Farmer Protests in New Delhi

Pictured above: India protest 2020. Photo courtesy of Wikimedia.

By Aditi Parashar ’22 

Staff Writer

Tens of thousands of farmers from around India made their way to New Delhi 11 days ago, cutting off almost all entry points into the capital, according to The New York Times. The Dilli Chalo (“Let’s go to Delhi”) march is a protest against three agricultural bills passed in September 2020 that aim to make changes to the farming system and threaten the way 146 million farmers in India do business. According to the BBC, the protesters arriving in Delhi were accosted with water cannons, tear gas and violence by many paramilitary and police forces who tried to hold them back. 

The reforms would change key aspects of how produce is sold, priced and stored. The new policies would replace the Mandi system in which the government heavily regulates the prices at which agricultural products can be sold. While the Indian government claims that these reforms are necessary to salvage the agriculture industry, many of those employed by the industry —  40 percent of the workforce — quickly began to protest the changes. 

The government has said that the new regulations will provide opportunities for farmers, with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi calling it a “watershed moment.” He also said that the new laws provide farmers more autonomy to set their own prices as well as to sell directly to private businesses, reported CNN. 

The farmers, however, remain adamant that the new laws are anti-farmer and pro-corporation by subjecting the farmers to the free market from which they have been protected for decades. 

Mewa Singh, one of the many protesters, told The New York Times, “Our land is our mother. It was passed on to us from our parents, who got it from their parents, and now Modi wants to acquire it and give it away to his rich friends.”

According to the Indian Express, the protesters want the government to either repeal their newly passed legislation or guarantee farmers a minimum support price for their crops by passing new legislation. 

The minimum support price is one of the biggest support structures to farming in India. It aims to set a guaranteed minimum price for commodities by farmers no matter the market conditions, which protects the community from fluctuations in price and imperfections in the market.  

Economists as well as agricultural experts have shown support for the farmers’ demand for a minimum assured price mechanism. Devinder Sharma, an independent agricultural expert, told The New York Times, “There is no evidence in the world where the market price has benefited farmers.”

Additionally, farmers believe that the new laws “will open agricultural sale and marketing outside the notified Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) mandis for farmers, remove the barriers to inter-state trade, and provide a framework for electronic trading of agricultural produce,” according to the Indian Express. However, since state governments will be unable to procure market fees outside of the APMC market systems, farmers are afraid that this will end the current system, leaving them at the mercy of corporations that are then free to exploit them and their production capabilities. 

Many critics are apprehensive about how formal contractual obligations will work in the public arena due to the unorganized nature of the agriculture sector. Critics fear that farmers will be locked into contracts out of necessity and face a lack of resources for legal proceedings with major private corporations, found The Hindu. 

“I don’t believe anyone is buying the idea that these bills exist to help the farmers,” Kusha Chopra ’21 said. “The farmers are smart and know that the bills have been passed in Parliament to fill the never-ending greed of our dear prime minister’s friends. To leave an already complicated sector which sees so many suicides due to debt and unemployment at the hands of large corporations and [at the] behest of the free market is openly careless and foolish.”

Since the farmers have arrived in Delhi, there have been a series of talks between them and the government. As of Dec. 9, no resolution has been reached. 

“I think it is extremely sad, not only the way the farmers are having to fight for their livelihood in a country that thrives because of them, but also the way the government and its lapdog media has tried to discredit their hardships and movement,” Shreya Nair ’22, a Mount Holyoke student from India, said. “To call peaceful protesters, who are the reason you have food on your table, terrorists and anti-national on national television has [been] a new low, even for our sell-out media outlets,” Nair added.

The protesting farmers now have huge camps around Delhi’s border and are prepared to stay. They said they will not leave before the government repeals the “black law,” reported the BBC. The protesters say they are “prepared for a long battle — with trolleys full of rice and grains, and pots and pans to cook their own food,” the BBC continued.

Cuban Government Refuses To Conduct Talks With Dissenting Artists

Photo courtesy of Wikimedia.

By Madhavi Rao ’24

Staff Writer

Cuba experienced a rare expression of dissent from the public in the 21st century on Friday, Nov. 27. About 300 artists and activists gathered outside the Cuban Ministry of Culture to protest the imprisonment of Denis Solís Gonzáles, a member of the dissenting San Isidro Movement. A few of the collected protesters who were challenging the violation of artists’ freedom of expression in the country were invited to have a dialogue with government officials. However, later in the week, the Cuban government made it clear that communication would not continue.

Gonzáles was imprisoned for his comments against a police officer who broke into his home, describing him as a “chicken in uniform,” triggering protests, according to The Washington Post. On Nov. 9, Gonzáles was detained and sentenced to eight months in a maximum security prison for the crime of “contempt,” as reported by Amnesty International. Erika Guevara-Rosas, the Americas director of Amnesty, said, “No one should be imprisoned for ‘contempt’ against a public official, a provision of the criminal code that Amnesty International and other human rights organizations have consistently called on the Cuban authorities to repeal.” 

Gonzáles’ imprisonment was met with outrage from the rest of the SIM, a collection of artists, academics, journalists and musicians who actively resist the Cuban government. Founded in 2018 by Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara, the movement was created to fight the oppressive communist government in Cuba. Following Gonzáles’ arrest, the SIM assembled together to protest, ultimately resulting in a hunger strike against the violation of their civil liberties. According to Al-Jazeera, on Thursday, Nov. 26, the SIM headquarters were raided by police, who cited COVID-19 restrictions.

“The recent protests are remarkable, considering the authoritarian government’s tight controls on dissent,” Maahi Jaiswaal ’24, an economics and politics double major who has lived in Cuba, said. “With the little that I remember about living in Cuba, I can affirm that art and dance was a major aspect of Cuba’s rich culture. It is apt that the artists behind the art are due freedom of expression in their profession, and with the way that the world is progressing, the Cuban authorities should look into their demands before the talent has to be forcibly removed,” Jaiswaal added.

