Widow of last South Korean military dictator expressed 'deep apology' for her departed husband's brutal rule. She said the words as dozens of relatives and former aides paid final respects to Chun Doo-hwan, the former dictator.

Chun, who took power in a 1979 coup and violently crushed pro-democracy protests a year later before being jailed for treason in the 1990s, died at his Seoul home Tuesday at the age of 90.

Chun's family held a funeral service at Seoul's Severance Hospital before his cremation.

Chun's widow, Lee Soon-ja, said during the service at the hospital that her husband had wished to be cremated and that his ashes be spread in border areas near North Korea.

"As we wrap up the funeral procession today, I would like to offer a deep apology on behalf of our family toward the people who suffered pains and scars during my husband's time in office," said Lee, without specifying Chun's misdeeds.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/a-little-known-cult-is-at-the-heart-of-south-koreas-latest-covid-19-outbreak-431712">A little known cult is at the heart of South Korea's latest COVID-19 outbreak</a>

Chun never apologised for his atrocities, which included overseeing a massacre of hundreds of pro-democracy protesters in the southern city of Gwangju in 1980, one of the darkest moments in the country's modern history that came as he attempted to solidify his rule following the coup.

Cho Jin-tae, a senior official at a foundation representing Gwangju victims, said Lee's vague expression of remorse rang hollow and called for Chun's family to back her words with action, including cooperating with truth-finding efforts into Chun's major wrongdoings. 
"I don't think anyone will be consoled by Lee Soon-ja's comments today," Cho told The Associated Press by phone.

Chun was an army major general when he seized power in December 1979 with his military cronies, including Roh Tae-woo, who later succeeded Chun as president after winning the country's first democratic election in decades. The two died nearly an exact month apart, with Roh's death coming on Oct. 26.

While Roh was given a state funeral, there has been much less sympathy for Chun, who had been nicknamed the "butcher of Gwangju." Although Roh never directly apologized over the crackdown, his son repeatedly visited a Gwangju cemetery to pay respects to the victims and apologised on behalf of his father, who was bed-ridden in the 10 years before his death.

(With inputs from agencies)

Widow of last South Korean military dictator expressed 'deep apology' for her departed husband's brutal rule. She said the words as dozens of relatives and former aides paid final respects to Chun Doo-hwan, the former dictator.

Widow of last South Korean military dictator expressed 'deep apology' for her departed husband's brutal rule. She said the words as dozens of relatives and former aides paid final respects to Chun Doo-hwan, the former dictator. Chun, who took power in a 1979 coup and violently crushed pro-democracy protests a year later before being jailed for treason in the 1990s, died at his Seoul home Tuesday at the age of 90. Chun's family held a funeral service at Seoul's Severance Hospital before his cremation. Chun's widow, Lee Soon-ja, said during the service at the hospital that her husband had wished to be cremated and that his ashes be spread in border areas near North Korea. "As we wrap up the funeral procession today, I would like to offer a deep apology on behalf of our family toward the people who suffered pains and scars during my husband's time in office," said Lee, without specifying Chun's misdeeds. Also Read | A little known cult is at the heart of South Korea's latest COVID-19 outbreak Chun never apologised for his atrocities, which included overseeing a massacre of hundreds of pro-democracy protesters in the southern city of Gwangju in 1980, one of the darkest moments in the country's modern history that came as he attempted to solidify his rule following the coup. Cho Jin-tae, a senior official at a foundation representing Gwangju victims, said Lee's vague expression of remorse rang hollow and called for Chun's family to back her words with action, including cooperating with truth-finding efforts into Chun's major wrongdoings. "I don't think anyone will be consoled by Lee Soon-ja's comments today," Cho told The Associated Press by phone. Chun was an army major general when he seized power in December 1979 with his military cronies, including Roh Tae-woo, who later succeeded Chun as president after winning the country's first democratic election in decades. The two died nearly an exact month apart, with Roh's death coming on Oct. 26. While Roh was given a state funeral, there has been much less sympathy for Chun, who had been nicknamed the "butcher of Gwangju." Although Roh never directly apologized over the crackdown, his son repeatedly visited a Gwangju cemetery to pay respects to the victims and apologised on behalf of his father, who was bed-ridden in the 10 years before his death. (With inputs from agencies)

South Korean dictator's widow offers 'deep apology' for brutal regime

Nicaraguan police on Friday raided the premises of independent newspaper La Prensa, which had branded the government a "dictatorship" after being forced to suspend its print edition.

The publication announced the suspension on Thursday, blaming customs for refusing to release its paper imports.

La Prensa was the only national independent daily newspaper remaining in circulation at a time when the government is accused of repressing opponents.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/nicaraguan-police-raid-la-prensa-newspaper-charge-directors-with-fraud-405266">Nicaraguan police raid La Prensa newspaper, charge directors with fraud</a>

Nicaragua is gearing up for a general election in November but since the beginning of June, authorities have detained 32 opposition figures, including seven with aspirations of challenging President Daniel Ortega, who is seeking a fourth successive term.

According to an official police statement, the newspaper's managers are being investigated for "customs fraud and money laundering."

Police took control of the premises at midday and said the newspaper's warehouses were in "custody."

During the raid, some of the paper's journalists said internet access and electricity were cut off, while officers prevented them from using their mobile telephones in the building.

Pro-government media published photos of La Prensa's warehouses on social media, claiming they had no reason to halt their print version.

"In the warehouses of La Prensa newspaper, there is plenty of paper available so the company can continue printing its newspaper," Canal 4 posted on social media.

However, La Prensa staff said that the amount of paper was not enough to print even one edition.

