Politics Around The Globe

The Middle East has always been a volatile region. But it has become especially volatile over the last few months because of the pro-democracy rallies that have been sprouting up in many countries in the region.
Just recently, Egypt pro-democracy rallyists succeeded in ousting President Hosni Mubarak from office after more than thirty years of rule. The country is now in the midst of building a new government. Recently, it is Libya that is getting the world’s attention as rallies and demonstrations in the country has risen to a fever pitch. Only time will tell if the Libyan demonstrations will achieve the same success as the demonstrations in Egypt.

Image source: www.vietnamgateway.org

The present Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej has made some huge political blunders both internally and internationally such as bringing Thailand close to combating with Cambodia over the border line close to the Preah Vihear temple which was established in 1962 by the World Court. The Thai People always felt embittered about this and PM Samak had “solved” the problem in a one day meeting with the Cambodian leader about six months ago. There has been a military assemble up on the border near this temple in the last few months…
So … between the conviction and some actions and decisions that are not particularly cared for by the general population many Thai People are not pleased with the current Prime Minister. The opposition party is staging protests and has been for the past 3 or more months. Peaceful protesting is a healthy appearance of democracy, when the government allows people to express themselves in the open.

The International Court of Justice has given Singapore sovereignty with regards to the island in dispute with Malaysia at the entrance of the Singapore Straits to the east, which houses a landmark 150-year old lighthouse which guides passing ships daily to safety. Both Singapore and Malaysia want possession of the rock, and bothe claim that their countries legally own and have historical possession over the island. The 16-member court ruled in favor of Singapore which argued that it had ruled with sovereign powers over the island since 1851, with no dissent being heard from Malaysia since the recent thirty years.