Access to Abortion in Australia: why the medical profession should remain a secular space

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Australia isn’t the most progressive amongst Western democracies. It was only in 2021 that Abortion was officially decriminalized in South Australia, with The Termination of Pregnancy Bill only coming into effect in mid-2022. This sheds some light on problems surrounding accessibility to abortion services for pregnant people and the potential revision for doctors being given the choice of conscientious objection (CO).

What is conscientious objection?

Conscientious objection is the legal ability and right afforded to doctors to refuse to provide an individual with access to abortion. These doctors must tell pregnant people seeking abortion that the procedure is available for them to access, and must also refer them to a professional who will provide them the service. It has been enshrined into law in states such as Queensland and Victoria. However, the principle itself affords doctors the ability to potentially delay an individuals access to abortion.

Abortion can be performed in different states, however at which point it can be performed differs. Abortion can be performed at up to 24 weeks in both the Northern Territory and Victoria with the authorisation of one doctor. In New South Wales and Queensland, abortion can be performed up until 22 weeks with one doctors approval. In South Australia, abortion can be performed with the approval of one doctor until 22 weeks and 6 days. Tasmania has perhaps more conservative laws with abortion being permitted until 16 weeks, beyond this point two doctors must authorise the procedure. Western Australia being the most conservative state requires two doctors to allow for an abortion to be performed up until 20 weeks, abortions after 20 weeks would require 6 doctors on a panel to approve of the procedure.

Despite laws in place to permit pregnant people to access abortion without being criminalized, actual access to abortion isn’t equitable or fairly distributed. Concerns around where pregnant people are geographically located has a drastic impact on their access to abortion. For example, some doctors in rural towns may work within a Catholic hospitals and may fear being ostracised or the potential of losing their job if they assist patients to get abortions. Additionally, the costs of medical and surgical abortion isn’t necessarily financially affordable, and those without Medicare (such as those on some forms of visas) being another potential factor which limits an individual’s access to abortion. Abortions are generally provided through the private healthcare industry, therefore reducing their accessibility, with costs varying depending on if the individual is having a medical or surgical abortion, as well as how far along the pregnancy has progressed. For example, in the Northern Territory, it can cost up to $8,500 for a surgical termination if the individual found out they were pregnant later on during gestation. For people with healthcare or concession cards, a medical or surgical abortion from Family Planning NSW can be bulk billed, however, there would be a gap fee ranging from $350-$450 for surgical abortions. In some clinics within the private sector, the medication required for a medical abortion can require an individual to pay $500. However, SBS also noted that in some hospitals, abortion services can be offered for free with a Medicare card.

Furthermore, some general practitioners are able to prescribe abortion medications, however it is a small minority (10%) who are able to provide this essential form of healthcare. It must be also be highlighted how marginalised groups in society face significant barriers in trying to access abortion, particularly First Nations and refugee women, and women who have disabilities.

I argue that the medical field should remain a strictly secular space in which doctors must put aside their personal beliefs in order to provide the general public with access to essential healthcare resources. The ability for doctors to have the right of conscientious objection puts many pregnant people in a place of precarity, potentially prolonging their access to abortion like it did for one woman from a migrant background, who ‘threatened suicide and self-abortion‘ after being denied access to abortion from both a religious and public hospital. Abortion is healthcare. These spaces should be secular in nature, and should be occupied by doctors who can put aside their own religious and moral convictions in order to treat patients with respect and dignity by affording them access to healthcare, which is a fundamental and basic human right.

Resources

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-07-04/architects-of-abortion-decriminalisation-say-time-more-reform/101201930

https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/historic-day-for-women-as-abortion-officially-decriminalised-in-south-australia/hkqimbog9

https://www.sbs.com.au/language/english/en/podcast-episode/how-to-access-abortion-services-in-australia/mj6vh4go4

https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/new-abortion-laws-have-come-into-effect-in-south-australia-what-are-they-in-other-states/g5w55ghaj

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/jul/16/it-was-very-traumatic-for-her-how-conscientious-objection-hinders-womens-access-to-abortion

burnout

After experiencing sustained pressure in the workplace for over two years, most healthcare workers and teachers are deciding to quit their jobs. Burnout is troublesome when public health systems are reliant on healthcare workers so patients can get the appropriate medical treatment they deserve. Perhaps healthcare shortages and overwhelmed hospitals is an alarming enough sign to indicate to authorities that workers are experiencing burnout. Healthcare workers and teachers need to start seeing changes in the system so they are paid appropriately for working tirelessly in serving the public. So, what is burnout and how can we ‘fix it’?