The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) and its special rapporteur for freedom of expression criticized the raid and condemned the "constant official persecution of the press in Nicaragua."

On Twitter, they said, "direct or indirect pressure aimed at silencing the work of the press affects democratic debate and is incompatible with the right to freedom of expression."

The episode marks the second time the 95-year-old newspaper, a tough critic of the government, has suspended its print edition, having previously done so in 2019 when it similarly accused customs of refusing to release primary materials.

Since Ortega came to power in 2007, at least 20 independent media have disappeared due to confiscations of raw materials and forced closures, according to the Central American nation's business union.

Three years ago, the Nuevo Diario, one of the newspapers, most critical of Ortega, announced it had published its last edition because of a year-long government blockade of its newsprint imports.

Between 2018 and February 2020, customs retained 92 tons of press materials.

Most of the media that have disappeared did so after a violent crackdown in 2018, on&nbsp;anti-government protests that left at least 328 people dead and 2,000 injured, according to rights groups.

Ortega's government faces sanctions from the United States and the European Union, which accuse him of human rights violations and the repression of opposition figures.

For his part, Ortega accuses the opposition of trying to overthrow him with the support of the United States.

Nicaraguan police on Friday raided the premises of independent newspaper La Prensa, which had branded the government a "dictatorship" after being forced to suspend its print edition.

Nicaraguan police on Friday raided the premises of independent newspaper La Prensa, which had branded the government a "dictatorship" after being forced to suspend its print edition. The publication announced the suspension on Thursday, blaming customs for refusing to release its paper imports. La Prensa was the only national independent daily newspaper remaining in circulation at a time when the government is accused of repressing opponents. Also read | Nicaraguan police raid La Prensa newspaper, charge directors with fraud Nicaragua is gearing up for a general election in November but since the beginning of June, authorities have detained 32 opposition figures, including seven with aspirations of challenging President Daniel Ortega, who is seeking a fourth successive term. According to an official police statement, the newspaper's managers are being investigated for "customs fraud and money laundering." Police took control of the premises at midday and said the newspaper's warehouses were in "custody." During the raid, some of the paper's journalists said internet access and electricity were cut off, while officers prevented them from using their mobile telephones in the building. Pro-government media published photos of La Prensa's warehouses on social media, claiming they had no reason to halt their print version. "In the warehouses of La Prensa newspaper, there is plenty of paper available so the company can continue printing its newspaper," Canal 4 posted on social media. However, La Prensa staff said that the amount of paper was not enough to print even one edition. The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) and its special rapporteur for freedom of expression criticized the raid and condemned the "constant official persecution of the press in Nicaragua." On Twitter, they said, "direct or indirect pressure aimed at silencing the work of the press affects democratic debate and is incompatible with the right to freedom of expression." The episode marks the second time the 95-year-old newspaper, a tough critic of the government, has suspended its print edition, having previously done so in 2019 when it similarly accused customs of refusing to release primary materials. Since Ortega came to power in 2007, at least 20 independent media have disappeared due to confiscations of raw materials and forced closures, according to the Central American nation's business union. Three years ago, the Nuevo Diario, one of the newspapers, most critical of Ortega, announced it had published its last edition because of a year-long government blockade of its newsprint imports. Between 2018 and February 2020, customs retained 92 tons of press materials. Most of the media that have disappeared did so after a violent crackdown in 2018, on anti-government protests that left at least 328 people dead and 2,000 injured, according to rights groups. Ortega's government faces sanctions from the United States and the European Union, which accuse him of human rights violations and the repression of opposition figures. For his part, Ortega accuses the opposition of trying to overthrow him with the support of the United States.

Police raid Nicaragua paper that branded govt a 'dictatorship'

North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un presented economic plans to senior ruling party officials before an upcoming meeting to review the nation’s efforts to overcome severe hardships amid a prolonged COVID-19 crisis, state media said Tuesday.&nbsp;

The Korean Central News Agency said Kim held his consultations Monday in preparation for a meeting of the Workers' Party’s powerful Central Committee to discuss state affairs for the first half of 2021. The meeting was set for early June and could take place as early as this week.&nbsp;

Kim’s plans were not specified but were described as intending to bring “tangible change" to stabilising the economy and people’s living conditions.&nbsp;

The North Korean economy has been crippled by decades of mismanagement, U.S.-led sanctions over Kim’s nuclear weapons program and the coronavirus pandemic. South Korean officials say there are no signs North Korea is easing the border controls it imposed at the start of the pandemic to import more industrial and agricultural materials to boost production.&nbsp;

The Workers'' Party last held a plenary meeting of Central Committee members in February, when Kim ripped into state economic agencies for their “passive and self-protecting tendencies” in setting their annual goals.&nbsp;

Earlier in the year, at the party’s first congress since 2016, Kim urged his people to be resilient in the struggle for economic self-reliance and called for reasserting greater state control over the economy, boosting agricultural production and prioritizing the development of chemicals and metal industries. Those sectors have been critically depleted by sanctions and halted imports of factory materials amid the pandemic.&nbsp;

The economic setbacks have left Kim with nothing to show for his ambitious diplomacy with former President Donald Trump, which failed to bring the North sanctions relief, and the North has so far ignored the Biden administration’s calls to resume dialogue.&nbsp;

