Asia-Cast

Asia Cast for Tuesday 26th May

In this bulletin…

- Professor speaks out over China’s censorship;
- Media cover-up creates more resentment over police beating; and
- Deadly cyclone causes chaos in India and Bangladesh.

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

A university professor in China caused quite a stir after openly criticising the Central Propaganda Department’s ideological control and repression of academic and journalistic freedom, says The Epoch Times.

Xia Yeliang from Peking University published an open letter on the Internet after a collection of memoirs of Peking University alumni was banned from being published.

Xia said an anonymous official announced the ban over the phone. “The publisher was too scared to ask questions, let alone protest,” Xia sighed. “It’s even worse than Hitler’s Gestapo.”

“They may come after me, and I may pay a high price for what I wrote. But no matter what happens I have no regrets, because my country needs such voices,” he said.

Although authorities have removed the letter, its contents have been widely circulated.

**********************

Misreporting by China’s state-run media appears to have increased public outrage over the violent beating of a teenager by police, says NTDTV.

The official report says that on May 19 Zhang Bing, an unemployed youth posing as a student, ran a red light in Baiyin City, Gansu Province and that traffic police were unable to stop him before he collided with traffic.

However, eyewitnesses posted online that Zhang Bin was indeed a university student and that four or five traffic police officers pulled him off his bike and violently assaulted him after he tried to run a red light.

China’s Internet users have accused state media of playing down the event to divert public attention. Adding that the police officers nearly killed Zhang and shouldn’t be let off lightly.

**********************

And now for the rest of today’s Asia Cast

**********************

Aung San Suu Kyi will testify in court this week according to the Burmese pro-democracy leader’s lawyers.

Ms Suu Kyi is on trial in Rangoon for violating the terms of her house arrest after a US man swam to her home.

Nyan Win, Ms Suu Kyi’s lawyer, said they have not had a chance to hold sufficient discussions with her. Adding, he was “absolutely certain” the authorities were trying to rush through the trial and that it “could be they have already written the verdict”.

Ms Suu Kyi has been called to testify after the prosecution cancelled the remaining witnesses. She has pleaded not guilty but is widely expected to be convicted at the much-criticised trial.

**********************

A cyclone that slammed into Bangladesh and India on Monday left 15 people dead and at least 300,000 marooned as it damaged scores of homes and burs dams, officials said.

A military-led rescue and relief operation was under way in Bangladesh, according to the food and disaster minister, who said five people had been confirmed dead.

“Five people died in the cyclone and we are still getting reports of the damage. The government has deployed the army, navy, coastguard and police to assess the situation,” Abdur Razzak told reporters.

In India, 10 people were killed, according to reports.

The cyclone hit the crowded West Bengal state capital of Kolkata, bringing down trees, electricity towers and smashing cars, witnesses said.

**********************

You’re listening to Asia Cast on the SOH Radio Network

**********************

Heavy floods in eastern Australia are continuing to leave over 20,000 people cut off.

Incessant rain and strong winds that have caused chaos in areas in between Brisbane and Sydney have eased, but several major highways remain closed.

Forecasters are predicting more storms later this week; it could take up to two weeks for the floodwaters to recede fully.

The worst affected parts of northern New South Wales remain swamped by murky brown water, state premier Nathan Rees has described the region as an “inland sea”.

Rescue workers have delivered emergency rations to thousands of people trapped in their homes.

A natural disaster zone has been declared and there is a warning that mass erosion on some beaches could change the landscape for good.

**********************

And now for our Shen Yun Performing Arts quote of the day

**********************

A costumer with the Seattle Opera described the Shen Yun Performing Arts show she attended on Saturday afternoon at Seattle’s Paramount Theatre as “absolutely fabulous.”

She described the flowing silk costumes in the show as “fun”, adding, “I love silks, so that is a beautiful thing, how it moves-very expressive. It moves, it has certain movement that other things don’t have. And the colours-I loved the colours.”

New York-based Shen Yun has been taking its lavish production portraying traditional Chinese culture on its 2009 Spring Tour of west coast cities in recent weeks.

Ms. Wetherill said she has always been interested in Chinese culture, and Shen Yun “puts it into a beautiful context.” “I love the message-you know, it’s like certain things should be allowed to flourish because they promote beauty and peace,” she said.

SOH is a proud sponsor of the Shen Yun Performing Arts 2009 World Tour, listen to our special coverage at sohnetwork.com.

For more information on the shows please visit www.shenyunperformingarts.org.

**********************

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