AsiaCast

Asia Cast for Thursday 3rd December

In this Bulletin…

- Chinese lawyer jailed for speaking out on overseas websites;
- Philippines replaces all police in southern province; and
- Conference discusses regional human rights monitoring framework.

But first, here’s our SOH focus on China
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According to The Epoch Times A Chinese human rights lawyer has been given a seven year prison sentence for allegedly posting articles on internet sites outside China.

Wang Yonghang’s apparent crime took place in 2008 when he published an open letter to China’s leaders. The letter said that the regime’s persecution of Falun Gong was not legal.

In July this year Wang was kidnapped and tortured by the authorities in Dalian City.

Although Wang’s family hired lawyers to defend him, the court hearing the case told them that they couldn’t meet with Wang as the case involved state secrets.

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An activist from rural China is blaming social instability on tyrannical officials who have been suppressing farmers’ land rights.

According to Zhang Jianping’s Rights Movement blog, almost 1,200 farmers were left without the means to support themselves after the authorities took their land.

Since 2008, the villagers have appealed to all levels of the authorities many times, but the issue is still unresolved.

Zhang told The Epoch Times that if the issue of the farmers survival was left unresolved, it would become a destabilizing factor to society and bring about more rights movements.

Pingnan County officials denied taking the farmers’ land when called by The Epoch Times.

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And now for the rest of today’s Asia Cast

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Scientists working on a DNA research project say they can trace shark fins sold in Hong Kong markets back to the location where the shark it was cut from lived.

Shark fin soup is considered a delicacy in China. The dish has become controversial in recent times because of the cruel methods used to bring many of the fins to market.

It is hoped that the new research will help to regulate the shark fin trade and prevent future extinction.

The US has proposed that six species of shark be listed under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species.

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Taiwan is creating a large demonstration zone for protesters to freely express themselves during an upcoming round of talks with China.

An official from Taiwan’s Straits Exchange Foundation said the purpose of the zone is to allow people with different views to express their opinions in public.

The zone will be set up near to where discussions with the Foundation’s Chinese counterpart will take place.

The negotiations represent the fourth round of the so called cross-Taiwan Strait talks.

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

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The entire police force of a southern Philippine province where 57 people were massacred is to be replaced.

The country’s Interior Secretary said the officers would be replaced by personnel from other regions to ensure an impartial investigation into the murders.

A local mayor, who belongs to a powerful clan in the province, has been charged with multiple counts of murder over the November 23 killings.

Those killed were trying to register an opponent to stand against the mayor in elections next year.

Elections in the Philippines are often hit by violence but this incident has horrified the nation. President Gloria Arroyo has promised that the killers will be brought to justice.

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A recent conference in Australia has looked at how a regional institution monitoring human rights in the Asia-Pacific region might be formed.

There’s currently no such monitoring body in the region. International experts say establishing one is important so governments with poor human rights records are pressured to change.

One of the challenges the idea faces is how to bring countries with differing human rights standards together.

The conference organizer said that previous discussions have always focused on the rights themselves, rather than how they could be monitored.

Watch NTDTV for more on this story.

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