Indonesian Presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto and Vice Presidential candidate Gibran Rakabuming Raka registered on Wednesday, Oct 25, the last open day, with the General Election Commission, the recently-forged Prabowo-Gibran team accompanied by millions of sympathizers; there were lengthy traffic jams.

Prabowo-Gibran thus complements the two other teams of presidential and vice presidential candidates who registered on the first day: Anies Baswedan-Muhaimin Iskandar and Ganjar Pranowo-Mahfud MD. The three couples have undergone medical tests and the results will come out this afternoon (Oct 27).

Since the advent of what is known as Reformasi, or a “reform era” following the retirement of President Soeharto in 1998, this is the first time a presidential and vice presidential election contested by three pairs of candidates.

It is noteworthy to observe that all three pairs definitely intend to avoid any “polarization”, which might pose a concern were there were only two pair of candidates. More interestingly, Anies and Ganjar are trying to curry favor from the Nahdliyin (as Nahdlatul Ulama is known), through the choice of their vice presidential candidates.

These days many rumors are circulating about the three couples, and while their veracity cannot be confirmed, it seems that the public is genuinely enthusiastic about this “party of democracy”. The younger generation, who are usually apathetic about general elections and choose to abstain, are starting to speak out and express their opinions. It seems they are enjoying this event.

It cannot be denied that the appearance of Gibran, President Joko Widodo’s eldest son, as Prabowo’s companion has given rise to narratives about dynastic politics, a candidate too young to run, and his father’s interference. It is said that Prabowo offered Gibran the candidacy seven times before the young man finally acceded. While people tended to harbor doubts about Gibran, they came around stop when he delivered his oration. The intelligence and insight of this young man is clearly visible.

On the other hand, the appearance of Gibran as Prabowo’s Vice-Presidential candidate strengthens rumors of tension between Jokowi and Megawati Soekarnoputri, the General Chair of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), as Prabowo is General Chair of rival Gerindra Party. It has been suggested over the last two days that President Jokowi is going to replace Budi Gunawan, the Head of BIN (State Intelligence Agency), who is known to be a close ally of Megawati. BIN will be a crucial factor, especially when the general election is held.

“I don’t know yet. I stand behind any decision of the President,” declared former Army Chief of Staff (KSAD) General Dudung Abdurachman, who is likely to be replacing Budi Gunawan, at Jakarta, Wednesday (Oct 25).

Survey institutions in Indonesia provide various survey results. However, let us look at the results of a world survey from Ipsos Public Affairs of France, dated October 21, 2023. The three sets of candidates have equal compatibility figures: Anis-Muhaimin 28.91%, Prabowo-Gibran 31.32%, and Ganjar-Mahfud 31.98 . However, a number of voters are still undecided – “swing voters” who have not yet come to a decision; usually it is this bloc that will decide which one to vote for after the debates between presidential and vice presidential candidates.

The post Three Pairs Candidates Avoid Polarization appeared first on Tashkent Citizen.

Frankfurt, Brussels (30/7 – 27)

Kenges Rakishev, international entrepreneur, philanthropist and former special envoy of the Kazakh government, is leading the charge for an upcoming Nasdaq listing of Borealis Foods Inc., a fast-growing food tech company imbued with a mission to serve growing consumer needs. Rakishev intends to tackle global food challenges by developing nutritious, sustainable, and affordable ready-to-eat meals. This product is currently on sale in US and Canadian markets, with ambitious, imminent plans for a European market invasion. The Company stands at the forefront of innovation, having pioneered the world’s first plant-based ramen meal on a mass scale, boasting 20 grams of comprehensive protein per serving.

Bear in mind that passing the multiple hurdles necessary for approval of food-grade imports in western countries is a major challenge, and an expensive one. Matching food and pharmaceutical standards is exacting, but Borealis has done it.

Rakishev serves as Non-Executive Chairman of Central Asia’s first “Special Purpose Acquisition Company” (SPAC), listed as the “Oxus Acquisition Corp.” (NASDAQ:OXUS) IPO. Under Rakishev’s leadership, together with the acumen and dedication of CEO Kanat Mynzhanov, the firm has successfully navigated Oxus Acquisition through the complexities of a SPAC formation and listing, setting the stage for its upcoming partnership with Borealis Foods, set to go public before 4Q 2023.

Following the successful completion of Central Asia’s first Special Purpose Acquisition Company (SPAC), Oxus Acquisition Corp.’s IPO, Non-Executive Chairman Kenges Rakishev aims for upcoming Nasdaq listing of Borealis Foods Inc. Rakishev’s leadership roles have not been confined to Oxus Acquisition alone. Since March 2021, he has served as the President of Fincraft Group LLP, a diversified holding company listed on the Kazakhstan Stock Exchange.

