Torbjørn Færøvik's Blog, page 342

Myanmar's coup leaders tried to crush resistance. But one year on, it's stronger than ever

After one year of military rule in Myanmar, millions of people are resisting a return to repression and isolation. Last February, military leader Min Aung Hlaing seized control of Myanmar in a coup that upturned any hope the country of 55 million people would become a functioning democracy under former leader Aung San Suu Kyi.After ordering a brutal crackdown on anti-coup protests, the junta

Top Hong Kong official resigns over birthday party fiasco

A top Hong Kong official resigned Monday for attending a birthday party with about 200 guests in early January as the city was battling a coronavirus surge. At least one guests later tested positive, and Secretary of Home Affairs Caspar Tsui was among several officials and lawmakers ordered to quarantine after the party, which was held for Witman Hung, a delegate to China’s legislature.Tsui said

Central Political and Legal Work Conference: The CCP Does Not Feel Safe

The yearly conference on Central Political and Legal Work, which concluded on January 16, is an important meeting for the Chinese Communist Party, and normally indicates priorities in the field of security and law enforcement. President Xi Jinping sent “instructions” to the conference, which were delivered by Guo Shenkun, a member of the Political Bureau of the CCP Central Committee. The Central

Kazakhstan: Mass Arrests and Surveillance—With Some Help from China

In Kazakhstan, authorities have recaptured the power, which they almost lost, through the Russian army. Russian troops, called by President Tokayev to protect himself from his own people, opened fire on peaceful civilians. Tokayev called peaceful protesters “terrorists.” He told Kazakhs that we have been “attacked by 20,000 terrorists.” Who were these terrorists and where did they come from was

Noah Hoffman: Former Olympic cross-country skier is 'scared' for athletes who speak out at Beijing 2022

Former Olympic cross-country skier Noah Hoffman says he is "scared" for the safety of athletes who might be contemplating speaking out about human rights issues during Beijing 2022. Hoffman, who retired from competitive skiing after the PyeongChang Games in 2018, says he is concerned by the human rights record of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and the lack of support shown by the International

How a tiny European country took on China over Taiwan

A curious spat has unfolded in recent months between Lithuania, a small, Eastern European nation of less than 3 million people, and China, a superpower with an economy that could soon exceed that of the United States. It all started last year, when Lithuania poked Beijing in the eye -- twice in the space of a few months. First, it withdrew from the so-called "17+1" group, a forum in which 17

When Olympics Come, Tibetans Suffer

Amidst the massive surge of the Omicron variant of the dreaded COVID-19 virus across the world, China insists to fanfaronade its mammoth economic growth and its influence by holding the most controversial and contested Olympics game this winter. However, it is pertinent to understand that Beijing Olympics 2022 became a powerful propaganda tool for the Chinese government, as it tries to make its

Olympic Descent: Repression in Tibet since Beijing 2008

In this briefing, the International Campaign for Tibet summarizes some of the People’s Republic of China’s most serious human rights violations in Tibet during the period from 2008 to the present. This is by no means a complete accounting of every abuse China has committed in Tibet over that period, nor is Tibet the only front on which China is committing grave abuses. The Chinese government’s

China’s Espionage Plans for the 2022 Winter Olympics: What Athletes Should Expect

As the world prepares for the Winter Olympics in Beijing, the athletes will have to contend with more than just competing in their chosen sport. The Chinese government will implement extensive surveillance efforts to ensure the safety of all involved, to control the spread of COVID-19, and to serve China’s political interests. It is the latter reason that is of particular concern.China’s national

Ancient Bhutan trail set to open for first time in 60 years

Bhutan is one of the world's most mysterious countries. Visiting the Land of the Thunder Dragon can be challenging, but there's new incentive to finally cross it off the bucket list in 2022, as its breathtaking Trans Bhutan Trail will be reopening to travelers for the first time in 60 years. According to the Bhutan Canada Foundation -- the principal donor to the restoration project -- the