The protest was attended and supported by many famous artists and performers in Cuba. 

Along with the release of Gonzáles and other jailed protesters, the crowd demanded the government respect their freedom of expression. This is in light of laws such as Decree 349, which prohibited artists from performing in public or private spaces without the approval of the Ministry of Culture, per a statement released by Amnesty International. The censorship decree essentially decides who qualifies as an artist and who doesn’t.

Initially, the government had agreed to listen to the protesters’ demands on Nov. 27, with officials agreeing to review Gonzáles’ case and hold future talks to understand the artists’ frustrations. However, at a rally on Nov. 29, Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel described the protests as an “imperialist reality show,” saying that the protests were led by the United States. The culture ministry similarly defaulted on its promise, saying it would “not meet with people who have direct contact and receive financing, logistical support and propagandistic backing from the U.S. government,” according to Reuters. 

Lisett Bonilla ’22, an international relations and economics double major, said of the issue, “I believe this is a crucial time for Cuban society. Freedom of expression is essential to everyone and a human right.” She went on to describe how the situation could be improved, saying, “I urge U.S. institutions to support these artists who are opposing the grip of an authoritarian system. Cuba is also going through an economic crisis and ignoring these issues can have horrible repercussions for Cuban society overall as well as its relations with the U.S.”

Scotland Becomes the First Country To Make Sanitary Products Free

Pictured above: Scottish Parliament. Photo courtesy of Wikimedia.

By Jocelyn Zhou ’23

Staff Writer

Scotland passed the Period Products Free Provision Bill on Nov. 25, 2020, to make sanitary products free to all who need them. 

As The New York Times reported, under this legislation, the government will set up a countrywide initiative in collaboration with local authorities to allow anyone who needs period products to get them free of charge.

The bill aims to tackle the issue of “period poverty,” which refers to the inadequate access many have to sanitary products when they need them. 

People who experience menstruation often regard it as a difficult experience because of poverty, homelessness, abusive relationships and some health conditions, according to The New York Times. Gender identity is also a barrier to access, as some transgender people cannot obtain sanitary products, especially given that they are statistically more likely to experience poverty, according to a report by the National LGBTQ Task Force. According to The Guardian, these disparities have only increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

“I think this is great support for low-income [people] who can’t afford sanitary products,” Gerel Battogtokh ’21, an international relations major, said.

“I believe everyone who is in need of daily necessities like disposable sanitary products should have access to it,” Jamie Day ’22 said. “Making it free will stop users from having to compromise [for] their health and overall comfort.”

The Period Products (Free Provision) (Scotland) Bill requires local authorities and education providers to ensure period products are obtainable free of charge. The bill’s financial memorandum states that “it is intended to remove any barriers which stop women, girls and trans people accessing period products.” However, it will be up to local authorities to decide how and to whom these resources are made available — a discrepancy that may allow transphobia to make this distribution inaccessible. 

According to NPR, the Scottish government has estimated the measure will cost 24 million pounds (about $32 million) a year.

After the vote, Nicola Sturgeon, Scotland’s first minister, remarked on Twitter, “Proud to vote for this groundbreaking legislation, making Scotland the first country in the world to provide free period products for all who need them. An important policy for women and girls.”

Two years ago, Scotland made another first by providing free period products in schools, colleges and universities through a government program. 

“This can be really a good example for other developed countries [on] how to help marginalized women. [The] next step would be free contraception products,” Battogtokh said.

In response to the bill’s passage, Mount Holyoke students reflected on their experience of obtaining free sanitary products in school.

“I have seen free access to sanitary products provided in the MHC bathrooms and appreciate the College’s efforts in making sanitary products available to everyone. MHC seems to be aware of the different backgrounds of each student and [evens] the [gap] in terms of availability to resources, and I admire that,” Day said. 

Leader in Iranian Nuclear Science Killed

Pictured above: Mohsen Fakhrizadeh. Photo courtesy of Wikimedia.

By Sophie Soloway ’23

Global Editor

Iran’s top nuclear scientist, Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, was killed in an attack in his vehicle on Friday, Nov. 27. After a reported gun attack in northern Iran, hospital workers unsuccessfully attempted to revive the prominent figure. 

Fakhrizadeh was the head of Iran’s Research and Innovation Organization and was widely regarded as a national hero for his work with the country’s nuclear program, both before and after the Iranian government officially ended it. According to Senior Fellow at Carnegie Endowment for International Peace Karim Sadjadpour, “Fakhrizadeh likely knew more about Iran’s nuclear program than any living human. Losing his leadership, knowledge and institutional memory is undoubtedly a blow to the Islamic Republic.” Protests quickly emerged in Iran, reflecting the significance of the loss for the country. 

Officials have not yet pinpointed the individual responsible for the attack. However, on Saturday, Nov. 28, Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani accused Israeli leadership of being responsible for the scientist’s death. According to The New York Times, three unnamed American officials have made similar statements. 

Having had a critical role in the nation’s development of nuclear technology, Fakhrizadeh has long been a person of interest to the Israeli intelligence agency, Mossad, as well as to U.S. intelligence agencies. The U.S. and Israel are allies and have historically vehemently opposed Iran’s nuclear program, as Israel specifically views Iran as its largest regional threat. Although Fakhrizadeh denied that the purpose of Iran’s nuclear program was related to building nuclear arms, documents stolen by Israel in early 2018 suggested otherwise. 

When Israeli agents stole approximately 50,000 pages and 163 discs of information on Jan. 31, 2018, they concluded that the Iran nuclear program was ongoing and dedicated to developing nuclear weapons. Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu released this information days before U.S. President Donald Trump pulled out of a nuclear deal with Iran. 

As of Friday, Nov. 27, Netanyahu’s administration has not officially responded to Rouhani’s claims that Israel played a role in the murder of Fakhrizadeh.  

