<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hong-kong-protesters-hit-pause-to-mark-september-11-attacks-248978">Hong&nbsp;Kong&nbsp;activists</a> called off protests on Wednesday in remembrance of the September&nbsp;11, 2001 attacks on the United States and denounced a Chinese state newspaper report that they were planning "massive terror" in the Chinese-ruled city.

Hong&nbsp;Kong&nbsp;has been rocked by months of sometimes violent unrest, prompted by anger over planned legislation to allow extraditions to China, but broadening into calls for democracy and for Communist rulers in Beijing to leave the city alone.

"Anti-government fanatics are planning massive terror attacks, including blowing up gas pipes, in&nbsp;Hong&nbsp;Kong&nbsp;on&nbsp;September&nbsp;11," the&nbsp;Hong&nbsp;Kong&nbsp;edition of the China Daily said on its Facebook page, alongside a picture of the hijacked airliner attacks on the twin towers in New York.

"The 9/11&nbsp;terror plot also encourages indiscriminate attacks on non-native speakers of Cantonese and starting mountain fires."

The post said, "leaked information was part of the strategy being schemed by radical&nbsp;protesters&nbsp;in their online chat rooms".

The former British colony of&nbsp;Hong&nbsp;Kong&nbsp;returned to China in 1997 under a "one country, two systems" formula that guarantees freedoms not enjoyed on the mainland, including an independent legal system, triggering the anger over the extradition bill.

Hong&nbsp;Kong&nbsp;leader Carrie Lam has said she will withdraw the bill but many&nbsp;Hong&nbsp;Kong&nbsp;residents fear Beijing is steadily eroding the autonomy of the Asian financial hub.

China denies meddling and has accused the United States, Britain and others of fomenting the unrest.

"We don’t even need to do a fact check to know that this is fake news," said one protester, Michael, 24, referring to the China Daily post.

"The state media doesn’t care about its credibility.

Whenever something they claimed to have heard on WhatsApp or friends’ friends, they will spread it right away."

The&nbsp;protesters&nbsp;called off action on Wednesday.

"In solidarity against terrorism, all forms of protest in&nbsp;Hong&nbsp;Kong&nbsp;will be suspended on September 11, apart from potential singing and chanting," they said in a statement.

The China Daily report was worrying, said another protester, Karen, 23. "When they try to frame the whole protest with those words, it alarms me," she said.

"They are predicting rather than reporting. I think people calling it off today is a nice move."

&nbsp;

FAMILY FRICTIONS

The chairwoman of the&nbsp;Hong&nbsp;Kong&nbsp;Federation of Women, Pansy Ho, a prominent businesswoman and daughter of Macau casino operator Stanley Ho, said she was worried about violent extremism.

"Children of all ages are indoctrinated with police hatred and anti-establishment beliefs at school and online mobilised to conduct massive school strikes," she told the UN&nbsp;Human Rights Council in Geneva.

Lam said in a speech on Wednesday that&nbsp;Hong&nbsp;Kong&nbsp;was grappling with significant challenges.

"My fervent hope is that we can bridge our divide by upholding the one country, two systems principle, and the Basic Law, and through the concerted efforts of the government and the people of&nbsp;Hong&nbsp;Kong," she told business leaders.

The Basic Law is&nbsp;Hong&nbsp;Kong's mini-constitution.

Hong&nbsp;Kong&nbsp;airline Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd has become the biggest corporate casualty of the unrest after China demanded it suspend staff involved in, or who support, the protests.

Cathay Pacific said on Wednesday inbound traffic to&nbsp;Hong&nbsp;Kong&nbsp;in August fell 38 per cent&nbsp;and outbound traffic 12 per cent&nbsp;compared with a year earlier, and that it did not anticipate&nbsp;September&nbsp;to be any less difficult.

Joshua Wong, one of the prominent leaders of the 2014 "Umbrella" pro-democracy movement which brought key streets in&nbsp;Hong&nbsp;Kong&nbsp;to a standstill for 79 days, said in Berlin that the fight for democracy was an uphill battle.

"I hope one day not only&nbsp;Hong&nbsp;Kong&nbsp;people, but also people in mainland China, can enjoy freedom and democracy," he said.

The protests spread to the sports field on Tuesday, as many football fans defied Chinese law to boo the national anthem ahead of a soccer World Cup qualifier against Iran.

Several peaceful protests are planned for the next few days, combining with celebrations marking the Mid-Autumn Festival.

Hong Kong activists called off protests on Wednesday in remembrance of the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States and denounced a Chinese state newspaper report that they were planning "massive terror" in the Chinese-ruled city.

Hong Kong activists called off protests on Wednesday in remembrance of the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States and denounced a Chinese state newspaper report that they were planning "massive terror" in the Chinese-ruled city. Hong Kong has been rocked by months of sometimes violent unrest, prompted by anger over planned legislation to allow extraditions to China, but broadening into calls for democracy and for Communist rulers in Beijing to leave the city alone. "Anti-government fanatics are planning massive terror attacks, including blowing up gas pipes, in Hong Kong on September 11," the Hong Kong edition of the China Daily said on its Facebook page, alongside a picture of the hijacked airliner attacks on the twin towers in New York. "The 9/11 terror plot also encourages indiscriminate attacks on non-native speakers of Cantonese and starting mountain fires." The post said, "leaked information was part of the strategy being schemed by radical protesters in their online chat rooms". The former British colony of Hong Kong returned to China in 1997 under a "one country, two systems" formula that guarantees freedoms not enjoyed on the mainland, including an independent legal system, triggering the anger over the extradition bill. Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam has said she will withdraw the bill but many Hong Kong residents fear Beijing is steadily eroding the autonomy of the Asian financial hub. China denies meddling and has accused the United States, Britain and others of fomenting the unrest. "We don’t even need to do a fact check to know that this is fake news," said one protester, Michael, 24, referring to the China Daily post. "The state media doesn’t care about its credibility. Whenever something they claimed to have heard on WhatsApp or friends’ friends, they will spread it right away." The protesters called off action on Wednesday. "In solidarity against terrorism, all forms of protest in Hong Kong will be suspended on September 11, apart from potential singing and chanting," they said in a statement. The China Daily report was worrying, said another protester, Karen, 23. "When they try to frame the whole protest with those words, it alarms me," she said. "They are predicting rather than reporting. I think people calling it off today is a nice move." FAMILY FRICTIONS The chairwoman of the Hong Kong Federation of Women, Pansy Ho, a prominent businesswoman and daughter of Macau casino operator Stanley Ho, said she was worried about violent extremism. "Children of all ages are indoctrinated with police hatred and anti-establishment beliefs at school and online mobilised to conduct massive school strikes," she told the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva. Lam said in a speech on Wednesday that Hong Kong was grappling with significant challenges. "My fervent hope is that we can bridge our divide by upholding the one country, two systems principle, and the Basic Law, and through the concerted efforts of the government and the people of Hong Kong," she told business leaders. The Basic Law is Hong Kong's mini-constitution. Hong Kong airline Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd has become the biggest corporate casualty of the unrest after China demanded it suspend staff involved in, or who support, the protests. Cathay Pacific said on Wednesday inbound traffic to Hong Kong in August fell 38 per cent and outbound traffic 12 per cent compared with a year earlier, and that it did not anticipate September to be any less difficult. Joshua Wong, one of the prominent leaders of the 2014 "Umbrella" pro-democracy movement which brought key streets in Hong Kong to a standstill for 79 days, said in Berlin that the fight for democracy was an uphill battle. "I hope one day not only Hong Kong people, but also people in mainland China, can enjoy freedom and democracy," he said. The protests spread to the sports field on Tuesday, as many football fans defied Chinese law to boo the national anthem ahead of a soccer World Cup qualifier against Iran. Several peaceful protests are planned for the next few days, combining with celebrations marking the Mid-Autumn Festival.

Hong Kong protesters hit pause in memory of September 11

There is a tyrannical alliance between totalitarian Pakistan and authoritarian China, which is based on a shared rejection of democracy and who are both determined to extinguish liberty and subjugate the individual, either to sharia or the state.

India, the world’s largest democracy, is at the forefront of that battle in the strategically critical region of northern India bordering Pakistan, China and Afghanistan.

Pakistan was created as an Islamic state out of the partition of the British Indian Empire in August 1947.

Islam is the societal “glue” that holds Pakistan together, an otherwise artificial state composed of ethnic groups that never interacted in any significant way.

Since the late 1970s, under President Zia ul-Haq, Pakistan has pursued a policy of aggressive “Islamization” with the proliferation of religious schools “madrasas” and religious political parties, resulting in a society that has become ever more extreme and intolerant.

Through Islamization, ethnic self-determination in Pakistan is being suppressed and Islamic fighters have been found to be useful proxies for the Pakistani military and its Inter-service Intelligence agency (ISI), particularly in the form of terrorist operations against India and Afghanistan.

The concept of Ummah or Islamic community, the basis for pan-Islamism, provides Islamabad with a convenient, if illegitimate, rationale for the selective interference in the affairs of other nations for the “protection” of fellow Muslims, an exception being China, Pakistan’s “all weather” ally and brutal oppressor of Muslim Uighurs.

China seeks global domination. One vehicle to achieve it is the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), a collection of infrastructure projects and a network of commercial agreements designed to link the entire world directly to the Chinese economy through inter-connected land-based and maritime routes.

The guarantor of China’s soft power approach to economic hegemony is the hard power of Chinese military expansion, which includes a plan to establish military bases in Pakistan, particularly in Balochistan, Pakistan’s southwestern province.

Those bases would control the vital maritime lanes of the Arabian Sea at the mouth of the Persian Gulf and provide a critical link between China’s military facilities in the South China Sea and its naval base in Djibouti at the entrance of the Red Sea and the Suez Canal.

The flagship of BRI and also its weakest link is the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a development project, the backbone of which is a transportation network connecting China to the Pakistani seaports of Gwadar and Karachi located on the Arabian Sea.

CPEC violates Indian sovereignty and territorial integrity because it runs through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, a section of undivided Jammu and Kashmir and an integral part of India.

China’s growing and ever more risky investment in Pakistan has forced Beijing to overlook and sometimes shield Islamabad's use of terror against India, especially attacks in Jammu and Kashmir.

That situation persists despite the fact that China is obligated under the charter of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) agreement to condemn and oppose terrorism.

Nowhere has broader Pakistani-Chinese goals for regional domination been more clearly and publicly articulated than in a June 2018 China Daily article by former Pakistani diplomat, Zamir Ahmed Awan, who works for the Beijing-controlled Center for China and Globalization.

“Peace in Afghanistan will allow economic activity between Central Asia, Russia, China and the Arabian Sea…It can change the fate of the whole region. Chinese projects like the Belt and Road Initiative and the objectives of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization [SCO] … At the recent SCO summit, the Afghanistan president was invited as a guest and observer. Hopefully, the country will soon join SCO. The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor may also be extended to benefit Afghanistan in the near future if there is peace.”

With China’s growing geopolitical strength, Pakistan now has significant strategic and economic incentives to exclude India and Western countries from maintaining any influence in Afghanistan.

An extension of CPEC to Afghanistan would benefit both China and Pakistan, whose economic goals include exploiting the estimated $3 trillion in untapped Afghan mineral resources.

In addition, Chinese-Pakistani de facto control of Afghanistan would be a victory for authoritarianism and an affirmation of Pakistan’s use of terrorist proxies as a successful means to extend its influence with its aim to damage and isolate India.

The evolving situation in South Asia has now made Jammu and Kashmir, not just an international centre of attention, but a strategic centre of gravity to thwart the tyrannical ambitions of the Chinese-Pakistani alliance.

Support for the restoration of Indian sovereignty to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir is not just in accordance with international law and diplomatic norms, but it is ultimately a battle for the survival of democracy.

&nbsp;

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

There is a tyrannical alliance between totalitarian Pakistan and authoritarian China, which is based on a shared rejection of democracy and who are both determined to extinguish liberty and subjugate the individual, either to sharia or the state.

