Hong Kong removes Tiananmen massacre 'pillar of shame'

Today's headlines:  China has been blocking visits to Tibetan political prisoners for a year under the pretext of the pandemic; A Yangon court has sentenced  more than 90 people to death since the military coup in February; Colombo wants to trade tea for its oil debts with Iran; radical Indian leaders close to Modi are calling for ethnic cleansing of minorities, especially Muslims.

HONG KONG

The Pillar of Shame, a famous Hong Kong University statue, commemorating the 1989 Chinese massacre in Tiananmen Square, was removed overnight. It depicted the bloodied bodies and faces of pro-democracy protesters killed by Chinese authorities. University officials ordered its removal in October. Aruthor of the work, Jens Galschiot decried it as a "brutal" gesture.

MYANMAR

Military courts in the Yangon region have sentenced more than 90 people to death since the junta seized power and overthrew the civilian government of Aung San Suu Kyi in early February. According to estimates by the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, the military has killed 1348 civilians and arrested 8131, most of whom were detained during non-violent street protests.

CHINA

Chinese authorities in Sichuan and Qinghai have prevented family members from visiting imprisoned Tibetan political prisoners under the pretext of Covid-19. Restrictions remain in place even though there has been no infection in Mianyang and Minyak Yak-nga prisons for over a year. Meetings are forbidden, even if spaced and separated by glass, and the delivery of food, clothes or medicine is prohibited.

SRI LANKA - IRAN

Sri Lanka wants to settle its debt with Iran on oil imports by bartering it with tea. The proposal is from Minister Ramesh Pathirana, who intends to send goods for 5 million dollars every month, up to the sum of 251 million. Colombo is experiencing a severe economic crisis, exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic that has crippled tourism. The modality would not violate US sanctions. 

TURKEY

Turkey has approved for "emergency" use the first domestically produced Covid-19 vaccine. The Health Ministry says large-scale use of Turkovac, based on an inactivated virus, is expected to begin by the end of the year. The manufacturing process began in April 2020, but positive results from pre-clinical animal studies only arrived last October. 

INDIA

Leaders of some far-right groups linked to the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi have called for "ethnic cleansing" of minorities in India, particularly the 200 million Muslims. The attack came during a three-day summit sponsored by Hindutva leader Yati Narsinghanand. They cited the 2017 mass atrocities in Myanmar against the Rohingya as an example. 

RUSSIA - UNITED STATES

The first round of negotiations between Russia and the United States on security guarantees will be held in early 2022. This is what Moscow's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov assured in an interview with the TV channel RT. For the head of Russian diplomacy, "the modalities of the work to be carried out together have already been approved, and the Americans have already appointed those responsible for the meetings."

GEORGIA

A new demonstration of the "National Movement" in support of former president Mikhail Saakashvili took place in Tbilisi, demanding his release. Thousands of people marched in the rain and frost on Rustaveli prospekt in the center of the capital. A column of cars paraded in front of the Gori military hospital to greet the detained leader on his birthday.