Asia-Cast

Asia Cast for Saturday 2nd January

In this Bulletin …

- Homicides believed to be counted as suicides among Chinese officialdom;
- Suicide bomber kills 88 at volleyball game in Pakistan; and
- French reporters reported alive after being kidnapped in Afghanistan.

But first, here’s our SOH focus on China

***********************

There is growing speculation that the deaths of some Chinese officials may be homicide and not suicide.

According to one analyst, the confusing explanations for the recent deaths of six officials leaves open the possibility that some of the cases were actually homicides wrapped up in political struggles.

Tang Jingling, a lawyer in Guangzhou, said that an official who might be involved in something shady or may have exposed something sinister, may be killed and made to look like a suicide.

He believes in some cases political confrontations are behind it.

**********************

On the first day of the New Year, thousands of Hong Kong democracy campaigners took to the streets to call for universal suffrage and the release of jailed Chinese dissident, Liu Xiaobo.

Protesters marched through the city centre to the Central Government Liaison Office, chanting slogans and holding placards. The protest was watched over by hundreds of police officers and attracted the attention of big crowds of bystanders.

Thirty-thousand protesters joined the march, however police gave an estimate of only 4,600 people.

Last month the Hong Kong government revealed a proposal to increase the sizes of both the legislature and the committee responsible for electing the city’s chief executive.

But the plan fell short of the expectations of pro-democracy politicians, who have urged the government to introduce universal suffrage in 2012.

**********************
And now for the rest of today’s Asia Cast
*********************

At least 88 people have been killed after a suicide car bomb went off at a volleyball game in the northwest Pakistan village. This has been the deadliest strike in more than two months.

Pakistan has seen a surge in attacks blamed on the Taliban in recent months, as Islamist fighters retaliate military operations aimed at ending their northwest strongholds.

Britain has vowed to work with Islamabad to deal with the threat caused by violent extremism.

A vehicle packed with explosives was detonated with a man inside, as fans gathered at a field to watch two local teams face off at a volleyball tournament in the village of Shah Hasan Khan, in Bannu district. This borders the Taliban stronghold South Waziristan.

**********************

The United States would avenge a suspected terrorist attack on a US base in Afghanistan, an American intelligence official vowed.

Seven CIA officers were killed in the attack. Two of those killed were contractors with private security firm Xe, formerly known as Blackwater. Contractors are considered to be officers by the CIA.

The casualties included a mix of people;  CIA staff and contractors. Six others were wounded.

The Taliban has claimed responsibility for the attack, which occurred on Wednesday.

Information from a senior US official suggested the bomber walked into a gym facility at Forward Operating Base Chapman, which located in the Khost Province near the border of Pakistan. He detonated the bombs in a suicide vest.

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

An Indonesian chemical tanker was seized by Somali pirates on Friday, with 24 crew members in the Gulf of Aden, marking the first attack of the year.

While en route to India, the Singapore-flagged Premoni was incarcerated. It is the third vessel since August to be taken in the region patrolled by foreign navies.

The crew consisted of 17 Indonesians, five Chinese nationals, a Nigerian and a Vietnamese.

Pirates have also seized the Saint James Park on Monday. A UK-flagged chemical tanker with a crew of 26 from nine different countries. Yemeni authorities said the same day that a Yemeni freighter with 15 crew members had also been taken.

Currently 12 ships and around 270 seamen have been captured by Somalia pirates.

**********************

French media have reported that the two French journalists kidnapped in Afghanistan are alive and in good health.

Three Afghan assistants were kidnapped along with the reporters in Kapisa province north-east of Kabul earlier this week, officials said.

A spokesman for French TV Channel FR3, said they were in good condition. There was no word, however, on the condition of the three Afghans.

A French colleague said suspected Taliban militants ambushed the reporters as they were being driven through the war-torn region between Surobi and Tagab on Wednesday.

**********************

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