Excluded Headlines: US sanctions on Syria lifted after 45 years, disbanding of PKK, Gaza, Indonesia, Mujica...
Stay up to date on the Global South news stories the US- and Eurocentric media overlook, with author and journalist, Tamara Pearson.
In this week’s Global South news:
West Java, Indonesia to send people who disrupt capitalism to military barracks - West Java governor Dedi Mulyadi announced that the initiative, to begin in June, will target individuals who “disrupt public order,” such as drunks, street thugs, extortionists and those who “undermine the region’s investment climate.” The plan expands on an existing one to address “student delinquency” and would provide “character education” and discipline. Source, source, source.
Sanctions on Syria lifted - The interim president described the lifting as a “historic turning point” after Syria has been through war and displacement. The US-imposed sanctions, which lasted 45 years, also contributed to severe food insecurity and meant that vital destroyed infrastructure couldn’t be rebuilt. The president says the lifting was a result of visits to countries like Saudi Arabia, Turkiye, Qatar, and the UAE, and now the interim government can focus on reforms to attract investment. But the sanctions were also lifted after Syria complied with the US’s conditions to lift them, like banning Palestinian political activity and unifying the Syrian army, and after the interim government demonstrated that it could be a “partner” to the US in the region. US troops are not leaving Syria. Source, source, source, source.
India-Pakistan ceasefire - On the weekend, India and Pakistan agreed to a full and immediate ceasefire. That followed days of shelling, drone flights, and missile strikes. At the moment, the ceasefire is until Sunday. On Tuesday, there was a massive march in Kolkata against war. Source, source, source.
Kurdish Workers’ Party (PKK) disbands, ending five-decade battle with Turkiye - After its conference earlier this month, the PKK announced it would end the armed struggle for independence. It said it will re-structure and move to new organisations and methods. Turkiye, however, has said it will continue strikes on the PKK until the region is cleared of PKK infrastructure. There is concern that even with this announcement, true peace may not be implemented. Source, source, source, source.
Gaza - With aid still blocked and people in Gaza hungry or starving, Israel also bombed two makeshift kitchens and UNRWA’s food distribution centre in Jabalia. The bombing was deliberate, as an Israeli military spokesperson said precision munitions and aerial surveillance were used. Some 57 children have died of malnutrition in the past few months. Further, an investigation with testimony from Israeli soldiers has found that beyond bombing, the Israeli army is using bulldozers and explosives to flatten Gaza and make it unliveable. In the last day, over a hundred people have been killed by Israeli airstrikes. Source, source, source, source.
Striking teachers in Mexico fill the giant main plaza - With various demands around decent retirement plans and deprivatising their savings, teachers marched to the plaza and set up a giant protest, with tents covering the plaza and beyond. The teachers say that the current and previous president have refused to listen to their demands. Source.
Over two days, an estimated 100,000 people farewelled Pepe Mujica - Political prisoner, guerrilla, and former Uruguayan president Pepe Mujica died on Tuesday. People lined the streets applauding him as his coffin passed by, then have spent the past two days paying homage to him in the Legislative Palace. As Mujica was a flower farmer, many people brought flowers. Source, source, source.
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