The assassination might provoke further conflict in the region. Rouhani has pledged to retaliate against those responsible for the murder. Fakhrizadeh’s assassination was also compared to the U.S.’ January airstrike on Qasem Soleimani, an Iranian operations leader. This previous attack is largely considered to have increased tensions between Iran and the U.S. since Trump’s withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal in 2018. As the U.S. presidency enters a transitional period, this attack may impact President-elect Joe Biden’s plans to alter relations with Iran. 

Carrie Lewis ’23, a Mount Holyoke student interested in international relations, noted that “because of the United State’s military support for Israel and their previous attack on [the] Iranian leader [Soleimani], this might block progress between the relationship between Iran and the United States, especially under Biden.” 

Biden has long stated that his administration plans to return to the Obama-era nuclear deal with Iran that Trump undid. Given the salient relationship between the U.S. and Israel and both nations’ suspected roles in assassinating high-profile officials, this recent attack is expected to make a nuclear deal with Iran significantly harder to achieve for the president-elect. As protests mourning Fakhrizadeh’s death continue in Iran and more Iranian officials place blame on the U.S.-Israel alliance, concerns regarding the future of these regional relationships mount. 

Helen Roane ’23, an international relations major, said, “I think it’s really interesting how Israel really put itself in the middle of an international conflict over Iran’s nuclear program. Because it seems like they are counting on the United States support, which is not guaranteed with a Biden presidency that is looking perhaps for a more diplomatic resolution to such issues. Either way, it remains an impactful action that clearly says that the government of Israel is not afraid of taking actions to stand for what they think protects their national interest.

Presidential Impeachment in Peru

By Aditi Parashar ’22

Staff Writer

On Nov. 9, Peruvian President Martín Vizcarra was impeached by the country’s Congress following allegations of bribery during his time as governor, reported Reuters. The Congress, which is dominated by opposition members, was led by Manuel Merino, and marks their second attempt since May to oust Vizcarra. Merino,  a member of the center-right Popular Action Party who had been Congress’ head, was interim president from Nov. 10 to Nov. 15, when he resigned, reported The Guardian. Peru has now found its third president in the span of a week in Francisco Sagasti. 

The impeachment of Vizcarra, a popular centrist leader with widespread public support due to his anti-corruption reforms, brings political turmoil to Peru at a time when the nation is trying to recover from one of the worst economic recessions it has ever seen, caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Al-Jazeera reports that Vizcarra rejected the accusations of corruption as  “baseless” and “false.” However, he did not challenge the decision and stated he was willing to respond to any criminal charges. 

In various cities across the country, Peruvians took to the streets in thousands following Vizcarra’s impeachment, setting off some of the largest protests the country has seen in decades, according to Reuters. Sonia Julca, an economist from the University of Callao, cited the reason for protests as, “The people are against this government led by Merino.” Protesters were found shouting slogans and carrying signs reading “Merino, you are not my president” and “Merino impostor.” Al-Jazeera found that many of the protesters waved signs that accused Congress of carrying out a coup. 

While the protests started out in a peaceful manner, by nightfall there were police clashes, leading to the deaths of two young protesters and the injury of dozens more, reported Reuters.

“I ask Mr. Merino to evaluate his immediate resignation,” said President Congress Luis Valdez after an emergency Congress session, reported Al-Jazeera. The National Assembly of Peru has also released a statement asking for Merino’s resignation, claiming that he was “politically responsible for the acts of violence.”

Following the violence with the police, all of the Cabinet ministers announced their resignations. Soon after, Merino himself resigned after only five days in power. 

Clarissa Gomez, one of many on the streets celebrating Merino’s resignation, told Reuters, “Merino has resigned because his hands are stained with blood, with the blood of our children.” 

“Merino’s resignation will be good for the turmoil Peru has seen in the last week. However, people will still not have complete confidence in Congress just yet, and a democracy cannot exist at its prime without the people believing in it. The new president has his work cut out for him,” Shanze Hasan ’21, an international relations major, said. 

After Merino’s abrupt resignation, the legislature of Peru elected Sagasti to be the new interim president. Sagasti is an industrial engineer by profession and a “member of the only political party that voted against the ousting of popular former president Martín Vizcarra a week ago,” The Guardian reported. 

Soon after his swearing-in, Sagasti said, “It is absolutely necessary to remain calm, but do not confuse this with passivity, conformity or resignation.” According to Al-Jazeera, he also paid respects to the two men who had died in the protests as a result of police brutality, saying, “We can’t bring them back to life but we can stop this from happening again.” He has also said that he is willing to include ministers from Vizcarra’s government in his Cabinet. 

Amman Syed ’22, an economics major, noted the importance of Sagasti’s willingness to include members of Vizcarra’s Cabinet. “Vizcarra’s Cabinet had star Finance Minister María Antonieta Alva. Her handling of … COVID-19 during this time of recession has been a major factor in keeping Peru from being worse off. I hope Sagasti sees that the recession Peru is facing needs someone like her to steer them in the right direction,” Syed said.

Palestinian Prisoner Ends over 100-Day Hunger Strike

By Saman Bhat ’22 & Amelia Luo ’23

Global Editor & Staff Writer, Photographer

Maher al-Akhras, currently a Palestinian prisoner, has ended his over three-month-long hunger strike after Israeli forces agreed to grant him freedom on Nov. 26, rather than renewing his sentence. Beginning on July 27 of this year, the day he was detained, the 49-year-old father of six went on a hunger strike for more than 100 days. According to The Guardian, he lost over 90 pounds. 

Al-Akhras was arrested and detained under what is known as “administrative detention,” a controversial policy that Israel implements to legally detain Palestinians for indefinite periods due to suspicion of undisclosed security offenses. These detentions can last for years without trial. According to Al-Jazeera, Israel claims that the “procedure allows authorities to hold suspects and prevent attacks while continuing to gather evidence.” However, some critics think the country is abusing its power through this practice. Amnesty International, along with several other Palestinian rights groups, have claimed that Israel’s administrative detention policy is a human rights violation, as it obstructs Palestinian peoples’ right to due process.  

