The National Interest Foundation Newsletter

Issue 86, March 4, 2021

Welcome to our NIF Newsletter. In this week’s headlines: Myanmar’s crackdown on anti-coup demonstrations escalates as civilians are killed during the protests, lawmakers and human rights activists urge the Biden administration to take punitive measures against the Saudi Crown Prince following the declassification of a U.S. intelligence report which directly implicates him in the October 2018 murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, authorities in Hong Kong charge 47 pro-democracy advocates under the region’s controversial national security law, and former President Trump and several high-profile Republicans make remarks at the Conservative Political Action Conference outlining the future of the party.

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Myanmar’s Crackdown Escalates

Myanmar’s Crackdown on Anti-Coup Demonstrations Escalates as Civilians are Killed During the Protests

The situation in Myanmar has deteriorated this week, with the ruling military junta taking several actions to worsen the conditions there. In recent days, security forces fired on unarmed anti-coup protesters while the country’s ambassador to the United Nations condemned the coup and urged international intervention to restore the democratically-elected government. In several cities across Myanmar, at least 38 protesters are believed to have been killed yesterday in addition to the 18 other civilian fatalities from earlier in the week, with dozens more severely injured. The violence against civilians consequentially prompted Myanmar’s ambassador to the UN to condemn the military’s coup and their actions. Additionally, deposed state councilor Aung San Suu Kyi was charged with further criminal offenses, although the bureaucratic nature of the charges indicates the political motivation for her ongoing detention. Suu Kyi has been detained since the coup occurred on February 1st, despite international calls for her release.

Aftermath of Khashoggi Report Declassification

Lawmakers and Human Rights Activists Urge the Biden Administration to Take Punitive Measures Against the Saudi Crown Prince

This past week, the Biden administration declassified an intelligence report from 2018 that attributes the brutal murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The report, first written under the Trump administration but kept classified to protect the crown prince, illustrates the extent to which bin Salman was responsible for the killing of Khashoggi. However, despite the declassification of the report, President Biden has been criticized for not doing enough to punish Mohammed bin Salman. During his campaign, Biden promised to recalibrate the US-Saudi alliance, which included holding MBS responsible for his actions in ordering the hit on Khashoggi. Thus far, the administration has failed to live up to these promises, with no punishment being leveled against MBS. Lawmakers and human rights advocates pressed the Biden administration to implement sanctions on the crown prince, but it was reported that the White House never seriously considered doing so. Ultimately, the Biden administration has expressed its belief that the diplomatic cost of directly penalizing the Saudi crown prince is too high.

Democracy Advocates Charged in Hong Kong

Hong Kong Charges 47 Pro-Democracy Advocates Under the Region’s Controversial National Security Law

Earlier this week, authorities in Hong Kong detained 47 democracy advocates on charges of ‘conspiracy to commit subversion’ in the largest crackdown to date against the region’s opposition movement since the implementation of last summer’s controversial national security law. The legislation is part of the Chinese regime’s clear efforts to suppress pro-democracy forces in Hong Kong and tighten its grip over the city, and has been criticized by rights groups, international governments, and lawyers as a violation of Beijing’s promise to respect freedoms and the high degree of autonomy in the special administrative region. Many of those detained during this most recent wave of arrests are being prosecuted for helping organize last July’s primaries, which saw over half a million citizens vote to choose pro-democracy candidates for the city’s Legislative Council elections. Over the past year, mass resignations and disqualifications of lawmakers from the opposition camp have left the legislature a largely pro-Beijing body. Government officials from around the world have condemned the latest activist detainments, with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken saying that political participation and freedom of expression should not be criminalized.

2021 Conservative Political Action Conference

Former President Trump and Several High-Profile Republicans Make Remarks at the Conservative Political Action Conference

This year’s Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) was headlined by former President Donald Trump, who made his first post-presidential speech since leaving office back in January. In his remarks, Trump repeated false claims that he won the recent presidential election, expressed that he has no plans to start a new political party, and hinted at another run in 2024. While he does have some critics within the party, many GOP leaders have stood by Trump as state and local officials moved to censure Republican lawmakers who favored his second impeachment. The deference to the former president, even after the events of January 6th at the U.S. Capitol which stunned the world, has underscored Trump’s firm command over the party. Despite much of the nation recoiling from his dangerous rhetoric questioning the legitimacy of the democratic process, Trump’s prominence at CPAC highlights his standing in GOP circles. All told, the direction of the Republican Party remains to be seen, with many wondering what type of effect Trump’s continued prevalence may have on its future electoral prospects.