Asia Cast

Asia Cast for Tuesday 18th March

In this Bulletin
- After days of rioting,UN calls for restraint in Tibet
- China ‘Still Executing Prisoners for Organs’ and
- Dalai Lama’s Nephew Says Lhasa Death Toll Higher than Reported

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You’re listening to Asia Cast on the SOH Radio Network
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Two of the world’s leading humanitarian groups have issued extensive reports describing the war in Iraq being its five year anniversary a crisis of huge proportions with little reason for hope.

“Despite claims that the security situation has improved in recent months, the human rights situation is disastrous,” Amnesty International says in its report, titled “Carnage and Despair: Iraq Five Years On.”

In a summary of the report, Amnesty writes that “a climate of impunity has prevailed, the economy is in tatters and the refugee crisis” keeps escalating.

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Ban Ki-moon, UN Secretary General has called on both Chinese forces and demonstrators in Tibet to show restraint after days of rioting.

Mr Ban urged “a peaceful resolution”, but made it clear there were no plans for UN intervention.

Up to 80 protesters are reported to have died in the Chinese crackdown

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Since Chinese military forces opened fire to Tibetan protesting monks and civilians in Lhasa on Friday, March 14, at least 80 people have been killed, according to the Tibet’s government in exile.

Dalai Lama’s nephew Thondup, senator of Tibet’s government in exile, pointed out to the Epoch times that the actual death toll may be far greater than the 10 deaths that Beijing admitted to.

He said a witness saw 67 dead bodies in a closed Lhasa shopping center.

Thondup’s wife Chow Mei-Li, President of Taiwan Friends of Tibet, pointed out that Beijing’s violent suppression in Tibet is a “repeat of the 1989 Tiananmen Massacre.”

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The killing of persecuted groups in Chinese military hospitals so that their organs can be harvested for sale may still be continuing, a former politician who investigated the issue said.

Last year a report exposed that China was not only harvesting organs from prisoners on death row but also adherents of the banned Falun Gong spiritual movement, many of whom were detained without trial.

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And now for our original SOH news direct from China
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A well-known rights defender in Mainland China, Guo Quan who once wrote open letter to Hu Jintao, was arrested and questioned by Chinese authorities.

He was released after 12 hours detention. Guo Quanzhong said that the Provincial Public Security Bureau had arrested him, and the police officers who came to arrest him are from Han-Zhong-Men Police Station where the police questioned Quanzhong for three hours mainly about his articles of Falun Gong.

Guo Quanzhong stated that the issues related to rights defending, and everyday people’s normal livelihood, including Falun Gong issue is very normal, a very factual thing.

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Today marks the last day of the Chinese New Year Spectacular shows in Taipei before continuing on the next leg of the tour of 60 cities worldwide.

Lin Li-li, president of the International Women’s Association in Taipei City, Taiwan, attended Taipei’s premiere of the Divine Performing Arts’ Chinese Spectacular on March 15, 2008. She was joined by vice president Fong Wen-ying.

Attending the show in splendid attire, Ms. Lin applauded the Spectacular for its presentation of beauty, strength and spirit.

or more information about the Divine Performing Arts world tour, please visit: www.divineperformingarts.org

“Asia Cast… keeping you across the top headlines from Asia and the World.”

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