There is a tyrannical alliance between totalitarian Pakistan and authoritarian China, which is based on a shared rejection of democracy and who are both determined to extinguish liberty and subjugate the individual, either to sharia or the state. India, the world’s largest democracy, is at the forefront of that battle in the strategically critical region of northern India bordering Pakistan, China and Afghanistan. Pakistan was created as an Islamic state out of the partition of the British Indian Empire in August 1947. Islam is the societal “glue” that holds Pakistan together, an otherwise artificial state composed of ethnic groups that never interacted in any significant way. Since the late 1970s, under President Zia ul-Haq, Pakistan has pursued a policy of aggressive “Islamization” with the proliferation of religious schools “madrasas” and religious political parties, resulting in a society that has become ever more extreme and intolerant. Through Islamization, ethnic self-determination in Pakistan is being suppressed and Islamic fighters have been found to be useful proxies for the Pakistani military and its Inter-service Intelligence agency (ISI), particularly in the form of terrorist operations against India and Afghanistan. The concept of Ummah or Islamic community, the basis for pan-Islamism, provides Islamabad with a convenient, if illegitimate, rationale for the selective interference in the affairs of other nations for the “protection” of fellow Muslims, an exception being China, Pakistan’s “all weather” ally and brutal oppressor of Muslim Uighurs. China seeks global domination. One vehicle to achieve it is the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), a collection of infrastructure projects and a network of commercial agreements designed to link the entire world directly to the Chinese economy through inter-connected land-based and maritime routes. The guarantor of China’s soft power approach to economic hegemony is the hard power of Chinese military expansion, which includes a plan to establish military bases in Pakistan, particularly in Balochistan, Pakistan’s southwestern province. Those bases would control the vital maritime lanes of the Arabian Sea at the mouth of the Persian Gulf and provide a critical link between China’s military facilities in the South China Sea and its naval base in Djibouti at the entrance of the Red Sea and the Suez Canal. The flagship of BRI and also its weakest link is the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a development project, the backbone of which is a transportation network connecting China to the Pakistani seaports of Gwadar and Karachi located on the Arabian Sea. CPEC violates Indian sovereignty and territorial integrity because it runs through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, a section of undivided Jammu and Kashmir and an integral part of India. China’s growing and ever more risky investment in Pakistan has forced Beijing to overlook and sometimes shield Islamabad's use of terror against India, especially attacks in Jammu and Kashmir. That situation persists despite the fact that China is obligated under the charter of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) agreement to condemn and oppose terrorism. Nowhere has broader Pakistani-Chinese goals for regional domination been more clearly and publicly articulated than in a June 2018 China Daily article by former Pakistani diplomat, Zamir Ahmed Awan, who works for the Beijing-controlled Center for China and Globalization. “Peace in Afghanistan will allow economic activity between Central Asia, Russia, China and the Arabian Sea…It can change the fate of the whole region. Chinese projects like the Belt and Road Initiative and the objectives of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization [SCO] … At the recent SCO summit, the Afghanistan president was invited as a guest and observer. Hopefully, the country will soon join SCO. The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor may also be extended to benefit Afghanistan in the near future if there is peace.” With China’s growing geopolitical strength, Pakistan now has significant strategic and economic incentives to exclude India and Western countries from maintaining any influence in Afghanistan. An extension of CPEC to Afghanistan would benefit both China and Pakistan, whose economic goals include exploiting the estimated $3 trillion in untapped Afghan mineral resources. In addition, Chinese-Pakistani de facto control of Afghanistan would be a victory for authoritarianism and an affirmation of Pakistan’s use of terrorist proxies as a successful means to extend its influence with its aim to damage and isolate India. The evolving situation in South Asia has now made Jammu and Kashmir, not just an international centre of attention, but a strategic centre of gravity to thwart the tyrannical ambitions of the Chinese-Pakistani alliance. Support for the restoration of Indian sovereignty to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir is not just in accordance with international law and diplomatic norms, but it is ultimately a battle for the survival of democracy. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

A global battle for democracy is being fought in Jammu and Kashmir

When Dictators Override Elected Representatives.

WION Gravitas: Democracy & dictatorship in Pakistan

The decision to reappoint General Bajwa as the army chief of Pakistan shows that democracy is a sham in Pakistan.

WION EDIT: Is democracy a sham in Pakistan?

'Each of us writes': Hong Kong's discontent fuels creative art

A Ukrainian court has ordered the seizure of a Russian tanker stopped last week over its alleged involvement in a Ukrainian-Russian naval clash last year, the country's chief military prosecutor said Tuesday.

A court, in the southern city of Odessa, ordered the seizure of the tanker Nika Spirit on Monday, according to documents posted by Anatoliy Matios on social media.

"The court seized the said vessel," Matios said. "We did it legally."

The Russian owner of the arrested tanker, the Altomar Shipping company, told Russian news agency Interfax that its management was "in contact with Ukrainian authorities" to solve a "range of issues related to the vessel".

Ukraine's SBU security service said last week it had stopped the Russian tanker, previously known as the Neyma when it entered the port of Izmail in the southern Odessa region.

Investigators seized documents on board and questioned its 10 crew members.

Moscow responded by threatening Kiev with unspecified "consequences", although it later confirmed the 10 crew members had been released and allowed to return to Russia.

However, Kiev kept the tanker.

In November, Russia opened fire on three Ukrainian navy vessels as they tried to pass through the Kerch Strait from the Black Sea to the Sea of Azov.&nbsp;

Ukraine says the Russian tanker was used in that confrontation, the most dangerous open clash between the two countries in recent years.&nbsp;

According to the SBU, the Neyma had changed its name painted on the hull to "conceal its involvement in the act of aggression".

Moscow also captured 24 Ukrainian sailors manning the vessels and plans to put them on trial, accusing them of violating its maritime borders.

The International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, a UN-established organisation overseeing maritime disputes based in Hamburg, has urged Russia to release the sailors and return them to Ukraine.&nbsp;

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukraine's new leader Volodymyr Zelensky discussed a possible prisoner swap during their first phone call this month.

The two former-Soviet neighbours have been caught up in hostilities since 2014 when Moscow annexed Crimea and supported a separatist insurgency in eastern Ukraine.

A Ukrainian court has ordered the seizure of a Russian tanker stopped last week over its alleged involvement in a Ukrainian-Russian naval clash last year, the country's chief military prosecutor said Tuesday.

A Ukrainian court has ordered the seizure of a Russian tanker stopped last week over its alleged involvement in a Ukrainian-Russian naval clash last year, the country's chief military prosecutor said Tuesday. A court, in the southern city of Odessa, ordered the seizure of the tanker Nika Spirit on Monday, according to documents posted by Anatoliy Matios on social media. "The court seized the said vessel," Matios said. "We did it legally." The Russian owner of the arrested tanker, the Altomar Shipping company, told Russian news agency Interfax that its management was "in contact with Ukrainian authorities" to solve a "range of issues related to the vessel". Ukraine's SBU security service said last week it had stopped the Russian tanker, previously known as the Neyma when it entered the port of Izmail in the southern Odessa region. Investigators seized documents on board and questioned its 10 crew members. Moscow responded by threatening Kiev with unspecified "consequences", although it later confirmed the 10 crew members had been released and allowed to return to Russia. However, Kiev kept the tanker. In November, Russia opened fire on three Ukrainian navy vessels as they tried to pass through the Kerch Strait from the Black Sea to the Sea of Azov. Ukraine says the Russian tanker was used in that confrontation, the most dangerous open clash between the two countries in recent years. According to the SBU, the Neyma had changed its name painted on the hull to "conceal its involvement in the act of aggression". Moscow also captured 24 Ukrainian sailors manning the vessels and plans to put them on trial, accusing them of violating its maritime borders. The International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, a UN-established organisation overseeing maritime disputes based in Hamburg, has urged Russia to release the sailors and return them to Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukraine's new leader Volodymyr Zelensky discussed a possible prisoner swap during their first phone call this month. The two former-Soviet neighbours have been caught up in hostilities since 2014 when Moscow annexed Crimea and supported a separatist insurgency in eastern Ukraine.

Ukraine seizes Russian tanker over naval clash: Prosecutor

''Democracy such as India must support Hong Kong,'' says Hong Kong activist. Pro-democracy activist says China hurting autonomy. Joshua Wong is 22-year old pre-democracy activist. Watch this video to listen-in what he talks with WION.

'China eroding Hong Kong autonomy,' Hong Kong activist speaks to WION

Events Of Civil Unrest Have Led To Change Globally. Hong Kong protests demonstrate the power of the people. Here's a list of instances where citizens have forced a government to backtrack its steps by mobilising in pursuit of their demands

Gravitas: The true power of democracy

30 Years Ago, Young Protesters In China Gathered In Tiananmen Square In Beijing. They Demanded Greater Freedom. The Chinese State Responded By Sending Troops And Tanks. Thousands Died. This Report Revisits What Happened On June The Fourth.

Gravitas: 30 Years Of Pro-Democracy Protests In China

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath was not in attendancein the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting held here on Saturday. Watch full video to know more.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath skips crucial CWC meet

The late Nelson Mandela continues to play an important role in South Africa's politics. South Africa will go to polls on May 8. Watch full video to know more.

Nelson Mandela's legacy unites South Africa

Gravitas: Are referendums healthy for democracy?

At what cost the BJP should be stopped is the question which confronts Congress Party today. Should Congress Party sacrifice itself on the altar of secularism to prevent BJP coming to power or should it fight the elections to expand itself both electorally and organisationally?&nbsp;

Ideally, this question should have been settled two years back, but the party continues to vacillate on the issue of alliance and organisation. Congress today stands split between two types of groups. One group wants to stop Prime Minister Narendra Modi at any cost, and hence, wants Congress to sacrifice and accommodate regional parties in form of a broader alliance.&nbsp;

The other group wants to contest the Lok Sabha elections with smaller partners who add strength to the Congress. This group has been resenting party’s tryst with SP-BSP in Uttar Pradesh and with AAP in Delhi. What is surprising is despite resistance from the local leadership, the idea to stich an alliance continues to flow from the top leaders in the Congress. Even in the case of Uttar Pradesh, a big section within the Congress desires to become the part of the umbrella alliance in Uttar Pradesh.

The desire exists understanding fully well that it would damage the reputation and standing of Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. With an alliance in place, the question would arise,” Why did you get Priyanka when Congress only wanted to fight on 10 odd seats.”

Where does this fear stems from? Does it stem from the fact that Congress has accepted that it cannot match vote consolidation of the BJP all across India? The answer lies somewhere else. It lies within the culture of Congress post 1970s.

Over a period of time, ideological debate on issues and individuals died in the Congress. This is not to say that great debates are taking place under Modi’s BJP, but RSS makes up for it by pursuing dialogues internally. Lack of this exercise creates an atmosphere which subsequently reduces idealism in the party. Idealism is a glue which kept Left and Right alive during lean times. Congress on the other hand either falls back on charisma of the Gandhi’s or power to stay together. With reduced charisma of Gandhis in national politics, the glue which holds the Congress together today is power hence the pressure from senior leadership to ensure Modi loses at any cost, even at the cost of the Congress Party?

This thinking needs to be seriously reversed for the health of democracy. Congress is the only national party after BJP. It is down but not out. It needs to get into a smart alliance with smaller parties and ensure that narrative remains around jobs and economy. Congress mishandled Pulwama terror attack and BJP stole the thunder right under its nose. Congress needs to reset the narrative which it had after winning three Hindi heartland states. If it fails, Congress will again be reduced to two digits in Lok Sabha.&nbsp;

Congress needs to regain the lost confidence too with the message that it will remain in business for the next 100 years. RSS was banned thrice and faced the stigma of Mahatma Gandhi’s assassination but still survived to ensure that it had its government with a simple majority in power in 2014. This tenacity to stay relevant should be a learning curve for Congress.&nbsp;

This tenacity can be reached if Congress recreates a robust ideological culture inside the party which would recreate new ideals for the Congress.&nbsp;

Side by side, it should be ensured that the organisation is not compromised for the sake of keeping Modi out of power. It never worked for the Socialists. There rabid anti-Congress attitude was devoid of ideology and ultimately led to their own demise. Their governments were short lived. Same should not happen to Congress as it cannot afford to become Rishi Dadhichi who gave up his life so that his bones could be used to make an Astra to kill a demon.&nbsp;

In today’s context, Congress as a national party is required as a bulwark against hegemonic BJP. In the interest of democracy, it should focus on its own health rather than following the single point agenda of keeping Modi out.&nbsp;

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)&nbsp;

At what cost the BJP should be stopped is the question which confronts Congress Party today. Should Congress Party sacrifice itself on the altar of secularism to prevent BJP coming to power or should it fight the elections to expand itself both electorally and organisationally?

At what cost the BJP should be stopped is the question which confronts Congress Party today. Should Congress Party sacrifice itself on the altar of secularism to prevent BJP coming to power or should it fight the elections to expand itself both electorally and organisationally? Ideally, this question should have been settled two years back, but the party continues to vacillate on the issue of alliance and organisation. Congress today stands split between two types of groups. One group wants to stop Prime Minister Narendra Modi at any cost, and hence, wants Congress to sacrifice and accommodate regional parties in form of a broader alliance. The other group wants to contest the Lok Sabha elections with smaller partners who add strength to the Congress. This group has been resenting party’s tryst with SP-BSP in Uttar Pradesh and with AAP in Delhi. What is surprising is despite resistance from the local leadership, the idea to stich an alliance continues to flow from the top leaders in the Congress. Even in the case of Uttar Pradesh, a big section within the Congress desires to become the part of the umbrella alliance in Uttar Pradesh. The desire exists understanding fully well that it would damage the reputation and standing of Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. With an alliance in place, the question would arise,” Why did you get Priyanka when Congress only wanted to fight on 10 odd seats.” Where does this fear stems from? Does it stem from the fact that Congress has accepted that it cannot match vote consolidation of the BJP all across India? The answer lies somewhere else. It lies within the culture of Congress post 1970s. Over a period of time, ideological debate on issues and individuals died in the Congress. This is not to say that great debates are taking place under Modi’s BJP, but RSS makes up for it by pursuing dialogues internally. Lack of this exercise creates an atmosphere which subsequently reduces idealism in the party. Idealism is a glue which kept Left and Right alive during lean times. Congress on the other hand either falls back on charisma of the Gandhi’s or power to stay together. With reduced charisma of Gandhis in national politics, the glue which holds the Congress together today is power hence the pressure from senior leadership to ensure Modi loses at any cost, even at the cost of the Congress Party? This thinking needs to be seriously reversed for the health of democracy. Congress is the only national party after BJP. It is down but not out. It needs to get into a smart alliance with smaller parties and ensure that narrative remains around jobs and economy. Congress mishandled Pulwama terror attack and BJP stole the thunder right under its nose. Congress needs to reset the narrative which it had after winning three Hindi heartland states. If it fails, Congress will again be reduced to two digits in Lok Sabha. Congress needs to regain the lost confidence too with the message that it will remain in business for the next 100 years. RSS was banned thrice and faced the stigma of Mahatma Gandhi’s assassination but still survived to ensure that it had its government with a simple majority in power in 2014. This tenacity to stay relevant should be a learning curve for Congress. This tenacity can be reached if Congress recreates a robust ideological culture inside the party which would recreate new ideals for the Congress. Side by side, it should be ensured that the organisation is not compromised for the sake of keeping Modi out of power. It never worked for the Socialists. There rabid anti-Congress attitude was devoid of ideology and ultimately led to their own demise. Their governments were short lived. Same should not happen to Congress as it cannot afford to become Rishi Dadhichi who gave up his life so that his bones could be used to make an Astra to kill a demon. In today’s context, Congress as a national party is required as a bulwark against hegemonic BJP. In the interest of democracy, it should focus on its own health rather than following the single point agenda of keeping Modi out. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)

Should Congress sacrifice itself to keep Narendra Modi out?

