Asia Cast

Asia Cast for Sunday 13th June

In this Bulletin…

- Major floods as snow melts in northwest China;
- Kyrgyzstan appeals for help over ethnic violence; and
- Teenage sailor rescued from Indian Ocean.

Our SOH focus on China is next.

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Severe flooding has affected around 400,000 people in northwest China and left at least two people dead. Melt water from the heaviest snowstorms in six decades has swept down over grasslands making a bad situation in the region worse.

The snowstorms themselves affected nearly two million people in the region. Killing as many as 30 people and causing economic losses of up to $390 million US dollars.

The flood waters have risen record levels, affecting 22 counties and cities in the Xinjiang region. At least 15,000 people have been relocated. And about 8,000 livestock have died as a result of the harsh weather.

You can see some of the devastation from the floods on NTDTV.

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According to The Epoch Times newspaper, the family and friends of a Chinese poet, writer and activist have launched an appeal for help. After three years in prison Li Hong is in a critical condition.

In March 2007 Li was sentenced to six years in prison after publishing articles criticising the regime’s human rights record in advance of the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

He was later diagnosed with muscular dystrophy but was denied medical parole. According to a report by the advocacy group Human Rights in China he is now at risk of paralysis.

The Epoch Times has more on their website about Li’s activism, worsening medical condition and the appeal for help.

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And now for the rest of today’s Asia Cast

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Workers a Honda factory in southeast China have been on strike over pay and conditions. The factory in Zhongshan, Guangdong Province employs 1,700 workers. They manufacture low value car parts such as locks and mirrors which are shipped out to assembly plants.

The worker’s started their strike on Wednesday. Then on Friday about 500 workers gathered outside the factory after a protest march. They were calling for better pay and independent unions.

One worker said they didn’t want to strike because nobody wanted to lose their job, but they needed to earn more money to take back home.

NTDTV has more on the worker’s demands and the factory’s response.

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Ethnic violence in Kyrgyzstan has left almost 80 people dead. The interim government has asked Russia to help bring an end to the ethnic clashes in the southern Kyrgiz city of Osh.

Kyrgyzstan’s interim government said the situation in Osh was out of control and they needed the entry of outside armed forces to calm the situation down.

But Russia has declined to send troops to Kyrgyzstan at this time.

The unrest comes ahead of a referendum on the constitution later this month. According to local reports, the violence broke out between rival gangs and developed into gun battles late on Thursday.

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

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India has said a two-month blockade by ethnic tribes in the country’s northwest may soon end.

The announcement comes as more than two million people in Manipur state face the prospect of running out of food, fuel and vital medicines.

For years, tribal groups in Manipur have resisted the authority of New Delhi. They claim the central government has neglected them instead of listening to them.

But now protesters from the Naga Students Federation have offered to end the road blockade that has crippled the region.

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An American teenager trying to become the youngest person to sail solo around the world has been rescued in the Indian Ocean.

Sixteen-year-old Abby Sunderland had been stranded in heavy seas after the mast on her yacht broke.

Her yacht was spotted halfway between Australia and Africa by an aerial search team Friday. Maritime authorities said she was picked up by a French fishing vessel.

The teenager is well and in good spirits. She was trying to break the record set by her brother who sailed solo around the world aged 17.

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And we now bring you the Shen Yun quote of the day

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SOH is proud to be a sponsor of Shen Yun Performing Arts.

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