Burnout, as described by the World Health Organisation, is ‘..a syndrome conceptualized as resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed.’ Someone who is experiencing heightened negative feelings towards their job, has decreased ‘professional efficacy’ or who is feeling of fatigued, exhausted or energy depleted may have burnout. The Queensland government has a much broader definition of burnout, suggesting that it is not necessarily exclusive to workplace stress but it can also be experienced by people who’ve had ‘prolonged levels of chronic stress and pressure..’ According to the Queensland government website, someone may experience headaches, sleep or appetite disturbances, may procrastinate or may have decreased motivation.

In New South Wales, healthcare workers will receive payments of $3,000 as appreciation for their efforts. This comes after nurses and midwives took to the streets protesting for increased wages and better nurse-to-patient ratios. In order to retain staff during the harsh winter, Victorian healthcare workers are also expected to receive $3,000. However, I believe these payments came too late and don’t fix systemic issues or pressures experienced currently by our healthcare systems more broadly. There’s minimal incentives for students to undertake a course in nursing or midwifery as they are already overworked and exhausted. Despite the federal government slashing the costs for degrees in nursing and teaching by 46%, it is predicted that nationally over 4,000 high school teachers will be needed in the next four years. The Victorian government released earlier this year that they would introduce ‘incentive payments‘ for teachers with qualifications for high-demand positions, however, it doesn’t seem to address the fundamental flaws created by the pandemic and the copious workloads undertaken by teachers who are generally underpaid and underappreciated. It seems staffing shortages in teaching aren’t exclusive to Australia and are also impacting American teachers who are experiencing burnout.

According to three doctors, across the state in Victoria, Australia, over 800 people decide to leave emergency departments which are filled with people daily. People who do stay sometimes have to wait over 12 hours before leaving since they cannot get medical attention. Perhaps a better solution would be to run some general practitioner clinics 24/7 to divert some patients from the emergency department to healthcare clinics for less serious cases. Another form of incentive which could be easily introduced is to pay nursing students for their time in placement so they don’t have to take time off work and potentially lose income. In 2021, it was estimated by Kylie Ward, the Australian College of Nursing chief executive that, in accordance with figures provided by AHPRA, 20,000 nurses gave up their registration. In an article written by The Age, Paul Healey mentioned how one mental health nurse worked multiple 15-hour shifts consecutively. As nurses and healthcare workers become overworked and fatigued by their stressful jobs, it’s unsurprising that underappreciated nurses are leaving the job. Perhaps relevant to this conversation on nurses, earlier this year RaDonda Vaught, a former nurse, was convicted with two felonies in America after a medical mistake took the life of a patient. Many nurses online through social media were outraged by the verdict, claiming it would have further consequences for the nursing industry. Vaught’s verdict was controversial amongst the medical community, with a variety of nurses supporting and rejecting the outcome of her case. Irrespective of the controversy surrounding her case, the broader consequences it may have for nurses who may fear losing their job because they are overworked and may make medical errors as a result needs to be addressed. Nurses need breaks and being overworked can lead to medical errors. I hope larger reforms can be made to the healthcare industry to ensure healthcare workers can work in a healthy environment, so medical errors are less likely to occur and so workers get the pay that they deserve.

On a much larger scale, according to Asana research, in 2020, 77% of workers in New Zealand and Australia experienced burnout, and, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, approximately 1.7 million left their jobs in healthcare by May 2022. So what does all of this tell us?

Firstly, it tells us that if you’re experiencing burnout, you’re probably not alone. Secondly, it tells us that cash injections are often just a temporary solution or ‘quick fix’ and overlook fundamental changes which need to occur in workplaces. Thirdly, it also tells us that more and more people are leaving toxic workplaces to take care of themselves, which is actually a good thing if you have the financial means to make a change. It seems that people all across the globe are experiencing burnout. After doing five semesters back-to-back to finish my degree with only three weeks break in-between each semester, I can attest to experiencing burnout. The Queensland Government has a few suggestions on how to overcome burnout. Some suggestions are to engage in physical activity to improve energy and mood, to get good sleep and ensure you’re maintaining a healthy diet. Other recommendations were to take breaks during the day and ensure you reach out to community groups, friends and colleagues for support.

Lastly, if you’re experiencing severe burnout and need help, I’ve attached some resources that could be helpful.

https://www.lifeline.org.au/?gclid=CjwKCAjw14uVBhBEEiwAaufYx3_qNTiOHENyY4ZrNsAjgilTZXQJKY9Y8eVCYISnN66HvVg-E6s-7xoC3WYQAvD_BwE

https://www.ruok.org.au/every-day-resources

Women’s Rights: Poland’s anti-abortion law

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In October 2020, Poland implemented strict anti-abortion laws which meant that women could only legally access abortion in cases of incest or rape. President Andrzej Duda, at the time, proposed potentially reintroducing women’s access to abortion ‘due to fetal abnormalities,’ however this would only be limited to defects that would be considered ‘immediately life-threatening.’ In this largely Catholic nation, rigid anti-abortion laws sparked protests with demonstrators in late 2020 walking through the streets of central Warsaw. Despite this, the decision made last year by the Constitutional Court found that a 1993 law which permitted abortion under circumstances in which there is irreversible and severe fetal abnormalities would be considered unconstitutional. This has severely eroded women’s rights in the country. The Constitutional Court prohibited the majority of terminations as a result of this ruling as in 2019, 98% of terminations were carried out on these grounds.