Mamata takes her pen this time to fight for democracy that's what her admirers are saying as today she penned down a poem whose essence is Key to democracy.

The name of the poem is "Key".

Her 18 lines poem stresses on the need to uphold democracy in today's perspective.&nbsp;

She questions how present regime as locked everyone's lips and how this system is embarrassing democracy.&nbsp;

She also stresses that this attitude of axing democracy will get blow one day.

Mamata the firebrand opposition leader and Chief Minister of Bengal has written more than 80 books. She also writes a song.&nbsp;

Party insiders state that ' Didis writing inspires us to move ahead.'

Interestingly this poem of Mamata is penned down just before Mamata starts for Delhi for opposition s dharna.

This is the first time when uploaded her handwritten poem on Twitter and her poem in social media is a big hit.&nbsp;

Her target is Modi everywhere from Poems to slogan Mamata wants to hit out Modi from every aspect.

Mamata takes her pen this time to fight for democracy that's what her admirers are saying as today she penned down a poem whose essence is Key to democracy. The name of the poem is "Key".

Mamata takes her pen this time to fight for democracy that's what her admirers are saying as today she penned down a poem whose essence is Key to democracy. The name of the poem is "Key". Her 18 lines poem stresses on the need to uphold democracy in today's perspective. She questions how present regime as locked everyone's lips and how this system is embarrassing democracy. She also stresses that this attitude of axing democracy will get blow one day. Mamata the firebrand opposition leader and Chief Minister of Bengal has written more than 80 books. She also writes a song. Party insiders state that ' Didis writing inspires us to move ahead.' Interestingly this poem of Mamata is penned down just before Mamata starts for Delhi for opposition s dharna. This is the first time when uploaded her handwritten poem on Twitter and her poem in social media is a big hit. Her target is Modi everywhere from Poems to slogan Mamata wants to hit out Modi from every aspect.

West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee writes poem 'Key' to democracy

Algeria's ruling coalition on Saturday named President Abdelaziz Bouteflika as its candidate for April polls, although the ailing incumbent has yet to officially confirm he will run.

"The parties of the presidential coalition nominate Abdelaziz Bouteflika for the upcoming presidential elections," the four coalition partners said in a statement.&nbsp;

The meeting was attended by Mouad Bouchareb, speaker of the lower house of parliament and coordinator of Bouteflika's National Liberation Front, as well as by Prime Minister Ahmed Ouyahia, head of the National Rally for Democracy.

The leader of the Rally for Hope in Algeria party Amar Ghoul and Amara Benyounes, who heads the Popular Algerian Movement, also attended.&nbsp;

In power since 1999, 81-year-old Bouteflika uses a wheelchair and has rarely been seen in public since a stroke in 2013.&nbsp;

For the last presidential election in 2014, Bouteflika only declared his intention to run a few days ahead of the deadline.

Prime Minister Ouyahia has said "there is no doubt" the president will seek a fifth term on April 18.&nbsp;

Ouyahia said earlier this week that Bouteflika's health was not "an obstacle" to performing his duties as president. &nbsp;

Presidential candidates have until March 3 at midnight (2300 GMT) to submit their applications.&nbsp;

Retired general Ali Ghediri, 64, was the first to announce his candidacy after the presidency set the election date.

Algeria's main Islamist party, the Movement for the Society of Peace, will also take part in the poll, backing its candidate Dr Abderrazak Makri.

The country's oldest opposition party, the Front of Socialist Forces, announced on January 25 that it would not field a candidate and called for an "active, intensive and peaceful boycott" of the ballot.

On Friday, the secular Rally for Culture and Democracy party said it would also boycott due to its objection to a fifth term for the ailing Bouteflika.

Algeria's ruling coalition on Saturday named President Abdelaziz Bouteflika as its candidate for April polls, although the ailing incumbent has yet to officially confirm he will run.

Algeria's ruling coalition on Saturday named President Abdelaziz Bouteflika as its candidate for April polls, although the ailing incumbent has yet to officially confirm he will run. "The parties of the presidential coalition nominate Abdelaziz Bouteflika for the upcoming presidential elections," the four coalition partners said in a statement. The meeting was attended by Mouad Bouchareb, speaker of the lower house of parliament and coordinator of Bouteflika's National Liberation Front, as well as by Prime Minister Ahmed Ouyahia, head of the National Rally for Democracy. The leader of the Rally for Hope in Algeria party Amar Ghoul and Amara Benyounes, who heads the Popular Algerian Movement, also attended. In power since 1999, 81-year-old Bouteflika uses a wheelchair and has rarely been seen in public since a stroke in 2013. For the last presidential election in 2014, Bouteflika only declared his intention to run a few days ahead of the deadline. Prime Minister Ouyahia has said "there is no doubt" the president will seek a fifth term on April 18. Ouyahia said earlier this week that Bouteflika's health was not "an obstacle" to performing his duties as president. Presidential candidates have until March 3 at midnight (2300 GMT) to submit their applications. Retired general Ali Ghediri, 64, was the first to announce his candidacy after the presidency set the election date. Algeria's main Islamist party, the Movement for the Society of Peace, will also take part in the poll, backing its candidate Dr Abderrazak Makri. The country's oldest opposition party, the Front of Socialist Forces, announced on January 25 that it would not field a candidate and called for an "active, intensive and peaceful boycott" of the ballot. On Friday, the secular Rally for Culture and Democracy party said it would also boycott due to its objection to a fifth term for the ailing Bouteflika.

Algeria ruling coalition backs Bouteflika for April poll

*By&nbsp;Steven Friedman

One day, if they follow instructions, Africa’s new democracies will grow up to be “real” like those of Western Europe and North America. This assumption makes little sense – but it influences the way many people in the West and in Africa think about African democracies.

Challenging this myth is a central theme of my book Power in Action: Democracy, Citizenship and Social Justice, which has just been published by Wits University Press.

Over the past two decades, the book notes, democracy has blossomed in Africa: in 1990, the continent housed, at most, four democracies. Today, countries in which the government is not at least elected in a free vote in which opposition parties contest are a small minority. But there is still a deep-rooted feeling among Western academics, policymakers and journalists that African democracies are not yet “the finished product” – that they are still on their way to becoming full democracies.

This view gave birth to a field of academic study in the West – the search for “democratic consolidation”. It emerged because academics assumed that the new democracies were not yet “complete”, even though they called themselves democratic. And so they set out to discover whether democracies in Africa (and Asia and Latin America) were “consolidated”, which meant that they were the finished product.

The academics have never said how we would know a “complete” democracy when we saw one. They don’t have to – it is obvious from their writing that, to become the “finished article”, democracies have to become like those in the West.

The academics are reflecting a widely held view. Western governments that set out to make the world democratic were trying to “help” democracies outside the West to become just like those in it. European and US politicians who care about democracy elsewhere share this view. So do many Africans.

Colonial mindset&nbsp;

Academics on the African continent are keen to study whether their democracies are on the way to being “consolidated” and much commentary on the continent assumes that a “grown-up” democracy looks like Britain, France or the US. This is particularly so in countries like South Africa which house a significant minority of people of Western origin, many of whom believe that the West is the home of civilisation to which the rest of the world should aspire.

This view has a distinctly colonial flavour. The moral excuse for colonialism was that it was bringing to the colonised “civilisation”, which meant whatever people in the colonising country valued. There is no difference between this and trying to persuade the formerly colonised that their democracies can only become “real” if they mimic those in the West.

But it makes very little sense to claim that Western democracies are the “finished product”.

First, Western democracies differ between themselves. So which version are people in Africa meant to mimic? Must their countries become unitary states like Britain or France, or federal like the US and Germany? Must African states give unions and business associations a say in decisions as Sweden, Austria and Switzerland have done? Must language or religious groups be allowed a special say as Belgium and Holland have done? It is not clear which of the many forms of Western democracy Africans are meant to want to be.

Second, the “finished products” of the West are not that finished. Britain has an unelected house of traditional leaders and clergy – the House of Lords. The US system allows the half-million residents of one state to have the same say in the Senate as the 35 million of another. Several Western democracies detain suspects without trial – the US has done this for nearly two decades at Guantanamo Bay, far longer than South Africa’s apartheid state ever detained anyone without trial.

The media in several Western countries is judged by specialists to be less free than those in some non-Western democracies. To show the absurdity of claiming that Western democracies are always better, think what would happen if an African president was elected because he won the vote in a state where the voting machines were faulty and the governor was his brother? This happened in the US in 2000 – and no-one has declared it an “incomplete” democracy.

Third, the democratic idea is that every adult should have an equal say in the decisions which affect them. Where does that happen? Nowhere. So no democracy is a “finished product”. All fall short of the democratic goal and so Western democracies are no more real than those elsewhere. It also makes little sense to claim that one democracy is further down the road to “completion” than another – democracy has many aspects and on some, newer democracies outside the West are further down the road than those they are meant to want to be.

More people vote in some African countries than in some in the West. South Africa does more to promote women’s participation than most Western countries. A study of Botswana complained that its people did not value democracy because only 45% of voters knew the name of their member of Parliament – but the equivalent figure in Sweden was only 33% and several other European countries lagged far behind Botswana, whose voters are better informed than Swedes.

Inferiority complex 

In sum, the democratic inferiority complex of many Africans is unwarranted. The idea that our democracies are “B Grade” and those of the West are prime quality is false.

None of this means that African democracies are better than those in the West. It means that the idea of “real” and “not yet real” democracies expresses a colonial mentality, not reality.

Like all democracies, Africa’s have much room for improvement. But they will never become what they could be if they struggle to become a copy of a romanticised Western democracy. Africa’s democracies will progress if they concentrate on the core democratic principle – giving more and more people a say over more and more issues – and debate how to do that in their particular conditions.

*(Steven Friedman is Director of the Centre for the Study of Democracy at Rhodes University and the University of Johannesburg)

(This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-claim-that-democracy-fares-better-in-the-west-than-in-africa-is-a-fallacy-110408">original article</a>)

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

*By Steven Friedman One day, if they follow instructions, Africa’s new democracies will grow up to be “real” like those of Western Europe and North America. This assumption makes little sense – but it influences the way many people in the West and in Africa think about African democracies.

*By Steven Friedman One day, if they follow instructions, Africa’s new democracies will grow up to be “real” like those of Western Europe and North America. This assumption makes little sense – but it influences the way many people in the West and in Africa think about African democracies. Challenging this myth is a central theme of my book Power in Action: Democracy, Citizenship and Social Justice, which has just been published by Wits University Press. Over the past two decades, the book notes, democracy has blossomed in Africa: in 1990, the continent housed, at most, four democracies. Today, countries in which the government is not at least elected in a free vote in which opposition parties contest are a small minority. But there is still a deep-rooted feeling among Western academics, policymakers and journalists that African democracies are not yet “the finished product” – that they are still on their way to becoming full democracies. This view gave birth to a field of academic study in the West – the search for “democratic consolidation”. It emerged because academics assumed that the new democracies were not yet “complete”, even though they called themselves democratic. And so they set out to discover whether democracies in Africa (and Asia and Latin America) were “consolidated”, which meant that they were the finished product. The academics have never said how we would know a “complete” democracy when we saw one. They don’t have to – it is obvious from their writing that, to become the “finished article”, democracies have to become like those in the West. The academics are reflecting a widely held view. Western governments that set out to make the world democratic were trying to “help” democracies outside the West to become just like those in it. European and US politicians who care about democracy elsewhere share this view. So do many Africans. Colonial mindset Academics on the African continent are keen to study whether their democracies are on the way to being “consolidated” and much commentary on the continent assumes that a “grown-up” democracy looks like Britain, France or the US. This is particularly so in countries like South Africa which house a significant minority of people of Western origin, many of whom believe that the West is the home of civilisation to which the rest of the world should aspire. This view has a distinctly colonial flavour. The moral excuse for colonialism was that it was bringing to the colonised “civilisation”, which meant whatever people in the colonising country valued. There is no difference between this and trying to persuade the formerly colonised that their democracies can only become “real” if they mimic those in the West. But it makes very little sense to claim that Western democracies are the “finished product”. First, Western democracies differ between themselves. So which version are people in Africa meant to mimic? Must their countries become unitary states like Britain or France, or federal like the US and Germany? Must African states give unions and business associations a say in decisions as Sweden, Austria and Switzerland have done? Must language or religious groups be allowed a special say as Belgium and Holland have done? It is not clear which of the many forms of Western democracy Africans are meant to want to be. Second, the “finished products” of the West are not that finished. Britain has an unelected house of traditional leaders and clergy – the House of Lords. The US system allows the half-million residents of one state to have the same say in the Senate as the 35 million of another. Several Western democracies detain suspects without trial – the US has done this for nearly two decades at Guantanamo Bay, far longer than South Africa’s apartheid state ever detained anyone without trial. The media in several Western countries is judged by specialists to be less free than those in some non-Western democracies. To show the absurdity of claiming that Western democracies are always better, think what would happen if an African president was elected because he won the vote in a state where the voting machines were faulty and the governor was his brother? This happened in the US in 2000 – and no-one has declared it an “incomplete” democracy. Third, the democratic idea is that every adult should have an equal say in the decisions which affect them. Where does that happen? Nowhere. So no democracy is a “finished product”. All fall short of the democratic goal and so Western democracies are no more real than those elsewhere. It also makes little sense to claim that one democracy is further down the road to “completion” than another – democracy has many aspects and on some, newer democracies outside the West are further down the road than those they are meant to want to be. More people vote in some African countries than in some in the West. South Africa does more to promote women’s participation than most Western countries. A study of Botswana complained that its people did not value democracy because only 45% of voters knew the name of their member of Parliament – but the equivalent figure in Sweden was only 33% and several other European countries lagged far behind Botswana, whose voters are better informed than Swedes. Inferiority complex In sum, the democratic inferiority complex of many Africans is unwarranted. The idea that our democracies are “B Grade” and those of the West are prime quality is false. None of this means that African democracies are better than those in the West. It means that the idea of “real” and “not yet real” democracies expresses a colonial mentality, not reality. Like all democracies, Africa’s have much room for improvement. But they will never become what they could be if they struggle to become a copy of a romanticised Western democracy. Africa’s democracies will progress if they concentrate on the core democratic principle – giving more and more people a say over more and more issues – and debate how to do that in their particular conditions. *(Steven Friedman is Director of the Centre for the Study of Democracy at Rhodes University and the University of Johannesburg) (This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

