AsiaCast

Asia Cast for Friday 27th February

In this bulletin…

- Beijing petitioner publicly suicides in protest;
- Israel urges world leaders not to break boycott of Hamas; and,
- US President Obama to announce withdrawal combat forces from Iraq.

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A Shanghai Falun Gong practitioner, Zhou Bin, 43, was illegally sentenced to 12 years imprisonment by Chinese authorities because of his beliefs.

He is now locked up in the Shanghai Tilanqiao Prison and suffering cruel persecution, including officially-sanctioned torture which has left his genitals severely damaged.

Zhou Bin’s mother recently disclosed to the media that her son has benefited both mentally and physically from practising Falun Gong.

After the Chinese communist regime began its severe suppression of Falun Gong, Zhou Bin began to clarify the truth about the persecution to a society that has been once again lied to by the communist propaganda for the sake of destroying anything that is deemed to be opposing the communist mentality.

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Chinese people around the world are quietly contributing to the biggest push for freedom in China since the Communist Party seized power 60 years ago; the Quit the CCP movement.

The news is spread throughout China at great risk to personal safety, but the brave keep stepping forward. Though other media are choosing not to cover this story, withdrawals from the Party are accumulating from both within China and abroad.

Since the November 2004 release of the editorial series Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party by The Epoch Times, 50 million Chinese have renounced their membership of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and its affiliated organizations.

The withdrawals run deep into the heart of the Party as diplomats, general secretaries, police officials, and other high-ranking officials publicly sever their ties to the blood red flag they once vowed to give their life for.
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One appellant protested outside China’s State Council Press Office in Beijing on the evening of February 26. This is considered the second major social incident in the past several days, reports the Epoch Times.

The appellant, who claimed to be from middle China’s Hubei province, climbed on an electric line pole, held a banner, and shouted “Overthrow the dictatorship, give me back my political rights.”

The scene drew a lot attention because a press conference on financial issues had just finished in the Press Office; many media were still around.

The police mobilized two vehicles to maintain order, and the appellant was removed from the pole by police with fire aerial ladders and taken away immediately. The whole incident lasted for over 10 minutes.

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On February 23, over 2,000 petitioners assembled in Beijing in front of the general office of the State Bureau for Letters and Calls, and the general office of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, reports the Epoch Times.

One petitioner committed suicide on Monday in protest. At around 11 am, the man cut open his own abdomen in front of the Beijing Municipal government in an act of suicide. His reason remains unknown.

The petitioners had gathered in front of the general office of the State Bureau for Letters and Calls, and the general office of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress near Beijing South Railway Station. They presented appeals against various injustices.

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On Thursday Israel urged world leaders to provide aid to the Gaza Strip without breaking a diplomatic boycott of Hamas Islamists who control the coastal territory.

The United States, Israel and European Union, have shunned dialogue with Hamas, citing its refusal to renounce violence and to recognise Israel and past peace agreements.

But some Western officials have urged in recent days to include Hamas in peace efforts. Hamas violently seized control of Gaza in 2007 from Western-backed Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, after winning a parliamentary election a year earlier.

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A US Congressional aide said on Thursday, President Barack Obama will announce plans to withdraw all US combat forces from Iraq by August 2010, fulfilling a campaign pledge to wind down an unpopular war that divided Americans.

Obama is expected to make the announcement at Camp Lejeune, a Marine Corps base in North Carolina.

The aide, who spoke on condition of anonymity after Obama briefed lawmakers at the White House, said between 35,000 and 50,000 US troops now in Iraq would remain to train and equip Iraqi forces and conduct limited counter-terrorism operations.

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The Divine Performing Arts was in Antwerpen on February 23, 2009 . It was a delight for the audience. Among the audience was the general adviser of a major bank in Antwerpen, Mr. Fleurent, who was accompanied by his friend, Mrs. van Krunkelsven.

Mr. Fleurent admired the dancers and their beautiful costumes. “Very nice, and the costumes–very colorful and very flowing. It is like they are weightless,” he said.

Mrs. van Krunkelsven, a professional hairdresser, said, “This is special, it is something new, something different. Technically it is perfect, the synchronization is very good,” she said.

To find out when the DPA will be near you go to www.divineshows.com

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