AsiaCast

Asia Cast for Friday 21st March

In this Bulletin…

- China admits to violence;
- North Korea facing food crisis; and
- China’s stock index plunges.

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For the first time since protests broke out in Tibet over a week ago, China has admitted using severe force to break up protests.

The stat run news agency, Xinhua, said Chinese police opened fire and wounded four protesters last Sunday in a Tibetan area of Sichuan province.

China has said that only 13 people have been killed during the protests and that all were innocent and killed by “rioters” in Lhasa.

The Tibetan government in exile has said at least 99 people have died so far, including 80 in Lhasa – and have accused the security forces of firing on crowds.

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According to aid group, Good Friends Agency, North Korea is facing a chronic and worsening food crisis.

The aid agency, based in South Korea, says rations have been cut severely, badly affecting even elite citizens in the capital, Pyongyang.

Good Friends – a Buddhist-affiliated group that takes food and other aid into North Korea – says the crisis is most serious in rural areas, with people in many parts of South Hwanghae province living without rations since November.

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You’re listening to Asia Cast on the SOH Radio Network
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China’s main stock index in Shanghai rebounded to end higher after dropping to its lowest level in nine months amid mounting worries over a possible U.S. recession.

The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index closed at 3,804.05, up 1.1 percent from the previous day. During morning trade, though, the index plunged 6.5 percent, to 3,516.33 — its lowest level since June 7 last year.
The benchmark is still down about 28 percent so far this year.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 2.36 percent to 12,099.66 on Wall Street overnight, adding to regional jitters over the U.S. economic outlook, analysts said.

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In a move that is expected to raise concerns in China, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said on Wednesday he would meet exiled Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, when he visits Britain in May.

China’s Foreign Ministry said it was “seriously concerned” by Brown’s statement in parliament, which risks damaging his drive for closer relations with China.

China’s Wen Jiabao has accused the Dalai Lama of masterminding protests against Chinese rule in Tibet that culminated in riots in which dozens may have died. The Dalai Lama denies the accusations.

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And now for our original SOH news direct from China
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Rights group, Human Rights Watch, has called upon the Chinese regime to allow independent investigators to get in contact with the large number of arrested Tibetans.

Sound of America reported that the group released a statement on the 18th of March, expressing concerns for the arrested Tibetans who may be brutalised and ill-treated.

Mr. Adams, Director of Human Rights Watch Asia branch explained that the Chinese regime evicted foreign media from Tibet, and refused requests from independent observers. He said this kind of obstruction was in direct violation of promises that Beijing made to the International Olympic Committee.

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On the morning of 18th of March, when the Chinese Communist National Congress came to a close, Beijing experienced the biggest sandstorm day of the year. This resulted in the very first severe pollution day of this year.

China media reported, besides Beijing, many other places in China also experienced sandstorm weather events.

Places such as Dongwuzhumuqin, Xilinhot and Chifeng in Inner Mongolia experienced moderate to severe sandstorms. The visibility in these areas was less than 1 kilometre.

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And now for our daily update on the NTDTV Divine Performing Arts “New Year Spectacular” show.
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Today the Divine Performing Arts Spectacular continues its seven days tour of Stockholm, Germany. Tomorrow the Asian tour is set to open performances in Daegu, South Korea.

Cornelius Baltus, the artistic director of Hamburg’s Theatre at the Harbor where the Chinese Spectacular played on Monday evening, caught the show and said he was impressed by the array of colours and stylistic aspects of the show.

He said the simple pieces of stage craft create huge effects, and that is what he considered typically Chinese.

He said he felt light after watching the performance: “I do feel light. I could have some tea and light a candle for my Buddha. Life is good, I would say.”

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

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