Some experts say Kim could use the upcoming Central Committee meeting to address the stalled nuclear diplomacy.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un presented economic plans to senior ruling party officials before an upcoming meeting to review the nation’s efforts to overcome severe hardships amid a prolonged COVID-19 crisis, state media said Tuesday.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un presented economic plans to senior ruling party officials before an upcoming meeting to review the nation’s efforts to overcome severe hardships amid a prolonged COVID-19 crisis, state media said Tuesday. The Korean Central News Agency said Kim held his consultations Monday in preparation for a meeting of the Workers' Party’s powerful Central Committee to discuss state affairs for the first half of 2021. The meeting was set for early June and could take place as early as this week. Kim’s plans were not specified but were described as intending to bring “tangible change" to stabilising the economy and people’s living conditions. The North Korean economy has been crippled by decades of mismanagement, U.S.-led sanctions over Kim’s nuclear weapons program and the coronavirus pandemic. South Korean officials say there are no signs North Korea is easing the border controls it imposed at the start of the pandemic to import more industrial and agricultural materials to boost production. The Workers'' Party last held a plenary meeting of Central Committee members in February, when Kim ripped into state economic agencies for their “passive and self-protecting tendencies” in setting their annual goals. Earlier in the year, at the party’s first congress since 2016, Kim urged his people to be resilient in the struggle for economic self-reliance and called for reasserting greater state control over the economy, boosting agricultural production and prioritizing the development of chemicals and metal industries. Those sectors have been critically depleted by sanctions and halted imports of factory materials amid the pandemic. The economic setbacks have left Kim with nothing to show for his ambitious diplomacy with former President Donald Trump, which failed to bring the North sanctions relief, and the North has so far ignored the Biden administration’s calls to resume dialogue. Some experts say Kim could use the upcoming Central Committee meeting to address the stalled nuclear diplomacy.

Kim Jong Un presents plans to stabilise battered North Korean economy

Chile has embarked on a new path to shed the legacy of former dictator Augusto Pinochet. Over the next two years, the country will write a new constitution and scrap dictatorship. WION's Palki Sharma tells you more.

Gravitas: Chile votes for a democratic constitution

Volkswagen said Wednesday it had signed a deal with prosecutors to compensate former workers at the company's Brazil unit for rights violations committed during the South American country's military dictatorship.

Former workers and their families sued the German carmaker five years ago, alleging its Brazilian security office had collaborated with the military regime (1964-1985) to identify suspected opponents, who were then detained and tortured.

Under the deal with state and federal prosecutors in Brazil, VW will pay 36 million reais (5.5 million euros, $6.4 million) in compensation, including 16.8 million reais for workers and their families, plus donations to various projects including a memorial for victims of the regime, it said in a statement.

"We regret the violations that occurred in the past. For Volkswagen, it is important to deal responsibly with this negative chapter in Brazil's history and promote transparency," VW executive Hiltrud Werner said in the statement.

An independent review commissioned by the company in 2016 had found that security agents at Volkswagen do Brasil had cooperated with the military regime.

Brazil is still coming to terms with the abuses committed by the regime, which was responsible for the murder or disappearance of at least 434 people, according to the National Truth Commission established to investigate dictatorship-era crimes.

An estimated 20,000 people were tortured.

Current President Jair Bolsonaro, an army captain at the time, is an open admirer of the dictatorship.

The far-right leader has triggered controversy by saying the regime's mistake was torturing rather than killing its opponents, and reinstating commemorations of the 1964 coup that installed it.

Volkswagen said Wednesday it had signed a deal with prosecutors to compensate former workers at the company's Brazil unit for rights violations committed during the South American country's military dictatorship.

Volkswagen said Wednesday it had signed a deal with prosecutors to compensate former workers at the company's Brazil unit for rights violations committed during the South American country's military dictatorship. Former workers and their families sued the German carmaker five years ago, alleging its Brazilian security office had collaborated with the military regime (1964-1985) to identify suspected opponents, who were then detained and tortured. Under the deal with state and federal prosecutors in Brazil, VW will pay 36 million reais (5.5 million euros, $6.4 million) in compensation, including 16.8 million reais for workers and their families, plus donations to various projects including a memorial for victims of the regime, it said in a statement. "We regret the violations that occurred in the past. For Volkswagen, it is important to deal responsibly with this negative chapter in Brazil's history and promote transparency," VW executive Hiltrud Werner said in the statement. An independent review commissioned by the company in 2016 had found that security agents at Volkswagen do Brasil had cooperated with the military regime. Brazil is still coming to terms with the abuses committed by the regime, which was responsible for the murder or disappearance of at least 434 people, according to the National Truth Commission established to investigate dictatorship-era crimes. An estimated 20,000 people were tortured. Current President Jair Bolsonaro, an army captain at the time, is an open admirer of the dictatorship. The far-right leader has triggered controversy by saying the regime's mistake was torturing rather than killing its opponents, and reinstating commemorations of the 1964 coup that installed it.

Volkswagen to compensate Brazil dictatorship victims

In fresh Nicaragua violence over the weekend, One person was killed and three got injured amid the political unrest in the country.

According to reports, One person that died was a government employee -- Jorge Gaston -- he died in the hospital after being shot.

Meanwhile, the opposition was reported by the news agency, Reuters, saying that he was a victim of the government forces that had attacked protestors the same day.

Since the protests against the government have begun in the Central American nation, 84 people have been killed while more than 860 were injured.

The Nicaraguans are protesting against President Ortega -- who is in power since 2007 -- led government from April.

On April 18, Nicaraguans staged a massive protest against the government which was then triggered by the new social security system reforms.&nbsp

From demanding to scrap the new social security reforms to now the demonstrators are demanding re-election in the country and changes in electoral laws to strengthen democracy.

They also demanded justice for people who were killed in the April's protest violence.

Though Ortega has delivered steady growth to the country he has been criticised for corruption and his control over Congress, military and the electoral board and media.