The claim that democracy fares better in the West than in Africa is a fallacy

In pics: Republic Day full dress rehearsal at Rajpath

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Saturday launched the ANC's campaign for legislative elections in May, acknowledging the party's past mistakes and promising to restore democratic institutions and economic growth.&nbsp;

Ramaphosa unveiled a 68-page manifesto before tens of thousands of supporters in the eastern city of Durban, marking the start of four months of hectic campaigning.

The African National Congress (ANC), which has ruled since the end of apartheid 25 years ago, is tipped to win the election in May despite faltering support, internal divisions and a sluggish economy.

The party of Nelson Mandela suffered a slump in popularity under the scandal-ridden presidency of Jacob Zuma, who was ousted last February after nine years at the helm.

But a recent IPSOS survey predicted the ANC could garner as much as 61 per cent in the national and provincial elections.

At the legislative level, that would put it on a par with its performance in 2014, when it picked up 62 per cent. In South Africa's parliament, the party which holds a majority of seats also selects the president.

The forecast upswing is pinned on the appointment of moderate pro-business reformer Ramaphosa as president after ANC lawmakers forced Zuma to resign as corruption scandals piled up.

Ramaphosa admitted the party has in recent times "fallen short" of expectations.

"We must acknowledge that mistakes have been made and that in some areas transformation has stalled," he said.&nbsp;

"After a period of doubt and uncertainty, we have arrived at a moment of hope and renewal.&nbsp;

"The 2019 elections provide an opportunity to restore our democratic institutions and to return our country to a path of transformation, growth and development."

He said at the centre of the party manifesto is a plan to create jobs and ensure decent wages.

He vowed to "intensify" the war against corruption.

Tens of thousands of party activists dressed mostly in yellow and green party colours converged at the 85,000-capacity soccer stadium in the coastal city of Durban for the campaign launch where they danced to music.

The stadium erupted into wild applause when ex-leader Zuma joined a group of dancers on stage. &nbsp;

In a noisy and colourful display, dozens of motorbike riders flying ANC flags, circled the pitch - revving up their bikes to chants and applause.&nbsp;

In a bruising internal party battle, Ramaphosa won a power struggle to succeed Zuma, whose favoured candidate was Zuma's former wife.

Senior party officials have this week fanned out across Kwa-Zulu Natal province - which has in recent years experienced a spate of killings of ANC officials - spreading the message of a revived and unified party.

Party revival?

Ramaphosa vowed work "more diligently" to get rid of factionalism and patronage, as he switched between the country's 11 languages, throughout his speech.&nbsp;

Launching its election manifesto in heavily-populated KwaZulu-Natal -- Zuma's home province and former stronghold -- is a strategic choice after last year's divisions.

Ramaphosa has publicly tried to mend ties, sitting next to Zuma and praising him at party events.

In policy terms, the manifesto is set to underline the ANC's commitment to land reform to tackle racial inequality -- setting the stage for one of the election's fiercest battlegrounds.

One of Ramaphosa's flagship pledges is to change the constitution to allow land to be taken from minority white owners without compensation -- a plan aimed at attracting landless black voters but that has alarmed many foreign investors.

"In this manifesto, we outline .... a plan to accelerate land reform..., including, where appropriate, expropriation without compensation," said Ramaphosa.

The South African economy is forecast to have grown just 0.7 per cent last year, with unemployment remaining at record highs of over 27 per cent.

The ANC will face the main opposition Democratic Alliance and the radical leftist Economic Freedom Fighters party in the election.

Both parties hope to make gains due to the ANC's poor recent record and discontent over stark post-apartheid inequality.

But they have struggled to dent the ruling party since Zuma's fall.

Ramaphosa is eyeing "a decisive victory" in the elections.

Unemployed mother of six, Marriam Xobololo, 53, from the rural area of eNgcobo in the Eastern Cape province has voted for the ANC since 1994.

"When you join the ANC, it’s like when you accept Christ in your heart. The ANC is just like Christ in my heart," she said. "I will forever vote for ANC, and I will die and perish voting for the ANC."

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Saturday launched the ANC's campaign for legislative elections in May, acknowledging the party's past mistakes and promising to restore democratic institutions and economic growth.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Saturday launched the ANC's campaign for legislative elections in May, acknowledging the party's past mistakes and promising to restore democratic institutions and economic growth. Ramaphosa unveiled a 68-page manifesto before tens of thousands of supporters in the eastern city of Durban, marking the start of four months of hectic campaigning. The African National Congress (ANC), which has ruled since the end of apartheid 25 years ago, is tipped to win the election in May despite faltering support, internal divisions and a sluggish economy. The party of Nelson Mandela suffered a slump in popularity under the scandal-ridden presidency of Jacob Zuma, who was ousted last February after nine years at the helm. But a recent IPSOS survey predicted the ANC could garner as much as 61 per cent in the national and provincial elections. At the legislative level, that would put it on a par with its performance in 2014, when it picked up 62 per cent. In South Africa's parliament, the party which holds a majority of seats also selects the president. The forecast upswing is pinned on the appointment of moderate pro-business reformer Ramaphosa as president after ANC lawmakers forced Zuma to resign as corruption scandals piled up. Ramaphosa admitted the party has in recent times "fallen short" of expectations. "We must acknowledge that mistakes have been made and that in some areas transformation has stalled," he said. "After a period of doubt and uncertainty, we have arrived at a moment of hope and renewal. "The 2019 elections provide an opportunity to restore our democratic institutions and to return our country to a path of transformation, growth and development." He said at the centre of the party manifesto is a plan to create jobs and ensure decent wages. He vowed to "intensify" the war against corruption. Tens of thousands of party activists dressed mostly in yellow and green party colours converged at the 85,000-capacity soccer stadium in the coastal city of Durban for the campaign launch where they danced to music. The stadium erupted into wild applause when ex-leader Zuma joined a group of dancers on stage. In a noisy and colourful display, dozens of motorbike riders flying ANC flags, circled the pitch - revving up their bikes to chants and applause. In a bruising internal party battle, Ramaphosa won a power struggle to succeed Zuma, whose favoured candidate was Zuma's former wife. Senior party officials have this week fanned out across Kwa-Zulu Natal province - which has in recent years experienced a spate of killings of ANC officials - spreading the message of a revived and unified party. Party revival? Ramaphosa vowed work "more diligently" to get rid of factionalism and patronage, as he switched between the country's 11 languages, throughout his speech. Launching its election manifesto in heavily-populated KwaZulu-Natal -- Zuma's home province and former stronghold -- is a strategic choice after last year's divisions. Ramaphosa has publicly tried to mend ties, sitting next to Zuma and praising him at party events. In policy terms, the manifesto is set to underline the ANC's commitment to land reform to tackle racial inequality -- setting the stage for one of the election's fiercest battlegrounds. One of Ramaphosa's flagship pledges is to change the constitution to allow land to be taken from minority white owners without compensation -- a plan aimed at attracting landless black voters but that has alarmed many foreign investors. "In this manifesto, we outline .... a plan to accelerate land reform..., including, where appropriate, expropriation without compensation," said Ramaphosa. The South African economy is forecast to have grown just 0.7 per cent last year, with unemployment remaining at record highs of over 27 per cent. The ANC will face the main opposition Democratic Alliance and the radical leftist Economic Freedom Fighters party in the election. Both parties hope to make gains due to the ANC's poor recent record and discontent over stark post-apartheid inequality. But they have struggled to dent the ruling party since Zuma's fall. Ramaphosa is eyeing "a decisive victory" in the elections. Unemployed mother of six, Marriam Xobololo, 53, from the rural area of eNgcobo in the Eastern Cape province has voted for the ANC since 1994. "When you join the ANC, it’s like when you accept Christ in your heart. The ANC is just like Christ in my heart," she said. "I will forever vote for ANC, and I will die and perish voting for the ANC."

Ruling ANC kicks off South Africa election campaign with vow to restore democracy

A day after Rahul Gandhi referred to a journalist as "pliable" and accused her of having a soft stance towards PM Modi while interviewing him, his comments made rounds on the internet drawing criticism from the centre and several media organistaions.

Addressing a press conference after PM Modi's interview to news agency ANI, Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday termed the ANI Editor Smita Prakash who was interviewing PM Modi as " pliable journalist".

He even claimed that the interviewer was asking questions and at the same time was also answering it.

Gandhi's comments ignited the netizens and the media fraternity who responded in huge numbers.

Expressing concern over his comments, Editors Guild of India stated, "labelling of journalists has emerged as a favourite tactic on the part of the establishment to discredit, delegitimise and intimidate them".

The Guild further cited events from the past and added, "We have seen our political class use this for some time now. In the recent past, top BJP leaders, as well as those of AAP, have used unambiguously abusive expressions such as 'presstitute', news traders, 'bazaaru' (saleable commodities) or 'dalals' (pimps) for journalists."

The Press Club of India, Indian Women's Press Corps and Press Association also issued a joint statement separately, saying the media expects "restraint from political class".

They further called the terms used against media as "inappropriate" and something that "lower the dignity of discourse". 
 
Though the attack on a journalist is not new in our country, the criticism and the outrage against the inappropriate comment against media personnel is quite unprecedented. 
 
Journalists have time and again been a subject of criticism and attack by the people in power, be it centre or the opposition. 
 
Anything that does not goes down well with the people in power from any fraternity, politics, entertainment or sports, is often termed as false and fabricated.&nbsp; 
 
The fraternity which is supposed to act as the fourth pillar in the democracy is often mocked for questioning and doing its job. In an extreme case, the country also witnessed an era of censorship where the power had hampered press freedom.

The situation is not restricted to a single country as journalists are often disliked for questioning the powerful almost everywhere.

US President Donald Trump has time and again termed the media as "fake". Recently he even bashed and ridiculed a CNN journalist during a press conference.&nbsp;

Trump is frequently known for criticising the reporters who question him. According to reports,&nbsp;CNN and Jim Acosta, in particular, have been regular targets of the president.

A more severe consequence for questioning the power was borne by Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi who was brutally killed for criticising the Saudi royal family. Khashoggi, who was on a self-imposed exile in the United States, was murdered inside the Saudi Arabian consulate in Istanbul allegedly at the behest of crown prince Mohammed bin Salman.

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

&nbsp;

A day after Rahul Gandhi referred to a journalist as "pliable" and accused her of having a soft stance towards PM Modi while interviewing him, his comments made rounds on the internet drawing criticism from the centre and several media organistaions.

