Asia Cast

Asia Cast for Saturday 31st October

There are fears of more flooding in the Philippines as the fourth storm in as many weeks batters the nation. (Courtesy of the Internatoinal Rice Research Institute)

In this Bulletin…

- China criticized for forcing Uighur girls into service;
- Philippines battered by more storms; and
- US diplomats to visit Buma for talks.

But first, here’s our SOH focus on China
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The Chinese regime has been accused of removing Uighur girls from their homes in Xinjiang and putting them into service for in other parts of China.

Speaking at a Tokyo press conference, exiled Uighur leader Rebiya Kadeer said most of the 300,000 Uighur women transferred to work in China are 14 to 25 years old.

Kadeer criticized the action saying most of the girls were working under severe conditions while there were plenty of jobs in their homeland.

Kadeer is the leader of the World Uighur Congress. She is visiting Japan until Monday delivering speeches at 10 universities across the nation.

Watch NTDTV for more on this.

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China’s writers copyright watchdog is hoping to resolve a copyright violation dispute with Google without a lawsuit.

The Chinese Written Works Copyright Society reportedly found nearly 18,000 books by 570 Chinese authors that had been scanned by Google. Most of the works had been included in Google’s digital library without any notification or payment to the authors.

The allegations have sent writers across China rushing to hold meetings with their lawyers. A Google executive is flying to Beijing for talks with the Society next week.

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Architects say the burned-out headquarters of China’s state-run broadcaster CCTV can be repaired despite extensive damage.

Ole Scheeren of the Dutch based Office for Metropolitan Architecture is buildings project leader. He said the five billion yuan (seven hundred million US dollar) flagship building complex will not have to be pulled down.

In February this year CCTV went ahead with a large unauthorised fireworks display from the roof of a hotel comprising part or the complex. But the building, which was still under construction, caught fire. The huge blaze lasted several hours, killing at least one firefighter.

Twelve people, including the former head of CCTV’s construction office, were arrested in connection with the fire.

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

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And now for the rest of today’s Asia Cast

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The Philippines has been battered by the fourth storm in a month. Typhoon Mirinae has lashed the eastern province of Quezon, bringing heavy rain and winds to the region.

Forecasters said Mirinae was following the same route as September’s storm, Ketsana, which dumped the heaviest rains in 40 years on Manila.

Many parts of the country are still reeling after the worst storm-triggered flooding in decades. Civil defence spokesman Ernesto Torres said officials were preparing for the worst.

Torres said that flooding was expected in some areas as the ground was already so saturated with water.

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Rights campaigners have denounced the five year prison sentence handed down to an environmental activist in Turkmenistan.

Human Rights Watch said Andrei Zatoka did not receive a fair trial. The rights group also said the alleged assault Zakota was charged with was staged.

Rachel Denber, Europe and Central Asia division deputy director at Human Rights Watch said Zatoka hds been under pressure for years and knew that an effort to silence him was coming.

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The US is continuing efforts to engage with Burma’s reclusive military regime.

The State Department said Friday that Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Kurt Campbell and his deputy, Scot Marciel, plan to visit the military-ruled country early next week.

Deputy State Department spokesman Robert Wood said the pair expect to meet with senior government officials and with members of the opposition including Aung San Suu Kyi and representatives of ethnic groups.

Last month the Obama administration said that the longstanding US approach of isolating Myanmar had not worked. But said it would not ease sanctions without progress on democracy and human rights.

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