1
Mind over matter in India (N Janardhan in Khaleej Times) The Common Man Party or Aam
Aadmi Party (AAP) turned the Indian political system on its head recently with
astounding results in the Delhi assembly elections. The party, conceived by a
team led by Arvind Kejriwal entered politics to “change the current corrupt and
self-serving system of politics forever”. The party has ensured that politics,
from being considered as the last resort of a scoundrel, is no longer a
bad word or out of bounds for the have-nots. Most Indians never believed that
political battles could be won just with determination — without money, muscle
or manipulation. This victory of mind over matter is the biggest contribution
to Indian democracy — promising clean and good governance is a bonus.
The AAP’s
success should be contextualised with several recent movements against
political-economic mismanagement — Tahrir Square in Egypt, Taksim Square in
Turkey, Occupy Wall Street in the United States, and Israel’s Tent Movement,
among others. These, along with the Anna Hazare-led movement in India, meant
that it was not just Arab Spring, but ‘global spring’. The difference, however,
is that when the political class ganged up to defeat the Anna movement,
Kejriwal — in a moment of madness or as a master stroke — decided to launch the
AAP.
Amid a
growing economy and an aspirational India, a status-quoist political culture
stuck out as a sore thumb. What the AAP did to this jaded system is not only
offer an alternative party, but also a new discourse and politics. Just how
different this party is can be gauged from my personal experience. Enthused by
its electoral performance, I belatedly sought to make a financial contribution
to the party, but here’s what the website donation page said: “Your party has
achieved the donation target of Rs 200 million for Delhi elections. Please fill
your details in the form below and we will contact you soon.”
Another
sign of its uniqueness is its symbol — the broom. Despite the noble benefits
and results of the broom and footwear, both are demeaned in Indian cultural
interpretation. Now we had better think twice before using either to insult
anyone! Finally, while the AAP’s freaky electoral debut is good news the proof
of the pudding is always in the eating. While Indians must now make a wise
political investment for a change, AAP (which also means the respectful ‘you’
in Hindi), please don’t disappoint ‘hum’ (us)!
2 'North Korea leader's uncle executed' (Tania Branigan in The Guardian) North Korea has executed Kim Jong-un's uncle as a "traitor for all ages" who sought to grab power, state media has announced. Jang Song-thaek, previously one of the country's most powerful men, was ousted last week in a spectacular purge. He was stripped of all posts and expelled from the Workers party for offences including factionalism, corruption and dissolute behaviour.
But many had thought his marriage to Kim's aunt – the sister of late leader Kim Jong-il – might save his life until this morning's announcement, which also holds him responsible for other failures in the North, including a disastrous attempt at currency reform in 2010. "From long ago, Jang had a dirty political ambition. He dared not raise his head when Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il were alive," KCNA said, referring to Kim's grandfather and father.
Adam Cathcart, an expert on North Korea, said accusations of factionalism and seeking power were "pro forma" in such cases, particularly when the penalty was so harsh. Kim has made sweeping changes to the hierarchy in North Korea, changing key military personnel repeatedly as well as removing civilian members.
But Jang's execution is unprecedented because family members are normally dealt with more leniently and quietly. It is unclear whether the position of his wife Kim Kyong Hui – who was also seen as something of a mentor for Kim following her brother's death – has been affected. Two of his aides are believed to have been executed already and many analysts believe that more will follow.
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/dec/12/north-korea-jang-song-thaek-executed
3 Ford to hire 11,000 in 2014 (BBC) As part of its
efforts to expand globally, Ford announced plans to hire 5,000 workers in the
US and 6,000 workers in Asia in 2014. It represents an increase of close to 7%
of Ford's total workforce and the biggest hiring push the firm has made since
2000. The company has plans to open two new plants in Asia as well.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-25359896
Meanwhile, retail inflation, as measured by India's consumer-price index, accelerated to a higher-than-expected 11.24% in November from 10.17% in October, according to separate government data issued Thursday. Stubbornly high inflation is widely viewed as one of the reasons that India's ruling Congress party did so badly in state elections which concluded this week. The country's leaders have long failed to make good on their promises to bring prices down. Inflation is particularly painful in India, where hundreds of millions of people live on less than $2 a day.
Despite the inflation fears, Indian executives and investors say the country needs lower interest rates to get the economy growing again. India's gross domestic product expanded only 4.8% in the three months to September, its fourth quarter in a row stuck below 5.0%. Most economists expect growth for the fiscal year through March to remain at a decade low below 5%.
Economists say it is not just high lending rates that are hurting the economy. The slowdown and even inflation are coming from some long-standing problems such as inadequate power generation to keep factories running, barriers to coal mining and overburdened infrastructure such as ports and airports.
http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303932504579254214290446386?mod=WSJINDIA_hpp_LEFTTopWhatNew
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