Sunday, November 24, 2019

Foreign Digest Updates: China, Iran, Syria and Bolivia


China
            There have continued to be protests and mass arrests in Hong Kong, the special territory of China that Peking promised would remain autonomous and free when it reverted from British rule in 1997.  Communist China has been encroaching on the city-state’s liberty, which has led to the protests.  The mass demonstrations have been successful in blocking a proposed law to allow extradition to the mainland, which could have been used against dissidents.   The United States Congress has declared its support for the freedom of Hong Kong, but authoritarian-loving Donald Trump has sent mixed signals. 

The pro-autonomy candidates have won the elections for the legislature today, which is dominated by the Peking-appointed government.  There was a record high turnout.  Previous democratic winners were blocked from taking their seats because of their objections to the oath of office that requires loyalty to Communist China.

Iran and Syria
            The protests across the Islamic Republic of Iran have been met by the Islamist tyrannical government with mass arrests and many deaths.  The theocratic regime has blocked the Internet.  Iran is the world’s largest state sponsor of terrorism.  It foments Islamic revolution across the Arab world and backs the Syrian tyrant Bashar Assad in that country’s civil war.  A recent massive Israeli raid in Syria hit Iranian and Syrian targets because of their support for Lebanese Shi’ite terrorists Hezbollah.

Bolivia
           The interim President of Bolivia has promulgated a law for presidential elections in January after the resignation earlier this month of the previous President, an increasingly-authoritarian Chavist whose Government made dubious claims that he had been re-elected to a fourth term, despite a constitutional two-term limit.

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