He is also accused of turning Nicaragua into a family dictatorship as Ortega and his wife Rosario Murillo as vice-president was elected in November 2016 for a term that ends in January.

Church-mediated talks between government and demonstrators aimed at quelling the violence have stalled since last week, but the Nicaraguan Bishops' Conference called on Sunday for both sides to attend a session on Monday aimed at reviving the dialogue.

Also read: <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/nicaraguans-resume-their-anti-government-protests-8-people-killed-140072">Nicaraguans resume their anti-government protests 8 people killed</a>

According to reports, one person that died was a government employee -- Jorge Gaston -- he died in the hospital after being shot

In fresh Nicaragua violence over the weekend, One person was killed and three got injured amid the political unrest in the country. According to reports, One person that died was a government employee -- Jorge Gaston -- he died in the hospital after being shot. Meanwhile, the opposition was reported by the news agency, Reuters, saying that he was a victim of the government forces that had attacked protestors the same day. Since the protests against the government have begun in the Central American nation, 84 people have been killed while more than 860 were injured. The Nicaraguans are protesting against President Ortega -- who is in power since 2007 -- led government from April. On April 18, Nicaraguans staged a massive protest against the government which was then triggered by the new social security system reforms. From demanding to scrap the new social security reforms to now the demonstrators are demanding re-election in the country and changes in electoral laws to strengthen democracy. They also demanded justice for people who were killed in the April's protest violence. Though Ortega has delivered steady growth to the country he has been criticised for corruption and his control over Congress, military and the electoral board and media. He is also accused of turning Nicaragua into a family dictatorship as Ortega and his wife Rosario Murillo as vice-president was elected in November 2016 for a term that ends in January. Church-mediated talks between government and demonstrators aimed at quelling the violence have stalled since last week, but the Nicaraguan Bishops' Conference called on Sunday for both sides to attend a session on Monday aimed at reviving the dialogue. Also read: Nicaraguans resume their anti-government protests 8 people killed

Nicaragua violence: 1 killed, 3 injured in protest violence

Nicaragua unrest resumed as thousands of protestors hit the streets and continued their protest against the government.

According to media reports, at least eight people lost their lives in violence, broke down during the protest. Roads and highways were also blocked by the protestors.

Four people were killed on Friday, and another four by mid-day Saturday, news agency AFP reported.

The Nicaraguans are protesting against President Ortega -- who is in power since 2007 -- led government from April.

On April 18, Nicaraguans staged a massive protest against the government&nbspwhich was then triggered by the new social security system reforms.&nbspDuring that protest, at least 83 people including a journalist were killed and more than 860 were injured.

From demanding to scrap new social security reforms to now the demonstrators are demanding re-election in the country and changes in electoral laws&nbspto strengthen democracy.

They also demanded justice for people who were killed in the April's protest violence.

Though Ortega has delivered steady growth to the country he has been criticised for corruption and his control over Congress, military and the electoral board and media.

He is also accused of turning Nicaragua into a family dictatorship as Ortega and his wife Rosario Murillo as vice-president was elected in November 2016 for a term that ends in January.

In April the protests were put on hold after the week-long church mediated talks between the government and the opposition.

The Organization of American States has called for Ortega to call early elections, an issue which became the biggest stumbling block in dialogue.

Foreign Minister Denis Moncada said an early ballot would mean "dismantling constitutional order and the democratically elected government."

Ortega was a driving force in the overthrow of one of Latin America's most notorious regimes when his Sandinistas ended the Somoza dynasty's long rule of the country in 1979.

He was elected president in 1984, but a civil war, which pitted the Sandinistas against US-backed right-wing Contra rebels, hurt his popularity, and he was voted out in 1990.

Not until a 2006 election did Ortega reclaim the presidency.

Before protests broke out, an OAS team had been trying to mediate in a process aimed at bringing about new elections, as well as electoral reforms.

The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights is currently in Nicaragua to investigate protest violence, already having condemned evidence of human rights abuses against demonstrators.

In April's protest violence demonstrators had alleged that national police was using live rounds and used excessive force to kill protestors during the clash between demonstrators and security forces.

(With inputs from news agencies)

Four people were killed on Friday, and another four by mid-day Saturday, news agency AFP reported

Nicaragua unrest resumed as thousands of protestors hit the streets and continued their protest against the government. According to media reports, at least eight people lost their lives in violence, broke down during the protest. Roads and highways were also blocked by the protestors. Four people were killed on Friday, and another four by mid-day Saturday, news agency AFP reported. The Nicaraguans are protesting against President Ortega -- who is in power since 2007 -- led government from April. On April 18, Nicaraguans staged a massive protest against the government&nbspwhich was then triggered by the new social security system reforms.&nbspDuring that protest, at least 83 people including a journalist were killed and more than 860 were injured. From demanding to scrap new social security reforms to now the demonstrators are demanding re-election in the country and changes in electoral laws&nbspto strengthen democracy. They also demanded justice for people who were killed in the April's protest violence. Though Ortega has delivered steady growth to the country he has been criticised for corruption and his control over Congress, military and the electoral board and media. He is also accused of turning Nicaragua into a family dictatorship as Ortega and his wife Rosario Murillo as vice-president was elected in November 2016 for a term that ends in January. In April the protests were put on hold after the week-long church mediated talks between the government and the opposition. The Organization of American States has called for Ortega to call early elections, an issue which became the biggest stumbling block in dialogue. Foreign Minister Denis Moncada said an early ballot would mean "dismantling constitutional order and the democratically elected government." Ortega was a driving force in the overthrow of one of Latin America's most notorious regimes when his Sandinistas ended the Somoza dynasty's long rule of the country in 1979. He was elected president in 1984, but a civil war, which pitted the Sandinistas against US-backed right-wing Contra rebels, hurt his popularity, and he was voted out in 1990. Not until a 2006 election did Ortega reclaim the presidency. Before protests broke out, an OAS team had been trying to mediate in a process aimed at bringing about new elections, as well as electoral reforms. The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights is currently in Nicaragua to investigate protest violence, already having condemned evidence of human rights abuses against demonstrators. In April's protest violence demonstrators had alleged that national police was using live rounds and used excessive force to kill protestors during the clash between demonstrators and security forces. (With inputs from news agencies)

