Transcripts For ALJAZ Inside Story 20240711

That is out there this is a top story joe biden has based in donald trump to become the 46. 00 president of the United States trump is refusing to concede defeat a projected win in the battleground states of pennsylvania and nevada push the democratic challenger across the finish line the 290 Electoral College votes joe biden is expected to address the nation in the next few hours but has already tweeted that he is on it that america has chosen him to lead says the work ahead will be hard but he promised to be a president for all americans those who voted for him and those who didnt and he says hell keep the faith that supporters have placed in him his running mates come to harris isnt just the 1st woman to become Vice President shes also the 1st president of black and south asian descent harris learned of the knees while out jogging this video of her reaction and phone call to joe biden was posted online. We we did you know. Here in the next president of the United States that. Huge celebrations across major u. S. Cities after news of bidens victory trickled in large crowds have gathered outside the white house as well as new york city and philadelphia President Trump is continuing to make unsubstantiated claims about a vote of ford and his campaign has vowed to mount more legal challenges trump has now returned to the white house from his golf course in virginia he was there when major t. V. Networks began calling the election in joe bidens favor. Ok those are your headlines the news continues here on aljazeera to inside story stay with us here. Could mean more be on a path to democracy the country holds its 2nd election since the end of military rule but with minorities excluded will the outcome lead to real change this is inside story. Hello and welcome to the program im. Me and moore is preparing to go to the polls on sunday for its 2nd general election thats despite a growing number of covert infections and conflicts in some states in 2015 the National League for democracy won the 1st parliamentary election ending the militarys tight grip on power that had lasted more than 50 years its widely expected that the n. L. The party of Nobel Prize Winner Aung San Suu Kyi will retain power despite being internationally criticized for its handling of the 2017 military crackdown on Rohingya Muslims meanwhile more than 1000000 people in conflict areas have had their right to vote canceled by the government raising concerns over the credibility of me and more as election scott heiler explains. Its been 5 years since the people of myanmar went to the polls in a general election and only the 2nd time theyll cast ballots since the nation emerged from 50 years of military rule but no surprises are expected the National League for democracy or headed by the high profile and one time symbol of democracy. Is expected to maintain its ruling position but with reform slow and stalled Economic Growth and peace talks their victory is not expected to be a landslide as in 2015 the number of women. To change the whole system 5 year is just a short period we were under the dictatorship for more than 40 years and this is the start of the democracy we need more time i can give to and ill be more time you know only that they couldnt change anything for us thats why i dont like the. For me personally i just dont like the n. L. Day the turnout for the election is expected to be lower than the estimated 70 percent 5 years ago because the nation is facing a 2nd wave of covert 19 but also because some ethnic areas wont even have polling the government citing security due to ongoing fighting between the army and armed ethnic groups this along with other rules and regulations have raised concern by human Rights Groups about the fairness of the election despite facing International Condemnation for its 2017 military crackdown in Rakhine State sending hundreds of thousands of ethnic muslim fleeing to bangladesh on song suchi is still very popular at home and broadly people ive really. Kind of test on thanks popularity and more or less like a referendum on the achievements and. Ministration but actually i think obviously that came. With things like me. The countrys now fighting even with the anticipated victory for the end of the end its 75 year old leader theres growing concern about the lack of depth within the partys leadership unsung suchi has not positioned anyone to be a potential successor so any sudden changes could lead to a political crisis scott hodler aljazeera. Me and more formally known as burma is the largest country in Southeast Asia since gaining its independence from british rule in 1988 the country has been battered by civil war the conflict began a year later when power was unexpectedly handed to the majority bermans excluding many ethnic minorities in 1902 more was under an oppressive military junta that lasted more than 50 years gradual liberalization began in 2010 leading to free elections in 2015 and the establishment of a civilian government led by our sons to cheat in 2017 a military crackdown against the muslim or hindu forced more than 700000 to flee to neighboring bangladesh in what the u. N. Called a textbook example of ethnic cleansing this damage the International Reputation of the newly elected government and highlighted the continuing grip of the military in me and more. All right lets bring in our guests nikki diamond is a human rights specialist at fortified rights he joins us from yang on it meant more to kim is president of the burmese were he organization u. K. And joins us from london and joining us from bangkok is Phil Robertson Deputy Director of Human Rights Watch is Asia Division welcome to each of you nikki let me start with you in me in march there was a wave of optimism and a sense of hope that greeted National League for Democracy Victory in 2015 what is the sentiment around this election cycle. It is a little bit hard to still but ive seen