LONDON (April 8): Civil Servants in three European countries have called on their Governments to end arms deliveries to Israel because of the prolonged Gaza conflict.
The strongest reaction has been in the United Kingdom where the powerful Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union has warned the Government it is "seriously considering" taking legal action to allow Departmental officials to cease involvement in the export of arms to Israel.
The PCS is understood to be seeking an urgent meeting with senior officials at the Department for Business and Trade over concerns that the supply of UK weapons to Israel is illegal under international law because of its conduct in Gaza.
In Germany, a group of Civil Servants has written to Chancellor, Olaf Scholz and other senior Ministers calling on the Government to “cease arm deliveries to the Israeli Government with immediate effect”.
“Israel is committing crimes in Gaza that are in clear contradiction to international law and thus to the Constitution, which we are bound to as Federal Civil Servants and public employees,” the letter states.
It cites the International Court of Justice’s ruling in January that Israel’s military actions are “plausible acts of genocide”.
Former Netherlands diplomat, Angelique Eijpe said she had resigned from the Dutch Foreign Ministry over Gaza policy.
“The framework of international humanitarian law was completely cast aside in Gaza, which will damage the Netherlands’ standing in the world,” Ms Eijpe said.
“I felt like I had no choice but to resign.”
In the UK, former National Security Adviser, Lord Peter Ricketts added his voice to the call for his country to stop selling arms to Israel.
"I think the time has come to send that signal," he told BBC Radio. “There's abundant evidence now that Israel hasn't been taking enough care to fulfil its obligations on the safety of civilians."
Lord Peter (pictured) said halting arms sales would send a powerful political message to Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu that could spark debate about the United States following suit.
The moves come after seven aid workers were killed in an Israeli strike in Gaza.
A UK Government spokesperson said: "We keep advice on Israel’s adherence to international humanitarian law under review and will act in accordance with that advice.”
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Mexico goes to ICJ over embassy invasion
MEXICO
CITY (April 10): Mexico is to file a complaint against Ecuador at the
International Court of Justice after the raid on its embassy in Quito, during
which former Ecuadoran Vice President, Jorge Glas, granted diplomatic asylum by
Mexico, was arrested.
The two
countries have already severed diplomatic ties, with the raid prompting
international condemnation.
The incident came a day after Ecuador expelled Mexico’s Ambassador after Mexican President, Andrés Manuel López Obrador insinuated his Ecuadorian counterpart, Daniel Noboa had benefited from the assassination of a rival candidate during last year’s Presidential elections.
Former journalist and Presidential candidate, Fernando Villavicencio was assassinated in August 2023.
Mr Noboa said the granting of diplomatic asylum to Mr Glas, who is facing corruption charges, was an "illicit act”.
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Biden’s PS protection may not stop Trump
WASHINGTON (April 5): United States President, Joe Biden will not be able to shield Federal Public Servants from political retaliation should his election rival, Donald Trump, win the election in November, a former official in the Trump White House says.
Former President Trump has promised to dismantle the so-called ‘deep state’ of entrenched Federal bureaucrats he says resisted his policies during his previous Administration.
Under Mr Biden’s orders, the Office of Personnel Management has announced a rule to strengthen Public Service protections, aiming to stymie Mr Trump’s plan to revive Schedule F, a class of Federal employees he created that could be fired more easily.
However, former Trump official, James Sherk said a Trump Administration could roll back the rule. “This is something that can slow down a Schedule F but only by six months to a year,” Mr Sherk said.
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Troops in face-off with sacked workers
BUENOS AIRES (April 5): The Argentine Government his initiated mass lay-offs of State workers, deploying security forces to block dismissed officers from re-entering their former workplaces.
Minister for Security, Patricia Bullrich said she had authorised the deployment of troops to guard public buildings in response to industrial action by the State Workers’ Association, which has called for an all-out strike in protest at the Government’s latest moves.
Demonstrations and meetings were held at various sites around the capital, Buenos Aires amid reports that as many as 15,000 contracted workers had been let go as part of President, Javier Milei’s austerity push.
Mr Milei says he plans to cut around 70,000 jobs from the Civil Service over the next year. Argentina has more than 332,000 State workers.
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EU woos Armenia with project funding
YEREVAN (April 5): The European Union is to allocate €270 million ($A443 million) to Armenia over the next four years for electrification and new renewable energy projects.
The move comes as Armenia continues to cut ties with its former ally, Russia, which owns much of its energy network and infrastructure but has failed to step in amid a worsening confrontation with neighbouring Azerbaijan.
In recent weeks Armenia has suspended its membership of the Russian-led Collective Security Treaty Organisation, has invited United States troops to train in the country, dispatched aid to Ukraine and even suggested it could try to join the European Union itself.