Nicaraguans resume their anti-government protests; 8 people killed

By: Natasha Ezrow*

All around the world, democracy is looking shaky. While consolidated democracies are struggling to stay healthy, many flawed ones have turned into outright authoritarian regimes – most notably Russia under Vladimir Putin and Turkey under Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. But the news isn’t all bad: On several continents over the last decade, longstanding dictators have resigned, lost elections, or been deposed.

But has their demise led to any kind of democratic reform? It’s a mixed picture to say the least. While a handful of promising cases deserve praise, only a few of the dictatorships that have fallen in recent years have given way to lasting, stable democracies.

The 2010s began with tremendous optimism for the future of global democracy, reaching an apogee with the Arab Spring protests in 2011.

Across the Middle East and North Africa, several dictators fell in a row: After Tunisia’s Zine El Abidine Ben Ali of Tunisia and Egypt’s Hosni Mubarak, Muammar Gaddafi of Libya was toppled in a civil war. Fighting also erupted in Yemen, leading to the eventual flight of longtime strongman Ali Abdullah Saleh.

It seemed for a moment that in one fell swoop, a clutch of countries were suddenly shaking off authoritarianism at last. But with the exception of Tunisia – whose situation is still somewhat fragile – none of them have developed into democracies.

Egypt’s brief spell under the elected Muslim Brotherhood came to an end in 2013, when a military intervention brought General Abdel Fatteh al-Sisi to power. He remains president today, legitimised by largely meaningless elections. Libya is still a weak state beset by instability and violence Yemen has slipped into devastating conflict and humanitarian crisis.

Though protests exploded throughout the Middle East, only modest reforms took place elsewhere. And in Syria, the Assad regime’s crackdown on the 2011 protests helped spark a nightmarish conflict that has torn the country apart.

Iraq and Afghanistan, meanwhile, saw a change in leadership with the elections that forced Nouri al-Maliki and Hamid Karzai out of power. But neither country’s democracy has notably improved. Afghanistan is still authoritarian and unstable, and in Iraq, Maliki is still very powerful behind the scenes.

Mixed bag

Latin America was home to a clutter of military dictatorships for decades, but since the mid-to-late 1980s, most of its countries have been flawed but functioning democracies.

The two notable holdouts were Venezuela under Hugo Chávez and Cuba under Fidel Castro – and in the last decade, the two have diverged considerably.

While Cuba has reformed a little under the rule of Fidel’s brother Raúl, who has now handed over to Miguel Díaz-Canal, Venezuela is falling apart under the dictatorial leadership of Chavez’s hand-picked successor, Nicolás Maduro. Other regimes in Latin America continue to hold free and fair elections, but struggle to uphold the rule of law.

In Asia, meanwhile, a few less-than-democratic countries have made strides towards reform, but most authoritarian regimes have stayed the same. Still, some reforms and resignations are noteworthy.

In the Caucasus, Armenia’s Serzh Sargsyan was recently forced to resign after mass protests against his rule. Almazbek Atambayev of Kyrgyzstan also stepped down after elections, the first peaceful handover of power in the country’s history.

In South-East Asia, most of the attention since 2015 has been on surprising events in Myanmar, when the military regime that ran the country for decades allowed open elections for the first time since 1990. Myanmar’s military government was oppressive even by authoritarian standards, so it was quite something to see it holding elections, releasing political prisoners and allowing more press freedom.

The regime’s leader, Thein Sein, stepped down to make way for Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy.

But the democratic transformation was short-lived. The regime has continued to violate the human rights of its minority groups, most notably the Rohingya minority, and civil liberties and press freedoms are in serious jeopardy.

Turfed out

One place where things are looking up for democracy is Sub-Saharan Africa. The last decade has seen the overall standing of democracy in Africa improve. In the early 1980s, only five countries in Africa could be considered democratic: Botswana, Gambia, Mauritius, Senegal and Zimbabwe.

The end of the Cold War saw the expansion of elections and civil liberties. But more recent years has seen the fall or peaceful resignation of important authoritarian figures, many of them old men who had clung on to power for decades.

Yahya Jammeh of the Gambia eventually fled the country in 2017 after he lost the presidential elections to the opposition. Blaise Compaoré of Burkina Faso resigned after political protests broke out in 2014, following nearly three decades in power.

José Eduardo dos Santos of Angola resigned after nearly 40 years in power (though he remains influential in Angolan politics). All three countries have become slightly more democratic as a result.

But the biggest tree felled in Africa was undoubtedly Zimbabwe’s Robert Mugabe. In his capacity as president since 1980, Mugabe had become increasingly dictatorial and brutal, and his misguided leadership plunged the country into chaos.

When he unceremoniously fired his vice-president Emmerson Mnangagwa at the end of 2017, his previous backers in the military decided they had finally had enough. With parliamentary impeachment hearings in the offing, Mugabe eventually resigned, and new elections are scheduled for July 2018.