them once the people of harley not know wont cant pay the rent a bit issued in the big dont trust in austin City Government right now and i dont see that most of the people who support for instance now im not trying to bet again how and they were not local and will d be again solar people are people frustrated. By whats the and implementation the contending with the human rights situation thats well over. The performance while phil Human Rights Watch has repeatedly called these elections fundamentally flawed what are the electoral problems that youve identified. Well there are quite a few 1st of all weve got to discriminatory citizenship and other laws that are most Rohingya Muslims 600000 who are still in Rakhine State another 1100000 who have been forced to flee to bangladesh from being involved at all theyre not considered citizens the 2008 constitution reserves 25 percent of the parliamentary seats for the military they are appointed by the Army Commander in chief so youre talking about the rick requirement for anybody to actually get a working majority in the National Parliament you have to actually win 67 percent of the seats either as a sole party or as a coalition of parties to overcome that 25 percent set aside for the military and thats quite unclear quite unfair and theres big problems with the supposedly independent Union Election commission which is proving to be anything but independent or even basically competent. Youve youve stated that you are concerned about the lack of International Condemnation of the disenfranchisement of the right in this election what do you worry could happen as a result. I think its a quite alarming situation because you know International Community weve been campaigning at a big a. T. M. That. Rowing the citizenship issue for many years and then we can see here. These 2020 alexion s. Gluey sen and there is no such condition International Committee have and you know they instead rohingya are as clued up from election they are funding to e. C. Races commission i worry that these really encouraged to the military same time to the government they can move well what are the human rights abuses and violations particularly as you know right areas in our kind of stayed on generals on the go in general so i did practice in a policy practice and i guess rohingya you know this is. Much lower worrying that you know. Every day of daily life as are facing crimes or you know and by their armies military and same time government is not allowing enough minuter in a thats also restriction of movement mariage are still on top of that so what how much farther situation can get was you know it can be much less was so there is one point that of cause Burmese Military and government practice in general sidle policy and and congressman to this election will be much much was and i worry that. It could it will be much farther and its really encouraging point one of the important thing here is you know so they can move on when they can kill anyone they can do what about they want to ruin us so nobody can nobody caring about you know as to their slaughter that International Community supported it wanting it you know so this is the point here i want to point out mickey many analysts have said that at its core this election is really a referendum on some suchi would you agree with that assessment everything the one of the i mean a primary concern for me is i mean majority still believe in all sincerity and also people i mean hope for instance achieve the never dying but also have been on the other hand there are increasing number all people who lost their homes and all the and also unsuited to serve one of the problem it is a hostile and only human rights situation specially on the writings of duration iraq and also other at the minority so her treatment again her installation in red herring being 11500000. 00 votes are for the at the minority in africa affected areas like iraq high and sense they cannot rely on to participate in your election. So ive seen a number everyone at the political distance 5 men so lets make people crazy and back less again current security and also unique i mean you know. Be trying. But just then what i mean by youre elected government how to appoint the member of the election commission. Member so now began a kinds that you dont favor or the current government which made me which make me up thats ration so frustrated and also. And felt and exposed room to as well religious minority in nema but thats the kind of indicator that. Increased number of people i mean help in and itll be a film where weve already spoken a lot in this program about rock kind state about the persecution that the rohingya have face at the hands of mean mars military but id like you to give our viewers a Bigger Picture of what exactly is playing out in iraq i say because you have the continued persecution thats been reported of the rink but then you also have other ethnic groups that are involved in the violence that is going on there how dire is the situation and who exactly is being affected. Well it is a very very difficult situation right hind state and most of the voters in Rakhine State are not going to be able to vote in this election because the election for their areas have been canceled it will only be in the sort of southernmost districts of Rakhine State where the election will probably still be held i mean we have the rohingya approximately 600000. 