AsiaCast

Asia Cast for Friday 12th September

In this Bulletin…

- Chinese regime’s remarks about social security for its disabled population called into question;
- U.S. praises it’s relationship with Vietnam; and
- Stolen uranium recovered in India.

But first, here’s our SOH focus on China
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There is evidence to suggest that the claim made by, Yu Faming, at a Paralympics press conference on Sept. 9, that social security support is being provided for all 83 million disabled people in China, cannot be true.

An official survey of China’s disabled population in 2006 showed that of the 82.96 million registered, only 13.28 percent of those in urban areas were receiving any support. The figure fell to 5.12 percent in rural areas.

Zheng Cheng-Guong, a member of the Judicial Committee of the National People’s Congress, stated in a 2006 report, that the communist regime had not only seriously under-invested in the national social security system, but even failed to list the welfare of China’s disabled as an item for consideration.

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And now for the rest of today’s Asia Cast
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The “close partnership” between America and Vietnam has been praised by U.S. deputy secretary of state John Negroponte, on a visit the country.

He praised Vietnam’s “economic miracle” and its good will toward its former foe, but also called for more political and legal freedoms.

His visit comes at a time of rising tensions in the South China Sea.

China and Vietnam each claim territory in the area, believed to hold major oil and gas resources, which major US and other oil companies are hoping to exploit.

However, analysts have commented that Vietnam needs the good will of both China and the U.S., to balance trade and security concerns.

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Just days after the Nuclear Suppliers Group ended a ban on civilian nuclear trade with the country, Indian police have arrested six people and recovered around 1Kg of unprocessed uranium from them.

On Monday four people were arrested in the country’s north-eastern state of Meghalaya and the uranium was recovered.
A fifth man surrendered Tuesday after a police search.

The sixth man, whose father is an employee of the government-run Atomic Minerals Division, gave himself up to police late Wednesday after after a look-out notice for him was circulated.

Uranium is the basic fuel for nuclear weapons, but it has to go through complex processes before it is sufficiently enriched for use.

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You’re listening to Asia Cast on the SOH Radio Network
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A crackdown on dissent in Malaysia has lead to the arrest of a prominent anti-government internet campaigner.

Raja Petra Kamarudin was held under the controversial Internal Security Act of the majority Muslim country, which allows indefinite detention without trial.

He was accused of posting an article that insulted Islam.

His arrest comes a day after the country’s army chief warned people not to make remarks that could damage race relations.

General Abdul Aziz Zainal called for “stern action” to be taken against anyone stoking racial tension in the country.

Independent online news outlets and blogs flourish in Malaysia. Raja Petra is said to have been a constant thorn in the government’s side before his arrest.

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A general election has been called in New Zealand for Nov. 8 by Prime Minister Helen Clark, who is trying to win a fourth term in office.

However, Ms Clark’s Labour Party has trailed the opposition National Party in opinion polls for the past year.

Economic woes and a scandal-hit foreign minister have given the opposition its best chance of power in a decade.

But the country’s aversion to the Iraq war and strong anti-nuclear stance are unlikely to change, whoever wins.

Ms Clark, 58, a successful campaigner, told a news conference on Friday that the election would be about trust.

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