What good is a UN suspension? Does it have any actual power apart from to tell us which countries value democracy and those who don’t? It tells us which countries have Russian ties or alliances, and we must then rethink if we wish to support those countries who benefit from western democracy, but aren’t willing to respect those who wish to retain democracy.
This was a ‘slam dunk’ in the sense that if you are against the motion then you believe that killing innocent civilians including babies and children is acceptable. Therefore, those who abstain we must assume are afraid of Russia, or are putting economic issues before that of human rights, and the massacre of hundreds if not thousands of civilians.
https://news.un.org/en/story/2022/04/1115782
We should look at the countries that abstained from the vote rather than the ones that opposed it (which was expected). Fifty-eight abstained from the process. The UN General Assembly voted to suspend Russia's membership in the UN Human Rights Council with, 93 in favour, 58 that abstained, and 24 against.
The countries that voted against are known as authoritarian states that are not democratic ones, yet they profit and benefit from democracy in terms of tourism, and the selling of goods. Some also have trading ties with Russia, as Russia supplies arms and weapons to many African countries. The 24 who voted against the motion were; Algeria, Russia, China, Cuba, North Korea, Iran, Syria, Vietnam, Belarus, Bolivia, Burundi, Central African Republic, Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Kazakhstan, Lao, Kyrgyzstan, Mali, Nicaragua, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Zimbabwe.
We expected the Communist states to vote against the motion, along with the former Soviet states that rely on Russia, and the African countries where Russia supplies arms. What we can see from this is that other countries are putting their own needs ahead of humanitarian issues, such as Vietnnam who rely on the Russian tourist industry, and who are also rely on other Russian allies such as China as their main trading partners.
Why would 58 countries abstain unless they were afraid of Russia, valued their economic ties more, and perhaps didn't want the West to impose sanctions against them? Those abstaining, included; Angola, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados,Belize, Bhutan, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Cameroon, Egypt, El Salvador, Eswatini, Gambia, Ghana, Guyana, Guinea-Bissau, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lesotho, Malaysia, Maldives, Madagascar, Mexico, Mongolia,Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Saint Kitts-Nevis, Saint Vincent-Grenadines, Senegal, South Sudan, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tanzania, Tunisia, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, Yemen and Vanuatu.
India relies on Russia for raw materials, and also for their defence systems. Thus, they have taken a neutral stance because if Russia stops supplying their defence weapons, then they will be effectively be defenceless. The same goes for many African countries where Russia supplied arms to them, therefore, if they get on the wrong side of the Russians then they will lose their supply chain.
Energy supplies is another factor, and that is something some poorer countries don’t want to risk. Apparently sunflower oil comes from Russia too, and Walkers Crisps are changing the recipe due to a shortage of sunflower oil to a blend of rapeseed and sunflower oil next week, hence people have been bulk buying crisps with the original flavours.
Other smaller countries in Asia don’t want to feel the economic impact of the war and wish to stay as neutral as possible. It does show that many countries have little backbone when it comes to defending democracy, and because Europe is so far away, they don’t think it will affect them. This is of course a selfish way to look at things and if the shoe was on the other foot, they would be appealing to all to support them.
These countries rely on Chinese and Russian tourism as a source of income, and that it seems is a major factor. They don’t want to upset their biggest market, but many of these other countries are smaller ones who rely on tourism from the West. Can they afford to alienate the West, and think by abstaining they can remain neutral and keep the Russians, Chinese, and Western tourists in one go? How little do they understand the West, because many will see the vote as a betrayal, while they will say the vote still went the way that the West wanted. It does matter because we do not support countries that lack ethics and morals, and who were willing to support a regime that massacres people because they want to keep them as tourists to their country. Many will think the West will still come and visit, but when it comes to supporting genocide, no, they won’t. That is what these countries have done by sitting on the fence. The irony is many of them have had vicious civil wars and deaths where the West has come in to help them, and they want to do what is right for them and not for the world. The UN is hopeless if they cannot educate countries to be united with no moral fibre.
Day 44 (8 April)
Russian rockets targeted Kramatorsk train station in Donetsk this morning as people were trying to evacuate. At least 30 people have been killed and it is likely to rise with hundreds injured. As for peace talks, with such actions, how can Russia claim that they on a peacekeeping mission to save Ukrainians when they are killing civilians on trains? Russia claims they had nothing to do with it, yet the missile had a message on it ‘For the children’ in Russian.
Fears grow that Mariupol will fall to the Russians. The no-fly zone came too late for them for there doesn’t seem to be much left of Mariupol. I have followed the fate of the port city for weeks now, and with a heavy heart I read each day how evacuation attempts failed each time one was planned. If the ICRC can’t get people out then we must expect the worst.
The European Commission chief, Ursula von der Leyen visits Kyiv today and meets with Zelenskyy. She visited Bucha and handed over the EU questionnaire which is part of the EU application process.
The city of Slovyansk in the east is the latest target by the Russian army. In a predominately Russian speaking part of the country, do the people wish to be part of Russia or Ukraine? Those who remain may die, or do they trust the Russians not to harm them?
Odesa has been attacked again. I fear the ‘protect the skies’ request would fall on deaf ears again. In time, people will look back at how many thousands of people died (it might be millions at the end of this) and how many historic cities, towns and villages were destroyed due to the fear of NATO or another country offering a no-fly zone. Was selfish democracy worth all those lives and billions of dollars worth of destruction?
Borodyanka, as anticipated is worse than Bucha where little remains of the town. Buildings have been destroyed and bodies lie under the rubble.
Australia are sending armoured military trucks to Ukraine, but these will not be used in battle but for transportation in war zones. These will come via an undisclosed location in Europe, as Russia will be looking to attack the shipment. This is a double edged sword—Ukraine needs weapons, and by countries agreeing to do so will encourage others to do the same, and also show Russia that the international community support Ukraine. The flip side is that Russia will have a rough idea of what weapons have been gifted, and can target those convoys and shipments.
The UK joins the US in imposing sanctions against the Putin daughters which also means travel bans. Obviously that would have been one of the first things I would have done back in February, because Putin would have planned for this years ago.
Reports claim that Ukrainian civilians were tortured and beheaded in Bucha.
The Russians attacked another railway line on Slovyansk, stalling the evacuations from the Donbas region. In truth, why didn’t these people leave earlier back in March or the end of February as they would have known the Russians would not leave until the region was occupied?
Montenegro has decided to impose sanctions against Russia. They are a member of NATO and are seeking EU membership and a reluctance to follow suit may jeopardise the application. In the past, the country has benefited from Russian tourism but EU membership is more important.
Slovakia has donated their S-300 air defence system to Ukraine. In response, the US is ensuring that Slovakia is adequately protected with a US Patriot missile system.
Zelenskyy addressed the Finnish parliament today as the Kramatorsk attacks happened.
The international community is isolating Russia, as street names in Spain that have a Russian connection are to be renamed, Kyiv and Mariupol.
My heart is heavy, as I realize that the atrocities of what is currently taking place in the Ukraine has now become barely a footnote in any headlines here in the US. Makes me so very concerned for future actions.
Once again EL, my gratitude for including me in your up-to-date timely analysis of the horrendous situation in Ukraine. I've learned so much from your diligence in reporting facts. I notice Caribbean and African countries are among those which abstained; areas which both Russia and China are known to have been lobbying for years.