Photo : Clodagh Kilcoyne, Reuters
Photo : Clodagh Kilcoyne, Reuters
By Alka Bala
GERMANY
Government rebukes Gaza ‘genocide’ claims at ICJ
On 09 April, according to Deutsche Welle, Germany presented its defence against Nicaragua’s charges of German involvement in ‘genocide’ in Gaza through its sale of weapons to Israel. Tania von Uslar-Gleichen, head of Germany’s legal team remarked that Nicaragua’s charges ignore “facts and the law,” lacked evidence and jurisdiction and dismissed it for having a one-sided view of the Israel-Hamas war. The German legal team also highlighted how the export of arms to Israel had been Nicaragua as deliberately misrepresented. Christian Tams of the legal team confirmed that each arms export license is assessed on a case-by-case basis and is checked for risks. According to the legal team, artillery shells and munitions have not been exported to Israel since October 2023. On Nicaragua’s claims for Germany to resume its UNRWA aid, Germany highlighted that it had already resumed its funding and remains as the largest individual donor of humanitarian aid to Palestinians. The German legal team also highlighted that Germany cannot be charged with ‘genocide’ until the courts determine whether Israel is breaching the Genocide Convention. The court is expected to take weeks to rule its preliminary decision, whereas the case regarding Israel’s actions in Genocide could take years for the final ruling. (“Germany presents defence at ICJ over Gaza 'genocide' claim,” Deutsche Welle, 09 April 2024)
Interior Minister Faesar promises consequences and effective prevention for violent crimes
On 09 April, according to Deutsche Welle, Nancy Faeser, German Interior Minister stated that Germany continues to be “one of the safest countries in the world,” as annual police statistics indicated Germany reached the highest crime levels since 2016. According to the report, 5.94 million crimes were reported in 2023. Crime increased by 5.5 per cent, violent crime increased by 8.6 per cent, and bodily harm increased by 7.4 per cent. Faeser called for “zero tolerance” and “vigorous policing, swift trials, meaningful sentencing and tangible punishments” to ensure quick consequences for the crimes. The rise in youth crime was attributed to the pandemic and associated social upheaval. The crime related to drugs had uptick by 30 per cent, Faeser indicated that the German government had already established agreements with Brazil, Peru, Columbia and Ecuador for cooperation on its war on drugs. (“Germany: Minister demands 'zero tolerance' for violent crime,” Deutsche Welle, 09 April 2024)
IRELAND
Simon Harris becomes Ireland’s youngest Prime Minister
On 09 April, Ireland’s Parliament voted for Simon Harris, aged 37 become the youngest Prime Minister of the Republic of Ireland. Harris, former health and higher education minister received 88 votes in favour with 69 against in the parliament. Harris, leader of the Fine Gael party, replaces former Prime Minister Leo Varadkar. Harris would lead a coalition government and would face an election within a year against the left-wing opposition led by Republican Sinn Fein. According to the polling data Harris lags behind Sinn Fein with 21 per cent of votes whereas Finn leads with 26 per cent. Harris is due to announce a cabinet reshuffle of Fine Gael members and is not likely to include the foreign or finance ministries. (“Ireland: Simon Harris elected new prime minister,” Deutsche Welle, 10 April 2024)
RUSSIA
Government's counter-terrorism efforts spark concerns for migrants
On 09 April, Politico reported that Putin’s failure to prevent the terror attacks by Tajik militants in Moscow had led to domestic targeting of migrants, central Asians and non-white Russians. Since the Islamic Group claimed responsibility for the Crocus City Hall attacks which killed 143, Russian police have carried out raids in migrant dormitories, and mass searches and have expelled 466 individuals for violating migration laws. Authorities from Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan have issued statements for their Russian-residing citizens to refrain from engaging in mass events. Victoria Maladaeva, President of the Indigenous of Russia Foundation stated “The wave of xenophobia [after the attack] is very tangible for indigenous peoples.” On 26 March, Igor Krasnov Russia’s Prosecutor General reported to Putin that crime committed by foreign nations in Russia had spiked to 75 per cent in 2023, without providing adequate evidence. However, this contradicts the data provided by the Russian Interior Ministry which indicated the crime rates by foreign nationals falling by 7 per cent. Increasing xenophobia after the attacks is spiking anxiety and fear among the non-Slavic communities. (Denis Leven, “Russia’s migrants and ethnic minorities shiver at new Putin terror crackdown,” Politico, 09 April 2024)
INTERNATIONAL
ECHR upholds the failure of national governments to meet climate targets as violation of human rights
On 09 April, according to Deutsche Welle, judges of the European Court of Human Rights delivered judgment on climate change cases focusing on making national governments reach their Paris Climate Agreement obligations to cut carbon emissions. One of the cases filed by Swiss Senior Women for Climate Protection, an elderly Swiss women’s group stated that the government’s failure to meet emissions requirements violated their human rights. The court agreed to the claim and also stated that “there had been critical gaps in the process of putting in place the relevant domestic regulatory framework.” Christina Voigt, a law professor at the University of Oslo highlighted the significance of the judgement, “It's the first authoritative judgement we have from a supranational court that directly links human rights violations to insufficient or non-ambitious action on climate change.” Cordelia Bahr, the Swiss association’s lawyer stated that the court had recognised climate protection as a human right. However, the case filed by Portuguese youth claiming that rising temperatures were a threat to their right to life and forcing 32 European governments to take action towards climate change was dismissed. The court’s dismissal was on the basis that it had no territorial jurisdiction over the mentioned countries, which comprised of EU countries, Norway, Turkey, Switzerland, UK and Russia. (“Climate: ECHR judges side with Swiss group in rights ruling,” Deutsche Welle, 09 April 2024)
West agrees on IOC’s decision to allow Russian athletes to compete in Paris Games
On 09 April, according to Deutsche Welle, the UK, France, Germany and the US accepted the plan by the International Olympic Committee to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete in the Paris Games, which is scheduled to take place in July and August. The committee’s decision entailed that athletes could compete as neutrals if they did not publicly support the invasion of Ukraine and if they were not linked to the military. Earlier British had maintained that allowing Russians and Belarusians to participate in Paris was “not credible.” Russians would be represented as neutrals, without representing their flags, national anthems or uniforms. Ukraine’s stance of boycotting the Paris Games, if the Russians participate has now been subdued. The guidelines issued by the International Olympic Committee stated that Ukrainian and Russian athletes should not shake hands or stand next to each other. (Mark Meadows, “IOC wins as top Western nations agree to Russians in Paris,” Deutsche Welle, 09 April 2024)
China and Russia to boost ties and Eurasian Security
On 09 April, Sergei Lavrov Russian Foreign Minister and his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi held bilateral talks to “strengthen strategic cooperation” between their countries. According to the RIA Novosti news agency, both countries would “provide each other with strong support.” The meeting was held in China as Lavrov arrived for a two-day visit. They also focus on boosting their Eurasian security to counter US and Western influence and hope to include “other like-minded countries” in this dialogue. Wang stated that NATO should not limit its activities to the Asia Pacific and stated that Russia and China should “oppose hegemonism and power politics, oppose the monopoly of international affairs by a few countries.” Wang also expressed his praise for Vladimir Putin, the Russian President by stating that “China will support Russia's stable development under the leadership of Putin.” China and Russia have been following a “no-limits” partnership since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022. ( “China and Russia agree to boost ties in opposition to West,” Deutsche Welle, 09 April 2024)