Analysis
Nigeria Braces For August 1 Protest As US, UK And Canada Warn Of Potential Violence
As the country grapples with economic hardship, insecurity, and political unrest, a group of Nigerians has announced plans to embark on a hunger protest on August 1st, 2024. The protest, aimed at drawing attention to the nation’s woes, has sparked intense debate, with some hailing it as a necessary call to action and others warning of potential consequences.
Diaspora Watch observes the hunger protest is a response to the country’s deteriorating economic situation, with inflation soaring to 22.8% in May 2024, according to the National Bureau of Statistics. The country’s unemployment rate stands at 33.3%, with over 23 million Nigerians out of work. The security situation is equally dire, with Boko Haram, ISWAP, Kidnapping and Banditry claiming hundreds of lives in recent months.
Supporters of the hunger protest argue that it is a peaceful and effective way to bring attention to the government’s failures. “We have tried everything else voting, petitions, and peaceful rallies. It’s time to take a stand and show the government that we will no longer tolerate their inaction,” said a protest organizer.
The protesters are demanding immediate action from the government to address the economic and security challenges facing the country. They are calling for increased investment in education, healthcare, and infrastructure, as well as a comprehensive overhaul of the security apparatus.
However, critics warn that the protest could degenerate into violence, citing examples from other countries. In 2013, a hunger strike in Ukraine turned deadly when police clashed with protesters. Similarly, India’s 2011 anti-corruption hunger strike led to widespread unrest.
“The government should address the people’s grievances through dialogue, not force,” cautioned a political analyst. “The protesters must also ensure they remain peaceful and avoid giving the government an excuse to crack down.”
Examples from around the world show that hunger protests can be effective in bringing about change, but also carry risks:
In 2018, a hunger strike by Nicaraguan protesters led to concessions from the government, including the release of political prisoners.
— In 2013, a hunger strike by Guantanamo Bay detainees drew international attention to their plight, leading to increased pressure on the US government to close the detention center.
— In India, Mahatma Gandhi’s 21-day hunger strike in 1943 led to significant concessions from the British colonial authorities. However, not all hunger protests have ended peacefully:
— In 2011, a hunger strike by Egyptian protesters turned violent when security forces cracked down on the demonstrators. — In 2009, a hunger strike by Iranian protesters led to widespread unrest and dozens of
deaths.
To avoid violent consequences, both sides must exercise restraint: — Protesters: Remain peaceful, avoid confrontations, and engage in dialogue with the government. Ensure that the protest is well-organized and that leaders are accountable.— Government: Listen to the people’s grievances, address them through concrete actions, and avoid using force. Engage in dialogue with the protesters and explore ways to address their concerns.
The government has responded to the planned protest with a mix of caution and conciliation . “We understand the frustrations of the Nigerian people and are committed to addressing their grievances,” said a government spokesperson. “However, we urge the protesters to remain peaceful and avoid any actions that could lead to violence.”
As August 1st approaches, Nigerians hold their breath, hoping for a peaceful and productive outcome. Will the hunger protest bring about the desired change, or will it end in chaos? Only time will tell. One thing is certain, however – the Nigerian people will no longer remain silent in the face of adversity.
Nigerians Plan Hunger Protests On August 1st: A Call For Change Or A Recipe For Chaos?
Analysis
Nigeria Ranked 5th Globally, 3rd In Africa As Most Generous Country In World Giving Index 2024
In a remarkable display of generosity, Nigeria has been ranked the third most generous country in Africa and fifth globally, according to the Charities Aid Foundation World Giving Index 2024. Despite facing economic and humanitarian challenges, Nigeria’s ranking is a testament to the country’s spirit of giving and willingness to help those in need.
The World Giving Index, which surveyed over 145,000 people across 140 countries, found that 72% of the world’s adult population gave money, time, or helped a stranger in 2022. Indonesia topped the global rankings, followed by Kenya, which emerged as the most generous country in Africa.
Nigeria’s ranking is impressive, considering the country’s economic challenges. The report highlights the importance of generosity and volunteering, citing Kenya’s high ranking as an example of the “utu” spirit, which signifies humanity.
The World Giving Index also noted that government initiatives can play a significant role in encouraging charitable activity, citing Singapore’s rise in the rankings as an example. The country’s government has implemented schemes to encourage partnerships between charities and businesses, as well as tax relief and government matching on charitable donations.
The report’s findings demonstrate that people across continents and cultures remain willing to help those in need, even in the face of economic and humanitarian challenges. Nigeria’s ranking as the fifth most generous country globally is a testament to the country’s resilience and generosity.
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Analysis
North Korea To Reopen To International Tourists After Five-Year Hiatus
North Korea is set to welcome back international tourists by the end of the year, according to travel agencies, but experts warn that the long-awaited opening up could be hindered by political tensions and harsh winters. The country sealed its borders and banned international visitors in early 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, but now plans to reopen to tourists, starting with the city of Samjiyon, near the Chinese border.
The apparent decision to lower the drawbridge has been welcomed by tour companies, but some North Korea watchers say plans to resume tourism after almost five years of pandemic-enforced isolation are fraught with problems. North Korean state media have yet to comment on the reported opening up, although Kim Jong-un has taken a personal interest in developing the tourism infrastructure and spoken of his desire to welcome visitors from “friendly” nations, China and Russia.
