Sameera Casmod | sameerac@radioislam.co.za
07 December 2023 | 12:36 p.m. CAT
2-min read

In this week’s edition of the Asia-Pacific Report, Ashraf Patel, a Master of Arts graduate from the Graduate School of Public and Development Management at WITS, discusses the loss of lives in the wake of the Mount Merapi eruption, the “horror of Kissinger’s legacy”, and Australia’s immigration debate.

Indonesia’s Mount Merapi eruption claims 13 lives

Following the eruption of Indonesia’s Mount Merapi, it has been confirmed that 13 climbers lost their lives, and 10 others remain missing. Located in the southwestern province of Sumatra, Mount Merapi is a popular destination for hikers both regionally and globally. The volcanic eruption came as a surprise 44 years after the last eruption, which resulted in the loss of 60 hikers. The eruption, spreading volcanic ash over a 3 km range, has not only resulted in casualties but has also posed challenges for Indonesian Disaster Management Authorities. The incident will potentially affect the nation’s tourist economy.

Henry Kissinger

Henry Kissinger, a controversial figure in US politics, died at the age of 100.

“His role in major foreign policy adventures has been very controversial,” Patel noted. Kissinger has been described as a war criminal because of his part in the Vietnam War and his personal orders to bomb Cambodia. Analysts in South Asia critique his strategies, asserting that his advice to President Nixon prolonged the conflict unnecessarily. The United States spent over 15 years in Vietnam.

Kissinger’s realpolitik approach was rooted in the Monroe Doctrine, which, Patel explains, allows the US to employ all means necessary, especially military force, to preserve power or US hegemony. Kissinger has been criticised for this approach which backfired in the form of the “People’s War”, developed by the North Communists. Guerrilla warfare ensued in the jungles of Vietnam and Cambodia, which led to the defeat of the US, Patel said.

Subsequent US military interventions in Afghanistan and Iraq also applied the Monroe Doctrine, Patel noted.

Patel brought to attention Kissinger’s role in advising President Nixon to initiate diplomatic relations with China in the 1970s. This move not only led to the Sino0Soviet split, but also opened China up to the world and fostered trade relations with the US. China strategically capitalised on this opening, attracting substantial foreign direct investment, thereby evolving into a global factory. Patel notes that analysts speculate that China’s patient and calculated approach to foreign policy positions it on the brink of attaining a new superpower status.

Australia’s immigration dilemma: Labour Government faces criticism over new legislation

Amidst a global focus on immigration policies, Australia, under the Labour government, is grappling with a rushed-through Senate bill. The legislation allows the detention of individuals with criminal records, raising concerns from human rights organisations about potential conflicts with the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. The move underscores broader debates in Western nations, including the UK, Australia, and New Zealand, where immigration becomes a political focal point. The Amnesty International refugee rights advisor in Australia criticises the bill, emphasising the need for parliamentary scrutiny and public oversight to balance border control, internal security, and human rights.

Listen to the Asia-Pacific Report on Sabaahul Muslim with Moulana Sulaimaan Ravat.