By Gwynne Dyer
What’s the difference between smash-and-grab raids and protection rackets? Not all that much from the legal point of view, but protection rackets has a lower level of risk and a higher rate of returns.
Seven foreign ministers gave a statement condemning the Rwanda-backed M23 offensive in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo and the capture of Minova, Saké and Goma, endangering civilians and attacking UN peace keeping forces. Uruguayan forces, which are part of the UN peace keeping efforts, have suffered several casualties.
The UK Boris Johnson solution to address migrants trying to illegally cross to Britain, which was to be implemented through the so-called Rwanda deal but was rejected by the EU and UK courts, did not impede Italy from attempting a similar procedure with neighboring Albania, where migrants wanting to reach Italy were to be screened before any final decision was taken.
Before the UK Boris Johnson administration finally struck the “Rwanda” deal to deport migrants and/or boat people crossing the English channel from the continent, (plus a generous donation of over £ 100 million for 'development'), some of the possible places considered even included the Falkland Islands, but the suggestion did not prosper.
British media is reporting that the UK has sent its first asylum-seeker to Rwanda under a voluntary scheme, just a week after the UK government adopted a controversial law allowing irregular migrants to be deported to the East African nation.
British Parliament Joint Committee on Human Rights said that the government's plan to send asylum seekers to Rwanda is fundamentally incompatible with the UK's human rights safeguards and jeopardizes UK's international reputation.
The United States in a Saturday statement on the violent situation caused by attacks on the civilian population in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo, strongly condemned neighboring Rwanda for supporting a rebel group behind all the death and turmoil.
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is facing a crucial vote on his Rwanda bill this Wednesday, after two Conservative deputy chairmen and a ministerial aide resigned to rebel over the issue. BBC has reported that on Tuesday Lee Anderson, Brendan Clarke-Smith and Jane Stevenson stepped down to vote for changes they said would toughen up the legislation.
British PM Rishi Sunak and his 'stop the boats' policy managed a crucial vote when Parliament passed 313 to 269 on Tuesday the Safety of Rwanda bill, which intends to send asylum seekers and migrants to the African country.
Britain and Rwanda signed an agreement on Tuesday to re-launch the UK asylum seekers policy, which is expected to be followed closely by other European countries facing similar challenges and interested in slashing migration.