Perspectivas / Perspectives

India’s rapid descent into xenophobia, violence, and irrationality
has an important economic dimension, but it takes politicians
to channel these emotions into nationalism, and to embolden
the nationalists to commit violence.  Now that the BJP has done so,
is it able – or willing – to exorcise the many demons it has unleashed?

New Delhi, Dec.10.– Injustice, discrimination, and violence are hardly unheard of in India. But today, they are being normalized, enabled, and even encouraged by the state, which is promoting an aggressive form of Hindu nationalism that looks increasingly like mob rule. India’s diversity and complex civilizational legacy are now under assault, and it is shaking the very foundations of Indian democracy. 

In August, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government stripped Jammu and Kashmir – India’s only Muslim-majority territory – of its special status, which had granted it considerable autonomy, and split it into two “union territories” over which the central government now wields more direct control.

 Bardarash, Iraq; Dec.8.– Hundreds of Syrian Kurds have returned home from Iraqi refugee camps over recent weeks despite fears for their safety, amid complaints that thousands have been ‘imprisoned’ with little access to food, healthcare and work.

Over the past month, around 100 people have been voluntarily returning each week from camps in Iraq after fleeing northern Syria at the start of a Turkish offensive in October designed to force out Kurdish forces.

Arrecia la represión en medio de campaña de difamación del gobierno y cambios en la "vigilancia electrónica" para perseguir a la disidencia.

• 2.986 detenciones arbitrarias en Cuba en 2019.
• 123 presos políticos identificados en carceles cubanas.

La Habana, Dic.3.– Al menos 218 detenciones arbitrarias se produjeron en Cuba en noviembre, en medio de una intensa campaña de difamación del gobierno contra los activistas de derechos humanos y de cambios legales para perseguir a los disidentes.

La Habana, Matanzas, Villa Clara y Santiago de Cuba fueron las provincias más afectadas por los arrestos, según los datos recopilados por la red del Observatorio Cubano de Derechos Humanos en la isla. Decenas de afectados fueron además detenidos violentamente, multados y amenazados por la policía.

La mayoría de los arrestados intentaban celebrar actividades políticas en las sedes de sus organizaciones, asistir a misa o viajar a otra provincia o municipio del país. Varios fueron sitiados en sus casas para impedir que salieran a la calle durante las celebraciones por el aniversario 500 de la ciudad de La Habana.

Seoul, Dec. 6.– The International Criminal Court said Thursday that it has no jurisdiction over North Korea’s leader Kim Jong-un. 

In 2016, leaders of nongovernmental organizations NK Watch and Lawyers for Human Rights and Unification of Korea filed a complaint against Kim with the ICC, holding him responsible for human rights violations in the North.

ICC prosecutor Fatou Bensouda said in its annual Report on Preliminary Examination Activities issued Thursday that the alleged crimes referred to the ICC were neither committed on the territory of an ICC member state nor by a national of a member state, nor has the United Nations Security Council referred the situation in question.