A day after Rahul Gandhi referred to a journalist as "pliable" and accused her of having a soft stance towards PM Modi while interviewing him, his comments made rounds on the internet drawing criticism from the centre and several media organistaions. Addressing a press conference after PM Modi's interview to news agency ANI, Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday termed the ANI Editor Smita Prakash who was interviewing PM Modi as " pliable journalist". He even claimed that the interviewer was asking questions and at the same time was also answering it. Gandhi's comments ignited the netizens and the media fraternity who responded in huge numbers. Expressing concern over his comments, Editors Guild of India stated, "labelling of journalists has emerged as a favourite tactic on the part of the establishment to discredit, delegitimise and intimidate them". The Guild further cited events from the past and added, "We have seen our political class use this for some time now. In the recent past, top BJP leaders, as well as those of AAP, have used unambiguously abusive expressions such as 'presstitute', news traders, 'bazaaru' (saleable commodities) or 'dalals' (pimps) for journalists." The Press Club of India, Indian Women's Press Corps and Press Association also issued a joint statement separately, saying the media expects "restraint from political class". They further called the terms used against media as "inappropriate" and something that "lower the dignity of discourse". Though the attack on a journalist is not new in our country, the criticism and the outrage against the inappropriate comment against media personnel is quite unprecedented. Journalists have time and again been a subject of criticism and attack by the people in power, be it centre or the opposition. Anything that does not goes down well with the people in power from any fraternity, politics, entertainment or sports, is often termed as false and fabricated. The fraternity which is supposed to act as the fourth pillar in the democracy is often mocked for questioning and doing its job. In an extreme case, the country also witnessed an era of censorship where the power had hampered press freedom. The situation is not restricted to a single country as journalists are often disliked for questioning the powerful almost everywhere. US President Donald Trump has time and again termed the media as "fake". Recently he even bashed and ridiculed a CNN journalist during a press conference. Trump is frequently known for criticising the reporters who question him. According to reports, CNN and Jim Acosta, in particular, have been regular targets of the president. A more severe consequence for questioning the power was borne by Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi who was brutally killed for criticising the Saudi royal family. Khashoggi, who was on a self-imposed exile in the United States, was murdered inside the Saudi Arabian consulate in Istanbul allegedly at the behest of crown prince Mohammed bin Salman. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

How free is the fourth pillar of democracy?

Progressive Pakistani thinkers have expressed their grave concerns over Pakistan's drift towards authoritarianism, expansion of the military's control over public policy and weakening of civilian institutions.

Addressing a conference titled 'Democracy, Human Rights and Ending Terrorism in Pakistan', <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/terrorism-and-international-isolation-threat-to-pak-says-former-pak-envoy-to-us-184530">Husain Haqqani</a>, the former Ambassador of Pakistan to the US said, "Pakistan is only a democracy in name not in reality."&nbsp;

The event was organised by South Asians Against Terrorism &amp; for Human Rights (SAATH) Forum.&nbsp;

He raised concerns over growing threats to minority communities and the deteriorating human rights situation in the country where the elected government has failed to protect civil rights.

Assurances given by current Pakistan Army Chief (General Qamar Javed Bajwa) proved sufficient to halt target killings of Hazara citizens in Balochistan, which raises questions as to why similar assurances and actions were not available under previous army chiefs, Haqqani said.

He added, "Sindhi and Balochi language provinces are the oppressed groups and communities in Pakistan. Their culture and languages are being eliminated in the name creating a uniform country. Countries don`t become strong by eliminating diversity - they become strong by embracing it."

The participants denounced blocking of websites, including Voice of America (VOA), stifling of debate and freedom of media.

The conference condemned the practice of abductions of journalists and bloggers and threats to Pakistani dissidents and social media activists abroad.

The conference demanded action to be taken against hate groups and <a href="http://www.wionews.com/photos/pakistans-terror-triangle-general-zia-musharraf-the-hafiz-saeed-connection-578#who-was-zia-ul-haq-60079">extremist organisations</a> like the Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan (TLP) and Jamaat-ud-Dawa, also known as Lashkar-e-Taiba, ostensibly being mainstreamed by the security establishment.

Haqqani said the people of Pakistan are paying a huge price for sheltering these terrorists.&nbsp;

He said, "The memories of Peshawar attack haunts the Pakistanis till today in which many students were massacred by the terrorists. We want a country where children can safely go to school rather than becoming targets of terrorists many of whom were cultivated by Pakistan itself."

The conference was attended by Congressmen Brad Sherman who showed his concern over the forced conversion of Hindu and Christian girls in Pakistan.

He said, "We see the issue of forced conversions of about 1000 young women in Pakistan forcibly converted after marriage 70 per cent of them being Hindus. I want to condemn this in legislature."

"Media in Pakistan was fully controlled in 1971. We did not hear about the atrocities in East Pakistan. We did not know about the loss of half of our country," said Haqqani in his concluding remarks.

Progressive Pakistani thinkers have expressed their grave concerns over Pakistan's drift towards authoritarianism, expansion of the military's control over public policy and weakening of civilian institutions.

Progressive Pakistani thinkers have expressed their grave concerns over Pakistan's drift towards authoritarianism, expansion of the military's control over public policy and weakening of civilian institutions. Addressing a conference titled 'Democracy, Human Rights and Ending Terrorism in Pakistan', Husain Haqqani, the former Ambassador of Pakistan to the US said, "Pakistan is only a democracy in name not in reality." The event was organised by South Asians Against Terrorism & for Human Rights (SAATH) Forum. He raised concerns over growing threats to minority communities and the deteriorating human rights situation in the country where the elected government has failed to protect civil rights. Assurances given by current Pakistan Army Chief (General Qamar Javed Bajwa) proved sufficient to halt target killings of Hazara citizens in Balochistan, which raises questions as to why similar assurances and actions were not available under previous army chiefs, Haqqani said. He added, "Sindhi and Balochi language provinces are the oppressed groups and communities in Pakistan. Their culture and languages are being eliminated in the name creating a uniform country. Countries don`t become strong by eliminating diversity - they become strong by embracing it." The participants denounced blocking of websites, including Voice of America (VOA), stifling of debate and freedom of media. The conference condemned the practice of abductions of journalists and bloggers and threats to Pakistani dissidents and social media activists abroad. The conference demanded action to be taken against hate groups and extremist organisations like the Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan (TLP) and Jamaat-ud-Dawa, also known as Lashkar-e-Taiba, ostensibly being mainstreamed by the security establishment. Haqqani said the people of Pakistan are paying a huge price for sheltering these terrorists. He said, "The memories of Peshawar attack haunts the Pakistanis till today in which many students were massacred by the terrorists. We want a country where children can safely go to school rather than becoming targets of terrorists many of whom were cultivated by Pakistan itself." The conference was attended by Congressmen Brad Sherman who showed his concern over the forced conversion of Hindu and Christian girls in Pakistan. He said, "We see the issue of forced conversions of about 1000 young women in Pakistan forcibly converted after marriage 70 per cent of them being Hindus. I want to condemn this in legislature." "Media in Pakistan was fully controlled in 1971. We did not hear about the atrocities in East Pakistan. We did not know about the loss of half of our country," said Haqqani in his concluding remarks.

Pakistan is only a democracy in name, not in reality: Former ambassador Husain Haqqani

A group of opposition parties in Bangladesh, including the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), said on Sunday it plans to contest the December 23 general election, despite the ruling party last week rejecting a series of its demands.

The Jatiya Oikyafront, a 20-party alliance led by 81-year-old Dr Kamal Hossain, had, in particular, wanted a caretaker government to take over in the weeks heading into the polls. The BNP says a caretaker government is essential for free and fair elections, but the ruling Awami League says the demand is unconstitutional.

The BNP, which is in disarray following the jailing of its chief, former prime minister Khaleda Zia, on corruption charges, had also pressed for a caretaker government at the 2014 election and boycotted it after the demand was not met. The last election was marred by deadly violence and shunned by international observers as flawed.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government is seeking to be reelected for a third successive term.

“With the aim of rescuing democracy and a continuation of the movement to sustain a democratic process, Jatiya Oikyafront decided to participate in the election," said Hossain in a statement, following days of deliberations with alliance members.

Hasina’s government has won widespread global plaudits for letting in hundreds of thousands of Rohingya refugees who fled persecution in Myanmar, but its critics have decried Hasina’s increasingly authoritarian rule. In particular, they have attacked her for the government’s heavy-handed handling of student protests this year and its crackdown on free speech.

While announcing the election date on Thursday, KM Nurul Huda, the head of Bangladesh’s Election Commission, urged all parties to participate in the election "to make it meaningful”.

Hasina and Khaleda, who between them have ruled Bangladesh for decades, are bitter rivals and the BNP says its leader has been jailed on trumped-up charges to keep her out of politics.

A group of opposition parties in Bangladesh, including the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), said on Sunday it plans to contest the December 23 general election, despite the ruling party last week rejecting a series of its demands.

A group of opposition parties in Bangladesh, including the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), said on Sunday it plans to contest the December 23 general election, despite the ruling party last week rejecting a series of its demands. The Jatiya Oikyafront, a 20-party alliance led by 81-year-old Dr Kamal Hossain, had, in particular, wanted a caretaker government to take over in the weeks heading into the polls. The BNP says a caretaker government is essential for free and fair elections, but the ruling Awami League says the demand is unconstitutional. The BNP, which is in disarray following the jailing of its chief, former prime minister Khaleda Zia, on corruption charges, had also pressed for a caretaker government at the 2014 election and boycotted it after the demand was not met. The last election was marred by deadly violence and shunned by international observers as flawed. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government is seeking to be reelected for a third successive term. “With the aim of rescuing democracy and a continuation of the movement to sustain a democratic process, Jatiya Oikyafront decided to participate in the election," said Hossain in a statement, following days of deliberations with alliance members. Hasina’s government has won widespread global plaudits for letting in hundreds of thousands of Rohingya refugees who fled persecution in Myanmar, but its critics have decried Hasina’s increasingly authoritarian rule. In particular, they have attacked her for the government’s heavy-handed handling of student protests this year and its crackdown on free speech. While announcing the election date on Thursday, KM Nurul Huda, the head of Bangladesh’s Election Commission, urged all parties to participate in the election "to make it meaningful”. Hasina and Khaleda, who between them have ruled Bangladesh for decades, are bitter rivals and the BNP says its leader has been jailed on trumped-up charges to keep her out of politics.

Bangladesh opposition alliance to contest polls 'to rescue democracy'

Tens of thousands of people participated in the mass rally in Budapest on Saturday against the government control over the media which reportedly helped Prime Minister Viktor Orban taking sweeping victory in recent polls.

Budapest is seeing similar rallies since Orban was elected on April 8 as the prime minister of the country. Saturday's rally was the second mass protest organised in the country.

On April 15, the similar mass rally was organised in which <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/tens-of-thousands-of-people-hold-anti-orban-protest-in-hungarys-budapest-130492">tens of thousands of Hungarians marched to Parliament</a> demanding a recount of ballots and new election law to make the system more democratic.

Demonstrators have urged opposition parties during the protest to stay united and join forces against the Orban's right-wing Fidesz party which won two-thirds of parliamentary seats at the polls.

News agency Reuters quoted demonstrators saying "our main goal is to dismantle Fidesz control over the public media but opposition parties also have a task as they are also responsible for this situation we are in".

"Together with them, we must fight for a new, just and fair election law and an investigation of corruption cases."

Viktor Orban is in power since 2010 and is accused of corruption and abuse of power. Critics also accused Orban of manipulating the elections through muzzling media. Reports also say that he has curbed judicial independence as he placed his allies in charge of formerly independent institutions.

Orban has increased control over the media. Organisers of the demonstration in the Facebook post said that Orban has converted state media into a ''propaganda machine''.

Orban has also refused to accept a large number of migrants in Hungary inviting criticism and bringing him a conflict with the European Union as well.

Demonstrators have been raising slogans such as 'we are the majority', 'Viktor give us back democracy', and 'we want freedom of the press'.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/hungarys-pm-viktor-orban-claims-victory-as-his-party-takes-sweeping-poll-lead-129231">Viktor Orban won the third term</a> of the prime ministerial term on April 8 with the sweeping majority after the strong anti-immigration campaign.

 
&nbsp

Tens of thousands of people participated in the mass rally in Budapest on Saturday against the government control over the media which reportedly helped Prime Minister Viktor Orban taking sweeping victory in recent polls

Tens of thousands of people participated in the mass rally in Budapest on Saturday against the government control over the media which reportedly helped Prime Minister Viktor Orban taking sweeping victory in recent polls. Budapest is seeing similar rallies since Orban was elected on April 8 as the prime minister of the country. Saturday's rally was the second mass protest organised in the country. On April 15, the similar mass rally was organised in which tens of thousands of Hungarians marched to Parliament demanding a recount of ballots and new election law to make the system more democratic. Demonstrators have urged opposition parties during the protest to stay united and join forces against the Orban's right-wing Fidesz party which won two-thirds of parliamentary seats at the polls. News agency Reuters quoted demonstrators saying "our main goal is to dismantle Fidesz control over the public media but opposition parties also have a task as they are also responsible for this situation we are in". "Together with them, we must fight for a new, just and fair election law and an investigation of corruption cases." Viktor Orban is in power since 2010 and is accused of corruption and abuse of power. Critics also accused Orban of manipulating the elections through muzzling media. Reports also say that he has curbed judicial independence as he placed his allies in charge of formerly independent institutions. Orban has increased control over the media. Organisers of the demonstration in the Facebook post said that Orban has converted state media into a ''propaganda machine''. Orban has also refused to accept a large number of migrants in Hungary inviting criticism and bringing him a conflict with the European Union as well. Demonstrators have been raising slogans such as 'we are the majority', 'Viktor give us back democracy', and 'we want freedom of the press'. Viktor Orban won the third term of the prime ministerial term on April 8 with the sweeping majority after the strong anti-immigration campaign.

Tens of Thousands of Hungarians stage protest against Prime Minister Viktor Orban

Senior leader and former finance minister Yashwant Sinha has on Saturday quit the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).&nbsp;

The veteran leader has on many occasions criticised the BJP and the Narendra Modi government.&nbsp;

He made the announcement at the opposition rally at Patna. The leader said democracy is under threat and slammed the Modi-led NDA government.

Making the announcement, Sinha said he would not be joining any political party, but work towards “protecting democracy”.

