BRITAIN

BRITAIN

The Times, London, May 27: President Obama emphasized in his presidential campaign a wish to appoint to the bench “somebody who’s got ... the empathy to understand what it’s like to be poor, or African-American, or gay, or disabled or old”.

Yesterday he nominated Sonia Sotomayor to serve on the Supreme Court. If confirmed by the Senate, Judge Sotomayor will be the first Hispanic justice at the Supreme Court. In his choice of Judge Sotomayor to replace the retiring Justice David Souter, Mr. Obama has given an early indication of his wish to make American government reflect better the nation’s cosmopolitan make-up.

Coalition builder

An opportunity to tilt the balance of opinion in the court will come later. And Mr. Obama would be wise to continue in his role as a coalition builder rather than to promote a philosophy of judicial activism.

It is proper that the Supreme Court should reflect both a diversity of national origins and important social changes. But liberal mores are best advanced by winning political consensus rather than through judicial fiat. This makes Judge Sotomayor an appropriate choice.

INDIA

Times of India, New Delhi, May 27: As we mark the appointment of a new government in New Delhi, it is worthwhile to reflect on some of the imperfections of our parliamentary democracy and democratic institutions.

Parliamentarians in Britain have been found guilty of wrongfully billing the state exchequer for big and mundane expenses, from refurbishing second homes to buying toilet seats and bathrobes.

Corruption is a part of public life worldwide. But what this episode underlines is the fact that accountability is a value that responsible democracies hold dear. The British pull no punches while taking those holding public office to task if they appear to be abusing their powers.

Personal gain

No matter how inclusive or vibrant a democracy, the lack of accountability eventually cripples it. Corruption has become such a part of our political culture that we no longer wince, forget scream, when scandal after scandal breaks. This apathy, in turn, only emboldens the custodians of our public institutions, who abuse public office for personal gains with impunity.

This Parliament has a large number of young politicians, who have claimed that they want to usher in a new kind of politics in this country.

SOUTH KOREA

Korea Herald, Seoul, May 27: Analysts here and abroad generally agreed that North Korea’s second nuclear test on Monday was aiming at two things — recognition of its nuclear power status by the international community, and consolidation of Kim Jong-il’s internal rule with stronger support from the military. With regard to the first point, such recognition would only be accompanied by deeper isolation. As for the second, Kim is also revealing that he is highly dependent on the military to maintain his power.

Targeting America

The North is desperate to gain the capability to deliver a nuclear warhead to the continental United States by 2012, the 100th birth anniversary of Kim Il-sung, Kim Jong-il’s father.

Whereas he was groomed by his father for more than two decades before succession, none of his three sons have had any comparable preparation to secure political backing from the party or the military. Spectacular launches of missiles and the rumbles of underground nuclear tests can satisfy the generals of the People’s Army and the Military Commission and keep them in allegiance while the succession process is underway. There seems no other explanation about the North’s series of nuclear and missile tests, which are otherwise seen as pointless ventures.