Asia-Cast

Asia Cast for Monday 13th July

In this Bulletin …

- Compensation figure reveals much higher death toll in Xinjiang uprising;
- North Korean leader has cancer; and
- Third body found near Papua mine.

But first, here’s our SOH focus on China
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The Chinese regime recently announced special compensation plus funeral fees totalling 100 million Yuan   (US$14,634) for “the innocent dead” of the July 5 violence in Urumqi, as reported by The Epoch Times.

Urumqi Municipal Civil Bureau Director, Wang Fengyun said that Ministry of Civil Affairs will dispense special compensation fees of 200,000 Yuan (US$29,270) for each death-plus 10,000 Yuan (US$1,465) funeral fees for each innocent death, to the bereaved families.

Thus far, the first instalment of 50 million Yuan (US$7,317,000), has  been allocated. The total compensation of about 100 million Yuan (US$14,634),  can cover at least 500 victims’ families, a number that far exceeds the previously released official death toll of 184.

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And now for the rest of today’s Asia Cast
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Twenty-seven people, including an Australian woman Angelita Pires, are being brought to trial in East Timor, for the attempted murder of President Jose Ramos-Horta.

The confused incident, on 11 February 2008, saw guards and rebel soldiers shooting around Mr Ramos-Horta’s home.

Rebel leader Alfredo Reinado and one other rebel were killed in the attack, which Prime Minister Gusmao described as a coup attempt.

Ms Pires was the then lover of Mr Reinado and insists she is innocent.

Holding both East Timorese and Australian nationality, Ms Pires, 43, says she feels she has not been given a chance to prepare for the case.

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North Korean leader Kim Jong-il has life-threatening pancreatic cancer. Mr Kim was diagnosed with the illness last year, about the same time he was reported to have had a stroke.

Mr Kim, 67, was seen last week looking gaunt and walking with a limp, fuelling more speculation about his health.

The rare public appearance was at a memorial on 8 July to mark the 15th anniversary of his father’s death.

It has been widely reported that Mr Kim’s third son, Kim Jong-un, is being groomed as heir, although Pyongyang has made no announcement.

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It is said that Japan’s embattled Prime Minister, Taro Aso, is to call an election for 30 August.

His office said he had agreed the date with his Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and coalition partner, if bills already before parliament were passed first.

The Kyodo news agency reported that Mr Aso had told party lawmakers parliament would be dissolved on July 21.

The move comes after Mr Aso’s ruling coalition suffered a crucial defeat in local elections in the capital, Tokyo.

The opposition Democratic Party (DPJ) won 54 seats to 38 for the LDP, ending four decades of LDP dominance in the assembly.

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The body of a policeman has been found near a US Freeport gold mine in the Indonesian province of Papua, raising the recent death toll there to three.

Indonesia has increased its deployment of security forces to the province after the death of two mine employees.

The unexplained series of shootings began over the weekend.

The mine has previously been a target of Papuan separatist anger, but has also been the site of fighting between soldiers and police.

On Saturday, a 29-year old Australian employee of Freeport Mining was shot at and killed by unknown attackers while he was travelling in a Freeport vehicle at dawn, allegedly as he was on his way to play golf.

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The Pakistani government has started to return home some of the two million people displaced by the conflict in the Swat valley.

The first convoy of buses carrying people from temporary camps has begun its journey.

The army reopened roads into the troubled district after an offensive to drive out Taliban militants there.

Some of the displaced have already returned. Correspondents say they are likely to rely on aid for many months.

The government has said its priority is to return those living in temporary camps.

But the UN has stressed that the return of those displaced must be voluntary.

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