Photo : Amnesty International
30 September 2021, Thursday
IN FOCUS
By Vaishnavi Iyer
Poland: Amnesty International raises concern over the treatment of Afghan refugees
On 29 September, Amnesty International reported brazen human rights violations at Usnarz Gorny, where a group of migrants encamped. The guards resorted to the use of threat and force to return the group to Belarus. Using a satellite image from 18 August, Amnesty International reported the unlawful treatment of the migrants escaping from Afghanistan over Poland’s new laws. Amnesty International also said that the Belarusian border guards regularly help migrants cross into Poland and Lithuania. Lukashenko has been accused by Poland of weaponizing the migrants. Announcing the change in its legislation, Poland issued laws that make it almost impossible for groups crossing the border to apply or claim asylum. This is in contrast to the larger EU and International law where migrant claims need to be individually assessed. Poland and Lithuania have reported increases in migrants from Afghanistan and Iran, flowing from the Belarusian borders, a retaliation strategy they believe Minsk has adopted to put pressure on the EU sanctions.
While human rights groups and media have not been able to access Belarusian borders, they have criticized Poland for its nationalistic government’s approach to the crises. Four migrants died near the Polish borders which are devoid of food, shelter, clean water, and medical facilities. Currently, Amnesty International is urging the government to protect the rights of 32 refugees including a teenage girl. The Polish government has declared a state of emergency sealing off its borders and restricting access; however, with the satellite images, Amnesty International irrefutably concluded that the position of the migrant group had shifted from Poland to Belarus overnight. Without an individual assessment, migrants cannot be forced back as per international and EU law, owing to which Amnesty International has requested Poland to carefully consider its violations and provide for legal and medical aid to the migrant groups along with the basic necessities.
References
“Poland illegally pushed migrants back into Belarus, Amnesty Int'l says,” Reuters, 30 September 2021.
“Poland: State of emergency risks worsening already dire situation for 32 asylum-seekers at border,” Amnesty International, 2 September 2021.
“Poland/Belarus: Protect Afghans stuck at border,” Amnesty International, 25 August 2021.
IN BRIEF
By Joeana Cera Matthews
FRANCE
France: Sarkozy verdict over 2012 re-election campaign on 30 September
On 30 September, former French President Nicolas Sarkozy will hear the verdict regarding his massive overspending during his 2012 re-election campaigns. His campaign spending had crossed the legal limit and amounted to at least EUR 42.8 million. Sarkozy, who was voted out of parliament after a single term, has also been associated with multiple investigations. However, doubts loom as to Sarkozy appearing in court for the judgment. During his previous five-week trial, he had infuriated the prosecutors by attending just a single day of the hearings. (“Former French president Sarkozy faces verdict in campaign finance trial,” France24, 30 September 2021)
SPAIN
Canary Islands: Lava reaches the sea; ‘miracle house’ submerged in lava
On 28 September, the La Palma volcano which erupted on 19 September finally saw its lava reaching the sea after much speculation regarding the same. More than 650 properties have been affected and 6000 residents have been evacuated from the region. A ‘miracle house’ which became popular all over the media as it was the sole survivor of the lava, finally got consumed by the lava on 28 September. Spain has declared La Palma a disaster zone in order to financially assist the island’s recovery. (“‘Miracle house’ engulfed as lava reaches sea off La Palma,” The Guardian, 29 September 2021)
UKRAINE
Ukraine: France24 commemorates 80 years since Babi Yar massacre
On 29 September, France24 wrote about commemorating 80 years of the Babi Yar ravine massacre. The Babi Yar ravine, located near Kyiv, witnessed one of the largest mass murders of the Holocaust. So many as 33,771 civilians, mostly Jews, were killed in the ravine in 1941. The numbers and the manner in which the slaughter took place are what made this massacre a turning point in the Holocaust. In an interview with France24, Dutch historian Karel Berkhoff spoke about the historical significance of the ‘premeditated killing spree’ which managed to wipe out a whole Jewish population from a large European city. Monuments have since been erected at the site of the massacre. (“The first major massacre in the ‘Holocaust by bullets’: Babi Yar, 80 years on,” France24, 29 September 2021)
CLIMATE
Italy: Greta Thunberg reprimands inaction on the climate crisis
On 28 September, while attending the Youth4Climate pre-COP26 conference in Milan, Greta Thunberg slammed world leaders on their fancy words and promises and retorted to calling them ‘empty’. Criticizing the politicians of the world for their failure to effectively manage the crisis at hand, her skeptical tone expressed her concerns and reservations regarding the climate problem. Thousands of young activists and policymakers from across the world gathered in Italy to arrive at feasible solutions ahead of the COP26 United Nations summit in November at Glasgow. However, Thunberg said: “So-called leaders have cherry-picked young people to meetings like this to pretend they are listening to us, but they are not listening.” (“‘Blah blah blah’: Greta Thunberg chastises world leaders over climate crisis,” France24, 29 September 2021)
INTERNATIONAL
The US and the EU: Trade and Technology Council amidst AUKUS tensions
On 29 September, top officials from the US and the EU met at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania for their first Trade and Technology Council. The meeting co-chaired by the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken occurred post the tensions of the failed submarine deal between France and Australia that was strategized on by the US. However, the joint statement released by the White House referred to the commitment of both the parties to continue focusing on global challenges that were affecting trade, economy, and technology. Talks also included efforts to strengthen the multilateral efforts on cooperating in the Indo-Pacific region. The working groups, already in place, would continue working on climate and other issues associated with global trade. (“EU, US trade and technology talks to continue despite diplomatic tensions,” Deutsche Welle, 30 September 2021)