The bloodless Zimbabwean transition was a heartening spectacle, but there are nonetheless plenty of other countries to worry about. Hungary’s Viktor Orban is threatening to constrict his country’s democracy by clamping down on civil liberties, even as he wins landslide election victores.

China’s Xi Jinping recently orchestrated the removal of term limits, giving him the power to rule indefinitely. Thailand’s military is heading the most repressive government the country has seen in years. Still, while many countries have taken an authoritarian turn, others have made a success of their escape from dictatorship.

As recent events in Armenia attest, citizens the world over are becoming more involved in politics and taking their displeasure to the streets. And while it’s true that most dictators who fall are replaced by another dictator, there are enough examples to the contrary to give the defenders of democracy some hope.

*Natasha Ezrow is a&nbspSenior Lecturer, University of Essex

(This article was originally published on <a href="http://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a>. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/are-dictators-on-the-way-out-or-on-the-way-up-95128">original article</a>.)

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

While a handful of promising cases deserve praise, only a few of the dictatorships that have fallen in recent years have given way to lasting, stable democracies

By: Natasha Ezrow* All around the world, democracy is looking shaky. While consolidated democracies are struggling to stay healthy, many flawed ones have turned into outright authoritarian regimes – most notably Russia under Vladimir Putin and Turkey under Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. But the news isn’t all bad: On several continents over the last decade, longstanding dictators have resigned, lost elections, or been deposed. But has their demise led to any kind of democratic reform? It’s a mixed picture to say the least. While a handful of promising cases deserve praise, only a few of the dictatorships that have fallen in recent years have given way to lasting, stable democracies. The 2010s began with tremendous optimism for the future of global democracy, reaching an apogee with the Arab Spring protests in 2011. Across the Middle East and North Africa, several dictators fell in a row: After Tunisia’s Zine El Abidine Ben Ali of Tunisia and Egypt’s Hosni Mubarak, Muammar Gaddafi of Libya was toppled in a civil war. Fighting also erupted in Yemen, leading to the eventual flight of longtime strongman Ali Abdullah Saleh. It seemed for a moment that in one fell swoop, a clutch of countries were suddenly shaking off authoritarianism at last. But with the exception of Tunisia – whose situation is still somewhat fragile – none of them have developed into democracies. Egypt’s brief spell under the elected Muslim Brotherhood came to an end in 2013, when a military intervention brought General Abdel Fatteh al-Sisi to power. He remains president today, legitimised by largely meaningless elections. Libya is still a weak state beset by instability and violence Yemen has slipped into devastating conflict and humanitarian crisis. Though protests exploded throughout the Middle East, only modest reforms took place elsewhere. And in Syria, the Assad regime’s crackdown on the 2011 protests helped spark a nightmarish conflict that has torn the country apart. Iraq and Afghanistan, meanwhile, saw a change in leadership with the elections that forced Nouri al-Maliki and Hamid Karzai out of power. But neither country’s democracy has notably improved. Afghanistan is still authoritarian and unstable, and in Iraq, Maliki is still very powerful behind the scenes. Mixed bag Latin America was home to a clutter of military dictatorships for decades, but since the mid-to-late 1980s, most of its countries have been flawed but functioning democracies. The two notable holdouts were Venezuela under Hugo Chávez and Cuba under Fidel Castro – and in the last decade, the two have diverged considerably. While Cuba has reformed a little under the rule of Fidel’s brother Raúl, who has now handed over to Miguel Díaz-Canal, Venezuela is falling apart under the dictatorial leadership of Chavez’s hand-picked successor, Nicolás Maduro. Other regimes in Latin America continue to hold free and fair elections, but struggle to uphold the rule of law. In Asia, meanwhile, a few less-than-democratic countries have made strides towards reform, but most authoritarian regimes have stayed the same. Still, some reforms and resignations are noteworthy. In the Caucasus, Armenia’s Serzh Sargsyan was recently forced to resign after mass protests against his rule. Almazbek Atambayev of Kyrgyzstan also stepped down after elections, the first peaceful handover of power in the country’s history. In South-East Asia, most of the attention since 2015 has been on surprising events in Myanmar, when the military regime that ran the country for decades allowed open elections for the first time since 1990. Myanmar’s military government was oppressive even by authoritarian standards, so it was quite something to see it holding elections, releasing political prisoners and allowing more press freedom. The regime’s leader, Thein Sein, stepped down to make way for Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy. But the democratic transformation was short-lived. The regime has continued to violate the human rights of its minority groups, most notably the Rohingya minority, and civil liberties and press freedoms are in serious jeopardy. Turfed out One place where things are looking up for democracy is Sub-Saharan Africa. The last decade has seen the overall standing of democracy in Africa improve. In the early 1980s, only five countries in Africa could be considered democratic: Botswana, Gambia, Mauritius, Senegal and Zimbabwe. The end of the Cold War saw the expansion of elections and civil liberties. But more recent years has seen the fall or peaceful resignation of important authoritarian figures, many of them old men who had clung on to power for decades. Yahya Jammeh of the Gambia eventually fled the country in 2017 after he lost the presidential elections to the opposition. Blaise Compaoré of Burkina Faso resigned after political protests broke out in 2014, following nearly three decades in power. José Eduardo dos Santos of Angola resigned after nearly 40 years in power (though he remains influential in Angolan politics). All three countries have become slightly more democratic as a result. But the biggest tree felled in Africa was undoubtedly Zimbabwe’s Robert Mugabe. In his capacity as president since 1980, Mugabe had become increasingly dictatorial and brutal, and his misguided leadership plunged the country into chaos. When he unceremoniously fired his vice-president Emmerson Mnangagwa at the end of 2017, his previous backers in the military decided they had finally had enough. With parliamentary impeachment hearings in the offing, Mugabe eventually resigned, and new elections are scheduled for July 2018. The bloodless Zimbabwean transition was a heartening spectacle, but there are nonetheless plenty of other countries to worry about. Hungary’s Viktor Orban is threatening to constrict his country’s democracy by clamping down on civil liberties, even as he wins landslide election victores. China’s Xi Jinping recently orchestrated the removal of term limits, giving him the power to rule indefinitely. Thailand’s military is heading the most repressive government the country has seen in years. Still, while many countries have taken an authoritarian turn, others have made a success of their escape from dictatorship. As recent events in Armenia attest, citizens the world over are becoming more involved in politics and taking their displeasure to the streets. And while it’s true that most dictators who fall are replaced by another dictator, there are enough examples to the contrary to give the defenders of democracy some hope. *Natasha Ezrow is a&nbspSenior Lecturer, University of Essex (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)