In early November 2021, protests took place in Warsaw, as well as other cities and villages such as Pszcyna, the town in which a 30-year-old pregnant woman had once lived. This 30-year-old pregnant woman is at the centre of the protests as the strict and rigid anti-abortion laws resulted in her death. The representing lawyer for the woman’s family, Jolanta Budzowska said the unnamed 30-year-old woman, in her 22nd week of pregnancy was hospitalised when her amniotic fluid broke. It was confirmed during her time in hospital that the fetus had birth defects. In under 24 hours, the woman died as a result of the death of the fetus during treatment which caused the woman to go into septic shock. The representing lawyer for her family had said that her death was as a result of doctors delaying ‘a potentially life-saving abortion’ according to POLITICO.

The Polish government has unsurprisingly deflected responsibility by claiming medical error resulted in the woman’s death and was not due to the court ruling. However, it has been argued by rights groups and activists that doctors did not perform an abortion due to fears of breaching the law, despite discovering fetal defects. Women’s rights in Poland are already severely restricted and perhaps the country is becoming somewhat of a parallel universe to Gilead in The Handmaid’s Tale.

An anti-abortion group submitted a citizen’s legal initiative which mandates long prison terms ranging from five to 25 years in cases of abortion which was accepted by Speaker Elżbieta Witek. Included in the proposal is life imprisonment in circumstances ‘for depriving a “conceived child” of life.’ Under this proposal, abortion would no longer be accessible under any circumstances, even in cases of incest, if the life of the mother is endangered or, in cases of rape. There would be no exceptions to the abortion ban with this proposal.

Appearing before the Constitutional Tribunal building in central Warsaw as protests took place after the announcement of the abortion ban, a student, Cezary Jasiaski had said that “this idiotic ruling will not prevent abortions.” If abortions are prohibited, it forces women to seek alternatives methods to terminating their pregnancy which could be unsafe and detrimental to their own physical health. According to BBC News, approximately 200,000 women travel overseas or have abortions illegally in order to have the procedure. It must mentioned that providers and doctors could face jail time if they provide illegal abortions.

Thankfully there are some who oppose the ban, with Rafal Trzaskowski, the major of Warsaw ‘calling on women to reject the decision on the streets.’ The nationwide Women’s Strike movement leaders who reject the ban wore green headscarves in reference to Argentina’s Women’s movement that had successfully campaigned to legalise abortion.

The nationalist Law and Justice (PiS) government which have been in power since 2015 have promised older, less educated and poorer Poles to embrace and return to a traditional society with generous welfare policies. However, with protests against the government occurring last year, especially among young people, new voters in upcoming years could challenge the government.

In eroding reproductive rights, removing access to abortion and depriving women of their own autonomy and agency, the Polish government are also taking away basic and fundamental human rights for all. Safe and legal abortions are a necessity to ensuring bodily autonomy.

The Chronic Crisis in Lebanon

Once known as the Paris of the Middle East, Lebanon is now a country in ruins. The chronic issues experienced by the country are pre-existing conditions which arose long before the Beirut explosion.

On 4 August 2020, the Beirut explosion was caused by 2,750 tonnes of stored ammonium nitrate which killed at least 218 people, left 300,000 homeless and wounded 7,000 people. Videos online were posted which shocked the world. After the Beirut explosion, countries such as the U.S., Russia, Australia, Indonesia and the EU mobilised and sent aid ranging from mobile hospitals to sniffer dogs to help Lebanon. Emergency workers were gathered by the EU as well as equipment which they then sent to Lebanon along with over 100 firefighters with vehicles. Sniffer dogs were also provided to help find individuals who were trapped in urban areas. Australia offered $1.4 million in humanitarian aid and Britain provided $6.6 million in humanitarian aid. Turkey sent search and rescue teams as well as emergency medical personnel to help after the explosion. Additionally, the Turkish Ministry of Health sent 2 emergency response units, 3 tents for personnel shelter, 21 UMKE personnel, medical equipment and medication. Nations from across the globe acted quickly in order to help Lebanon.

After the explosion, questions were raised about why a large amount of dangerous materials which are used in fertilisers and bombs were stored at the port in Beirut since 2013. Days after the explosion occurred, Prime Minister Hassan Diab resigned along with his cabinet, blaming the explosion on corruption which is “..bigger than the state.” Hassan Diab did not take any responsibility, despite the fact that he was warned two weeks prior to the explosion about the industrial chemicals by Lebanese security officials. Lebanese security officials at the time warned Diab that the chemicals could destroy the capital if they were to explode and posed a significant security risk. Hassan Diab, along with three other ministers were charged with negligence, Diab has stated that his conscience was clear.