00 of them are estimated to still be in Rakhine State we know that at least 130000 of them are locked down in what is essentially internment camps where they are unable to leave those areas they are stripped of their livelihoods they Lack Basic Services and certainly theyre not allowed the right to vote but then you know thats the rohingya but that the Ethnic Rakhine who are the other Major Ethnic Group in the country are now and involved through a ethnic on borgen ization there are common army in very very fierce fighting with the berms military its probably the most serious fighting going on anywhere in the country right now and what you have is attacks by the military on civilians youve had shelling of villages youve had use of landmines and i e ds you know weve had abductions of people by the hour khan army including 3 l. D. Candidates so it is a very dire situation i mean we see that crimes against humanity are being committed not only against the rohingya but also against the record people by the vermes military and its really rather amazing that you know the Myanmar Military has managed to commit crimes against both ethnic groups in record and state and you know this is an area where the people are were unified in 2015 and supporting a party that was not the n. L. B. And that party won the state elections. But it was not allowed to become chief minister and thats going to be an issue again this year is even if ethnic parties win in their actual states or the National Government whoever wins that and most people believe that will be the end of the are the ones who appoint a sentry the chief minister or the governor of that state or province tune there have been many Rights Groups that have called upon the government in myanmar to allow rohingya candidates to run for office that have called on the government to allow for rohingya to be able to vote of course we all know thats not happening now were you at any point in the process hopeful that things might change or is this playing out as you had expected it to play out. For now tomorrow election 2020 alecks and there is. Going to be blowing ahead i think for the 2025 is depends on how International Pressure you do really walking International Community really care about as a whole burma including other minorities in burma you know. Is not really a good. A good thing for not really important for International Community because of the earth do you feel supporting Union Election Commission Races commission and theyre moving ahead including the u. S. U. K. And u. N. Other countries this is really really disturbing you know so is depends on how much International Community will Pay Attention one thing and secondly. Its not only rohingya its a tight election when banning the ruling yes the ethnic you know met the minorities will suffer much more because 1500000 people are. Bar from election this is very important point when you look at as a whole election in burma so i think is deeper and. Our new government. Feel pressure from International Law and funding issue in in a few share there is should be a condition that with out. You know this is not a kind of week we have we have we have seen a 22 and the election is not free and fair at all and International Community should focus on without any minority of schools and there is no such thing they can somewhat fund in you e. C. And this would not acknowledge your brand new government whenever come up after these 2 or 3 days after that this is not this government is not. Not happy at a kind of late. You know recognition they should not give because this is totally flawed election they come up learn from their 22 and turn im sorry interrupted i want to go to nikki cause i want to expand on the point that youre making if thats ok nikki you know last year im sued she appeared in the International Court of justice and denied the charges that have been leveled against me and more for perpetrating a genocide as the gambia alleges. And thats something that made him some soup cheese reputation suffer even more in the International Community diminished it even more but in but enemy and more itself thats something that bolstered her popularity has it not. Yeah thats the one and one evidence that we have seen an awful lot one of the need to think is that shes defending the human rights violation the the finding the proper trade and why washing so thats thats thats the nature of being why she lose her face in International Law and also in them are so international and media investigated generally reveal the interest in the athlete and and also others and also the perpetrator like that to sort of do in that way justify and again up a trigger so these kinds of revealing the truth story when what people think price and i guess what ive seen the Civil Society back less guns that were meant and you can howl so thats the kind of i mean i yeah i feel like you know that kind of being. Redeeming a true and investigative journalist in investigating you know i mean d a Group Document being human rights violations. Russia again. And then the government now and also people sometimes people dont trust in him or id or can i mean they can write back and documentation but they cannot deny the evidence by the various and. International apartment as well so right now people are now thinking like you are. Doing that one question that the military perpetrator thats right people in london are now considering i mean a kind of a supreme being for hire against you. I mean i feel this like all International Law. Breaking International Law and also missing. In domestic within the country as well still i want to turn our viewers attention to Something Else thats been going on for several years and memoir which is the spread of hate speech particularly through social media. Channels i mean this has been a serious problem dating back several years at this point and apparently its a problem again in this election cycle that hate speech is spreading against certain ethnic groups there throughout the country now there are platforms like facebook that have said that they are clamping down that the problem is getting under control from your Vantage Point is that the case or is it again a huge problem and is it once again dangerous for different minorities. Well i think that facebook app store has put a lot more resources in this time around they got caught flatfooted several years back by the hate Speech Campaign that came out against the rohingya and really. You know