Asia Cast

Asia Cast for Saturday 30th August

In this Bulletin…

- McCain chooses unknown running mate
- Thai Prime Minister says he will not resign; and
- World Health Organization highlights life expectancy gap

But first, here’s our SOH focus on China.

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Villagers from Matou village in Changyue City, in China’s south-eastern province of Fujian have protested against the local government for illegally expropriating farmland by force to build large power substations, Radio Free Asia Reports.

Villager Zheng Jinbao says Changyue city officials have sent a working group to be stationed in the village, who have tried to coerce villagers to sign contracts giving up their farmland for the construction. Zheng says villagers who refuse were told by the working group that the construction would go ahead by force without their agreement. He says villagers are prepared to protect their farms with their lives.

Local village officials have reported to superiors that these farmlands are wastelands, but villagers say these are real farmlands.

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A clash has erupted between petitioners and local police in Chengdu after Chief Magistrate of Chengdu Intermediate People’s Court Niu Ming refused to see petitioners on a designated reception day after the Olympics.

Over 200 petitioners who went to the Court to appeal became angry with the Chief Magistrate’s failure to see them, and a confrontation broke out with police and city management staff.

Protestors blocked arterial roads and military police and traffic control were called in to maintain order. A number of petitioners were injured and hospitalised while others received anonymous threats, Radio Free Asia reports.

Civil unrests are becoming ever more frequent around China as petitioners, many of whom have lost their homes or jobs are becoming fed up with the inability or unwillingness of local communist officials to address their plight.

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And now for the rest of today’s Asia Cast.
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In Bangkok, Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej has absolutely rejected calls from protesters to resign. On Saturday morning, Mr Sundaravej briefed King Bhumibol Adulaydej on the ongoing protests at the Klaikangwon palace at the coastal town of Hua Hin. He later met with Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn in Bangkok.

Protesters are seeking to oust the government which was installed at the end of a military coup against previous Prime Minister Thaksin Sinawatra.

The Prime Minister, Military officials and Police officials have been successful in keeping the protests peaceful. People’s Alliance for Democracy protestors have braved pouring torrential rains to remain barricaded inside and around the Government House complex in Bangkok.

Protesters have also shutdown infrastructure around the country including 3 regional airports causing dozens of flights to be diverted and interrupting the plans of hundreds of travelers.

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A report released by the World Health Organization (WHO) has highlighted that affluence is the greatest factor determining life expectancy.

The report showed that a gap of approximately 40 years between the country with the highest life expectancy, Japan, and many African countries. While the gap was not unexpected, experts are shocked at the actual difference in years.

Perhaps even more interesting, was the gap found between affluent and non-affluent areas in within not just countries but also individual cities. The Scottish city of Glasgow was singled out with a recorded life expectancy gap of up to 13 years between areas.

WHO has called on all countries to address the life expectancy gap, both domestically and globally.

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Hurricane Gustav has cut a swath through the Caribbean and is strengthening in the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico on an approach to the US coastline. Gustav has killed at least 78 people as it crossed over the Caribbean nations of Dominican Republic, Haiti and Cuba.

The hurricane is moving slowly towards the US coast from Cuba and has been upgraded from a category 2 to a category 3 hurricane by the US National Hurricane Center. Top winds have reached up to 155kph.

The expected path of Gustav has it moving through a major oil and gas producing region for the area. This has already had an effect on the market, with oil and gas prices jumping.

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US Republican presidential nominee John McCain has selected unknown Alaskan Governor Sarah Palin as his running mate for the upcoming Presidential Elections. 44-yearold Palin is seen to be inexperienced, having only been elected to her posting in 2006.

Political analysts point to Palin for her strong appeal to the Republican Party’s grassroots voters, being pro-life and backing the gun lobby. Her age is also seen to offset McCain’s 72 years, providing a young spark; with her inexperience also being a potential positive for being untainted by big money politics.

Democratic rival Barack Obama has congratulated Governor Palin on her nomination, but his campaign team has slammed the nomination as hypocritical for selecting an inexperienced candidate while attacking Obama for the same reason.

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