Asia-Cast

Asia Cast for Sunday 24th May

In this bulletin ..

- Media shut down on Chinese official’s rape case;
- UN Chief in Sri Lanka access plea; and
- Mongolians vote for new president.

But first here’s our SOH focus on China
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China’s media have been ordered to back off in reporting on a case involving three Chinese Communist Party officials accused of raping a young woman and how she fought back, killing one of them, as reported by The Epoch Times.

The news of how Ms Deng Yujiao, an attendant in a Karaoke bar in Badong County in Hubei Province, was assaulted on May 10 by the officials and tried to defend herself has attracted great attention and sympathy in China.

The news media initially echoed the public’s sympathy with Deng and defended her actions. In addition to Xinhua, almost all of the official Chinese media took her side, and the official who was killed received little sympathy.

However on May 22, the Internet Bureau of China’s State Council Information Office sent an urgent notice to every major Internet news network. The Bureau ordered restrictions to be put in place and to “quickly cool down on reporting Deng’s case.” The Propaganda Department of Hubei Provincial Committee also ordered the provincial media to restrain reports on Deng’s case.

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At 9:00 am on May 20, Tian Xiuyan, a petitioner from Liaoning Province, slit her wrists and tried to kill herself after being beaten up at the Beijing South Police Station, according to the Epoch Times.

Police refused to send her to the hospital in time. Angry petitioners moved Tian to the Erhuan Road and protested. Over one thousand people gathered and blocked the road.

According to petitioners, 30 year old Tian from Wujia Village, Beizhen County, Liaoning Province, was beaten up by people assigned to intercept petitioners from her local governing unit. In despair, she slit her wrists and tried to kill herself.

Mr. Zhou, a petitioner from Chongqing City, spoke of the incident saying that she bled a lot. She said many cars went by without stopping to help her. There was a police vehicle there, but it did not take her to the hospital.

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Statistics have revealed a widening income gap among different sectors in China.

Monopoly sectors such as electricity, telecom, finance, insurance and tobacco see an average salary two to three times as high as that of other sectors.

It is estimated that, if taking into consideration non-salary income and benefits, the actual income in these sectors may be five to ten times higher than the medium for all other industries. This difference is far above the commonly accepted standard of three times’ difference.

Labor rights activist Cai Chongguo, now living in France, said that the high income difference stems from China’s unreasonable economic structure and excessive government control.

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UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon is urging Sri Lanka to allow “unhindered access” by aid agencies to displaced people in the war-ravaged north.

He spoke after visiting a huge camp for refugees who fled fighting between Tamil rebels and government forces.

Following talks with President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Mr. Ban said the government was “doing its utmost” but that more could be done to assist victims.

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A year after vote-rigging claims in parliamentary polls triggered deadly riots in Mongolia, voters are at the polls once again electing a new president.

Current President Nambaryn Enkhbayar of the former Communist party is being challenged by Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj of the main opposition Democratic Party.

Polls opened at 11:00 pm on Saturday and are due to close at 2:00 pm on Sunday.

Last year, five people died and hundreds were hurt in protests over alleged fraud in the general elections.

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Sixty militants have killed 60 international and Afghan troops and made a record drugs haul in an operation in southern Afghanistan, the US military has said.

Its statement said the four-day attack targeted the town of Marja in Helmand province – a Taliban stronghold.

The troops seized 92 tonnes of opium poppy seeds and other drugs, “severely disrupting” a key narcotics centre and command hub of the insurgency.

There are reports civilians were killed during the operation, however the US denies this.

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