Prior to the port explosion, Lebanon was already experiencing an economic crisis due to successive governments piling up debt after the 1975-1990 civil war. Lebanon’s GDP has fallen from approximately $55 billion USD in 2018, to about $33 billion USD in 2020. In less than two years, the economic crisis has plunged three-quarters of the population into poverty and meant the Lebananese pound was devalued by approximately 90%. According to the United Nations, food prices have increased by over 400% with food inflation in Lebanon which is the highest in the world. In March 2019, an individual could by 1 Litre of Milk, 1kg of oranges, apples, cucumbers, tomatoes, rice and chicken all for 10,250 Lebanese pound. In March 2021, an individual could only by 1 Litre of Milk for 10,000 Lebanese pound according to Al Jazeera. Devastating pictures of empty fridges show the significance of the crisis in Lebanon.

Furthermore, the Lebanese armed forces (LAF) are also impacted. With 80,000 men employed in the LAF, most had previously earned approximately $800 a month but now only earn approximately $70-$90. This is inadequate for them to pay for their own transportation, educate their children, pay for healthcare or food. Since 2010, over $1.8 billion has been provided to the LAF by the United States. Assistance to the LAF has been provided by other countries and considering the rapidly declining state of the Lebanese armed forces, Qatar has been providing 70 tonnes of food a month to the LAF.

To make a bad situation worse, Lebanon has been experiencing chronic instability in their electricity sector. Since the end of the 1975-90 Lebanese civil war, the country has experienced rolling power cuts. Since the early 1990s, the electricity sector in Lebanon has cost the government over $40 billion. More recently in the news, the Deir Ammar and Zahrani power plants stopped working, causing the electricity network to collapse for the second time this month. The electricity grid was working again after the army provided fuel to the two power stations which ended a day of almost total blackout. Approximately 40% of Lebanon’s electricity output is provided by the Zahrani and Deir Ammar power plants, however when I heard the news that the power plants stopped working, I was not surprised. In July the power plants stopped working due to pending payments. This is not an uncommon experience for the country, with Lebanese civilians often suffering the most. Most Lebanese civilians only have 1-2 hours of daily electricity provided by the state grid. Due to the country being unable to supply 24-hour electricity, many households and families have been depending on their own generators or private generators from neighbourhood suppliers who charge significant fees. These unregulated suppliers are commonly known as “generator mafia” with owners saying they offer services which the state can’t provide for civilians. The electricity crisis in Lebanon has created far deeper issues also leading to the breakdown of healthcare systems in the country.

Due to fuel shortages, the American University of Beirut Medical Center have warned that they may be forced to shut down which would threaten the lives of ill patients. In an AP News article from August this year, the facility warned that the lives of 55 patients dependent on respirators would be put at risk. There was also over 100 people with renal failure and who are on dialysis who would be put at risk. Gasoline and diesel shortages have meant that malls, restaurants, food deliveries and businesses have shut down. The director general of the Rafik Hariri University Hospital, Dr. Firas Abiad tweeted that to preserve fuel, the center only runs 2 of their 7 generators.

This paints a rather bleak picture of Lebanon, however this is the harsh reality experienced by many Lebanese civilians. The government structure in Lebanon is truly unique with the power-sharing system reflecting the diversity and sectarian strife experienced by this country, however I believe this is a rather complex issue deserving of it’s own article. This country once deemed the Paris of the Middle East is now in ruins. With a new government finally formed, I hope the country undergoes serious reforms in order to salvage what is left of the state and prevent it from descending into further chaos.

Why the Christchurch massacre movie should not go ahead

August 2018, Christchurch Botanic Gardens

In 2018, I travelled to New Zealand with my mother. We went to Mount Cook and Queenstown before finally travelling to Christchurch. We stayed there only briefly but enjoyed our time in that beautiful city.

I was devastated, just like most of the world when in March 2019, Brenton Tarrant, a white supremacist killed 51 people in two different mosques in Christchurch. An inquiry into the massacre found that authorities had failed ‘to enforce proper checks on firearms licences’ as Tarrant accumulated his weapons in the attack. Brenton Tarrant, the Australian national was sentenced to life in prison without parole.

There have been calls to stop the creation of a movie about the Christchurch massacre in which Rose Byrne, an Australian actress has been set to play Jacinda Arden, some saying it will only create a “white saviour” narrative. Many people apart of the Muslim community in New Zealand want to stop the film titled They Are Us, some arguing that the retelling of the event should focus on the Muslim community in New Zealand instead of on its PM. The Major of Christchurch suggested that crews wouldn’t be allowed into the city and a New Zealand producer pulled out of the project. Additionally, Jacinda Ardern has distanced herself from the film.

