AsiaCast

Asia Cast for Tuesday 13th January

In this bulletin ….

-Anti-pornography campaign held for China’s internet;
-China’s exports in record decline; and
-Thousands mourn Sri Lankan editor.

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According to Beijing sources, the Chinese Communist Internet Management Department criticized Google, Baidu and other well-known search engines, claiming these websites posted a large amount of vulgar contents.

Following the national wide special case movement for rectification of vulgar internet values, on the 8th of January another 14 websites list was released. Some people criticized that the campaign gave first place to strike out at illegal activities, and anti-pornography came in as secondary importance.

The literal meaning for so-called “fight-against illegal activities” is to combat illegal activities, but it is generally considered the practice to purge dissidents by the authorities.

It is expected efforts will be strengthened much more this year to rectify the internet than in previous years.

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This year is the anniversary of a series of major sensitive events.  These events include the 60th anniversary of the Chinese Communist Party’s stealing of the power, the 50th anniversary of the Dalai Lama in exile and the 20th anniversary of the Tiananmen Massacre.

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According to Beijing sources, a forcible and violent demolishing incident occurred in Fengtai district of Beijing, with two residential houses being instatnly demolished by more than 200 people.

The relocated families, consisting of eight people, were beaten by the building demolition staff. One person was thrown from the roof to the ground fracturing their bones while another person was beaten, causing internal injury and severe pain in the stomach.

Free Asia Radio reported at 6:30am before dawn, over 200 demolition staff rushed to the scene to forcibly demolish the two houses. One household was standing on the roof, with two cans of gas besides them, and a red banner slogan stating that “the common people need to survive; we want to stay with our house”.

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China’s exports have dropped into their biggest decline in a decade.

In December exports were down 2.8 per cent from the same time last year, a bigger decline than November’s 2.2 per cent drop.

Analysts say that the numbers provided fresh evidence of a serious trade slump that has caused a wave of factory closures and staff layoffs.

Fears of social unrest have been expressed by the communist leadership as economic problems worsen.

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State media have reported that Chinese police have arrested the man on suspicion of murdering eight people in one night.

The suspect, said to be a 35-year-old junk collector, is alleged to have killed a 43-year-old widowed grandmother who spurned his advances.

He is also alleged to have killed her grandson and 3 other women and 3 men who worked for him.

In Hubei province six of the bodies, as well as bloody axes and hammers, were allegedly found in his junkyard.

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Thousands of mourners have attended the funeral of a leading Sri Lankan newspaper editor and fierce government critic who was shot dead last week.

In Colombo as crowds paid their last respects to Sunday Leader Editor Lasantha Wickramatunga security was extra tight.

Reports say some 10,000 people attended a Christian service ahead of a burial ceremony at Colombo’s main cemetery.

As the war with Tamil Tiger rebels has intensified journalists in Sri Lanka have suffered a string of attacks.

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“Asia Cast…Keeping you across the top headlines from Asia and the world.”