According to a Time magazine article written in 2016, Israel has imprisoned nearly 4,000 people under administrative detention over the past decade, with only 35 of them being Jewish. This procedure heavily targets Palestinian citizens, as over 350 Palestinians — including two minors — were being held in Isreali prisons under the policy as of August 2020, as reported by the Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories. This violates international humanitarian laws, as Article 76 of the fourth Geneva Convention states that protected people under occupation should be detained only in the occupied territory. 

One anonymous Mount Holyoke student noted that administrative detention has a historic connection to colonization, writing, “I think that the parallels between the methods of administrative detention taken by Israel and the colonization efforts made by Great Britain in the past highlight the fact that Israel is clearly colonizing Palestine.” 

 According to the Shin Bet, Israel’s security agency, al-Akhras was arrested because information suggested that he was an active member of the Islamic Jihad Movement and was involved in “activities that endanger public safety.” Michael Lynk, a special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Palestinian territories, called for al-Akhras’s immediate release. In a report to the United Nations Human Right Council, he said that “Israeli security forces who arrested and detained Mr. Al-Akhras have not provided any persuasive evidence in an open hearing to justify its allegations that he is a genuine security threat.” 

The Shin Bet also suggested that al-Akhras had been arrested five times previously for the same reason, but the involvement was denied by al-Akhras’ family and by al-Akhras himself, who claimed not to have any involvement in “security activity.” According to the International Association for Democratic Lawyers, two of al-Akhras’s  previous arrests were under the same circumstances he is now facing. Al-Akhras was held for 16 and 11 months during 2009-2011 and 2018, respectively. He was not charged with a crime or given a trial either time.

Mount Holyoke’s Palestine Solidarity Group commented on how al-Akras’ situation is far from unique, but has brought global attention to the true nature of Israeli detention. They stated, “The Israeli prison system is an inhumane and violent tool of the illegal occupation of Palestine. Maher al-Akhras’ 103-day hunger strike has brought the conditions faced by Palestinian political prisoners to the eyes of the world, but he is far from the first or the last Palestinian to experience this violence.”

Al-Akhras is not the only Palestinian prisoner that has been detained for long periods of time due to questionable circumstances. In 2016, a Palestinian journalist named Muhammad al-Qiq was freed from six months of administrative detention after a 94-day hunger strike. Time magazine reported that “75 percent of administrative detainees are held for longer than ​six​ months without trial, and 40 percent for more than a year. Just 5 percent of Palestinians held in administrative detention are indicted at the end of their detention.”

Anat Matar, a Tel Aviv University philosophy professor who coordinates the Israeli Committee on Palestinian Prisoners advocacy group, told The Guardian about how the goal of al-Akhras’ hunger strike was not just his immediate release but also to highlight the injustices and suffering caused by administrative detention. She said, “The point for us is to protest administrative detention. What he wants is to move the discussion from his own case to the general one, and that is why he pays with his own life.”

According to Al-Jazeera, many Palestinian prisoners state that they have been subjected to torture and violence while in custody. As a result, these Palestinian detainees stage protests, including hunger strikes, against their prison conditions. This form of protest seems to be an effective tool in undermining Israeli occupation. “A hunger strike offers a rare opportunity to take back control. It is a paradoxical move, asserting the essence of your freedom by denying your oppressor control over your body,” Sally Abed wrote for The Nation. 

Al-Akhras was set to be transferred back to a prison medical facility on Oct. 23, but submitted an urgent petition against the transfer. The interim order was granted by the court. According to The Times of Israel, there were concerns from Physicians for Human Rights that the prison medical facility might engage in forced treatment or feeding, which a public hospital would not do. 

Al-Akhras’ family stated that he would be in Kaplan hospital until Nov. 16, and would then be transferred to an Arab hospital in east Jerusalem for another 10 days.

The Palestine Solidarity Group stated that they are “overjoyed that al-Akhras won his freedom.” They added, “We know that freedom for one man does not solve the collective punishment that Palestinians face on a daily basis at the hands of the Israeli occupation. We stand in solidarity with Maher al-Akhras and all imprisoned Palestinians and are committed to working against carceral systems in Palestine, in the U.S. (Turtle Island) and across the world.”

England Locks Down To Prevent ‘Medical and Moral Disaster’

Pictured above: Big Ben in London, England. Photo courtesy of WikiMedia.

By Sophie Soloway ’23 and Aditi Parashar ’22  

Global Editor & Staff Writer

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced on Oct. 31 that England will be going into its second national lockdown to help limit the spread of COVID-19. The lockdown began on Nov. 5 and is set to end on Dec. 2. According to the BBC, England had 21,915 confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Oct. 31, bringing the total since the beginning of the pandemic to 1,011,660.

In his press conference, Johnson announced that the second national lockdown was the only way England could prevent a “medical and moral disaster” for the British National Health Service, reported the BBC. 

Johnson also said “no responsible prime minister” could ignore figures that suggested deaths would reach “several thousand a day,” with a “‘peak of mortality’ worse than the country saw in April.” Without the lockdown in place, members of the NHS would have been forced to choose which patients would live and which would die, Johnson said. 

This lockdown is similar to Britain’s first national lockdown in the spring, with spaces like pubs, restaurants, gyms and nonessential shops closing for four weeks. People have also been asked to work from home if their jobs allow. However, unlike in the spring, educational institutions like schools, colleges and universities are allowed to stay open during this lockdown. 

Leader of the Labour Party Sir Keir Starmer supported the second lockdown while emphasizing the fact that this is a decision the Tory government “should have taken weeks ago.” The Labour Party had been pushing for a shorter lockdown weeks earlier to no avail, reported The New York Times. 

The Print, an Indian publication, reported that Johnson was resisting introducing nationwide restrictions, even with growing pressure. Johnson cited “disastrous” consequences for the U.K.’s finances, calling it the “nuclear” option and instead suggesting a three-tiered system targeting local areas in England before announcing the new lockdown.

Shanze Hasan ’21, an international relations major, said, “While the second lockdown is important to reduce the burgeoning number of coronavirus cases, the delay due to the Johnson government’s resistance will mean a longer lockdown to counteract the rise in cases England has seen recently.”

