contested together, it is now equal highlighting BJP’s confidence and balance of power vis-a-vis its regional allies. LJP (Paswan’s party) which will likely take few seats from BJP’s kitty is clamoring loudly for a non-Nitish led government. Link