Sinha had formed 'Rashtra Manch' on 30 January, saying that it will be an apolitical forum to highlight the "anti-people" policies of the Centre. Leaders from the Congress and other Opposition parties had joined the event.

Making the announcement in Patna, Sinha said he would not be joining any political party, but work towards “protecting democracy”.

Senior leader and former finance minister Yashwant Sinha has on Saturday quit the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The veteran leader has on many occasions criticised the BJP and the Narendra Modi government. He made the announcement at the opposition rally at Patna. The leader said democracy is under threat and slammed the Modi-led NDA government. Making the announcement, Sinha said he would not be joining any political party, but work towards “protecting democracy”. Sinha had formed 'Rashtra Manch' on 30 January, saying that it will be an apolitical forum to highlight the "anti-people" policies of the Centre. Leaders from the Congress and other Opposition parties had joined the event.

Yashwant Sinha says democracy is under threat, quits BJP

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday addressed the 'Bharat ki Baat, Sabke Saath' town hall in London, where he is on a state-visit to attend the meeting amongst all the heads of Commonwealth Nations.&nbsp

During the event, PM Modi recalled his journey from being a tea-seller on the railway tracks to heading the world's largest democracy.&nbsp

*I have never indulged in counting the number of rape incidents in this government and that government. Rape is rape, be it now or earlier. It is extremely sad. Don't politicise rape incidents.

*We always ask our daughters about what they are doing, where they are going. We must ask our sons too. The person who is committing these crimes is also someone's son. He has a mother too in his house.

*People know that when they say something, the Government will listen and do it. Days of incremental change are over.

*If a person has a cycle, a person aspires a scooter. If a person has a scooter, a person aspires a car. It is natural to aspire. India is getting increasingly aspirational.

*I want this Government to be criticised. Criticism makes democracy strong. Democracy cannot succeed without constructive criticism.

*To criticise, one has to research and find proper facts. Sadly, it does not happen now. What happens instead is allegations.

*If you will see where we stand in comparison to the previous government, I can affirm that we left no stone unturned in doing good for the country on any parameter.

*Today, the need of the hour is to make development a mass movement.

*We have a million problems but we have a billion solutions.

*I can make mistakes but I will not do any work with the ill intention.

*Our focus is on three things - education for students, employment for youth and medicines for the elderly.

*Someone has put a terror export factory in place and makes attempts to attack us from the back, Modi knows how to answer in the same language.

*Those who like exporting terror, I want to tell them that India has changed and their antics will not be tolerated. We believe in peace. But we will not tolerate those who like to export terror. We will give back strong answers and in the language they understand. Terrorism will never be accepted.

Criticism makes democracy strong. Democracy cannot succeed without constructive criticism.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday addressed the 'Bharat ki Baat, Sabke Saath' town hall in London, where he is on a state-visit to attend the meeting amongst all the heads of Commonwealth Nations. During the event, PM Modi recalled his journey from being a tea-seller on the railway tracks to heading the world's largest democracy. *I have never indulged in counting the number of rape incidents in this government and that government. Rape is rape, be it now or earlier. It is extremely sad. Don't politicise rape incidents. *We always ask our daughters about what they are doing, where they are going. We must ask our sons too. The person who is committing these crimes is also someone's son. He has a mother too in his house. *People know that when they say something, the Government will listen and do it. Days of incremental change are over. *If a person has a cycle, a person aspires a scooter. If a person has a scooter, a person aspires a car. It is natural to aspire. India is getting increasingly aspirational. *I want this Government to be criticised. Criticism makes democracy strong. Democracy cannot succeed without constructive criticism. *To criticise, one has to research and find proper facts. Sadly, it does not happen now. What happens instead is allegations. *If you will see where we stand in comparison to the previous government, I can affirm that we left no stone unturned in doing good for the country on any parameter. *Today, the need of the hour is to make development a mass movement. *We have a million problems but we have a billion solutions. *I can make mistakes but I will not do any work with the ill intention. *Our focus is on three things - education for students, employment for youth and medicines for the elderly. *Someone has put a terror export factory in place and makes attempts to attack us from the back, Modi knows how to answer in the same language. *Those who like exporting terror, I want to tell them that India has changed and their antics will not be tolerated. We believe in peace. But we will not tolerate those who like to export terror. We will give back strong answers and in the language they understand. Terrorism will never be accepted.

I want this government to be criticised: Quotable quotes from PM Modi in London

Tens of thousands of Hungarians marched to Parliament as the staged an anti-Orban protest against the unfair election system which gave prime minister Viktor Orban another victory in the recent polls.

The crowd of protesters were chanting "We are the majority'' as they staged a protest demanded a recount of ballots and new election law to make the system more democratic.

The protestors have alleged Orban of corruption and abuse of power.

<a href="Orban is in power since 2010 as is accused of manipulating the elections through muzzling media. Critics also say that he has curbed judicial independence.">Viktor Orban of Fidesz party came to power</a> on Sunday for the third time as his hate-campaign against immigrants secured him a strong majority in the polls.

Fidesz received 49 per cent of national party list votes and its candidates won 91 of 106 single-member constituencies, most of them in rural areas. Leftist opposition candidates carried two-thirds of the voting districts in Budapest.

There was a similar split between ages, with support for&nbsp;Orban's Fidesz at 37 percent among voters below 30, rising gradually to 46 percent among those older than 50, according to a survey by think tank Median published earlier this week.

Orban is in power since 2010 as is accused of manipulating the elections through muzzling media. Critics also say that he has curbed judicial independence.

The protestors demanded new election laws, a recount of ballots a non-partisan public media and united opposition.

Protestors marched towards parliament with singing European Union and Hungary's national anthem with their respective flags as well. Protestors have also vowed to hold another demonstration next week.

Following the massive protest, the large number of security police was deployed to the area. Riot officers were also present. However, the crowd remained peaceful.

According to reports, a majority of demonstrators were young people.

Several other parties opposing Orban's government also participated in the demonstration.

(With inputs from Reuters)

 
&nbsp;

The crowd of protesters were chanting 'We are the majority' as they staged a protest demanded a recount of ballots and new election law to make the system more democratic

Tens of thousands of Hungarians marched to Parliament as the staged an anti-Orban protest against the unfair election system which gave prime minister Viktor Orban another victory in the recent polls. The crowd of protesters were chanting "We are the majority'' as they staged a protest demanded a recount of ballots and new election law to make the system more democratic. The protestors have alleged Orban of corruption and abuse of power. Viktor Orban of Fidesz party came to power on Sunday for the third time as his hate-campaign against immigrants secured him a strong majority in the polls. Fidesz received 49 per cent of national party list votes and its candidates won 91 of 106 single-member constituencies, most of them in rural areas. Leftist opposition candidates carried two-thirds of the voting districts in Budapest. There was a similar split between ages, with support for Orban's Fidesz at 37 percent among voters below 30, rising gradually to 46 percent among those older than 50, according to a survey by think tank Median published earlier this week. Orban is in power since 2010 as is accused of manipulating the elections through muzzling media. Critics also say that he has curbed judicial independence. The protestors demanded new election laws, a recount of ballots a non-partisan public media and united opposition. Protestors marched towards parliament with singing European Union and Hungary's national anthem with their respective flags as well. Protestors have also vowed to hold another demonstration next week. Following the massive protest, the large number of security police was deployed to the area. Riot officers were also present. However, the crowd remained peaceful. According to reports, a majority of demonstrators were young people. Several other parties opposing Orban's government also participated in the demonstration. (With inputs from Reuters)

Tens of thousands of people hold anti-Orban protest in Hungary's Budapest

Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today said there was widespread concern that the country's electoral system was being undermined by the use of money and muscle power and stressed on the need to effect electoral reforms to check the menace.

Addressing the first S B Rangnekar Memorial Oration at the Panjab University, his alma mater, Singh said India's electoral system has succeeded against great odds and has destroyed feudal systems of government. It has opened up opportunities for the common man, without any social, economic or political privilege whatsoever by birth, to occupy the highest positions of power, he said.

"There is, however, today widespread concern that our electoral system is being undermined by money power and muscle power," he said, addressing the gathering here.

"The faith of the people in democratic elections as the best system to select a government that would govern in the common interest is today being eroded as much by a sustained campaign to attack democratic institutions and elected representatives as by the increasing political corruption and the capture of political parties and elected office by vested interests," he said.

Electoral reforms to cleanse elections of money and muscle power and to maintain integrity of elected officials are vital areas for securing and strengthening India's democracy, said the former prime minister.

Talking about renewing commitment to democracy, Singh invoked B R Ambedkar and said, "Democracy requires not only that all of us must get involved, but that we must each ensure that everyone has an equal voice."&nbsp

"Dr. Ambedkar once worried that the day may come when people may prefer government for the people to government by and of the people. He saw that as a great danger. On this 70th anniversary, we must ensure that we do not fall into the trap of choosing government for the people over government by and of the people," he said.&nbsp

The topic of Singh's address was: The Seventieth Anniversary of our Independence - Strengthening the roots of our Democracy.

"We need to ask ourselves whether we are losing patience with democracy and turning to more authoritarian alternatives that may well yield superior short-term results but in the long term will end up destroying our country and all the achievements of the last seventy years," he said.

"Governance is complex. It is messy. It is slow. Its benefits are long term. It requires great patience. Above all, democracy is a system in which people without privilege have a decisive voice in governance. If this is lost, democracy becomes meaningless," said Singh.

"Democracy requires not only that all of us must get involved, but that we must each ensure that everyone has an equal voice," he said.

Dwelling on the issue of equality, Singh said it is the keystone of democracy. "And it is one of the greatest challenges faced by India in building our democracy because of the persistence in our society of feudal, hierarchical ideas of inequality based on caste, class and gender."&nbsp

Singh said, "Speaking on November 25, 1949 to the Constituent Assembly about his concerns on the challenge of transforming India into a society based on equality, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar said, [In our Republic], in politics we will have equality and in social and economic life we will have inequality. In politics we will be recognizing the principle of one-man-one-vote and one-vote-one-value. In our social and economic life, we shall, by reason of our social and economic structure, continue to deny the principle of one-man-one-value. How long shall we continue to live this life of contradictions? How long shall we continue to deny equality in our social and economic life?&nbsp

"If we continue to deny it for long, we will do so only by putting our political democracy in peril. We must remove this contradiction at the earliest possible moment or else those who suffer from inequality will blow up the structure of political democracy which this Assembly has so laboriously built up."

Singh said that the country's first Prime Minister Jawahar Lal Nehru warned in 1952 in one of his letters to chief ministers, "if poverty and low standards continue then democracy for all its fine institutions and ideals, ceases to be a liberating force."&nbsp

"The economic liberalisation that I was associated with in 1991-1996 (as the finance minister) and 2004-2014 (as the prime minister) was, above all, a process of opening up new opportunities for people born without social and economic privilege. This was for me the guiding vision behind our economic reforms," he said.

He said democracy is more than a system of governance.

"Equality, freedom and fraternity are the three values that constitute the life breath of democracy - its very essence," he said.&nbsp

'The faith of the people in democratic elections as the best system to select a government that would govern in the common interest is today being eroded as much by a sustained campaign to attack democratic institutions and elected representatives as by the increasing political corruption and the capture of political parties and elected office by vested interests,' Singh said

Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today said there was widespread concern that the country's electoral system was being undermined by the use of money and muscle power and stressed on the need to effect electoral reforms to check the menace. Addressing the first S B Rangnekar Memorial Oration at the Panjab University, his alma mater, Singh said India's electoral system has succeeded against great odds and has destroyed feudal systems of government. It has opened up opportunities for the common man, without any social, economic or political privilege whatsoever by birth, to occupy the highest positions of power, he said. "There is, however, today widespread concern that our electoral system is being undermined by money power and muscle power," he said, addressing the gathering here. "The faith of the people in democratic elections as the best system to select a government that would govern in the common interest is today being eroded as much by a sustained campaign to attack democratic institutions and elected representatives as by the increasing political corruption and the capture of political parties and elected office by vested interests," he said. Electoral reforms to cleanse elections of money and muscle power and to maintain integrity of elected officials are vital areas for securing and strengthening India's democracy, said the former prime minister. Talking about renewing commitment to democracy, Singh invoked B R Ambedkar and said, "Democracy requires not only that all of us must get involved, but that we must each ensure that everyone has an equal voice." "Dr. Ambedkar once worried that the day may come when people may prefer government for the people to government by and of the people. He saw that as a great danger. On this 70th anniversary, we must ensure that we do not fall into the trap of choosing government for the people over government by and of the people," he said. The topic of Singh's address was: The Seventieth Anniversary of our Independence - Strengthening the roots of our Democracy. "We need to ask ourselves whether we are losing patience with democracy and turning to more authoritarian alternatives that may well yield superior short-term results but in the long term will end up destroying our country and all the achievements of the last seventy years," he said. "Governance is complex. It is messy. It is slow. Its benefits are long term. It requires great patience. Above all, democracy is a system in which people without privilege have a decisive voice in governance. If this is lost, democracy becomes meaningless," said Singh. "Democracy requires not only that all of us must get involved, but that we must each ensure that everyone has an equal voice," he said. Dwelling on the issue of equality, Singh said it is the keystone of democracy. "And it is one of the greatest challenges faced by India in building our democracy because of the persistence in our society of feudal, hierarchical ideas of inequality based on caste, class and gender." Singh said, "Speaking on November 25, 1949 to the Constituent Assembly about his concerns on the challenge of transforming India into a society based on equality, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar said, [In our Republic], in politics we will have equality and in social and economic life we will have inequality. In politics we will be recognizing the principle of one-man-one-vote and one-vote-one-value. In our social and economic life, we shall, by reason of our social and economic structure, continue to deny the principle of one-man-one-value. How long shall we continue to live this life of contradictions? How long shall we continue to deny equality in our social and economic life? "If we continue to deny it for long, we will do so only by putting our political democracy in peril. We must remove this contradiction at the earliest possible moment or else those who suffer from inequality will blow up the structure of political democracy which this Assembly has so laboriously built up." Singh said that the country's first Prime Minister Jawahar Lal Nehru warned in 1952 in one of his letters to chief ministers, "if poverty and low standards continue then democracy for all its fine institutions and ideals, ceases to be a liberating force." "The economic liberalisation that I was associated with in 1991-1996 (as the finance minister) and 2004-2014 (as the prime minister) was, above all, a process of opening up new opportunities for people born without social and economic privilege. This was for me the guiding vision behind our economic reforms," he said. He said democracy is more than a system of governance. "Equality, freedom and fraternity are the three values that constitute the life breath of democracy - its very essence," he said.

