The Envoy Shorts: Roundup of 2017

Focus Area – South America; Focus Country – Peru

India and Peru share cordial relations and with bilateral trade touching 1.5 billion USD (as per a recent Financial Express report), the economic ties between the two countries are bound to get stronger. The talks of a free trade agreement (FTA) are doing the rounds and the two nations are scheduled to meet in March 2018 for taking things forward on this area. The Latin American country is the world’s sixth largest producer of gold, second largest of sliver, and third largest of copper, tin, zinc and lead. With a high demand for gold in India, there have been some investments in Peru’s gold mines.

After the devastating floods which took a massive toll on Peru’s economy, Peru is aiming to revive the economic growth through increased trade and investment in various sectors. India, particularly, can invest in Peruvian infrastructure such as roads, highways, and airports. The positive economic outlook of Peru has boosted the overall economic confidence of the Latin American region. As Peru gears up for a more influential role in the region, India has much to offer and gain from a stronger political and economic relationship with the South American nation. Peru can also serve as a gateway to the Latin American market for the Indian investors and companies.

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

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.

For more about the Literary Corner, please visit http://www.theenvoy.in/Literary-Corner/

The Envoy Shorts: Roundup of 2017

Focus Area – South America; Focus Country – Peru

The pardon granted to former President President Alberto Fujimori was widely criticized by the international community. The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) reported that according to some UN human rights experts, this presidential pardon was a “slap in the face” to victims of human rights abuses who had fought very hard for justice. Fujimori was serving a 25-year jail sentence for serious human rights violations including extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances and kidnapping. However, the current President, Pedro Pablo Kuczynski, decided to pardon him triggering widespread protests. While the pardon may go against Peru’s international human rights obligations, the blatant disregard for such serious human rights violations is a cause for concern.

The political influence exercised by individuals such as Fujimori puts the entire criminal justice delivery system in jeopardy. The administrators of justice, the courts, also have limited independent powers when it comes to addressing violations including extrajudicial killings, disappearances, and torture. Further, police abuse has been rampant over the course of the recent decade (2006-2016), killing more than 130 people in relation to protests, as per the Human Rights Watch. An active role of the international community is necessary with regard to ensuring justice to Peru’s victims.

For an overview of The Envoy’s coverage of human rights issues, please visit http://www.theenvoy.in/human-rights

The Envoy Shorts: Roundup of 2017

Focus Area – South America; Focus Country – Venezuela

Venezuela’s economic and political crises have affected the people at various levels and according to Luz Patricia Mejía, a lawyer and women’s rights expert with the Organization of the American States (OAS), there is reason to believe that the rate of violence against women is on the rise. With an increase in poverty and lack of economic opportunities, the women are more vulnerable to violence. While Venezuela does have a comprehensive law in place to deal with gender-based violence, there is no environment of justice with regard to the women victims. Only 5 % of the lawsuits result in prosecution of the accused in the country.

The reluctance of the government to release data on maternal and infant mortality rates has also created an atmosphere of distrust among the people. The Human Rights Watch, in a recent report, notes that there was an increase of 65 % in maternal mortality rates in 2016 as compared to 2015. Further, there was a 30 % increase in infant mortality rates in 2016 as compared to 2015. Healthcare has become a luxury now in Venezuela and more and more women are signing up for sterilization. Many women are also crossing the borders in search of better opportunities, often becoming victims of sex trafficking in the process. The government needs to ensure that at least the basic rights of the women and children are protected. The international community needs to play a proactive role in coming up with effective solutions for Venezuela’s humanitarian crisis.

For an overview of The Envoy’s coverage of issues related to Women’s Rights please visit http://www.theenvoy.in/Womens-Rights/

The Envoy Shorts: Roundup of 2017

Focus Area – South America; Focus Country – Venezuela

Venezuela and India share cordial relations with significant economic and trade ties. Venezuela is the third-largest exporter of crude oil to India after Saudi Arabia and Iraq. India is the third-largest importer of oil in the world after the US and China. With the US reducing trade with Venezuela, India has stepped in to boost its economic relations with the Latin American country. India is trying to strengthen its bilateral relationship by investing in Venezuela’s oil fields through state-owned enterprises such as the ONGC Videsh, Indian Oil and Oil India. Despite the ongoing economic crisis, India and Venezuela are continuing their joint venture in the energy sector.

While India may not find it necessary to get involved in Venezuela’s domestic affairs (at least now), the US may influence its future choices. However, the US sanctions can actually produce economic benefits for India and as long as Venezuela is able to deliver the requisite crude oil, India may be in a position to forge a stronger political bond with the cash-strapped economy. The business climate continues to remain poor in Venezuela with the people severely affected by the dwindling economic conditions. Hopefully, the economy would assume a positive outlook soon and produce mutual gains for both the countries.

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

The Envoy Shorts: Roundup of 2017

Focus Area – Africa; Focus Country – Kenya

Many women in Kenya were exposed to serious human rights abuses during the post-election violence in 2007-2008 and again in 2017 wherein they were raped by the police. In a detailed report, the Human Rights Watch describes the horrifying acts committed by the men in uniform. While many women were gang-raped (about half of the rapes reported to the human rights organization were gang-rapes), many were mass-raped, and raped with objects. These incidents have left most of the survivors with terrible mental trauma, wherein they have to deal with feelings emanating from post-rape physical agony, self-loathing, hopelessness, fear and anxiety, sleeplessness, and suicidal thoughts.

