Asia-Cast

Asia Cast for Wednesday 24th February

In this Bulletin…

- Chinese Petitioners in Hunan Province, beware;
- Chinese regime throws birthday party for Mugabe; and
- Australian PM warns of major terror threat.

But first we have our Shen Yun quote of the day

[audio]

For more information please visit www.shenyunperformingarts.org.

Our SOH focus on China is next

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Victims of injustice in China’s Hunan Province are being threatened with detention and forced labour camp imprisonment if they petition. Signs threatening petitioners can be seen posted in Jiahe County, reported The Epoch Times.

The notices were addressed to persistent and noisy petitioners, showing photos of forced labour detainees, large handcuffs and policemen with austere expressions.

So-called persistent and noisy petitioners are really just persons who go to present valid complaints to the authorities.

An eyewitness said that his experiences among petitioners confirmed that they have been detained for petitioning. Those who petition continuously have been sent to re-education through labour camps.

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China is tightening its hold on internet users who want to set up their own websites. They are now required to meet regulators and produce identification cards.

Although, the technology ministry explains the measures are designed to tackle pornography, internet activists see it as increased authoritarian censorship.

The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology had just lifted a freeze on registration of new individual websites. But,  new website operators will now have to submit identification cards, as well as meeting regulators to get approval.

A number of websites are now being registered overseas in an attempt to avoid control.

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And now for the rest of today’s Asia Cast

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Chinese Communist Party authorities announced they hosted a birthday party for Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe. Mugabe is a leader scorned by many Zimbabweans and much of the world.

A picture posted on the Zimbabwe Foreign Ministry website showed the president at his 86th birthday party, cutting his cake. He addressed about 100 guests at the Chinese Embassy in Harare.

Human rights groups have routinely criticized the Chinese regime for supporting totalitarian African rulers like Mugabe.

The Chinese regime has pledged billions of dollars in aid to African countries in exchange for the raw materials it needs to expand China’s infrastructure.

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Bangladesh has deployed its army to the south-eastern Chittagong Hill Tracts. It follows violent clashes between Muslim settlers and Buddhist tribal people.

Officials say at least 30 people were injured in the violent eruption that occurred in the town of Khagrachari.

At least two persons were killed in clashes in other parts of the Hill Tracts over the weekend. One unconfirmed report listed the death toll higher.

Human rights group Survival International said that at least six tribal people were killed and hundreds of houses burnt to the ground. The attack was by soldiers and settlers on tribal villages they said.

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

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Underprivileged children from across India met with parliamentarians in New Delhi to press for a charter on education for all, alongside NGO and civil organisations.

One NGO volunteer said the state of education in India is very grave, and they are pressing improvements in education, to see that everyone gets equal rights to an education. They also called for child labourers to be rescued.

The Right to Free and Compulsory Education Act of 2009 provides education for all children between the ages of six and 14. They want children up to 18 years of age included under the act.

Watch this story at NTDTV.

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Australia’s Prime Minister Mr. Kevin Rudd has warned the country that they are now under a permanent and increased threat of militant attack.

Mr Rudd said there was a growing threat from Islamist radicals born or raised in Australia as he released a new report compiled by intelligence agencies.

He said the threat of home-grown terrorism is now increasing in Australia. He also said intelligence agencies warn that an attack could occur at any time.

The government said it also plans to work with communities to stamp out radicalism by helping all ethnic groups integrate better with mainstream society.

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