Opinion: Are dictators on the way out or on the way up?

Airbnb announced on Thursday that it will start sharing information of the customers booking accommodation in China with the Chinese government.

Data that will share with the authorities beginning from March 30 includes passport details and booking dates.&nbsp

The online-home sharing giant said in its clarification the move is to comply with local laws and regulations of China.

"Like all businesses operating in China," the airline spokesperson reportedly said.

The hosts that will be listing accommodation on site will also have to share details after they start to accept bookings.

Hosts who don't want to share this information have to option to de-list themselves from the site using new 'deactivate my China listing' button.

The other hotels of China already share their guests' booking information with Chinese government and police making it a tool of surveillance for the government.

Airbnb is one of few companies based out of China to get hold of China's market, with reportedly 140,000 listings. 
&nbsp 
Travellers staying in private homes also required registering their accommodation details with the police within 24 hours of arriving. 
&nbsp

Data that will share with the authorities beginning from March 30 includes passport details and booking dates

Airbnb announced on Thursday that it will start sharing information of the customers booking accommodation in China with the Chinese government. Data that will share with the authorities beginning from March 30 includes passport details and booking dates. The online-home sharing giant said in its clarification the move is to comply with local laws and regulations of China. "Like all businesses operating in China," the airline spokesperson reportedly said. The hosts that will be listing accommodation on site will also have to share details after they start to accept bookings. Hosts who don't want to share this information have to option to de-list themselves from the site using new 'deactivate my China listing' button. The other hotels of China already share their guests' booking information with Chinese government and police making it a tool of surveillance for the government. Airbnb is one of few companies based out of China to get hold of China's market, with reportedly 140,000 listings. Travellers staying in private homes also required registering their accommodation details with the police within 24 hours of arriving.

Airbnb to shares details of consumers with Chinese authorities

China is meddling in the internal affairs of the Maldives and engaged in massive land grabbing, posing a major security threat to India and the entire Indian Ocean region, a former Maldivian foreign minister and Opposition leader had said.

Ahmed Naseem, who is in the US to brief Trump administration officials on the political turmoil in the Maldives and China&#39;s alleged interference in the island nation, said his country is now a &quot;full-blown dictatorship&quot;.

&quot;China likes to tell the West not to meddle in the domestic affairs of Asian countries. But in the Maldives, China is only too happy to meddle in our domestic affairs, by corrupting the ruling elite and encouraging an authoritarian president to double down on repression,&quot; Naseem said yesterday addressing a gathering at top American think-tank South Asia Centre of Atlantic Council here.

The Maldives has been witnessing political crisis as President Abdulla Yameen declared an emergency in the island nation on February 5 after the Supreme Court ordered the release of a group of opposition leaders, who had been convicted in widely-criticised trials.

The emergency was extended for another 30 days on February 20. There has been international condemnation of the Maldivian government&#39;s moves.

&quot;Almost all the democratic gains that we made in recent years have been lost since President Yameen assumed power in 2013. Every opposition leader is in jail, or exile. The military has stormed, and now occupies, the parliament,&quot; he said.

Asserting that the Maldives is now a &quot;full-blown dictatorship&quot;, Naseem, who is also vice chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee of the Maldivian Democratic Party, said, &quot;It&#39;s difficult to believe that President Yameen would have dared to do all this, defying India and the West -- without the implicit support of his new best friend in Beijing.&quot;

He said that Beijing likes dictatorships because &quot;dictators are easier to bribe, and dictatorships are easier to seduce into a Chinese debt trap.&quot;

&quot;This facilitates China&#39;s primary goal which is a land grab. More specifically, China appears to be keen on building a base in the Maldives which one day may house warships and submarines,&nbsp;Naseem alleged.

&quot;China&#39;s standard prescription for a land grab have been&nbsp;change state type to autocracy, dismantle transparency and democratic oversight, acquire infrastructure projects, very often vanity projects; roads that lead to nowhere, bridges that don&#39;t bridge.

&quot;Prices of these projects are often extremely inflated, and financed through commercial loans or supplier credit. The receiving country, therefore, cannot pay back the debt, and that debt is used as a disciplining regime,&quot; he alleged.

Calling it a &quot;classic case of debt trap&quot;, he said, &quot;When countries can&#39;t pay back the debt, they ask for equity and we end up relinquishing sovereignty. Without firing a single shot, China has grabbed more land than the East India Company.&quot;

Describing this as a dangerous situation, Naseem said that this affects not just the Maldives, but the security and stability of the entire Indian Ocean region.