theres a great deal of harm done through the facebook platform you know the whole issue went all the way up to Mark Zuckerberg so this is a real priority for facebook to try to get it right and and for all intents and purposes facebook is the social media medium that is what matters in myanmar and so what were talking about hate speech its all about them getting it right and we are seeing them try to do more about it you know theyre playing a game of whack a mole to be honest i mean theyre trying to take hate speech off the platform but more of it comes up certainly the. Union solidarity and Development Party the u. S. D. P. Which is the major party backed by the military has been saying racist things against the rohingya and has been denigrating muslims in general throughout the entire country the actual head of that party the u. S. D. P. Party has said some of these things on the record and so its quite clear that there is a current discrimination and hate being particularly projected against the muslim people who are in myanmar and the government has said nothing about it. Thats the shocking thing theyve sort of left at the facebook to deal with it but the reality is that the government itself doesnt want to say anything and doesnt want to do anything to stop the hate Speech Campaign from Going Forward to and you know a lot of analysts have said that this election is another important test for me and more as it is making its transition away from military rule do you believe that that mean more is actually making a transition away from military rule. I dont think so because i cant see that civilian government led by ourselves would see is really. A practice in democracy there is no science freedom of media there and. Media is not allowing opposition and you not to highlight things and the state media is controlled in many ways and you know also all there is. One thing is lets have a look on the issue how can add democratic transition can will wear what you know or what made the road to rolling up or about 1000000 population us till in bangladesh where they belong you know where all you got belongs to burma and the flattest do their it is normal sized thing government is doing to bring bad them to give them they are right where you know living in our kind of state time immemorial and 600000 rohingya 6 you know or at death right to what a right to be a member of parliament and we cannot see anything policy towards rohingya and minorities been changed in under an elder government too and of course many are now telling that on rowland but and then the government is cut on my apologies to we only im sorry i dont interrupt you i just we only have about a minute left and i want to ask one more question about the military to nicky before we end the show nikki in me and more its the military that essentially still controls the levers of power is that correct. You know some call is correct because the. Right word special i mean a lot of power to the military but every Republican Party who grew up and get above them. And share the political power with the military well electic they have the shared with the millet the collar with the military as well i mean a 91 did you win the election. 75 percent all i mean majorities the at the poly whatever theyre all things i mean i talk just get with the political editors so they dont like he doesnt like to show they are political pop that the political howl with the naked democratic on the democratic side of this thats a kinds of where. Most of the time the i mean our what and where at this constitution its good everybody elected government will share with girl. Power with the military all right weve run out of time so were going to have to leave it there thanks so much to all our guests nikki diamond to ken and Phil Robertson and thank you too for watching you can see the program again any time by visiting our website aljazeera dot com and for further discussion go to our Facebook Page thats facebook dot com forward slash a. J. Inside story you can also join the conversation on twitter our handle is at a. J. Inside story for me and the whole team here i for now. Since 2013 wish the World Innovation summit or health has gathered Health Care Leaders practitioners and Research Just together to larry interact and engage with innovative organizations. This year wish will take place virtually under the banner of one world our health. Register now wish dot org dot q. A. My names not to cross a group jewish in america and i support the palestinian struggle against occupation when politics can pass and my mom saw me at a protest in chicago during a palestinian flag she told me i was no longer her son is it possible to be jewish and critical of zionism. I do palestinian solidarity or think its the most jewish thing occurred what about the treatment towards the palestinians in the occupation of Gaza Al Jazeera correspondent. We know whats happening in our region we know how to get what they feel that others cannot i was just the only here guy by to put it on 1st but the fires are going to im going im going to move. The to play by. The way they queue cal death story is what can make a difference. And ethiopian hours to crack and communist rebel only to be disappeared. A familys tragedy and twined with a violent chapter in the countrys history when you see the blood. He says are going to be my blood will not want to. Be. A lifelong search for answers and. Finding some witness on aljazeera business contacts to visit the food in dead storytelling around the biggest issues done but had to do you should do it again. This is aljazeera. Place. Inside the watching the news hour live from doha and our continuing coverage of the election of joe biden as the u. S. President. There. We did it. Vice president elect couple of hours among the 5 to congratulate biden whos won more votes than any candidate before him. And hes brought their supporters out to celebrate in cities all across the