An election that could change Lebanon; Four arrests in Hong Kong.
And, the tragic death of a journalist.
Hi, welcome to our weekly newsletter, Beyond The West, where we monitor what’s happening outside the west and how it affects the rest of the world.
Sooo, a lot happened this week but we zoomed in on two places: Hong Kong and Lebanon. Now, let’s dive in.
In Hong Kong
A 90-year-old Roman Catholic cardinal, a Canadian singer and at least two others have been arrested Wednesday in Hong Kong for alleged violations of China’s national security, a charge that is loosely defined and allows Beijing to crack down on a variety of political crimes.
The details: The arrestees were trustees of the 612 Humanitarian Relief Fund, which provided legal aid to people who took part in the 2019 pro-democracy protests that were quashed by the government.
How the west reacted: The White House is calling on China to "immediately release" Cardinal Joseph Zen and others who were arrested by Hong Kong authorities. Benedict Rogers, the chief executive of the U.K.-based Hong Kong Watch, criticized the arrests in a statement.
The backgrounder: The arrest is yet another sign of the steady erosion of Hong Kong’s democracy since Beijing’s takeover in 2020. On Sunday, John Lee, Hong Kong’s former hard-line secretary for security who led the crackdown on the city's pro-democracy protestors, was elected as the city's next leader by a committee filled with Chinese government yes-men.
The ripple effects: China’s tight grip on the city has not only applied to the region’s political realm but also triggered ripple effects in the financial sector. The Hong Kong dollar has been tied to its U.S. equivalent since 1983. The monetary authority stands ready to sell U.S. dollars if the local currency gets too weak, or buy them if it becomes too strong. This long-standing stability and connection to the U.S. dollar have made Hong Kong an international financial centre. But that is changing since Beijing’s takeover. Bankers are abandoning the city and more white-collar professionals think its best days are over as China imposes the most stringent COVID restrictions.
What’s next? The city has taken action to protect its financial stability. Hong Kong’s de facto central bank, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority has spent US$722 million to defend its currency peg (Wondering what a currency peg is? Check out this video!). Analysts are optimistic about the peg and think it’s unlikely to break any time soon.
In Lebanon
The Lebanese diaspora cast their votes in parliamentary elections last weekend.
Why it matters: Lebanon has been facing one of the world’s worst economic crises, which saw the Lebanese pound lose more than 95 per cent of its value. Decades-long corruption, unrest, and financial mismanagement have reached new heights in recent years, leading to waves of migration. Many of those staying in Lebanon can’t afford basic necessities. These elections are seen as a chance for change.
The backgrounder: It’s only the second time that the Lebanese diaspora are allowed to vote and the first since the 2019 uprising and the 2020 Beirut explosion. Meanwhile, the opposition groups have grown in number since the October 2019 protests.
Lebanese activists across the world have been educating and engaging the diaspora so they can cast an informed vote. Many believe that changing the status quo in Lebanon starts with voting for candidates from opposition groups not linked to the politicians who have been ruling Lebanon for at least the past thirty years.
But will the diaspora vote actually make a difference?
It’s difficult to tell. The current voter turnout overseas has reached around 130,000 people (about 60% of registered expatriate voters), nearly three times that of the last elections in 2018.
That year, 94 per cent of expatriate votes went to well-established political parties.
Analysts expect that voter behaviour could be different this year given the extreme dissatisfaction with the situation in the country, but not to the extent of creating major political changes.
The electoral system in Lebanon also accommodates the foreign-backed sectarian political parties. Opposition candidates linked to the 2019 revolution failed to run under one slate, making it very difficult for any non-traditional group to take a sweeping win.
Some argue that “meaningful change” beyond shifting the power balance among political parties is far-fetched.
What’s next: Elections will be held in Lebanon on May 15. The elected parliament will then be tasked with forming a government. In the past, the process lagged for months, leaving the country in limbo under a caretaker government.
This week’s newsletter is in memory of Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, who was killed by Israeli gunfire while covering a raid on a refugee camp in the occupied West Bank on Wednesday.
Abu Akleh, who was slain despite wearing a press vest, was laid to rest in Jerusalem Friday.
Who is Abu Akleh? She joined Al Jazeera in 1997. Much of her work focused on conveying the Palestinian people’s plight to the world and analyzing Israeli and Palestinian politics.
Violence at the funeral: Thousands of mourners, some carrying Palestinian flags attended Abu Akleh’s funeral Friday. Many chanted, “Palestine, Palestine” as they moved the coffin to her final resting place.
Israeli police attacked mourners Friday, confiscating Palestinian flags, and causing pallbearers to briefly drop the coffin. Israeli forces had used force in previous occurrences against people carrying the flag.
How the world is responding: Abu Akleh’s murder and the disruption of her funeral were met with widespread condemnation, including statements from the European Union and the United Nations.
What’s next: Investigations are currently underway to determine how Abu Akleh was killed.