The second lockdown also has economic implications. According to The New York Times, even in the spring lockdown, Britain was much slower than its neighbors in shutting down its economy, which led to the lockdown lasting longer than initially intended. It also saw one of the worst second quarter recessions in Europe. Many opposition leaders and economists believe this delayed lockdown is the government making the same mistake again. 

Amman Syed ’22, an economics major, said, “The projected unemployment peak numbers have gone up and economic growth has gone down. However, a lockdown in any country would see the same results. What the U.K. needs to do is focus on how long they continue to supplement loss of income so that when the economy opens up again, the jolt to the economy is not massive.” 

The U.K. is not the only country in Europe with rising cases. According to NBC News, Germany and France have both documented record numbers of daily COVID-19 cases within the past week. Italy, one of the countries worst hit by the pandemic in its early stages, has also placed new restrictions on citizens in an effort to curb rising cases. 

The New York Times reported that the Czech Republic, Belgium, Hungary and Poland have also seen a steady increase in hospitalizations, placing Europe’s hospitals at a shortage of healthcare providers and supplies. As the U.K. enters its new lockdown, many of its neighboring countries must contend with very similar realities. 

Mass Shooting in Vienna Labeled a Terrorist Attack

Pictured above: Vienna, Austria. Photo courtesy of WikiMedia.

By Madhavi Rao ’24

Staff Writer

A mass shooting took place outside of a synagogue in Vienna, the capital city of Austria, on Nov. 2. A large crowd had gathered at the city center a few hours before the imposition of a nationwide lockdown against the coronavirus pandemic when the shooting occurred, according to Al-Jazeera. The gunman, Kujtim Fejzulai, 20, is said to have previously attempted to join the Islamic State terrorist organization, causing some leaders to believe that this was a terrorist attack. 

The shooting resulted in the deaths of four people: a German university student, a North Macedonian man and a middle-aged Austrian man and woman. The assault prompted a quick response from the Vienna police, who set up roadblocks around the city. Nine minutes after the shooting began, Fejzulai was killed by the police. There has been speculation that the shooting was premeditated and carried out by a group of gunmen, but, as reported by BBC News, the Austrian police determined that Fejzulai acted alone after inspecting the mobile phone footage taken by witnesses. 

Fejzulai, a citizen of both Austria and Macedonia, was arrested in 2019 and sentenced to 22 months in jail for attempting to migrate to Syria to join IS. The Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the attack without providing evidence for this claim. As reported by The New York Times, the organization has a history of falsely taking responsibility for assaults that were carried out by individuals. 

Assistant Professor of International Relations and Politics Christopher Mitchell echoed this reporting. “It’s actually not uncommon for terrorist groups to take credit for attacks they were not actually involved in,” he said. “Even if it later comes out that they were not involved, they get ‘free’ publicity when their claim is reported, which helps draw attention to the group and their message.”

Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen and Austria’s Chancellor Sebastian Kurtz have both condemned the shooting, which they describe as an attack on democracy, according to The Guardian. Kurtz expressed that the assault was “clearly an Islamist terrorist attack” in his address to the nation on Nov. 3. 

“It was an attack out of hatred — hatred for our fundamental values, hatred for our way of life, hatred for our democracy in which all people have equal rights and dignity,” Kurtz stated. “We must be aware that this is not a conflict between Christians and Muslims or between Austrians and migrants. No, this is a fight between the many people who believe in peace and those few who want war.” 

Chair of German and Jewish Studies at Mount Holyoke Karen Remmler described how the nature of these comments could affect the general European attitude toward migrants. “European Muslims are of course a diverse set of communities and yet they find themselves targeted after recent terrorist attacks in France and Austria, even as Muslim religious and community leaders vehemently condemn any form of violence committed by self-identified Islamist groups,” Remmler said. “When state leaders, such as Emmanuel Macron (France) or Sebastian Kurz (Austria) label the acts of terror as ‘Islamist,’ they open the gate for anti-Muslim sentiment,” she added. 

Remmler elaborated that the comments themselves are not to blame; rather, the use of such comments to advance a certain narrative is. “Even as Kurz and Marcron labeled the acts of terror as ‘Islamist,’ they were also quick to condemn any acts of violence toward Muslims in their countries,” she explained. “In contrast, groups on the political right are quick to use the attacks to express their anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim sentiments and call for a renewal of nationalist values and allegiances.”

Mitchell seconded Remmler’s comments, detailing how these events might lead to policies that will disproportionately impact Europe’s Muslim population. “The greater danger, however, is that we see an increase in attention to a far-right narrative about the danger to Europe from a Muslim ‘other’ and and emphasis on an exclusionary European identity that rejects multiculturalism,” he explained. “This far-right populist trend has been an undercurrent in European politics for decades now, though such groups had seen a setback as attention had focused more on responses to the coronavirus.” 

Mitchell explained that groups might use these attacks as a way of advancing their message, adding, “This will not have an immediate and direct policy effect on Europe’s Muslims, though it may lead to retaliatory violence and, in the longer run, may lead to greater electoral gains for far-right groups, which would then have policy consequences.”

Lockdown Treats From Across the Globe

By Madhavi Rao ‘24

Staff Writer

During the pandemic and resulting online classes, many students are taking refuge in food and quick snacks. For Vietnamese students at Mount Holyoke, these treats can take a variety of forms. 

A popular snack is Vietnamese fresh spring rolls (gỏi cuốn). According to Celia Tran ’23, a member of the Mount Holyoke Vietnamese Student Association, “Gỏi cuốn consists of thin vermicelli noodles, pork slices, shrimp, basil and lettuce all tightly wrapped in rice paper (bánh tráng). Gỏi cuốn is a healthy and affordable dish [of] all balanced proteins and vitamins dipped in a hoisin-based sauce. A cool go-to for anyone out there who craves a fulfilling yet tasty snack.”

