Asia Cast

Asia Cast for Friday 27th November

In this Bulletin…

- Mass protest over Guangzhou incinerator ;
- Asian scholars meet for South China Sea workshop ; and
- Seven charged in connection with Mumbai attacks.

But first, here’s our SOH focus on China
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In the southern city of Guangzhou this week over a thousand protesters voiced their opposition to plans by local officials to build a waste incineration plant near their homes.

According to state-media reports that were later censored, the protest started at the local petition office in Panyu district. It then moved to the city authorities building.

The protesters used their mobile phones to post live updates on Twitter as well as publishing photos and video online.

Residents have a range of health and environmental concerns. They say they cannot believe safety assurances from experts appointed by local officials

Read The Epoch Times for more on this story.

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NTDTV has reported on the plight of a United States citizen who has been detained in China for two years.

American geologist Dr Xue Feng is currently being held at an unknown location in Beijing.

Xue acquired a commercial database on the Chinese regime’s oil industry while working in China for a Colorado based energy consultancy. He was subsequently charged with stealing state secrets.

Xue is asking for the international community to help secure his release. At a meeting with US Consular Officials he revealed scars on his arms where integrators had tortured him with lit cigarettes.

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And now for the rest of today’s Asia Cast

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A meeting of international scholars is taking place in Vietnam to address territorial disputes in the South China Sea.

China and six other nations, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei, Singapore and the Philippines, claim sovereignty to areas in the region.

It is believed that there are rich reserves of oil and other natural resources under the South China Sea.

The region’s smaller claimants have been worried by China’s growing assertiveness. The workshop is being seen as an effort to bring the issue to the world stage.

The two-day meeting is due to emphasise co-operation between all sides, in order to maintain security and development.

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Hong Kong police are investigating a group on the social networking site Facebook which appeared to call for a mass suicide.

Chinese state media said nearly 190 people joined the group, which allegedly urged them to kill themselves on December 21.

Authorities first became aware of the site after a student who attempted to commit suicide spoke to social workers.

The group has been since taken down, but police said they were trying to contact all members and its creator. Under Hong Kong law encouraging a person to kill themselves or assisting their suicide is punishable with a prison sentence of up to 14 years.

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

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In India, seven people have been charged in connection with last year’s attacks in Mumbai.

The defendants were charged with acts of terrorism, money laundering, supplying funds for terrorism, and providing tools for terrorism. The lawyer for one of the suspects said that all of the defendants had pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The suspects face the death penalty if convicted of committing an act of terrorism.

The four-day siege in Mumbai began November 26, 2008. Gunmen attacked and launched simultaneous attacks in multiple locations. At least 160 people were killed, as well as nine of the 10 attackers.

India blames the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Tayyiba militant group for the attacks.

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A US federal investigation has found a strong link between Chinese made drywall and corroded electrical wiring in many new homes across the United States.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission released a report on Monday. It says the drywall could also be the cause of respiratory problems home-owners have reported.

Thousands of complaints about rotten egg odours and failing electrics in new homes prompted the investigation. Most of the affected homes were built during a construction boom after devastating hurricanes. Drywall had to be imported from China to meet the demand.

Investigators say excessive levels of hydrogen sulphide caused the corrosion problem.

Watch NTDTV for more.

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