The Envoy Shorts: Roundup of 2017

Focus Area – South America; Focus Country – Peru

Mario Vargas Llosa is one of the most prominent writers from Latin America who also won the Nobel Prize in Literature in the year 2010. Llosa’s novels, essays and other writings have helped the readers understand the social and political landscape of Latin America during his time. His childhood shaped his opinions about life and he grew up to be one of the most vocal critics of the government when he was able to draw parallels between his authoritarian father and the dictatorial system. While his father sent him to Leoncio Prado Military Academy to stifle his literary ambitions, he not only rebelled against his father, but also ended up marrying his maternal uncle’s sister-in-law Julia Urquidi, who was eleven years older than him and divorced. He drew upon these experiences to write his novel, Aunt Julia and the Scriptwriter (which was later adapted as a feature film in 1990).

In the latest novel, ‘The Neighbourhood’ (2018), Llosa explores the story of an influential industrialist, Enrique, who lives a colourful life. A series of salacious pictures end up putting him in the spot and after the mysterious murder of the editor of the magazine (which published his pictures), Rolando Garro, he becomes the prime suspect. While Llosa’s new book is nowhere close to the books which placed him the Nobel laureate league, it is an audacious book from an 81-year old writer.

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The Envoy Shorts: Roundup of 2017

Focus Area – Asia; Focus Country – Myanmar

The Rohingya crisis in Myanmar has been on the forefront of human rights discussion over the course of 2017. With the large-scale migration of the Rohingya Muslims into Bangladesh and the military forces unleashing terrible abuses including mass killings, sexual violence, rape, arson and other crimes against humanity, the international community was shocked by the magnitude of the humanitarian problem. Further, the stalemate of the peace process resulted in a continued engagement between the military and armed ethnic groups in the Kachin and northern Shan states, leading to attacks on civilians, forced displacement, and blockage of aid by the government.

2017 was State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi’s first full year in office. While the National League for Democracy (NLD)-led government took some positive steps at reformation such as the ratification of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), and enacting minor reforms to laws dealing with speech and assembly, the instances of attacks on human-rights defenders and environmental activists has been on the rise. Despite the appearance of civilian rule, the military still wields immense power in the country. Their attempt at blocking the amendment to the 2008 constitution indicates their influence in the nation. Aung San Suu Kyi’s silence with regard to the Rohingya crisis has been widely criticized. It is time that she takes charge of the future of the country in all fronts (economic, political and social).

The Envoy Shorts: Roundup of 2017

Focus Area – Eurasia; Focus Country – Russia

Russia and India share a bilateral relationship which hinges on both economic and security aspects. India is a significant trading partner to Russia, with last year witnessing remarkable progress on bilateral trade, with scope for greater cooperation in areas such as investment, industry, energy, transport, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, and space. India is also a key defence partner to Russia, serving as the destination for those defence products and technology which India cannot obtain from its other defence partners such as the US, France, and Israel.

India’s decision to join the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) with the US, Japan, and Australia, may concern Russia with the latter assuming its inclination towards the West. While Russia maybe troubled by India’s growing military procurement and collaborations, New Delhi is concerned about the prevailing problem of supply of spares from Moscow. This issue hinders the maintenance of military systems procured from Russia, as a result of which India is looking at expanding military cooperation with other countries such as Israel and the US. With India gearing up for a more active role in the geopolitics of the continent, it has to be seen how Russia balances its relationship with the former.

For an overview of The Envoy’s coverage of Indian affairs, please visit http://www.theenvoy.in/india/