We have the honour and pleasure, despite the theme of the main topics discussed, with Professor Tsisana Oniani, who currently teaches in the University of Albrektberg.
Mrs. Oniani, who graduated in the University of Azavrelia in Economic Science, was previously taught in the University of Khashumi. In 2021, he joined the University of Albrektberg as Professor in Politics and Development. She has recently published her second book, "Political Economy of Disaster: A Case Study of Djabidjan", in which she analyses what some call the recent humanitarian crisis.
Our nation is not alien to Professor Oniani, who visited the country for first time when she was preparing her master's degree. "It was a nice experience", she tells us, "even if I was too busy to have time to see anything else". She visited our country more recently, in 2019, when she participated in a conference about migration and development organized by the National University of Djabidjan City. "It was nothing special", she described, "but interesting from a scholarly point of view". Oniani clarifies that she is not expert on our country in particular or Northern Ardia in general. "My research has been focused on the impact of aid relief and economic policy on development", she explains, "and this sad circumstances gave the chance to evaluate some of the things I have been investigating in the context of a natural disaster".
She has published two academic papers on issues related to the natural disasters and consequent humanitarian crisis that Djabidjan experienced, the first about the effects of the flooding and the second a comparative analysis in relation to the relationship between infraestructures and government policy between two regions in Djabidjan. She explains us that she is well aware that her first article received harsh criticism in media in Djabidjan, particularly in some newspapers and politicians. "The second article had barely any impact, I must admit", she says, "I hadn't received much feedback even from scholars on my field". However, she felt that her recent research, combined with her knowledge of the sources and the region helped to her chance to offer a contribution to the issue.
For this book, she explains, she used both official date from the government and local authorities and different methods of research, including date from internal displacement, labour statistics, numbers of refugees and recent migration, as well as data from media and local research. "I'm not either an activist or a historian", she clarifies. While she has also used data provided by human rights organization and political organizations, she has avoided to rely on testimonies as much as possible. "My intention was to offer a few analysis and collection of sources which contributes to understand the causes and effects of this situation".
In her book, she gave an estimation of 125,000-195,000 people deceased during the recent humanitarian crisis, most of them related to the famine and related deaths which spread mostly in southern and western Djabidjan. These numbers would contrast with those official numbers offered by the national government, which established that only 8,000 people who had died as consequence of the famine and related deaths. "I feel that difficult to believe", Oniani established. Contrary to some have argued before, however, she does not seem to believe that the decision by Djabidjan's government decision to temporary close the nation's borders, due to a sudden national security crisis, which reduced the reception of aid, had a considerably impact on the effects on the crisis. "It was not an issue of lack of food", she explains, "the dimension of the crisis and its effects would be rather found in the failure in the organization and distribution of aid and basic goods, both by policy and, obviously, the destruction of infrastructures around the most affected regions".
"It needs to be said that this is a scholarly work, not a political one", she says, when asked about the role of the authorities may have had in relieving or worsening the effect and consequences of the crisis, which some activists have even described as a genocide or act of war. "It is not my role to decide who is to blame, but to understand the causes", she explains. "I should say, that this was, sadly a preventable tragedy, which was worsened by both political and economical decisions by both state and private actors. I hope my study contributes to give a first contribution for a better understanding in order to prevent such situations in the country, both in the region and across the globe".
It is not our role to judge academic research, indeed, but we certainly hope that Mrs. Oniani's study contributes to give light to the horrible tragedy experienced for thousands in this country, and serves as a first step toward to demand accountability for those who may be responsible, either by action or omission, of the consequences of this disaster, more human than natural.
| Former Speaker and President of the Republic of Djabidjan Shin Yong-Nam was killed nearby Djabidjan City, police authorities announced.
After a special operation aimed to rescue him, Shin's body was found, lifeless, as consequence of being shot dead by wo gunshots a close range, authorities revealed. The body was found in a storage facility nearby a industrial estate in Bugdjajibang district, where police suspected that the terrorists could be hiding. After a gunfire between the terrorists and the special operation forces, in which five terrorists resulted dead while two officers were wounded, the body of the deceased politician was found.
It is unclear if Shin was murdered in execution style as the terrorist threatened, or he was murdered as soon as the operation and shooting started. However, authorities has informed that he was declared dead the moment he was found, and nothing could be done to save his life. Another two terrorists, who had escaped from the scene before the arrival of the authorities, were also killed in their attempt to run away, a few kilometres from the place. It is unclear if the group had more members or accomplices. Police authorities have informed they have launched an investigation to find any possible suspect who may have assisted the terrorists, and called for the help of citizens who may be able to give any information.
Djabidjan's government has offered condolences to Shin Yong-Nam's family, despite Mr. Shin did not leave office in the most graceful terms.
President Min has condemned this ignominious murder and promised that terrorists "will be crushed without mercy and will not find anywhere to hide from the power of justice".
Police authorities have confirmed that sixteen suspects in Jangju were detained in connection with some of the deceased terrorists.
It is not clear if the terror group under Shin's kidnap and murder, the "Union of Revolutionary Combatants", had previous connections with other terrorist or political groups in the country. It is believed that some of the killed suspects were previously militants of fringe leftist and nationalist political forces. Police authorities are currently investigating if the terrorists had any connection with Maadaanic terrorist organizations such as Iskaabin Aamin-ah. It has been reported that at least one of the suspects was an ethnic Maadaan, but it is unclear if such connection has been proven or not. Authorities have called for calm and assure that the terrorists and their accomplices will be punished.
| Most viewed |