Faith of people in democratic elections being eroded: Manmohan Singh

The Rajya Sabha was today adjourned till 2 pm without transacting any legislative business after the Congress-led opposition created an uproar over various issues including softening of provisions of the SC/ST Atrocities Act.

Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu called the protests, which have not allowed any business to be transacted since the House met on March 5, as a "murder of democracy".

No sooner had 12 new members taken an oath of office that opposition members trooped into the well of the House displaying placards in support of their demand and shouting slogans.

While MPs belonging to the Congress and the BSP were protesting against softening of certain provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, Tamil parties - DMK and AIADMK demanded immediate constitution of the Cauvery Water Management Board for the division of river water between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.

Members of the TDP and KVP Ramachandra Rao of the Congress held placards demanding special status for Andhra Pradesh.

"Narendra Modi - Dalit Virodhi" (Narendra Modi is anti- Dalit), shouted Congress and BSP members. They also shouted, "Dalit virodhi yeh sarkar, nahi chalegi, nahi chalegi" (This anti-Dalit government will not be tolerated).

TDP MPs raised 'Save Andhra" slogans.

Naidu expressed displeasure over repeated disruptions since Parliament met early last month for the second half of the Budget session.

He requested members to return to their seats and at least pass the anti-corruption bill.

"You want these kinds of ugly scenes to be seen every day by people," he said referring to slogan shouting and placards trying to block his view.

"What is the difference between people shouting slogans outside and here," he asked. "You have not transacted any business including important legislations. People want legislations."

He said a handful of people were obstructing proceedings over their agenda. 
Naidu said any issue be it banking scam, Cauvery waters, Andhra special package, Dalit act or Kashmir issue can be discussed.

Its unfortunate that debate on these issues is not happening despite the Chair permitting it and the government willing to discuss it, he said.

"You are testing the patience of the people. This is not good for democracy. This is murdering democracy," he said. "Entire country is agitated, depressed."

"Have some discussion and allow some bills to be passed," he requested an unrelenting opposition.

He noted that just two days were left before the session ends on Friday and it was imperative that some legislative business was transacted today and tomorrow.

With the slogan-shouting continuing, he adjourned proceedings till 2 pm.

Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu called the protests, which have not allowed any business to be transacted since the House met on March 5, as a "murder of democracy"

The Rajya Sabha was today adjourned till 2 pm without transacting any legislative business after the Congress-led opposition created an uproar over various issues including softening of provisions of the SC/ST Atrocities Act. Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu called the protests, which have not allowed any business to be transacted since the House met on March 5, as a "murder of democracy". No sooner had 12 new members taken an oath of office that opposition members trooped into the well of the House displaying placards in support of their demand and shouting slogans. While MPs belonging to the Congress and the BSP were protesting against softening of certain provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, Tamil parties - DMK and AIADMK demanded immediate constitution of the Cauvery Water Management Board for the division of river water between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. Members of the TDP and KVP Ramachandra Rao of the Congress held placards demanding special status for Andhra Pradesh. "Narendra Modi - Dalit Virodhi" (Narendra Modi is anti- Dalit), shouted Congress and BSP members. They also shouted, "Dalit virodhi yeh sarkar, nahi chalegi, nahi chalegi" (This anti-Dalit government will not be tolerated). TDP MPs raised 'Save Andhra" slogans. Naidu expressed displeasure over repeated disruptions since Parliament met early last month for the second half of the Budget session. He requested members to return to their seats and at least pass the anti-corruption bill. "You want these kinds of ugly scenes to be seen every day by people," he said referring to slogan shouting and placards trying to block his view. "What is the difference between people shouting slogans outside and here," he asked. "You have not transacted any business including important legislations. People want legislations." He said a handful of people were obstructing proceedings over their agenda. Naidu said any issue be it banking scam, Cauvery waters, Andhra special package, Dalit act or Kashmir issue can be discussed. Its unfortunate that debate on these issues is not happening despite the Chair permitting it and the government willing to discuss it, he said. "You are testing the patience of the people. This is not good for democracy. This is murdering democracy," he said. "Entire country is agitated, depressed." "Have some discussion and allow some bills to be passed," he requested an unrelenting opposition. He noted that just two days were left before the session ends on Friday and it was imperative that some legislative business was transacted today and tomorrow. With the slogan-shouting continuing, he adjourned proceedings till 2 pm.

Rajya Sabha adjourned till 2 pm following uproar

The global pressure mounting on the Maldivian government seems to escalate further with reports suggesting that European airlines may halt flights to the island country. Germany's ambassador's to Sri Lanka tweeted out suggesting the same.&nbsp;

In his tweet, Joern Rohde noted, "We hear big airline carriers from Europe will suspend their Maldives flight for the summer season.” Rohde reasoned that despite the lifting of the state of emergency by the Yameen government, “democratic rights remain curtailed as MPs remain jailed on politically motivated prosecutions. The economy and thus the people suffer since tourists continue to stay away.”&nbsp;

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...we hear big airline carriers from Europe will suspend their Maldives flight for the summer season. 
 
Solution: Only a return to Democracy will bring back stability and the positive image of the wonderful Maldives now tarnished by the ongoing undermining of democratic rights
— Joern Rohde (@joern_rohde) <a href="https://twitter.com/joern_rohde/status/979300973247045632?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 29, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Rohde further added that the only way for the Maldives to return to a state of stability is by turning back to democracy. He added that the country's otherwise "wonderful" and "positive" image has now been tarnished "by the ongoing undermining of democratic rights.”

Maldives President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom on Thursday lifted the 45-day State of Emergency that he imposed on February 5.

Yameen imposed a state of emergency on February 5 for 15 days to annul a February 1 Supreme Court ruling that quashed convictions against nine opposition leaders and ordered his government to free those held in prison.&nbsp;

He later extended the state of emergency for another 30 days with parliament approval, a move challenged by the opposition.&nbsp;

Under the emergency, Yameen’s administration arrested former president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, the chief justice, another Supreme Court judge, and a Supreme Court administrator on allegations of attempting to overthrow the government. They have all rejected the charges.&nbsp;

Germany's ambassador's to Sri Lanka tweeted out suggesting the same

The global pressure mounting on the Maldivian government seems to escalate further with reports suggesting that European airlines may halt flights to the island country. Germany's ambassador's to Sri Lanka tweeted out suggesting the same. In his tweet, Joern Rohde noted, "We hear big airline carriers from Europe will suspend their Maldives flight for the summer season.” Rohde reasoned that despite the lifting of the state of emergency by the Yameen government, “democratic rights remain curtailed as MPs remain jailed on politically motivated prosecutions. The economy and thus the people suffer since tourists continue to stay away.” ...we hear big airline carriers from Europe will suspend their Maldives flight for the summer season. Solution: Only a return to Democracy will bring back stability and the positive image of the wonderful Maldives now tarnished by the ongoing undermining of democratic rights — Joern Rohde (@joern_rohde) March 29, 2018 × Rohde further added that the only way for the Maldives to return to a state of stability is by turning back to democracy. He added that the country's otherwise "wonderful" and "positive" image has now been tarnished "by the ongoing undermining of democratic rights.” Maldives President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom on Thursday lifted the 45-day State of Emergency that he imposed on February 5. Yameen imposed a state of emergency on February 5 for 15 days to annul a February 1 Supreme Court ruling that quashed convictions against nine opposition leaders and ordered his government to free those held in prison. He later extended the state of emergency for another 30 days with parliament approval, a move challenged by the opposition. Under the emergency, Yameen’s administration arrested former president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, the chief justice, another Supreme Court judge, and a Supreme Court administrator on allegations of attempting to overthrow the government. They have all rejected the charges.

Europe likely to halt flights to Maldives to ensure return to democracy

Expressing &quot;grave concern&quot;&nbsp;over the current political crisis in the Maldives, the European Parliament, through a resolution, has called upon the governments of India and China to work with countries in the European Union (EU) to help deliver political and democratic stability in the crisis-ridden archipelago.&nbsp;

In a 16-point resolution introduced and passed unanimously earlier this week, the EU Parliament called on the EU &quot;to make full use of all instruments at its disposal to promote respect for human rights and democratic principles&quot;&nbsp;in the Maldives, including, possibly, the suspension of EU financial assistance to the country pending the resumption of the rule of law and abidance by democratic principles.&nbsp;

The resolution said there was a need for introducing targeted measures and sanctions against those in the country undermining human rights, and to freeze the assets abroad of, and impose travel bans on, certain members of the Maldivian government and their leading supporters in the Maldivian business community.&nbsp;

It further called on the government of Maldives to carry out &quot;a far-reaching reform of the judiciary&#39;&#39;, to establish the impartiality of the Judicial Service Commission, to re-establish the independence of the Prosecutor General, and to respect due process of law and the right to a fair, impartial and independent trial.&nbsp;

The resolution also recognized that, under the Constitution, elections must be held in 2018, and stressed that immediate action should be taken to ensure that these elections are transparent and credible; that voters are given a genuine choice and that parties are able to campaign freely.&nbsp;

Expressing deep concern over the serious and deteriorating political and human rights situation in Maldives, and the increasingly authoritarian rule of President Yameen and his Government, the EU Parliament, according to its resolution published by the website www.europarl.europa.eu, called on Maldives to lift the state of emergency immediately, to respect the institutions and their competencies as provided for in the Constitution, and to respect the fundamental rights of all people, including the right to freedom of expression and assembly, as well as the rule of law; expresses its growing concern over the recent actions of the government, which seriously damage and undermine democracy, and run counter to the Maldives&nbsp;Constitution and the country&#39;s international human rights obligations.

It also condemned the &quot;continued intimidation of, and threats against, journalists, bloggers and human rights defenders in the Maldives&quot;, and urged the Maldivian authorities to guarantee the safety of all civil society activists, human rights defenders and media workers in the country.&nbsp;

It also deplored the crackdown on political opponents in Maldives and called on the government to drop all charges against all those being held for political reasons and release them immediately and unconditionally.&nbsp;

It said it is very concerned over the increasing breakdown of the principle of separation of the executive, judicial and other powers in Maldives, and called on &quot;responsible authorities to take immediate steps to restore and uphold the principles enshrined in its Constitution.&quot;.&nbsp;

It said that the Maldivian government must engage in an inclusive dialogue with leaders of all political parties to pave the way for credible, transparent and inclusive elections.

It called on the EU to also actively continue to support UN facilitation for and of such a dialogue.&nbsp;

The EU Parliament said: &quot;We believe that the only way to reverse the deterioration in democracy, human rights and freedoms in The Maldives is through a process of genuine dialogue, involving all political parties and other civic leaders. It further believes that, as the first step towards reconciliation, the government must release all opposition politicians currently held in jail, and reiterated the EU`s firm opposition to the death penalty, in all cases and without exception; strongly condemns the announcement of the reintroduction of the death penalty in the Maldives, and urges the government and parliament of the Maldives to respect the moratorium on the death penalty that has been in place for more than 60 years.&quot;

The European Parliament, through a resolution, has called upon the Governments of India and China to work with countries in the European Union (EU) to help deliver political and democratic stability in the crisis-ridden archipelago

Expressing "grave concern" over the current political crisis in the Maldives, the European Parliament, through a resolution, has called upon the governments of India and China to work with countries in the European Union (EU) to help deliver political and democratic stability in the crisis-ridden archipelago. In a 16-point resolution introduced and passed unanimously earlier this week, the EU Parliament called on the EU "to make full use of all instruments at its disposal to promote respect for human rights and democratic principles" in the Maldives, including, possibly, the suspension of EU financial assistance to the country pending the resumption of the rule of law and abidance by democratic principles. The resolution said there was a need for introducing targeted measures and sanctions against those in the country undermining human rights, and to freeze the assets abroad of, and impose travel bans on, certain members of the Maldivian government and their leading supporters in the Maldivian business community. It further called on the government of Maldives to carry out "a far-reaching reform of the judiciary'', to establish the impartiality of the Judicial Service Commission, to re-establish the independence of the Prosecutor General, and to respect due process of law and the right to a fair, impartial and independent trial. The resolution also recognized that, under the Constitution, elections must be held in 2018, and stressed that immediate action should be taken to ensure that these elections are transparent and credible; that voters are given a genuine choice and that parties are able to campaign freely. Expressing deep concern over the serious and deteriorating political and human rights situation in Maldives, and the increasingly authoritarian rule of President Yameen and his Government, the EU Parliament, according to its resolution published by the website www.europarl.europa.eu, called on Maldives to lift the state of emergency immediately, to respect the institutions and their competencies as provided for in the Constitution, and to respect the fundamental rights of all people, including the right to freedom of expression and assembly, as well as the rule of law; expresses its growing concern over the recent actions of the government, which seriously damage and undermine democracy, and run counter to the Maldives Constitution and the country's international human rights obligations. It also condemned the "continued intimidation of, and threats against, journalists, bloggers and human rights defenders in the Maldives", and urged the Maldivian authorities to guarantee the safety of all civil society activists, human rights defenders and media workers in the country. It also deplored the crackdown on political opponents in Maldives and called on the government to drop all charges against all those being held for political reasons and release them immediately and unconditionally. It said it is very concerned over the increasing breakdown of the principle of separation of the executive, judicial and other powers in Maldives, and called on "responsible authorities to take immediate steps to restore and uphold the principles enshrined in its Constitution.". It said that the Maldivian government must engage in an inclusive dialogue with leaders of all political parties to pave the way for credible, transparent and inclusive elections. It called on the EU to also actively continue to support UN facilitation for and of such a dialogue. The EU Parliament said: "We believe that the only way to reverse the deterioration in democracy, human rights and freedoms in The Maldives is through a process of genuine dialogue, involving all political parties and other civic leaders. It further believes that, as the first step towards reconciliation, the government must release all opposition politicians currently held in jail, and reiterated the EU`s firm opposition to the death penalty, in all cases and without exception; strongly condemns the announcement of the reintroduction of the death penalty in the Maldives, and urges the government and parliament of the Maldives to respect the moratorium on the death penalty that has been in place for more than 60 years."

