Asia-Cast

Asia Cast for Saturday 12th December

In this Bulletin …

- Appellants still seeking compensation for forced relocation;
- Thai man pardoned from jail by Cambodian King; and
- Protests over new Indian state.

But first, here’s our SOH focus on China
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Appellants in China found hope when they heard that news that the Supreme People’s Court had upheld the rights of petitioners seeking compensation for forced relocation.

However their hopes were shattered when they were again rejected. The residents of Yixin City in eastern China had been appealing to government offices since their land was taken in 2003.

A bus station now stands where there houses once did. They have appealed to the court for the right to file a lawsuit to seek proper compensation and relocation.

Some of these residents say they were threatened into signing an agreement for their eviction and the demolition of their properties.

For more on this story read The Epoch Times.

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A Chinese man has been stranded in Japan’s airport for the last month after China has repeatedly refused to let him back into the country.

Feng, 54, has tried eight times to go back to China, but has been refused each time. Chinese authorities’ refusal came after he published articles criticizing the Chinese authorities for the Tiananmen Square massacre in 1989.

He has also been fired from his job as director of the Chinese Enterprise Research Centre.

Feng says that many people in China have the courage to help change the situation in China. He believes that the Chinese legal system and human rights will be soon established in China.

For more on this story read The Epoch Times.

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A scholar from China visiting Sweden has been refused return into her homeland of Shanghai.

Xiao Qiao, whos given name is Li Jianhong, began an independent website called QiMeng Forum or A Forum for Enlightenment. The site contained information about the June 4 Tiananmen Square massacre. It was later shut down by Chinese authorities.

Xiao is seeking an open apology and financial compensation from the Division of Exit-Entry Administration of Shenzhen Public Bureau for denying her entry to her homeland.

Mr. Wang, an official at the embassy said her demands would not be met and she should be showing remorse and apologize to the Chinese authorities for her offensive conduct.

For more read The Epoch Times.

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And now for the rest of today’s Asia Cast
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A Thai man, who is accused of spying on the former Prime Minister of Thailand, has been pardoned a seven year jail sentence from the King of Cambodia.

Siwarak Chothipong, 31, was accused of supplying the former Prime Minister, Mr Thanksin’s, private flight details to Thai diplomats while he was on a visit to Cambodia.

Since Mr Thanksin has been named a economic advisor to Cambodia, relations between the two nations have been tense.

Mr Thanksin is wanted in Thailand to serve a prison sentence for corruption.

Following a request from Cambodia’s Prime Minister, Hun Sen, King Norodom Sihamoni signed the royal pardon on Friday morning.

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You’re listening to Asia Cast on the SOH Radio Network
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North Korea has agreed with the US to commence the stalled talks about ending its nuclear programme.

Pyongyang says they will work with the US to narrow their remaining differences.

The announcement came after a visit from US special envoy Stephen Bosworth.

State media say the US and North Korea where able to come to common ground and find a considerable understanding of each other.

A series of mutual understandings were also reached on the urgent need to resume the six party talks.

These have been the first official talks since President Barrack Obama took office.

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Sporadic violence has occurred over plans to carve out a new state in India’s new state in Southern Andhra Pradesh.

In 12 districts a strike is being held and in some places protestors have attacked public transport vehicles.

The state has been plunged into a political crisis over the move to form a new Telangana state.

Demands are now being fuelled for other new states across India.

In the eastern west Bengal state two parties have said they will begin campaigning for separate states.

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