Asia-Cast

Asia Cast for Friday 11th April

In this Bulletin…
- American Airlines cancels another 933 flights;
- Nepal’s elections labelled a success; and
- Argentina prepares to receive Olympic Torch Relay.

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American Airlines has confirmed that it cancelled 933 flights Thursday as it continued to reinspect wiring on MD-80 aircraft, raising the number of flights scratched since Tuesday to nearly 2,500.

The disruption at the No. 1 U.S. airline has wreaked havoc at the nation’s busiest airports with more than 100,000 travellers affected by the cancellations.

American ordered the cancellations to ensure compliance with a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) safety directive. American has about 300 of the twin-engined, narrow-body MD-80s, comprising about half its overall fleet.

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Despite violence that left more than 20 people dead, Nepal’s elections on Thursday were hailed as a success by international observers, including a former U.S. president.

One of the dead was a candidate, Sambhu Prasad Singh, who was killed just minutes before polls closed in a village in southern Nepal’s Sarlahi District, where sporadic violence was reported throughout the day, according to the election commissioner.

Despite the violence, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter hailed the vote as a “revolutionary and wonderful experience” for international election observers.

The elections come two years after a peace accord ended 10 years of fighting between the government and Maoists insurgents. The country’s monarch, King Gyanendra, gave up most powers in April 2006 after an uprising against his direct rule.

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Argentina readied thousands of police on Thursday to guard the Olympic torch on the next stop of its world tour as calls grew for world leaders to boycott the Games’ opening ceremony over China’s human rights record.

Some Argentine activists opposed to China’s rule of Tibet have vowed “surprise actions” when the torch is carried through Buenos Aires on Friday but they swore off violence.

Rival demonstrations by human rights activists and pro-Chinese supporters forced officials to abruptly change the torch’s route through San Francisco on Wednesday.

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China confirmed on Thursday that authorities had uncovered a criminal ring planning to kidnap athletes and others at the Beijing Olympic Games.

Thirty-five members of a ring based in the restive western Xinjiang region were arrested, Ministry of Public Security Spokesman Wu Heping told a news conference.

On Thursday, Wu said the ring was plotting to kidnap athletes, foreign journalists and other visitors to the August Games. He added that police had also confiscated almost 22 pounds of explosives and eight sticks of dynamite and “jihadist” literature in the latest raids in Urumqi, the capital of Xinjiang.

Wu said the gang had been acting on orders from a radical Islamic Xinjiang independence group, East Turkestan Islamic Movement.

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Despite statements from Chinese authority’s claiming that protests in Lhasa were under control, demonstrations by Tibetans have continued.

Last week, fresh demonstrations by Tibetan monks erupted in Zhuoni district in southern Gansu province, but was eventually brought under control by police.

According to reports by Radio Free Asia, on the 9th of April, 15 Lhasa monks informed overseas reporters: they did not seek independence, but only want human rights.

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According to Liaoning news, Tianzheng Detergent Company in Chaoyang city was robbed by local authorities as a warning to the company’s entirely Falun Gong practitioner workforce.

According to reports by Minghui net on the 9th of April, most of the employees had previously lost their jobs during Chinese Communist Party persecution of Falun Gong practitioners.

It is estimated that assets worth millions of Yuan were taken from the company.

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Today the Divine Performing Arts Spectacular opens in Canberra for two days of shows.
Another troupe recently gave performances at the Bucharest National Theatre in Romania.

The show impressed audiences of all ages and walks of life. Some knew about traditional Chinese culture and some didn’t.

While for many it was their first taste of real Chinese culture, audience members still identified with the message the show portrayed.

One audience member, Radu Iatcu, explained “Even though I’m not part of their culture, spiritually, there is something connecting us,”.

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

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