A petition to shut down the film has gotten more than 70,000 signatures. The petition states that the film is problematic as it focuses on ‘white voices and therefore will continue to white-wash the horrific violence perpetrated against Muslim communities.’

The National Islamic Youth Association said that the film “sidelines the victims and survivors and instead centres the response of a white woman” arguing that it focuses on the role Jacinda Ardern played instead of on the victims of the attack. It has also been argued that the Muslim community have not been properly consulted with regarding the project. As association co-chair Haris Murtaza has put it:

“Entities and individuals should not seek to commercialise or profit from a tragedy that befell our community, neither should such an atrocity be sensationalised”

I urge everyone reading this to sign the petition in order to support the Muslim community in New Zealand. The horrific events of the Christchurch massacre shouldn’t be forgotten but the narrative should be focused on the impact on the victims of the attack.

Other resources:

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-9680903/Christchurch-mosque-massacre-victims-slam-Rose-Byrnes-new-film-attack.html

South Australia’s failure to decriminalise sex work

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As of 2019, there have been 13 attempts to decriminalise sex work in South Australia. Tammy Franks, Greens MLC and co-sponsor of the bill said: “We have the most archaic laws in the country.. It’s an abject failure for the Labor Party to say that they represent workers when today, so many Labor-right members in particular voted against workers”

Franks continued onto say that Labor-right members have “..thrown workers under the bus” and that “sex workers have been sacrificed for their political games.” Nicola Spurrier, South Australia’s Chief Public Health Officer has been a voice of criticism with regards to the state’s current legislation. She highlighted how the existing legislation around sex workers does not give them adequate protections. She also said to a parliamentary committee on the Repeal of Sex Work Offences Bill that barriers were created for workers in regards to access to suitable health care and use of safe sex practices. She emphasised that as a result, there are risks which could lead to the increase of preventable diseases such as sexually transmissible diseases or HIV.

Although leadership within the industry have proven to manage their own safety and health at work, Spurrier suggested that “..as a society we need to do more.” Some sex workers have fears about going to their healthcare providers as they told the South Australian Health Communicable Disease Control Branch. Spurrier noted that sex workers don’t want to disclose the type of work they do because they recognise it’s illegal and fear they will be discriminated against or turned in.

In court, police have used supplies such as condoms against street-based sex workers as evidence and as Spurrier noted, this means they’re disinclined to use safe sex methods which could increase their chances of both acquiring and transmitting sexually transmissible diseases.

Although I recognise this topic is controversial, decriminalising sex work is essential to ensure the safety of both sex workers and the community. I hope reforms can occur in South Australia to ensure public health is put first and so that sex workers can be free from the fear of discrimination.

New Zealand law passed giving parents paid leave after miscarriage

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Legislation was approved by New Zealand’s Parliament in March that would provide couples with three days paid leave after suffering a stillbirth of miscarriage. This law means that women and their partners do not need to use sick leave in the event of pregnancy loss. In New Zealand, it was already required by employers to give ‘paid leave in the event of a stillbirth, when a fetus is lost after 20 weeks or more.‘ With this new legislation that was passed unanimously by Parliament, ambiguity is removed and it accommodates for ‘anyone who loses a pregnancy at any point.’

The Labour member of Parliament, Ginny Andersen, who drafted to bill commented to she felt “..it would give women the confidence to be able to request that leave if it was required, as opposed to just being stoic and getting on with life, when they knew that they needed time, physically or psychologically, to get over the grief.” Andersen did note the law did not apply to abortions. If women experience a miscarriage after 12 weeks in Australia, they are entitled to unpaid leave. In Britain, couples are entitled to paid leave in the event of a stillbirth after 24 weeks. In contrast, in The United States, employers aren’t required to give leave to anyone who has experienced a miscarriage. In India paid leave after pregnancy loss is also provided. Indian women are ‘entitled to six weeks’ paid leave’ in the event of a medical termination of pregnancy or miscarriage. Although this topic isn’t often talked about in the public, New Zealand has started to pave the way for progress.

In Australia, as mentioned above, women are allowed to take special maternity leave in the event that they miscarry after 12 weeks, however since this is unpaid, it forces them and their partners to use sick or annual leave. For women under the age of 35, one in four pregnancies end in miscarriage in Australia. This equates to 282 women experiencing ‘pregnancy loss before 20 weeks gestation’ on a daily basis. This is inadequate and Australia should follow in the steps of New Zealand by implementing some form of paid leave.

In Australia under the Fair Work Act, parents are allowed ‘up to 12 months’ unpaid parental leave following a stillbirth or death of a child in the first 24 months of life.‘ Kristina Keneally, Labor Senator is taking charge in order to create change so parents can receive paid leave after a stillbirth as a live birth in the private and public sectors, however no commitment has been made by the Morrison government.