The official motivation has changed little since the North banned foreign tourists in 2020 – namely, to showcase a modern, content country centered on unwavering public devotion to three generations of the Kim dynasty. The first visitors are expected to be confined to Samjiyon, described by North Korea as a “socialist utopia” and “a model of highly civilized mountain city”. The destination, which reportedly boasts new apartments, hotels, and a ski resort, is a gateway to Mount Paektu, the highest peak on the peninsula and considered the mythical birthplace of a united Korean people – a place of pilgrimage that supports the cult of personality surrounding the family that has ruled with an iron fist since the country’s foundation in 1948.
Koryo Tours, which was forced to put visits on hold at the start of the pandemic, welcomed the reported resumption of tourism, adding that the move would probably extend to the rest of the country. “Having waited for over four years to make this announcement, Koryo Tours is very excited for the opening of North Korean tourism once again,” the Beijing-based firm said on its website, adding that its local partner would confirm itineraries and dates in coming weeks.
A second travel agency, Shenyang-based KTG Tours, also announced that tourists would be able to visit Samjiyon from this winter. But some experts said the plans could fall foul of the harsh weather that grips the remote Samjiyon area in winter, along with poor local infrastructure and, for Westerners, a reluctance to travel to a country that has become more aggressive in recent years.
“I can’t see how Samjiyon, being one of the more isolated tourist destinations within the DPRK, would be the first for the Koreans to try and open for the broader tourism market,” Rowan Beard, the manager of Young Pioneer Tours, told the NK News website, using the country’s official name, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.
Travel industry officials said they expected the first wave of tourism to be dominated by Chinese nationals and, in light of Kim’s recent meetings with Vladimir Putin, people from Russia. “I suspect that the powers that be in Pyongyang believe it’s time to open the borders like all other ‘normal’ nations have since the pandemic ended,” said Prof Dean J Ouellette, an expert in North Korean tourism at the Institute for Far Eastern Studies at Kyungnam University. “That means opening up to international tourists, whether or not many decide to go, or are allowed by their governments to visit, or are even allowed entry by North Korean authorities because of their nationality.”
China is by far the most important market, with Chinese nationals making up about 90% of tourists to North Korea before Covid-19. Experts say a record 300,000 foreign tourists visited North Korea in 2019, earning the country between $90m and $150m. While the North is far from dependent on tourism for foreign currency, the injection of cash could boost its coffers.
“If there is a return to the heyday of Chinese tourist arrivals … North Korea could possibly earn an $100m to $175m,” Ouellette said. “For a heavily sanctioned and self-isolating economy like North Korea, that is not an insignificant amount.” But Chinese leaders have voiced reservations about North Korea’s supply of weapons to Russian forces in Ukraine and are cautiously following Kim’s closer relationship with Putin.
Read also : North Korea’s Olympic Return Sparks Hope For A Brighter Future
“I don’t think we will see a return to those high tourist numbers until Pyongyang repairs relations with Beijing,” Ouellette said. Tourism to the North was strictly limited before the pandemic, with tour companies saying about 5,000 western tourists visited each year. Americans made up about 20% percent of the market before the US banned its citizens from going there as tourists after the 2017 death of the university student Otto Warmbier.
Cockerell said much had yet to be decided about itineraries, but that tourists would continue to be closely watched. “The main system remains unchanged, with guided tours only and no
Analysis
Women’s Rights Activists Face Execution Amid Surge In State-Sanctioned Killings In Iran
Fears are growing for the lives of women’s rights activists imprisoned in Iran, following a surge in executions since the election of President Masoud Pezeshkian in July. At least 87 people were executed in July, with another 29 meeting their fate on a single day this month.
The mass executions included Reza Rasaei, a young man sentenced to death for participating in the Woman, Life, Freedom protests. Human rights organizations now fear further executions in the lead-up to the second anniversary of Mahsa Amini’s death in custody, which sparked unprecedented nationwide protests.
About 70 women are currently held as political prisoners in Iran’s notorious Evin prison, including two who have been sentenced to death: journalist Pakhshan Azizi and women’s rights activist Sharifeh Mohammadi. Two more activists, Varisheh Moradi and Nasim Gholami Simiyari, face the same charges and await their fate.
The Center for Human Rights in Iran warns that multiple female political prisoners are at risk of execution based on “sham charges”. Executive director Hadi Ghaemi condemned the authorities’ attempts to silence dissent, saying, “Faced with a women’s movement in Iran that refuses to back down, Islamic Republic authorities are now trying to threaten these women with the gallows.”
Nobel peace prize winner Narges Mohammadi was reportedly among those injured during a prison protest against Rasaei’s execution. UN human rights experts have condemned reports that the women were denied access to timely and appropriate healthcare.
Read also : 106-Year-Old Manchester Woman Credits Long Life To Laughter And Steering Clear Of Men
Azizi and Mohammadi were sentenced to death in July on charges of “armed rebellion against the state”. Azizi was subjected to torture, including mock executions, while Mohammadi’s family expressed shock at her death sentence.
Former political prisoner Zeinab Bayazidi believes the death penalties are designed to dismantle the unified fight against the regime. “The Islamic Republic is retaliating against the Woman, Life, Freedom revolution,” she said.
As the situation grows increasingly dire, human rights organizations and experts urge the international community to take action and hold Iran’s authorities accountable for their brutal crackdown on women’s rights activists.
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