Tran’s favorite snack - gỏi cuốn.

Another popular Vietnamese snack food is Hảo Hảo, a brand of instant noodles. Anh Tran Nguyen Chau (Amy) ’23 described how she likes to pair the noodles with eggs and Welsh onion. 

“This dish reminds me of when I was 5 or 6; my grandma used to make [them] for us after we got home from kindergarten,” she said. “It is also a food that I craved the most when studying in MoHo. I’m really glad to be back home now and enjoy all the food I want.”

A third Vietnamese snack favored by Mount Holyoke students is rice paper. As described by Dan Khanh Vo (Aurora) ’23, “From where I live, rice paper is [a] go-to street food,” Vo said. “You can see it everywhere on the street, and it is delectable (at least for me)! To get a full combo, we mix in some other ingredients such as dried shrimp, peanut[s], chili powder and many other add-ons.” 

On the sweeter end of Vietnamese snacks lies AFC Biscuits, a brand of vegetable crackers. “In Vietnam, especially the southern part, as kids and teenagers, we eat this nonstop,” Vo said. “They also come in many flavors, and my favorite one is matcha.” She added that another snack food favorite is chocolate, saying, “Everyone loves chocolate — anyone and anywhere!”

Dan Khanh Vo shares her favorite snacks: AFC Biscuits and chocolate. 

Pope Francis Approves Same-Sex Marriage

Pictured above: Pope Francis. Photo courtesy of WikiMedia.

By Amelia Luo ’23

Staff Writer & Photographer

In the documentary “Francesco” — which premiered on Oct. 21 at the Rome Film Festival — Pope Francis expressed his support for same-sex civil unions, stating that gay people are also the children of God. Pope Francis’ remarks, different from the traditional teachings of the church, might bridge the gap between the church and its recognition of the LGBTQ+ community. 

“Francesco,” directed by Evgeny Afineevsky, documents Pope Francis’ (born Jorge Mario Bergoglio) papacy for the past seven-and-a-half years, including his views on the environment, poverty, migration, inequality and more. 

In the film, Pope Francis states, “Homosexual people have a right to be in a family. They are children of God and have a right to a family. Nobody should be thrown out or be made miserable over it. What we have to create is a civil union law. That way they are legally covered. I stood up for that.” This interview was the first time that Pope Francis has publicly stated his unequivocal support for same-sex civil unions after taking on the papacy.

For years, the Pope has not given a definitive answer about their views on same-sex unions. In 2013, when asked about homosexuality on a flight back to Brazil, he answered, “If a person is gay and seeks God and has good will, who am I to judge?” Yet in 2016, he flat out rejected same-sex marriage in his book “Amoris Laetitia” (The Joy of Love), claiming that it is in no way equal to marriage between a man and a woman. That being said, he still voiced support for people who are in nontraditional relationships such as single parents, unmarried straight couples and gay people who live together. 

According to The New York Times, public support from Pope Francis has “the potential to shift debates about the legal status of same-sex couples in nations around the globe,” mitigating the relationship of the Catholic Church to the LGBTQ+ community. 

Rose Lu ’23, a gender studies major at Mount Holyoke, remarked on how external societal factors play a large role in influencing people’s personal beliefs. “I believe that social structure [and] culture and people’s ideas are interlinked,” she said. “I always thought that if followers can accept other things that are forbidden in the Bible such as divorce and masturbation, then they shouldn’t exclude the LGBTQ[+] group.”

Pope Francis has made increasingly progressive comments and decisions during his papacy. On Oct. 25, he appointed the first African American cardinal to the Catholic Church’s highest governing body in history. Archbishop Wilton Gregory is a Chicago native and the first American named to the College of Cardinals since 2016. 

Critics from both sides have commented on Pope Francis’ recent remarks. Since traditional Catholic teachings condemn and prohibit homosexual acts, conservatives have criticized him for “diluting” the church’s doctrine and reversing years of its teachings. 

Others point out that while Pope Francis has helped shift the tone of the church on the topic of homosexuality, there has been little action involved in actually changing its teaching or policies. 

Carrie Lewis ’23 expanded on this sentiment. “I think for Catholics in the LGBTQ+ community it’s a big step forward to accepting them fully for their sexuality,” Lewis said, noting that the Pope’s statement likely will not reverse homophobia within the religion. “For the Catholic community itself, I would be curious to see how this is introduced at the parish level. I wonder if they’ll begin to teach this new ‘dogma’ in Catholic schools.”

According to NBC, the Vatican is still firm in its claim that marriage is an “indissoluble union between man and woman,” thus making same-sex marriage unacceptable.

Jamal Khashoggi’s Trial Raise Questions in Saudi Arabia

Image of Jamal Khashoggi Trail courtesy of Flickr

By Corrine Celupica-Liu ’23

Staff Writer

In October 2018, Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi was murdered while inside the Saudi consulate in Turkey. Khashoggi, who had been critical of Saudi Arabia’s leadership and who went into self-imposed exile in the United States the year prior, entered the consulate to get the necessary documents to marry his fiancee. The journalist never came back out.  

Throughout the investigation, much uncertainty and contrast arose surrounding what Saudi, Turkish and United Nations’ investigations concluded regarding the journalist’s death. U.N. Special Rapporteur Agnès Callamard concluded that Khashoggi was the “victim of a deliberate, premeditated execution,” while the Saudi public prosecution concluded that the murder was not premeditated. 

Professor of International Relations and Politics Sohail Hashmi noted how it was “very hard to imagine [the] murder would have taken place without the knowledge and acquiescence of [Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia] Mohammed bin Salman.”

This sentiment was shared by Assistant Professor of Politics Ali Aslam, who felt that there is “no question that Saudi Arabia’s crown prince ordered and knew about the mission to kill Jamal Khashoggi.” 

Another issue surrounding the murder of Khashoggi involves the lack of transparency and fairness in the subsequent trials of his murderers. 