I think New Zealand is paving way for change so hopefully other countries can follow in their footsteps by offering time for couples to grieve.

The erosion of civil liberties in Modi’s India

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Modi’s administration in India has been problematic and led to increasing religious tensions between Muslims and Hindus. With the increase of anti-Muslim sentiment rising in India, Modi’s administration has led to the erosion of civil liberties for Muslims, in which I argue, amounts to an ethnic cleansing campaign. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been slowly undoing what was seen as a secular democracy with the rise and promotion of right-wing ethnonationalism. In India, groups of ring-wing Hindu nationalists who are proponents of Hindutva ideology have claimed for years ‘that there are millions of illegal Muslim economic migrants,’ generally of Bangladeshi origin, who are working and living across India.

It should first be noted that in India, Muslims are a minority in the predominantly Hindu country. However, this minority population is at 200 million Muslims which is one of the world’s largest Muslim populations. Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi is leader of the Hindu-nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) which have been in power in India since 2014. He was, in his youth, working at his family’s tea stall and in his biography states he was a member of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) at an early age.

Modi’s history in government is an important factor which needs to be addressed, more specifically, the 2002 Gujarat riots. In February of 2002, Narendra Modi was the chief minister in the western Indian state of Gujarat in which a pogrom against Muslims occurred. Mobs across the Gujarat state rampaged after reports that Muslims set fire to a train carriage which killed 58 Hindu pilgrims inside. On 15 March, riots started with killings, looting and raping continuing until mid-June. Over 2,000 Muslims were murdered, with thousands becoming homeless as a result of the coordinated and planned attacks. According to an article by The Guardian, ‘the killers may have been in touch with police and politicians‘ and in a 2011 Amicus report, ‘two cabinet ministers even sat in police control rooms.’ It was claimed by a senior police officer and minister that Modi ‘explicitly instructed civil servants and police not to stand in the killers’ way,’ although Modi has always condemned the riots and denied involvement. The pogrom was televised by India’s various TV channels of which many ‘were shocked to hear how even the very young had not been spared.’ Some perpetrators of the killings of Muslims had being seen to smash ‘the heads of children against rocks.’

During my time researching this topic, I stumbled upon the story of Bilkis Bano. Bano was a resident of Radhikpur village in Dahod district in Gujarat and was five months pregnant when violence erupted. On February 28, 2002 with her three year old daughter and with 15 other members of her family, they fled her village. The family arrived at the Chapparwad village on March 3 2002 and ‘took shelter in a field connected to a dirt-track going towards Pannivella village.’ About 20-30 people armed ‘with sickles, swords and sticks’ then attacked Bano and her family. Bilkis Bano stated that one of these attackers “..snatched my daughter from my lap and threw her on the ground, bashing her head into a rock.” Bilkis Bano was raped, despite the fact she begged her attackers for mercy and ‘..told them she was five months’ pregnant.’ Bilkis Bano and her story moved me but is also deeply troubling as claims were made that Modi did not make attempts to prevent violence which had horrific human consequences.

There is also controversy surrounding Modi’s parent outfit, the RSS, of which Guru Golwalkar a revered chief wrote in a book in the late 1930s that ‘Nazi Germany had manifested “race pride at its highest” by purging itself of the “Semitic races”‘. Due to his religious intolerance, in 2005 Modi was denied a travel visa by the United States. I believe with the Citizenship Amendment Act, in addition to the Gujarat riots, Modi clearly holds discriminatory values towards Muslims.

The Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) has also rightfully been a point of contestation which prompted protests and outrage across India. The CAA law offers non-Muslims who are ‘fleeing religious persecution’ citizenship from three nearby countries. This act ‘offers amnesty’ to illegal non-Muslim immigrants from three countries which are Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan. The CAA amends India’s citizenship law which prohibited illegal migrants from becoming citizens of India and it also allows citizenship to faith followers of six religious minority communities, those being Buddhist, Sikh, Hindu, Jain, Christian and Parsi. However, they must prove they are from Afghanistan, Bangladesh or Pakistan and can work or live in India for 6 years instead of 11 in order to become eligible to apply for citizenship. Although the government is claiming they are providing sanctuary to individuals fleeing religious persecution, it’s evident that it will marginalise India’s Muslim minority. The bill is controversial as it was clearly made to discriminate against Muslims with many opponents of the bill arguing that if it was aimed at genuinely protecting minorities, it would have included Muslim religious minorities who have faced persecution in countries such as the Rohingyas in Myanmar or Ahmadis in Pakistan. Others argue the bill is exclusionary and also ‘violates the secular principles enshrined in the constitution‘ in which faith can’t be a condition of citizenship. This law violates the constitution which ‘..prohibits religious discrimination against its citizens, and guarantees all persons equality before the law and equal protection of the law.’