Apart from sexual violence, women in Kenya have to deal with the issue of domestic violence which is a very serious problem in the country. According to a recent Kenya Health and Demographic Survey, 45 percent women have experienced physical violence. The survey also indicated that there is a high level of acceptance of wife-beating among both men and women. Political representation of women is low in this country with around 20 percent women in the parliament. The government led by Uhuru Kenyatta needs to take serious steps to control violence against women and work towards their empowerment.

For an overview of The Envoy’s coverage of issues related to Women’s Rights please visit http://www.theenvoy.in/Womens-Rights/

The Envoy Shorts: Roundup of 2017

Focus Area – Africa; Focus Country – South Sudan

South Sudan became a new nation in 2011 following a peaceful secession from Sudan through a referendum. While South Sudan has vast reserves of natural resources, most of it is untapped. It is one of the most oil-dependent economies in the world with oil accounting for the bulk of its exports and 60 percent of its GDP. Economic growth has been challenged by the sharp drop in oil prices and the volatile political climate in the country. The civil conflict has taken a massive toll on the economic prospects of South Sudan, with about 2 million people internally displaced, more than 1.8 million people fleeing to neighbourhood countries, and about 213,000 seeking shelter from the United Nations (UN).

The long civil war has left the country will extremely underdeveloped infrastructure and inadequate human capital. Development had been side-lined due to the ongoing humanitarian and social crises. The government capacity to formulate and implement effective policies has been limited, but there is hope that it will change soon. Even though the country has a strong young population, there is huge gender disparity in terms of education and literacy. South Sudan is one country where human development is at its worst in the world. This situation needs to improve soon.

For an overview of The Envoy’s coverage of World Affairs, please visit http://www.theenvoy.in/world/

 

 

The Envoy Shorts: Roundup of 2017

Focus Area – Africa; Focus Country – Kenya

Kenya had a positive economic outlook over the course of 2017 and it will remain favourable throughout 2018. As one of the most promising economies in Africa, the country aims to have a robust and competitive manufacturing sector which will assist in its transformation into an industrialized middle income country by 2030. It may also emerge as a global hub for investments in diverse sectors such as information technology (IT). Growth in the service sector has contributed to expansion in the GDP and as it gears up for a more prominent economic role globally, there is much to look forward to with regard to this country.

On the political front, the Supreme Court cleared the way for Uhuru Kenyatta to assume second term in office and held that the cancellation of the polls was ‘without merit’. This ruling came at a time when Kenya is dealing with one of the worst political crises with more than 60 election-related killings in recent months. While President Kenyatta leads one of the most developed economies in the African region, the magnitude of political violence witnessed by Kenya is of serious concern. The international community should play an active role to ensure that the concerned authorities are held accountable.

For an overview of The Envoy’s coverage of World Affairs, please visit http://www.theenvoy.in/world/

The Envoy Shorts: Roundup of 2017

Focus Area – Asia; Focus Country – Philippines

Philippines and India share a strong relationship based on the pillars of economic, political, and defence cooperation. The two countries recently signed four bilateral agreements covering areas such as defence, logistics, agriculture and MSME, when India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited President Rodrigo Duterte in Philippines. Indian pharmaceutical companies are building a strong presence in Philippines and the latter has invited the former to manufacture cheap medicines in their country.

China is one country which has disputes with both the countries. While it has a land-based dispute with India (Himalayan borders), it has a water-based dispute with Philippines (South China Sea). Both India and Philippines strive to share good diplomatic relations with this powerful neighbour owing to the extremely beneficial economic gains. For instance, Duterte, after assuming office, set aside the arbitral tribunal’s verdict (regarding the South China Sea dispute between Philippines and China) so that he could build stronger ties and welcome huge investments from the neighbour. India had its share of political problems with China in 2017 by way of the Doklam standoff which was later resolved. While India can play an extremely important role in providing a counter-balance to China’s rising political ambitions in Asia, Philippines has much to gain from a strengthened partnership with this country.

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

The Envoy Shorts: Roundup of 2017

Focus Area – Asia; Focus Country – North Korea

North Korea does not have very strong ties with India, both political and economic. While there is an Indian embassy in Pyongyang, it is very small in comparison to the other embassies. Further, the bilateral trade figure between the two countries stood at around 130 million USD (as of 2016-17). While India has reduced trade with North Korea following the United Nations (UN) Security Council (SC) sanctions, it has refused to cut of diplomatic ties with the country. When US Secretary of State Rex W. Tillerson met India’s External Affairs Minister, Sushma Swaraj, regarding North Korea’s nuclear ambitions and possible isolation from the global community, she conveyed that India’s diplomatic presence in North Korea will be helpful for the US as it can serve as a channel for communication between the two nations.

The US has expressed that India should play a more active role in dealing with North Korea’s nuclear goals. With other powerful neighbours such as China, India can seek to effectively engage with North Korea. However, the extent to which India and China are actually willing to go with regard to interference in North Korean matters remains to be seen.

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