&quot;In particular, China&#39;s actions are undermining India&#39;s security concerns. What is happening in the Maldives is not just about democracy. It&#39;s about peace, stability, and security of entire neighbourhood,&nbsp;he said.

Naseem alleged that Yameen&#39;s &quot;criminal activities&quot; undermine the US-led, rule-based international system.

Last month, a Maldivian oil tanker was photographed by the Japanese air force engaged in suspected sanction-busting activities, he said.

The Maldivian government furiously denied any involvement in the incident, claiming the tanker was using a fake Maldivian flag.

But since then, the tanker has been connected to the Maldives where it is registered&nbsp;and also to President Yameen&#39;s family, he said.

&quot;We have now learned that a member of Yameen&#39;s family used the tanker as collateral in an application for a USD 4 million mortgage at the Bank of Maldives.

&quot;The opposition believes that Yameen has a fleet of 27 oil tankers, which are being used to systematically bust UN sanctions on North Korea. This business model is nothing new for President Yameen. In the early 2000s, he was documented selling bootleg oil to the Burmese junta, in breach of then UN sanctions,&nbsp;Naseem said.

So this is the problem we face in the Maldives. China is propping up, and actively encouraging a criminal regime, which is busy dismantling the institutions of democracy to cement his rule, and busy selling off the country to Beijing,&quot; the former foreign minister said.

Naseem warned the Washington audience that the Maldives is becoming more volatile, more lawless, and more in the grip of Islamic extremists.

&quot;I don&#39;t think things are going to end well, unless this regime can be brought to a swift end and democracy restored,&nbsp;he said.&nbsp;

China is meddling in the internal affairs of the Maldives and engaged in massive land grabbing, posing a major security threat to India and the entire Indian Ocean region, a former Maldivian foreign minister and Opposition leader had said

China is meddling in the internal affairs of the Maldives and engaged in massive land grabbing, posing a major security threat to India and the entire Indian Ocean region, a former Maldivian foreign minister and Opposition leader had said. Ahmed Naseem, who is in the US to brief Trump administration officials on the political turmoil in the Maldives and China's alleged interference in the island nation, said his country is now a "full-blown dictatorship". "China likes to tell the West not to meddle in the domestic affairs of Asian countries. But in the Maldives, China is only too happy to meddle in our domestic affairs, by corrupting the ruling elite and encouraging an authoritarian president to double down on repression," Naseem said yesterday addressing a gathering at top American think-tank South Asia Centre of Atlantic Council here. The Maldives has been witnessing political crisis as President Abdulla Yameen declared an emergency in the island nation on February 5 after the Supreme Court ordered the release of a group of opposition leaders, who had been convicted in widely-criticised trials. The emergency was extended for another 30 days on February 20. There has been international condemnation of the Maldivian government's moves. "Almost all the democratic gains that we made in recent years have been lost since President Yameen assumed power in 2013. Every opposition leader is in jail, or exile. The military has stormed, and now occupies, the parliament," he said. Asserting that the Maldives is now a "full-blown dictatorship", Naseem, who is also vice chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee of the Maldivian Democratic Party, said, "It's difficult to believe that President Yameen would have dared to do all this, defying India and the West -- without the implicit support of his new best friend in Beijing." He said that Beijing likes dictatorships because "dictators are easier to bribe, and dictatorships are easier to seduce into a Chinese debt trap." "This facilitates China's primary goal which is a land grab. More specifically, China appears to be keen on building a base in the Maldives which one day may house warships and submarines, Naseem alleged. "China's standard prescription for a land grab have been change state type to autocracy, dismantle transparency and democratic oversight, acquire infrastructure projects, very often vanity projects; roads that lead to nowhere, bridges that don't bridge. "Prices of these projects are often extremely inflated, and financed through commercial loans or supplier credit. The receiving country, therefore, cannot pay back the debt, and that debt is used as a disciplining regime," he alleged. Calling it a "classic case of debt trap", he said, "When countries can't pay back the debt, they ask for equity and we end up relinquishing sovereignty. Without firing a single shot, China has grabbed more land than the East India Company." Describing this as a dangerous situation, Naseem said that this affects not just the Maldives, but the security and stability of the entire Indian Ocean region. "In particular, China's actions are undermining India's security concerns. What is happening in the Maldives is not just about democracy. It's about peace, stability, and security of entire neighbourhood, he said. Naseem alleged that Yameen's "criminal activities" undermine the US-led, rule-based international system. Last month, a Maldivian oil tanker was photographed by the Japanese air force engaged in suspected sanction-busting activities, he said. The Maldivian government furiously denied any involvement in the incident, claiming the tanker was using a fake Maldivian flag. But since then, the tanker has been connected to the Maldives where it is registered and also to President Yameen's family, he said. "We have now learned that a member of Yameen's family used the tanker as collateral in an application for a USD 4 million mortgage at the Bank of Maldives. "The opposition believes that Yameen has a fleet of 27 oil tankers, which are being used to systematically bust UN sanctions on North Korea. This business model is nothing new for President Yameen. In the early 2000s, he was documented selling bootleg oil to the Burmese junta, in breach of then UN sanctions, Naseem said. So this is the problem we face in the Maldives. China is propping up, and actively encouraging a criminal regime, which is busy dismantling the institutions of democracy to cement his rule, and busy selling off the country to Beijing," the former foreign minister said. Naseem warned the Washington audience that the Maldives is becoming more volatile, more lawless, and more in the grip of Islamic extremists. "I don't think things are going to end well, unless this regime can be brought to a swift end and democracy restored, he said.

China meddling in Maldives' internal affairs: Former foreign minister Ahmed Naseem

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