The World This Week: War and Peace

Riots in Türkiye

Since Monday evening, October 6, protests have erupted across Türkiye and quickly turned violent, with clashes between pro-Kurdish factions and security forces. Statistics from the Interior Ministry on Friday, October 10, said 31 people had died and 360 were injured.

These moves are in response to the call of the Popular Democratic Party (HDP), the main political representative of the Kurds in Türkiye. On Wednesday, October 8, the keyword KobanelcinSokaga ("Take to the streets for Kobani") flooded the Turkish social network Twitter. The purpose of this movement is to criticize the indifference of the Ankara government to the risk of the city of Kobani - home to a large Kurdish population in northern Syria - falling into the hands of jihadists. Only Turkey can access this city through the border between the two countries because the two other Kurdish factions in Syria, Afrine and Qamichle, are separated from Kobani by the vast territory concentrated in Muslims and controlled by IS.

The devastated city of Diyarbakir

By Friday, October 10, while IS had almost taken over the entire city of Kobani, the situation in Türkiye was becoming increasingly complicated, favoring Kurdish fighters and supporters of the Kurds. The protest and riot movement was not only limited to areas with a high concentration of Kurds but also spread to major cities such as Istanbul and Ankara. Here, the movement's initial goal was quickly diverted, igniting riots, arson, looting - violence engulfing Turkey (for the first time since the war between the PKK - Kurdistan Workers' Party and the army in the 90s).

The situation in Türkiye will become more complicated when clashes not only occur between the army and protesters supporting the Kurdish fighters but also occur between the armed wings themselves. Members of the PKK are opposing the Islamists of Hudapar, a Kurdish religious party allied with the Ankara government's AKP party and also the legal branch of the bloody Hizbullah organization - which has been banned since the mid-90s. 6 Hudapar members in Diyarbakir and 2 others in Markin were killed. President Erdogan called for everyone to calm down, stating that "dark forces" are taking advantage of the chaos to sabotage the peace process that Ankara has committed to with the PKK. Thus, Syria's Kobani is just an excuse, a spark to ignite political, social and ethnic conflicts in Türkiye. Now it all has been and will continue to burn, perhaps long after the Kobani incident subsides.

Hong Kong: Still no "rain"

The Hong Kong government's announcement on Thursday, October 9, to withdraw from the talks has once again sparked discontent in the civil disobedience movement. On Friday, October 10, thousands of students took to the streets again, responding to the call of Joshua Wong, one of the leaders of the protest movement against the new electoral reforms decided by Beijing, to "Bring tents to show your determination to stay for the long term."

Protesters occupy major roads in Hong Kong, October 10

This past week has certainly not been easy for the Hong Kong government as Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying is alleged to have received $6.4 million in bribes from an Australian company in a real estate project. This incident occurred before Leung took office as Chief Executive in July 2012 but has only now been exposed by the Australian press. Although there has been no official announcement, the Hong Kong Department of Justice has launched an investigation into the incident. Along with this scandal, Leung Chun-ying's image is getting worse, as he has already been described as a "puppet of Beijing". However, the question many people ask is why the scandal was exposed at this time? Is it true that Beijing is "sacrificing a pawn" to give itself an honorable way out?

However, it is still too early for the protesters to rejoice, because after the police's crackdown and tear gas last weekend, the number of protesters has decreased significantly. Protesting and blocking roads is not something that all Hong Kong people agree with, especially when the daily activities of residents living at the protest site are certainly affected significantly.

North Korea: Silence also makes the world question

For over a month now, North Korea has made absolutely no new moves, whether in terms of peace or aggression. The paradox is that people are also questioning this "unusual" silence. It seems that vigilance towards North Korea has never been taken lightly.

Young leader Kim Jong-un has "disappeared" from all information channels. He was not even seen at the 69th anniversary of the founding of the Workers' Party. The lack of an official explanation from Pyongyang has made people even more confused, whispering rumors about this mysterious government. The most popular hypothesis is that a coup has overthrown Kim. However, according to analysis by Antoine Bondaz, an expert on North Korea at Asia Centre, this hypothesis is unlikely to happen. If there is a coup, "there will certainly be mobilization and transfer of troops. Information will certainly leak to South Korea and China. Currently, there is no sign that the current regime is in danger." Adam Cathcart of Leeds University said: "If Kim Jong-un still doesn't appear in the next three weeks, people will start to whisper doubts. But again, that basically doesn't do any harm to this regime. Right now, everything in the country is not just normal, but absolutely normal." In addition, sending a high-level delegation to South Korea for the closing ceremony of the Asian Games also proves that the ruling regime is in a stable state.

There is a stream of opinion that Kim Jong-un will be replaced by his sister Kim Jo-jong during his illness. However, this is considered by Antoine Bondaz to be contrary to the tradition of the regime: "Kim Jong-un does not appear after just one day, there is always a transition". According to him, the hypothesis of illness is more reasonable, a surgery or gout would be the most reasonable reason for an absence within a few months: "The image and health of the leader are the top priorities of this regime. So if Kim Kong-un is not in good enough condition to appear, his absence is completely possible".

Nobel Peace Prize for Peace

The Nobel Peace Prize has been announced to be awarded to two people: Malala Yousafzai of Pakistan and Kailash Satyarthi of India, for their contributions to the fight to protect children's rights. This is the 29th time the Nobel Peace Prize has been awarded to two people at the same time.

Kailash Satyarthi (left) and Malala Yousafzai, co-winners of the Nobel Peace Prize

Malala Yousafzai, a 17-year-old girl, became the youngest person in history to receive the Nobel Prize. A symbol of the fight against religious extremism worldwide, she is an activist for children's right to education. In a speech before the United Nations in June 2013, she said: "Take up your pen and notebook. They are the most powerful weapons we have." Currently living in the UK, she has set up a foundation in her name and supports children's education movements in Pakistan, Nigeria, Jordan, Syria and Kenya. Kailash Satyarthi, 60, is a "continuer of Gandhi's tradition" by leading peaceful protests and protests against the exploitation and abuse of children for economic purposes.

The most significant thing is that the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded simultaneously to a Hindu and a Muslim - a Pakistani and an Indian - a young person and an old person - a woman and a man. It is undeniable evidence for the existence of a common path amidst countless differences in ethnicity, religion, and gender that are the source of conflicts and bloodshed taking place everywhere in this world. It is a voice worthy of respect for sharing, standing together against injustice and social existence. That is Peace.

Thuc Anh (compiled from Le monde)