Foreign Digest: China, Russia, Bolivia and Poland

China

            There were protests last week in Hong Kong after the new law imposed by Communist China that bans dissent.  Today, the pro-democracy opposition is conducting an unofficial primary election to nominate candidates for the city-state’s legislature, which is mostly controlled by Peking.  A completely free election will be difficult without the liberty to criticize the government.  China has reneged on its agreement made with the United Kingdom in 1997 when the territory reverted from British rule to respect its autonomy and freedom.

Russia

            The United Kingdom imposed economic sanctions late last week on Russians for human rights violations.  The Netherlands is taking Russia to court for its responsibility for shooting down a Malaysian civilian airliner over Ukraine in 2014 that had departed from the Netherlands with many Dutch passengers, among others.

Bolivia

            The chief prosecutor of Bolivia requested late last week the arrest of the former left-wing authoritarian Bolivian President who was forced out of office last year after mass protests against his seeking a fourth term, despite a constitutional two-term limit.  The former leader fled to Mexico.  He is accused of human rights abuses against the Bolivian people.  An interim government is in place until elections can be held.

Poland

           Poland is conducting a presidential runoff election today between the ruling far-right increasingly authoritarian and a more liberal (in the sense of being more for freedom) and pro-European opposition candidate.