As Callamard noted to Middle Eastern news source Al-Jazeera, “We know that the trial failed to meet the most basic international fair trial standards. Most importantly, the high-level officials who were named by the prosecutor were never included in the trial. … Also, all the hearings were held behind closed doors.”

Carrie Lewis ’23, a student interested in international affairs, noted that “just the fact that it was not a public trial usually indicates that it was involved in obstructing justice.”

During the trials in 2019, five people found to be directly involved in the murder were given death sentences. However, under Saudi law, the five individuals convicted were allowed legal reprieve after Khashoggi’s family pardoned them. Because one of Khashoggi’s sons, Salah, announced his family’s forgiveness for Khashoggi’s killers, the five death sentences were reduced to 20-year terms. 

Given that many of Khashoggi’s family members, including his sons, still live in Saudi Arabia, this announcement brings up questions about whether or not the Khashoggi family was pressured into the pardoning. 

Hashmi explained how it is “very hard to believe that no pressure was put on the family to forgive the killers. Even if they were not directly pressured, the mere suggestion would be enough for them to realize they had no other choice.”

An additional matter of concern is the amount of time that has passed since Khashoggi’s murder and the subsequent trials. Hashmi noted that “so much time has passed now that in general I think the issue has been put in the past by the states involved.” Because of this, the prospect of getting a fair trial and justice for Khashoggi is dwindling. 

Regardless of what future possibilities exist for a fairer trial for Khashoggi, there is now a rising concern about the implications of this trial on the safety of journalists around the world. 

Lewis noted how events like this “limit people from exposing injustices that their government is trying to hide and discourage them from pursuing journalism because it sends the message that partaking in it is risking their life.”

“We should care about this because the press is a right that is not always protected,” Lewis continued. “It is important to be informed about events that could be limiting this right for people around the world.”

Escalation in Border Conflicts Leads to Deteriorating Relationship Between India and China

Graphic courtesy of WikiMedia Commons

By Amelia Luo ’23

Staff Writer

India and China, two nuclear-armed countries, have been fighting over the disputed border in the Himalayan region, the McMahon Line, since 1914. The McMahon Line is an ill-defined border constituted by rivers, lakes and snowcaps, according to the BBC. The instability of the bodies of water causes the border to shift year to year and has led to several armed confrontations between India and China, including one this year.

On June 15, heightened tensions triggered a clash between the two countries, leaving 20 Indian soldiers and an unknown number of Chinese soldiers dead. This was the first fatal clash between India and China since 1975, according to the BBC. 

The details of the clash are unclear. India accused China of “provocative military movements” near the border, while China denied these charges, claiming that it was India’s troops that engaged in “open provocation and caused the border situation to become tense,” according to The Guardian.  

After the 1962 war, both sides engaged in a competition of building infrastructures such as roads, telephone lines and airstrips. This infrastructure formed what is now called the Line of Actual Control. The LAC was intended to create a demarcation line in the hopes of easing tensions between the two countries. 
In 1996, China and India signed a treaty barring firearms and other explosives along the LAC. Senior Colonel Zhang Shuili, a spokesperson for the People's Liberation Army, stated that India's move “seriously violated related agreements reached by both sides, stirred up tensions in the region ... and is very vile in nature,” according to the BBC. In rebuttal, India’s government released a statement claiming that although the Indian army is “committed to maintaining peace,” they were also “determined to protect [their] national integrity and sovereignty at all costs.”

In 2019, India completed the construction of the new Darbuk-Shyok-Daulat Beg Oldi Road to a high-altitude airbase in the Ladakh region near the LAC. This road has enhanced India’s ability to move armies and organize support more quickly in the event of a conflict. China was strongly opposed to this project, as they believed that the road was harmful to the country’s economic corridor to Pakistan and Central Asia, according to Al-Jazeera. 

It is unlikely either of the countries will be willing to back down. Nevertheless, the standoff could escalate tensions further if neither side gives way.

Wei Chao ’23, an international relations major, shared her theory on the Chinese government’s strategy while engaging in these conflicts. “I think the Chinese government deliberately sent off troops to test [India’s] bottom line in the border issue,” Chao said. 

On Sept. 10, foreign ministers S. Jaishankar of India and Wang Yi of China reached a five-point plan in Moscow, aiming to ease tensions and resolve the crisis. That being said, this period of conflict could be the turning point of the India-China relationship. 

China is one of India’s biggest trading partners; however, India has a trade deficit of 48.66 billion, which also contributes to the political tension between the two countries. With China and India’s relationship becoming more volatile, the Indian government is calling to reduce trade and economic ties with China. It recently banned more than 150 China-linked apps such as the popular video-sharing social media app, TikTok, citing security reasons. It also introduced restrictive measures on Chinese foreign direct investment. 

Lasya Priya Rao Jarugumilli ’23, a double major in politics and physics, shed some light on why India might view China as such a big threat to the country’s sovereignty. “India is very diverse in every sense. The only thing that is keeping Indians together is this togetherness,” Jarugumilli said. “Every piece of land is important to the whole country. … [It] is part of the soul.” 

 Jarugumilli believes the aggressive response also ties back to colonialism. “[It has] not been a very long time since independence. The freedom struggle is not that far,” Jarugumilli said. “People my age, their grandparents were freedom fighters, so it is still very connected with the reality of everyday life.”  

Looking at the future of the two countries’ relationship, it is very likely that the tension might de-escalate after the diplomacy engagement in Moscow, yet the tension could easily trigger a security dilemma with 50,000 troops on both sides of the LAC. 

Seeing the potential increase in India’s military expenditure, Chao suggested that “it could be possible that the Chinese government wants to use the border conflict to force India to spend more on ground forces instead of the navy.” Suspicion like this exists on both sides of the conflict, potentially leading to a future harsh hit on the economic engagement between the two countries. 

Refugee Camp Burns Down in Greece; Who's to Blame?

By Aditi Parashar ’22

Staff Writer

A large blaze on Sept. 8 destroyed the Moria refugee camp on the Greek island of Lesbos, leaving over 12,000 of its residents with nowhere to go. There were no casualties reported. 