The CAA has disastrous implications, especially when combined with the NRC. The NRC is a record of individuals who are legal citizens of India, however ‘such a database has only been maintained for the state of Assam.‘ Individuals whose name did not appear on the National Register of Citizens (NRC) face the prospect of deportation and detention. If individuals live in the state of Assam and their name doesn’t appear on the NRC, they must provide evidence that they are a citizen. This list was published by the government in order to ‘weed out what it claims are illegal immigrants‘ in the state of Assam. If an individual makes an appeal to both a Foreigners’ Tribunal and the High Court of Assam or the Supreme Court but all attempts fail, they could be ‘sent to one of 10 mass detention camps‘ the government has planned to build and complete ‘with boundary walls and watchtowers.’ The implications surrounding the NRC are enormous with the ‘potential exclusion of over 4 million people, many of them Muslims, raises concerns over arbitrary detention and possible statelessness without due process.’

The persecution of Muslims under Modi’s administration is an issue that should not be ignored and has led to an ethnic cleansing campaign. Modi’s administration has disguised the CAA to be a form of legislation appearing to be inclusive, but is one that actually discriminates against Muslims. There are increased concerns that India is no longer a secular democracy and is increasingly becoming more authoritarian. I think this is evident by the fact that Twitter removed several tweets which were critical of Modi’s handling of the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic at the request of the Indian government. I hope this post is educational and inspires others to critically think about the elected leaders of government and what values they represent. In saying this, I know this post will be highly controversial but my intention is to spread awareness about the potential human consequences of Modi’s administration and the discriminatory values held by those in power.

 

Extra Resources:

https://www.hrw.org/news/2018/07/31/india-assams-citizen-identification-can-exclude-4-million-people

https://www.reuters.com/article/india-politics-religion/assam-tense-ahead-of-citizens-list-targeting-illegal-bangladeshis-idINKBN1EO05K?edition-redirect=in

Justice for George Floyd

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Former police officer Derek Chauvin was found guilty of the murder of George Floyd by a US jury. Chauvin was found guilty of second-degree murder, third-degree murder and manslaughter when in last May, he pinned down George Floyd to the ground using his knee in an arrest. George Floyd was murdered on May 25, almost a year ago, after being arrested by police who suspected he was passing a counterfeit $20 bill for cigarettes at a corner store. Upon being arrested, Floyd was eventually pinned to the ground, of which in videos taken by bystanders Floyd stated multiple times “I can’t breathe.” Authorities said Chauvin’s knee was on George Floyd’s neck for over nine minutes. Chauvin faces sentencing in two months time and could go to prison for decades, with the most serious outcome being that he could go to prison for up to 40 years.

The jury deliberations occurred on Monday and lasted for 10 hours before a verdict was given. After the verdict was given, Chauvin’s bail was revoked and ‘he was led away with his hands cuffed behind his back.‘ In August the other three former officers ‘charged with aiding and abetting murder’ in George Floyd’s death will stand trial. Keith Ellison, Minnesota Attorney-General noted that bystanders of George Floyd’s death ‘who “raised their voices because they knew that what they were seeing was wrong”‘ and they then “told the whole world” what they witnessed. Attorney-General Keith Ellison then read off the names of others killed by police.

The jury was made up of six black or multiracial people and six white people who weighed charged of third-degree murder, second-degree unintentional murder and second-degree manslaughter, ‘with convictions on some, none or all of the charges possible.’ Barack Obama, former US president, made a twitter post about racial injustice arguing that although the jury did the right thing, ‘true justice requires much more.’

George Floyd’s death sparked not only protests within the US, but also protests across the globe. I’m surprised by the outcome as I was rather pessimistic about justice for George Floyd. My faith in the justice system had completely crumbled after 2020, however thankfully 2021 has provided some form of justice for George Floyd and further advances the Black Lives Matter movement.

Myanmar military coup

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In the past few months, tensions have risen in Myanmar after the detention of Aung San Suu Kyi along with other high level government figures, with the military taking control of the country in a coup. A state of emergency was declared. Armed forces are backing the opposition who demand for a rerun of the vote following Suu Kyi’s win of the general election, they claim there was widespread fraud in the election results. The country experienced widespread communications and internet blackouts, soldiers began patrolling the streets in Yangon, Myanmar’s largest city, and banks closed. If residents flicked on their television, the only TV channel they could access is the one owned by the military (Myawaddy channel) with other news channels blocked.

