Peace and Conflict – Page 2

Factum Perspective: Narratives of Genocide in Gaza

Peace and Conflict, Regional GeopoliticsDecember 30, 2023206Views 0Likes 0Comments

By Nithu Ardithya In delving into the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, it is essential to scrutinize accusations of genocide through the lens of international instruments and established criteria. This comprehensive exploration aims to unravel the complexities, particularly examining how these criteria manifest in the ongoing conflict. International Humanitarian Law (IHL), rooted in the Geneva Conventions of 1949…

Factum Special Perspective: US Foreign Policy and the Creation of Israel

History and Culture, Peace and ConflictDecember 28, 2023498Views 0Likes 0Comments

By Vinod Moonesinghe On November 2, 1917, British Foreign Secretary Arthur Balfour wrote a letter to Lord Rothschild, promising support for the creation of a Jewish National Home in Palestine. A week later, the government made public this Balfour Declaration, making it the first public expression of support for the Zionist cause. This caused concern,…

Factum Perspective: The Aragalaya, a Year Later – Part II

Peace and Conflict, UncategorizedDecember 16, 2023467Views 0Likes 0Comments

By N. Sathiya Moorthy Not many evening speakers at Gotagogama spoke about anything other than the immediate privations, requiring the exit of the Gota leadership and government. The knowledgeable among them were already discussing among them on the edges of the protest site, as to the available alternative after Gota’s exit, which they too had…

Factum Special Perspective: Kissinger’s Legacy – Realpolitik and Its Global Consequences

History and Culture, Peace and ConflictDecember 15, 2023156Views 0Likes 0Comments

By Aavin Abeydeera Having passed away at the age of 100, Kissinger’s death was mourned by many, and celebrated by an equally loud number in the international community. Hailed as a hero, and feared as a Machiavellian villain, Kissinger’s legacy is a result of his checkered actions and past, mirroring the State he served so…

Factum Perspective: The “Aragalaya”, a Year Later – Part I

Peace and Conflict, UncategorizedDecember 9, 2023420Views 0Likes 0Comments

By N. Sathiya Moorthy Over a year later, a public debate has begun to brew over whether last year’s Aragalaya was a budding social revolution or a botched-up security lapse, with the armed forces in particular (wantonly?) failing to discharge their duty. In a way, it is only an academic exercise or a post…

Factum Special Perspective: The Right to Memorialize, the Right to Remember

Peace and ConflictNovember 27, 2023323Views 0Likes 0Comments

By Uditha Devapriya On Friday, November 24, the Mullaitivu Magistrate’s Court issued an order prohibiting events dedicated to the commemoration of LTTE soldiers on Maaveerar Naal or Heroes’ Day, which falls today, November 27. The order had been prompted by complaints from the Mullaitivu police. Meanwhile, some websites report that the headstones of fallen…

Factum Perspective: The Geopolitics of the Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict

History and Culture, Peace and Conflict, Regional GeopoliticsNovember 18, 2023352Views 0Likes 0Comments

By Britney Martil A comprehensive assessment of the Azerbaijan-Armenia war over Nagorno-Karabakh uncovers a complex and deeply ingrained geopolitical history in the Caucasus area. Originating in the aftermath of World War I and the subsequent collapse of the Russian Empire, the resultant power vacuum afforded Azerbaijan and Armenia the opportunity to declare their independence. The…

Factum Special Perspective: Online Safety Bill, Supreme Court Ruling, and Alternatives

Peace and Conflict, Tech CooperationNovember 15, 2023411Views 0Likes 0Comments

By Jagath Liyanaarachchi Online Safety Bill As per the directive of the Minister of Public Security, Tiran Alles, the Online Safety Bill was published in the Gazette on September 18, 2023. On October 10, 2023, the bill was tabled in the Parliament for the first reading. The Bill envisages the establishment of a Commission for…

Factum Perspective: Gaza and “R2P” in a Multipolar World Order

Peace and Conflict, Regional GeopoliticsNovember 11, 2023561Views 0Likes 0Comments

By Lakmali Bhagya Manamperi The responsibility of the international community for the protection of innocent civilians during times of humanitarian crisis has come to light with the recent escalation of the conflict in Palestine. The attacks targeting civilians and civilian objects are a clear violation of international humanitarian norms and can no better be named…

Factum Special Perspective: The Role of International Fellowships in Bridging Knowledge Gaps and Spurring Entrepreneurship

International Development, Peace and Conflict, UncategorizedNovember 9, 2023373Views 0Likes 0Comments

By Tahira Sheriff In a world brimming with challenges, the power of unity, collaboration, and shared purpose shines ever more brightly. Such is the saga of my journey through the Professional Fellowship Exchange Program organized by the US Department of State. Over five weeks, I figured among 20 exceptional fellows from Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, India,…

Factum Perspective: India’s calculation on the UNGA resolution on Gaza goes awry

Peace and Conflict, Regional GeopoliticsNovember 5, 2023365Views 0Likes 0Comments

By P. K. Balachandran India’s abstention from the UN General Assembly (UNGA) vote late last month on a Jordanian resolution calling for a humanitarian pause in the war in Gaza has put it in an awkward position vis-à-vis the Global South and its neighbours, which are its core constituencies. Finding itself isolated New Delhi issued…

Factum Perspective: “Fair Multipolarity” gains momentum at the 20th Valdai Conference

Health and Economic Cooperation, International Development, Peace and Conflict, Regional GeopoliticsOctober 21, 2023421Views 0Likes 0Comments

By Sanja de Silva Jayatilleka The Valdai Discussion Club, established in 2004, held its 20th meeting in Sochi, Russia from October 2 to 5, seeing over 140 “leading experts” from 42 countries attending the conference despite ongoing hostilities between the Russian Federation and Ukraine. President Vladimir Putin attended the conference for the plenary session on…