According to The New York Times, aid workers, activists and officials claimed the fire was started intentionally, following protests over prolonged lockdown measures after 35 residents tested positive for coronavirus. Four unnamed migrant men have been formally charged with arson. 

However, many have also blamed the Greek government and the European Union for the disaster. As Eva Cossé, lead researcher in Greece for Human Rights Watch, told The New York Times, “This fire was expected. It’s a testament to the European Union’s negligence and Greece’s negligence.” According to German media outlet Deutsche Welle, the Moria camp was housing four times more migrants than its intended maximum capacity. Human Rights Watch reported that refugees were living in cramped conditions in overcrowded tents with limited food, water, sanitation and health care resources.  

Moria was established in 2015 in order to address the refugee crisis after 850,000 refugees and migrants hoping to travel to safety in northern Europe made their way from Turkey by boat. These refugees passed through the camps quickly when the European attitude toward refugees was more tolerant, reported The New York Times. However, since those initial days, the island of Lesbos has hosted an additional 300,000 refugees. 

The refugees have gone through traumatic experiences, fleeing persecution and war-torn countries. They now live in squalid conditions for long stretches of time, sometimes for as long as two years. In this time, they must often go through bureaucratic asylum formalities before either being sent home or allowed to move on to seek permanent asylum in northern Europe. 

“Before, I thought that Greece would be one of the best places to live,” Mr. Ashrafi, a 34-year old Afghan refugee with three daughters, told The New York Times. “Now I feel it would have been better to drown while crossing the sea.”

Some say the increased time spent in these camps is due to Europe’s inability to reach any long-term solutions to the crisis. European countries have continued to block borders, and leaders have continued to disagree on the number of refugees each country should take while providing Greece with funds to care for the refugee population. “Moria has been considered an emblem of Europe’s hardening approach to migrants in the aftermath of the 2015 crisis,” The New York Times reported.

Mickiyah Pope ’23, a politics major at Mount Holyoke, said, “For politicians to continue to behave in such an unplanned manner in the face of a humanitarian crisis — which is no way new — is truly disheartening. Politicians have the ability to do great good if they come together and truly understand the suffering of these refugees, instead of trying to pass the sole responsibility to their neighbor.”

While the European Union continues to figure out the way forward for the stranded migrants, Human Rights Watch reported that 406 unaccompanied children have been flown to mainland Greece to be relocated to other EU countries or placed in long-term shelter facilities in Greece. Countries like Germany, France and the Netherlands have also agreed to take in some number of unaccompanied children. Additionally, on Sept. 15, Germany said it plans to relocate another 1,553 refugees from Greece. 

Middle Eastern news network Al-Jazeera reported that many refugees have been moved to a temporary facility at Kara Tepe with the goal of all 12,000 being housed there by Sept. 20.  However, according to Refugee Support Aegean, a local nonprofit organization, conditions in Kara Tepe fail to meet the minimum standards of dignified living under Greek and international laws.

The Indian publication The Hindu reported the discontent among the residents of Moria on being moved to new refugee facilities. Many protested before being moved to the new facility with chants of “freedom” and “no camp,”  along with signs saying “We don't want to go to a hell like Moria again” and “Can you hear us Mrs. Merkel?” Numerous refugees see the new housing situation as continued neglect, reported Al-Jazeera. 

Rehat Thussu ’23, an international relations major at Mount Holyoke, stated, “The crisis is an issue that isn’t going away anytime soon. If countries consistently fail to respond to this crisis, that too in accordance with international human rights law, we will soon face another crisis: the loss of our humanity and our morals.” 

How the World Has Handled COVID-19

By Corrine Celupica-Liu ’23

Global Writer

Over the past nine months, coronavirus case levels have fluctuated around the world. In the United States, life during a global pandemic looks strikingly different than it did back in March. The U.S. has seen both community compliance and resistance in efforts implemented to suppress the virus. 

According to a New York Times report on Sept. 6, 2020, there are 26.9 million confirmed cases worldwide and the virus is spreading at its fastest recorded speed, with a global cumulative of 200,000 daily new cases. As of early September, there are rising surges in many parts of Europe, including Germany, Spain and France. Similar patterns are also occurring in North America, where geographically-diverse hotspots have sporadically developed over the past six months. 

Megan Horner ’23 lives in Herrin, Illinois, and has experienced the state’s response to each new hotspot of the coronavirus. 

“In the beginning, the state was able to slow the spread, but once things began opening, a lot of people stopped adhering to rules,” Horner said. “The state instituted pretty strict measures, and it was pretty effective but has since been rescinded.” 

As of Sept. 6, 2020, Herrin has recorded 1,024 confirmed coronavirus cases, which is up from 530 total confirmed cases reported on Aug. 9, 2020. 

Due to the lack of standardized federal testing and containment protocol in the United States, the reported number of cases has varied from region to region. Abroad, countries’ various strategies mixed with a more collaborative community response have been more effective in controlling the spread of the virus. 

Rachel Kang ’23, who has been living in Seoul, South Korea, since March, noted the effectiveness of the South Korean government’s response. 

“From the beginning, [the government] made it mandatory for everyone entering from abroad to quarantine for 14 days and get tested for COVID-19,” Kang said. “If there is someone who caught the virus in your neighborhood, the government sends emergency alerts to their county [and] track[s] ... where the anonymous individual has been since they started showing symptoms.” Kang also praised South Korea for its citizen safety requirements, such as wearing a mask in certain buildings and on public transit and participating in regular temperature checks. 

In South Korea, there is a 1.1 percent positivity rate from coronavirus testing. Additionally, the country has been able to maintain lower rates of contraction. From April 1 to August 12, it reported less than 100 cases daily. 

Across all the different strategies regions have attempted to control the coronavirus, one truth remains: keeping the spread suppressed requires a sense of intentionality. As Kang noted, “As much as the idea of a virus is terrifying, if the correct precautions are being taken at the right moment, it is possible to control the numbers of cases.”