The democratically-elected figureheads were detained in the capital, with a news anchor declaring on the Myawaddy channel that Min Aung Hlaing, army chief had assumed power. In the announcement, it was confirmed by the military that leader Suu Kyi and other National League for Democracy (NLD) senior officials were detained. This was in response to the ‘alleged voting irregularities’ of the election in November. Aung San Suu Kyi was placed under house arrest for 15 years and was released in 2010. During those years under house arrest, she transformed ‘from a national figure into a global icon of democracy‘ and won the Nobel Peace Prize. Five years after her release from house arrest, the country had its first free elections in 25 years as military rule ended. Suu Kyi’s NLD won. For the international community, this was seen as a victory with democratic values overthrowing ‘the forces of authoritarianism.’ However Suu Kyi was in a precious situation as ‘the constitution which abolished the military junta maintained for the generals a huge amount of power and influence.’ Between the periods of 1962-2011, ‘successive military regimes ruled Myanmar‘ with the authoritarian regimes asserting power and control ‘over the people through fear and brutality.‘ After the military rule ended, Myanmar changed drastically with more foreign investment, more social freedoms and an increasing middle class. For instance, SIM cards ‘are now cheap and ubiquitous’ in contrast to a decade ago when they cost $1,000. In major cities, dramatic transformations have occurred, although their is still ethnic divisions, conflict, economic and inequality issues. However, Suu Kyi was denounced overseas as she deemed reports of ethnic cleansing and genocide conducted by military forces in the state of Rakhine were perpetuating “misinformation” and she blamed the regions problems on “terrorists.” This is problematic as almost a million Rohingya have fled horrific crimes inflicted upon them by the military as some were subjected to torture, extrajudicial killings and gang rape.

Nationwide peaceful protests were triggered after the coup with many demanding for the release of Aung San Suu Kyi ‘and the restoration of civilian rule.’ A crackdown from security forces occurred with soldiers ‘opening fire on unarmed protesters’ with at least 50 people being killed as a result. Now more than 500 unarmed citizens have been killed the according to estimates. The death toll is estimated to be 536 deaths according to a local monitoring group with the youngest victim known to be just six years old. Defense chiefs of various nations issued a joint statement condemning the violence inflicted upon civilians by the military with countries such as Japan, Australia, UK and the US being among the signatories of the statement which said: “A professional military follows international standards for conduct and is responsible for protecting – not harming – the people it serves.” In Myanmar, the UN’s envoy ‘has warned of the risk of an “imminent bloodbath” as the crackdown against pro-democracy protests’ escalates.

Many have been looking towards China to intervene to de-escalate the situation. Between Myanmar and China, their relations have been referred to as “kinsfolk” which was initially used in the 1950s. However, complex dynamics have existed between the two countries. In the late 1940s, mutual recognition was subsequently followed by better relations in the 1950s and in 1960, a border treaty was formed. However, in the 1960s, the political atmosphere changed with ‘Beijing’s support for the Burmese Communist Party and China’s intention to export its own revolution.’ In 1967 Yangon, anti-Chinese riots occurred. However, relations between the two countries improved when the NLD formed a government. Suu Kyi was seen as a reliable and stable partner. China and Singapore were the main commercial partners and leading providers of foreign direct investment for Myanmar. China, along with Russia on February 2, ‘blocked strong wordings of condemnation by the UN Security Council on the coup‘ however, 2 days later on February 4 Beijing, in agreeance with a statement which expressed concern about the “..declaration of the state of emergency imposed in Myanmar by the military and the arbitrary detention of members of the government including State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi”. China should care about the Myanmar crisis and that is because instability is undesirable for China’s Belt and Road Initiative project, with Myanmar putting ‘a spoke in the wheel of the central idea of the BRI – connectivity.’ China can do a few things to help to situation, although ‘it won’t issue rebukes’ and ‘won’t back UN sanctions’ or ‘support external intervention,’ it can condemn actions like ‘the use of live ammunition’ on civilian protestors by stating it is “not acceptable.” China could also advocate for the lifting of the state of emergency prior to February 2022.

The Australian government is also addressing the issue by making changes with it diplomatic ties to Myanmar and is ‘redirecting humanitarian aid’ as a result of the military coup. Marise Payne, Foreign Affairs Minister has expressed the government’s concern over the increasing death toll in pro-democracy protests and increasing violence inflicted upon civilians.

There are a variety of human rights abuses occurring against peaceful pro-democracy protesters under the military rule in Myanmar. There are some small ways we can create change. Here is a link where you can sign a petition to put pressure on the Australian government to take action to pave the way to creating opportunities for multilateral targeted sanctions.

I hope the situation in Myanmar improves and that the democratically-elected leader Suu Kyi can resume her rightful role and be released from detention. Although she is not perfect, she seems to be the leader who can restore some stability for the country. Residents in Myanmar have the right to be safe and protected while protesting peacefully, however unfortunately brutality inflicted upon peaceful protesters is not unheard of and is a practice undertaken by many military forces across the globe. Hopefully with increased international pressure with various global leaders condemning the actions of the military in Myanmar, change can occur.

Below I’ve included some extra resources as well as some twitter posts from the UN Secretary-General and the Special Envoy of the UN Secretary-General on Myanmar.

Extra Resources:

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