Asia-Cast

Asia Cast for Monday 10th May

In this Bulletin…

- People’s response to China’s real-name internet policy;
- Philippine election violence runs right up to polling day; and
- Taiwan makes successful invention fair début .

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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Academics and Netizens in China have been expressing their concerns over news the regime intends to implement a real name system for the internet to stop anonymous comments being posted online.

China‘s consideration of a real-name system is not something new. However, a speech by a senior member of China’s Propaganda Department is being seen as a sign the policy is finally going ahead.

The regime said as long as long as China’s Internet was open to the public, netizens’ comments could be expressed. Something that could be a potential source of unrest.

With news a similar registration system may be applied to mobile phones, one internet user commented that the chances for Chinese people to speak the truth were getting less and less.

The Epoch Times, has looked into why the regime fears the internet.

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Lawyers and activists in Taiwan have strongly opposed a move by the Ministry of Justice allowing of China’s Legislative Affairs Committee members to participate in Taiwan’s legal exchange programs as ‘legal professionals’.

Those opposed to the executive order issued by Taiwan’s Ministry of Justice held a press conference Friday. They said incumbent members of China’s Legislative Affairs Committee were associated with a range of human rights abuses; including the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners and the operation of extralegal detention facilities and forced labour camps

Taiwan’s bar association told The Epoch Times it was raising the issue with the Ministry of Justice.

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And now for the rest of today’s Asia Cast

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Five people were killed Sunday during further violence on the eve of today’s elections in the Philippines.

Authorities said the five dead were shot in two remote parts of the country. Both killings involved gunmen loyal to local candidates.

In a separate incident communist guerrillas destroyed five vote counting machines. Many have criticised the electronic machines that are being used for the first time. The authorities have issued assurances the machines will work.

If opinion polls are correct, Benigno Aquino should win by a landslide as Filipinos seek to rid their country corruption.

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A 7.2-magnitude earthquake hit the north of Sumatra, Indonesia Sunday. It was felt across the whole of Indonesia and there were reports of some damage and power outages.

The quake occurred close to the site of 2004′s devastating magnitude-9.2 quake that triggered the Indian Ocean Tsunami.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center did issue a local tsunami warning, but it was later lifted.

The US Geological Service said Sunday’s quake was felt as far away as Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore and Thailand.

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

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The United States said it is worried about the way Burma is preparing for its upcoming elections. A top US envoy said he was troubled by what he had seen as Burma gets ready for its first elections in twenty years.

There were concerns over both the elections laws and the environment that’s been created by the ruling military junta.

Washington’s assistant secretary for East Asian and Pacific affairs is in Burma for talks with the junta and the opposition National League for Democracy led by Aung San Suu Kyi.

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Taiwan’s début at a highly regarded international invention fair has been a highly successful affair. Each of the 17 inventions Taiwan presented at the 2010 Concours Lepine in Paris won a medal.

The Taiwanese medal haul included four golds. They were awarded to a biocide air filter, an ergonomic chair, a custom-made LED lamp and a reusable adhesive.

The head judge said most of the Taiwan entries were highly regarded by the judges because they were practical and met everyday needs.

The Taiwanese delegation said they had agreed Taiwan should make an even stronger showing at the invention fair in 2011.

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