European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen praised these measures. “They show that the European Union and Armenia are increasingly aligned in values and interests,” she said.
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Georgia returns to controversial law
TBILISI (April 4): Georgia’s Ministry of Justice is reviewing a controversial law that will brand charities, pressure groups and opposition media outlets as agents of foreign influence.
The move comes just over a year after the law was dropped in the face of a public outcry and street protests in the capital, Tbilisi.
Parliamentary Leader of the ruling Georgian Dream Party, Mamuka Mdinaradze said the legislation would be virtually unchanged, requiring organisations receiving funding from overseas to declare they were carrying out the interests of a foreign power.
Critics say the Bill will impose additional onerous reporting requirements, inspections, and administrative and criminal liability, including up to five years in prison for violations by what were, in most cases, civil society groups.
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Audit uncovers widespread fraud at Agency
MONROVIA (April 2): A damning audit of Liberia’s Civil Service Agency has prompted its newly-appointed Director-General, Josiah F. Joekai, Jr., to order a comprehensive overhaul.
The report, by the General Auditing Commission (GAC), found instances of fraudulent payments made to individuals for services not rendered and payments to ghost employees, resulting in “significant financial losses due to fraud and mismanagement of funds”.
The findings uncovered other irregularities, including the payment of full salaries to employees on study leave and unauthorised absences, highlighting serious flaws in payroll management.
Mr Joekai, who took over the role earlier this year, said he was shocked by the report and especially the “astronomically” high expenditure on consultants that did not reflect the quality of consultancy provided. “This undermines the integrity and efficiency of the Civil Service and will be corrected,” he said.
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Civil Service exam critic slammed
NEW DELHI (April 4): Former senior Indian bureaucrats have slammed comments by a member of Prime Minister, Narendra Modi’s Economic Advisory Council, Sanjeev Sanyal, that up to eight years of preparation for the Civil Service examination by tens of thousands of students “is a waste of youthful energy”.
Former Finance Secretary, Arvind Mayaram said that while Mr Sanyal was welcome to his views, they were off the mark and smacked of gross ignorance.
"I believe that there is no service in the world that offers the wide canvas of experience of public policy and governance that determines the lives of common people,” Mr Mayaram said.
His criticisms were echoed by former Indian Administrative Service officer, M.G. Devasahayam who said Mr Sanyal had little knowledge of the Civil Service, seeing it through a corporate prism “and that is a mistake”.
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TOKYO (April 7): In a move aimed at improving the safety of foreign-made products in Japan, the Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry will require overseas businesses that sell via the internet to appoint a person in Japan to supervise safety management and troubleshooting.
In a statement, the Ministry said with that person in place, it would be able to request the removal of products not meeting Japanese safety standards. The new law is expected to come into force next year.
In recent years, products that violate national safety standards have been sold directly to consumers online.
According to the Ministry, the number of serious incidents caused by products obtained online has increased from 73 in 2019 to 103 in 2022. These included fires caused by mobile batteries and damage to a child’s internal organs after they accidentally swallowed a toy that contained powerful magnets.
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Flexible work to ease Manila congestion
MANILA (April 4): The Philippines Civil Service Commission (CSC) says it will encourage flexible work arrangements across Government Agencies, recognising that rigid office working is prone to disruption and hinders productivity.
The CSC cited the need to ease Metro Manila's road congestion by adopting remote work alternatives.
“Limiting physical reporting to offices can significantly reduce road congestion stemming from daily commutes. Allowing more personnel to accomplish tasks from home or remote locations will take pressure off the metro’s transportation infrastructure,” the CSC said in a statement.
“Adopting flexible work arrangements enables Agencies to become more resilient against disruptions, while promoting a better work-life balance for officials,” the statement said.
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PM backflips over Ramadan payment
KUALA LUMPUR (April 5): Malaysian Prime Minister, Anwar Ibrahim has done a backflip over an end-of-Ramadan (Aidilfitri) payment to the country’s Civil Servants, just days after saying there would be no such payment this year.
Mr Anwar announced a RM500 ($A159) special financial assistance Aidilfitri payment to Government employees on Grade 56 and below. He also agreed to distribute a similar amount to all Government retirees.
President of the Congress of Unions of Employees in the Public and Civil Services (Cuepacs), Adnan Mat said Mr Anwar’s change of heart proved the Prime Minister was always open to listening to the union’s views, even though he had initially refused a special Aidilftri payment.
“Therefore, Cuepacs expresses the highest appreciation and gratitude to the Government for agreeing to give the Aidilfitri,” Mr Adnan said.
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