India, China should work with EU to ensure democratic stability in Maldives: European Parliament

Ronald Reagan was America&#39;s president when Philipos Melaku-Bello first began protesting in front of the White House.

Thirty-seven years and five presidents later, Melaku-Bello is still there, quietly delivering his message from a tarpaulin-covered shelter plastered with signs advocating for peace, against the nuclear industry, and in support of human rights.

He says the site is a living demonstration of America&#39;s right to freedom of expression, guaranteed by a Constitution which the activist says is being tested under Donald Trump, a president he describes as &quot;unlike any other.&quot;

&quot;Our federal judges, not only the Supreme Court, have tried to keep Donald Trump in check but I tell you, he has them working very hard,&quot; Melaku-Bello says, referring to the numerous court challenges faced by Trump -- on everything from immigration to birth control to potential conflicts of interest.

Opposite the front lawn of the president&#39;s home, Melaku-Bello greets passersby with a gentle manner.

&quot;How do you do, sir?&quot; he asks. &quot;Peace be with you.&quot;

Hour after hour, local residents and tourists stop to chat or to snap photographs of the orderly protest site where he sits behind a box of pamphlets about uranium and nuclear weapons, drone warfare, and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Some drop donations into a plastic container which says &quot;Free Leonard Peltier,&quot; a member of the American Indian Movement jailed for the 1975 killings of two FBI agents, and whom most people will have long forgotten.

Not Melaku-Bello.

He speaks articulately, knowledgeably -- and at length -- about Peltier&#39;s case and a range of other domestic and global political issues.

They call this &#39;democracy&#39;?

Melaku-Bello dismisses suggestions he himself has become an attraction.

&quot;I&#39;d always want it to be the message more than me,&quot; he says, flanked by signs, large and small.

&quot;Free Tibet,&quot; says one.

&quot;Make a peace treaty with North Korea,&quot; demands another, dwarfed by the biggest placard that calls for &quot;wisdom and honesty.&quot;

Other signs address topical issues including the fate of hundreds of thousands of &quot;Dreamers,&quot; immigrants brought to the country illegally as children whose protections Trump has vowed to end.

A California native in his mid-50s, who describes his personal politics as anarchistic, Melaku-Bello began protesting in the 1970s.

He belonged to a punk rock band which was touring the Washington area when he first came into contact with the protest site and &quot;helped out.&quot;

That was in the summer of 1981.

The vigil was founded earlier that year by activist William Thomas, joined by Concepcion Picciotto who remained until her death in 2016. Thomas died in 2009.

For the first decade of his involvement, Melaku-Bello says he split his time between protesting and working for Amha Selassie, the exiled son of late Ethiopian emperor Haile Selassie.

In the course of that work, which involved preparing human rights reports, Melaku-Bello recounts being wounded by a landmine blast in Ramallah in 1987, leaving him in a wheelchair.

For the past seven years, the protest site has been his life, taking 90 to 100 hours a week.

Melaku-Bello, who tucks his hair up Rasta-style in a red and white toque above his untrimmed sideburns and graying beard, has reliable support from only two other activists, Neil Cousins and Craig Thompson, who rotate shifts with him.

On the pedestrian mall in front of the White House, activists for various causes come and go but the peace vigil remains, unique because it is manned day and night, a right Melaku-Bello says has been won through court fights.

Healthy debate

Melaku-Bello&#39;s passion is undiminished.

&quot;How dare they call this a democracy when it&#39;s not government for the people by the people but by an oligarchy government controlled by the few,&quot; he says, complaining that the wealthy are able to buy political influence in the United States.

His devotion earns praise even from those who disagree with him, such as passerby Eric Meek, 47, an Ohio school teacher who describes himself as &quot;more right wing.&quot;

&quot;I think that&#39;s what makes our country great,&quot; Meek says, &quot;if two people who have different philosophies can talk in a sensible way&quot; and listen to each other.

Melaku-Bello says he will keep talking, and listening, as long as he physically can.

&quot;Maybe loving all the civilians of the planet, some people would call it madness,&quot; he says. &quot;So how long will I do it? Maybe till my last breath.&quot;

Thirty-seven years and five presidents later, Melaku-Bello is still there, quietly delivering his message from a tarpaulin-covered shelter plastered with signs advocating for peace

Ronald Reagan was America's president when Philipos Melaku-Bello first began protesting in front of the White House. Thirty-seven years and five presidents later, Melaku-Bello is still there, quietly delivering his message from a tarpaulin-covered shelter plastered with signs advocating for peace, against the nuclear industry, and in support of human rights. He says the site is a living demonstration of America's right to freedom of expression, guaranteed by a Constitution which the activist says is being tested under Donald Trump, a president he describes as "unlike any other." "Our federal judges, not only the Supreme Court, have tried to keep Donald Trump in check but I tell you, he has them working very hard," Melaku-Bello says, referring to the numerous court challenges faced by Trump -- on everything from immigration to birth control to potential conflicts of interest. Opposite the front lawn of the president's home, Melaku-Bello greets passersby with a gentle manner. "How do you do, sir?" he asks. "Peace be with you." Hour after hour, local residents and tourists stop to chat or to snap photographs of the orderly protest site where he sits behind a box of pamphlets about uranium and nuclear weapons, drone warfare, and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Some drop donations into a plastic container which says "Free Leonard Peltier," a member of the American Indian Movement jailed for the 1975 killings of two FBI agents, and whom most people will have long forgotten. Not Melaku-Bello. He speaks articulately, knowledgeably -- and at length -- about Peltier's case and a range of other domestic and global political issues. They call this 'democracy'? Melaku-Bello dismisses suggestions he himself has become an attraction. "I'd always want it to be the message more than me," he says, flanked by signs, large and small. "Free Tibet," says one. "Make a peace treaty with North Korea," demands another, dwarfed by the biggest placard that calls for "wisdom and honesty." Other signs address topical issues including the fate of hundreds of thousands of "Dreamers," immigrants brought to the country illegally as children whose protections Trump has vowed to end. A California native in his mid-50s, who describes his personal politics as anarchistic, Melaku-Bello began protesting in the 1970s. He belonged to a punk rock band which was touring the Washington area when he first came into contact with the protest site and "helped out." That was in the summer of 1981. The vigil was founded earlier that year by activist William Thomas, joined by Concepcion Picciotto who remained until her death in 2016. Thomas died in 2009. For the first decade of his involvement, Melaku-Bello says he split his time between protesting and working for Amha Selassie, the exiled son of late Ethiopian emperor Haile Selassie. In the course of that work, which involved preparing human rights reports, Melaku-Bello recounts being wounded by a landmine blast in Ramallah in 1987, leaving him in a wheelchair. For the past seven years, the protest site has been his life, taking 90 to 100 hours a week. Melaku-Bello, who tucks his hair up Rasta-style in a red and white toque above his untrimmed sideburns and graying beard, has reliable support from only two other activists, Neil Cousins and Craig Thompson, who rotate shifts with him. On the pedestrian mall in front of the White House, activists for various causes come and go but the peace vigil remains, unique because it is manned day and night, a right Melaku-Bello says has been won through court fights. Healthy debate Melaku-Bello's passion is undiminished. "How dare they call this a democracy when it's not government for the people by the people but by an oligarchy government controlled by the few," he says, complaining that the wealthy are able to buy political influence in the United States. His devotion earns praise even from those who disagree with him, such as passerby Eric Meek, 47, an Ohio school teacher who describes himself as "more right wing." "I think that's what makes our country great," Meek says, "if two people who have different philosophies can talk in a sensible way" and listen to each other. Melaku-Bello says he will keep talking, and listening, as long as he physically can. "Maybe loving all the civilians of the planet, some people would call it madness," he says. "So how long will I do it? Maybe till my last breath."

Longtime White House protester has passion for peace

Billionaire investor George Soros launched a scathing attack on tech giants at the Davos summit on Thursday, calling them monopolies that could be manipulated by authoritarians to subvert democracy.

During an annual dinner he hosts at the World Economic Forum, held this week in the Swiss alpine resort, Soros turned his sights on a host of subjects including US President Donald Trump and the speculation frenzy surrounding the bitcoin cryptocurrency.

But much of the Hungarian-born financier&#39;s ire was reserved for the tech giants of Silicon Valley who, he argued, needed to be more strictly regulated.&nbsp;

&quot;Facebook and Google effectively control over half of all internet advertising revenue,&quot; the 87-year-old told diners during a speech.&nbsp;

&quot;They claim that they are merely distributors of information. The fact that they are near-monopoly distributors makes them public utilities and should subject them to more stringent regulations, aimed at preserving competition, innovation, and fair and open universal access.&quot;

He predicted that tech giants would &quot;compromise themselves&quot; to access key markets like China, creating an &quot;alliance between authoritarian states and these large, data rich IT monopolies.&quot;

&quot;This may well result in a web of totalitarian control the likes of which not even Aldous Huxley or George Orwell could have imagined,&quot; he warned.

Predicting governments would start to more heavily regulate the sector he said: &quot;Davos is a good place to announce that their days are numbered.&quot;

Known for his legendarily successful currency trading, Soros dismissed bitcoin as a &quot;typical bubble&quot;.&nbsp;

But he said the cryptocurrency would likely avoid a full crash because authoritarians would still use it to make secret investments abroad.

He described Russia&#39;s Vladimir Putin as presiding over a &quot;mafia state&quot; and called Trump a &quot;danger to the world&quot;.

But he predicted that the US president&#39;s appeal would not last.&nbsp;

&quot;I regard it as a purely temporary phenomenon that will disappear in 2020 or even sooner.&quot;

But the investor&#39;s traditional Davos predictions do not always pan out. Last year in Switzerland he warned that the stock market rally would end after Trump&#39;s election and that China&#39;s growth rate was unsustainable.

China&#39;s growth has continued while US stocks are regularly hitting record highs.

"Facebook and Google effectively control over half of all internet advertising revenue," the 87-year-old told diners during a speech.

Billionaire investor George Soros launched a scathing attack on tech giants at the Davos summit on Thursday, calling them monopolies that could be manipulated by authoritarians to subvert democracy. During an annual dinner he hosts at the World Economic Forum, held this week in the Swiss alpine resort, Soros turned his sights on a host of subjects including US President Donald Trump and the speculation frenzy surrounding the bitcoin cryptocurrency. But much of the Hungarian-born financier's ire was reserved for the tech giants of Silicon Valley who, he argued, needed to be more strictly regulated. "Facebook and Google effectively control over half of all internet advertising revenue," the 87-year-old told diners during a speech. "They claim that they are merely distributors of information. The fact that they are near-monopoly distributors makes them public utilities and should subject them to more stringent regulations, aimed at preserving competition, innovation, and fair and open universal access." He predicted that tech giants would "compromise themselves" to access key markets like China, creating an "alliance between authoritarian states and these large, data rich IT monopolies." "This may well result in a web of totalitarian control the likes of which not even Aldous Huxley or George Orwell could have imagined," he warned. Predicting governments would start to more heavily regulate the sector he said: "Davos is a good place to announce that their days are numbered." Known for his legendarily successful currency trading, Soros dismissed bitcoin as a "typical bubble". But he said the cryptocurrency would likely avoid a full crash because authoritarians would still use it to make secret investments abroad. He described Russia's Vladimir Putin as presiding over a "mafia state" and called Trump a "danger to the world". But he predicted that the US president's appeal would not last. "I regard it as a purely temporary phenomenon that will disappear in 2020 or even sooner." But the investor's traditional Davos predictions do not always pan out. Last year in Switzerland he warned that the stock market rally would end after Trump's election and that China's growth rate was unsustainable. China's growth has continued while US stocks are regularly hitting record highs.

George Soros to Google and Facebook: Your days are numbered

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