Asia-Cast

Asia Cast for Monday 7th April

In this Bulletin…

- Sri Lankan Minister assassinated;
- Tension rises in Zimbabwe; and
- Thirty five arrested as Olympic torch passes through London.

********************

A suicide bomber in the Sri Lankan capital, Colombo has killed at least 14 people, including a senior Sri Lankan government minister.

Highways Minister Jeyaraj Fernandopulle was attending a function to mark the forthcoming Sinhala and Tamil New Year in the western district of Grampaha.

Mr Fernandopulle is the second minister to have been assassinated this year.

The defence ministry blamed Tamil Tiger rebels, who want an independent state for Sri Lanka’s Tamil minority.

********************

Zimbabwe sunk deeper into political stalemate on Sunday, with the opposition going to court to get election results released and President Robert Mugabe’s ruling party asking for a delay and recount.

Tensions between the two sides have risen sharply since the elections last weekend, fuelled by opposition suspicions Mugabe’s ZANU-PF is preparing to rig the outcome of the hotly contested March 29 presidential poll.

The stakes were raised on Saturday when Morgan Tsvangirai, leader of the Movement for Democratic Change, declared victory over Mugabe in the presidential race and accused the veteran 84-year-old leader of “preparing a war on the people”.

*******************
You’re listening to Asia Cast on the SOH Radio Network
**********************

Thirty-five arrests have been made after clashes between pro-Tibet protesters and police as the Olympic torch made its way through London.

On its 31 mile journey through the streets of London the Olympic torch was flanked by dozens of British policemen as hundreds more held back banks of hundreds of flag-toting protestors on either side.

Protests over China’s human rights record began soon after the relay began at Wembley, and prompted an increasing police presence through the city.

One protester tried to snatch the torch from former Blue Peter host Konnie Huq.

********************
Last week the global Human Rights Torch Relay arrived in Boston—the birthplace of the United States’ independence movement.

More than 1,000 gathered at Boston Common to appeal to the world about the Chinese Communist Party’s persecution of Falun Gong practitioners, Christians, Tibetans and its other human rights violations worldwide.

Among hundreds of Tibetans who attended the protest, Gesang, one of the protesters, asked the CCP to not create mutual hatred among the multiple ethnicities.

Gesang said, “The Dalai Lama is the political and religious leader for Tibetans, and he has left the concept of independence for a very long time.

Therefore, fighting for the independence of Tibet is not possible. We are willing to be a part of China, but China must respect our culture.”

********************
And now for our original SOH news direct from China
**********************

According to reports, the Liaoning “Power Ant” Liquidation Group have begun pressuring “Power Ant” farmers to accept the Authorities’ so called repayment ratio, so that the liquidation can be finally settled.

The repayment ratio of 62.5% was decided by Liquidation Group.

This figure is seen as far too little by Ant Farmers awaiting remuneration for unpaid wages and who accuse the local authorities of protecting the Power Ant Company.

********************

The entrepreneur, Huang Mingzhong, has allegedly been reduce to poverty after authorities forced him to move form his home and confiscated land used for his garden nursery in Chengdu City, Sichuan Province.

The financial loss has reportedly reached nearly 10 million Yuan (1.4 million US dollars), but the local government only compensated him 320,000 Yuan (forty six thousand US dollars).

********************
And now for our daily update on the NTDTV Divine Performing Arts “New Year Spectacular” show.
**********************

Today the Divine Performing Arts Spectacular opens in Brisbane for two days of shows, and another troupe will open in Bucharest, also for two days of shows.

Ms Su, originally from Mainland China, was so moved by the Chinese Spectacular show in Sydney last Saturday night that it left her in tears.

She said a dance depicting the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners in China, left the greatest impression on her.

Ms Su said she is very aware of the current situation in China, and how difficult it is for people to stand up for what they believe in.

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

**********************