President Obama discussed America's faults Friday with young Asian leaders, saying the U.S. suffers from "pitfalls" such as income inequality, a political system controlled by the wealthy and political parties divided along racial lines.
Human-rights groups say Malaysia has a poor record on issues such as human trafficking and have accused the State Department of upgrading Malaysia's status on human rights so the country could be included in Mr. Obama's Trans-Pacific Partnership trade pact.
Human Rights Watch said the ruling party in Malaysia "has engaged in a strong crackdown on civil and political rights" since losing the popular vote in 2013, and that Prime Minister Najib Razak has strengthened a sedition law after promising to repeal it. The group also said opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim received a five-year prison sentence this year on "trumped-up sodomy charges," and that Sharia (Islamic law) courts "have increasingly been used to prosecute alleged LGBT activity."
After meeting with Mr. Razak on Friday, Mr. Obama said they discussed "the importance of civil society and issues not just in Malaysia, but in the region generally, and how we can promote those values that will encourage continued development and opportunity and prosperity."
Mr. Razak said of Mr. Obama, "we take into account some of his views and concerns."
"But Malaysia is committed to reforms, and we are committed to reassuring at the same time there's peace and stability," the prime minister said.
Speaking at a town-hall event in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Mr. Obama said the biggest problem in the U.S. is the influence of the wealthy on the government. Fourteen more months.
Posted by: Rob Crawford ||
11/21/2015 12:44 Comments ||
Top||
#7
"Speaking at a town-hall event in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Mr. Obama said the biggest problem in the U.S. is the influence of the wealthy on the government."
Mr. President is, if nothing else, entertaining (in a dark and foreboding manner.).
A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.
Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
dominated Mexico for six years.
Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.