This listing marks a significant milestone for the Central Asian business landscape and a landmark achievement in Rakishev’s investment career.

With a significant history of acquiring and investing in over 50 businesses in industries as varied as metals & mining, oil, petrochemicals, banking, fintech, information technology, ecommerce, logistics and insurance, Rakishev’s diverse investment portfolio includes some ten global-scale companies, demonstrating his knack for successfully identifying and driving growth in businesses anywhere.

Rakishev’s leadership roles have not been confined to Oxus Acquisition alone. Since March 2021, he has served as the President of Fincraft Group LLP, a diversified holding company listed on the Kazakhstan Stock Exchange. Rakishev has also been the Chairman of the Board of Fincraft Resources JSC since September 2008, a diversified holding focused on natural resources and disruptive technology industries. Furthermore, up until December 31, 2021 he held leadership positions at Battery Metals Technologies Ltd., an electric vehicle battery metals firm.

From 2013 to May 2018, Rakishev served as a Non-executive Director of Central Asia Metals Plc and was the controlling shareholder and Chairman of Kazkommertsbank JSC, the largest Kazakh commercial bank, from March 2015 to June 2017.

According to Forbes national rating, Rakishev burst into the ranks of the “Top-50 businessman of Kazakhstan” in 2013. Now he has ascended to the “Top-10”, keeping his highly diversified empire under control.

Rakishev has committed his time and energy to a variety of philanthropic activities, alongside his wife Aselle Tasmagambetova, through their Saby Foundation, the oldest charity fund in Kazakhstan, established in 2002. Saby supports young people seeking access to optimal education and career opportunities, as well as healthcare upgrading in Kazakhstan; it also empowers young entrepreneurs and business owners to develop their ventures. In 2020, Saby Foundation joined an ambitious battle to save the endangered Caspian seal from extinction.

Source

The post Borealis Foods to Go Public by Fourth Quarter 2023? appeared first on Tashkent Citizen.

In his book “Sri Lanka’s Easter Sunday Massacre: Lessons for the International Community,” terrorism expert Dr. Rohan Gunaratna emphasizes the importance of de-radicalizing Islamic ideology to effectively combat Islamic terrorism. He identifies Wahhabism or Salafism as the root of Islamic terrorism, rapidly spreading worldwide through modern communication tools. Gunaratna warns that merely arresting perpetrators after attacks is insufficient; the focus should be on preventing radicalization in the first place.

The Easter Sunday bombings in April 2019, which claimed over 200 lives, were fuelled by extremist ideologies inspired by events in the Middle East and Islamic extremists in South India. Sri Lanka’s lack of a legal and policy framework to curb radicalization and promote moderation, tolerance, and coexistence contributes to the potential recurrence of such attacks.

To succeed in the de-radicalization process, Sri Lanka must develop a unified approach by avoiding confrontational politics and forging a consensus on national security. Combating religious exclusivism, propagated by Wahhabi and Salafist institutions, is crucial, and both state and community action is required. Gunaratna highlights that the ideology of hatred against other faiths must be dismantled to prevent future attacks.

Rohan Gunaratna says that Islamic terrorism is but an outgrowth of Wahhabism or Salafism, which is spreading rapidly across the world using modern tools of communication.

The Yahapalnaya regime (2015-2019) is criticized for systematically dismantling security and intelligence platforms, leading to vulnerabilities in national security. Political pressure from human rights groups hindered intelligence efforts, contributing to the Easter attacks. The lack of awareness of the security dimension among political leaders and the need for inter-agency collaboration is stressed.

Gunaratna opposes the recent decision by the Sri Lankan government to de-list five of the 11 banned Islamic organizations after lobbying from radical clerics and politicians. He argues that compromising national security for political gain undermines national unity and social cohesion, leading to ethnic and religious hatred and violence. Instead, leaders should integrate ethnic and religious leaders into mainstream national politics to promote harmony and coexistence.

Gunaratna recommends several measures, including screening and certifying clerics, blacklisting hate speakers, developing a comprehensive curriculum for clerics, and regular review of their teachings. He also advocates for a National Security Council, a National Security Act, and a Foreign Interference Act to safeguard the nation from external threats and divisive ideologies.

In conclusion, de-radicalizing Islamic ideology and strengthening intelligence and security capabilities are essential strategies to address the root causes of Islamic terrorism in Sri Lanka. Building social and religious harmony, fostering inter-agency collaboration, and political consensus on national security issues are crucial steps to prevent future attacks and ensure the country’s stability.

Source

The post De-radicalisation of Ideology Is the Best Way to Tackle Islamic Terrorism: Sri Lankan Expert appeared first on Tashkent Citizen.