Asia-Cast

Asia Cast for the week ending Thursday 26th August

In this bulletin:

- Report says thousands could have been saved from China floods,
- Hong Kong mourns Philippine hostage victims,
- Taiwan keeps old tradition honouring the dead alive, and
- Mother Teresa honoured.

But first our SOH focus on China.

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ET-This year’s summer rains have been a season of devastation and suffering in China. Many rivers have registered record-breaking flood levels. Among multiple disasters, the recent mudslides in northwestern China’s Gansu Province stand out.

According to a report published in the Epoch Times newspaper, thousands of lives could have been saved if the recommendations of experts had been followed.

The report calls attention to the way in which state policies have combined with this year’s heavy rains to produce an especially destructive flood season in China.

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ICT-Falun Gong practitioners filed a lawsuit against the Governor of China’s Guangdong Province while he was on a recent visit to Taiwan. Huang Huahua is the first governor-level Chinese official to be sued by Falun Gong practitioners during a visit to Taiwan.

The lawsuit was filed with Taiwan’s High Court and alleges Huang is in breach of two United Nations conventions for his part in the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners in China.

Our Inside China Today podcast has interviews with the Chairman of the Falun Dafa Association of Taiwan and a prominent lawyer.

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NTDTV-China’s state news agency said this week certain non-violent crimes may no longer be punishable by death.

A draft amendment to China’s criminal code proposes dropping 13 ‘non-violent offences’ that carry the death penalty.

The move is being seen as a small step forward. But observers say most of the crimes in the proposal are uncommon. Amnesty International said it would be impossible to evaluate any impact of the law change due to China’s secrecy over execution numbers.

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NTDTV-A Beijing official recently told dozens of Hong Kong journalists they should assist the regime and not act as a watchdog during times of crisis.

The remarks were made at a luncheon organised by the Hong Kong Journalists Association. Many were critical of Beijing’s attitude, saying that a free media helped protect human rights during social conflicts.

Hong Kong residents later protested the Chinese regime’s interference with media freedom.

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SOH takes a look across the wider Asia-Pacific region.

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NTDTV-With Japan’s Self Defense Forces showing off their firepower to the general public Tuesday, it was a case of managed mayhem at the foot of Mount Fuji.

From tank shells to helicopters, the crowd of 9,000 people were treated to a cacophony of live explosions and bursts of gunfire.

Despite its impressive technology and military hardware, the Japanese Self Defense Forces have not fired a single shot outside Japan since their inception 50 years ago.

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NTDTV-At a harbour in Taiwan’s north, paper boats known as water lanterns were burned Monday to celebrate the hungry ghost festival.

For the residents of Keelung, the tradition has particular significance. It started after hundreds of the region’s early settlers lost their lives in the struggle for the island’s limited resources.

Thousands of spectators watched the festivities in fascination. Many brought their families to learn about Taiwanese culture and traditions.

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Coming up on Asia Cast:

- Hong Kong in mourning,
- The greening of Australian politics, and
- Inaugural Youth Olympic Games a success.

But first

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

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Back with the rest of today’s Asia Cast I’m Rich Crankshaw

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With Hong Kong in mourning, the islands media have been highly critical of the Filipino authorities over their handling of the recent bus siege in Manila. Eight Hong Kong tourists were left dead after a gunman took those aboard a Manila tourist bus hostage.

Hong Kong media questioned the approach of the rescue attempt. The Philippine police have said a committee will look into the handling of the incident. Travel experts said the incident is likely to deter Hong Kong tourists from visiting the Philippines.

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An aeroplane crash in Nepal Tuesday left 14 people dead. The passenger plane went down 80 kilometres outside Nepal’s capital Kathmandu in heavy rain.

The plane had been flying to a popular trekking region in eastern Nepal. It was carrying 11 passengers, six of them foreigners, as well as a crew of three.

The plane had been called back to Kathmandu because of the bad weather conditions.

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And in Australia, with negotiations continuing between the main parties and independent MPs, the Green Party have been the only clear winners emerging from the inconclusive elections.

The Greens had their best showing ever and will hold the balance of power in the new Senate.

So which ever way the independents swing, Australian politics is looking greener then ever.

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On a lighter note.

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The IOC hailed the inaugural Youth Olympic Games as perfection as they drew to a close in Singapore this week.

The Games featured all 26 Olympic sports, but with some alterations to engage a younger audience.

YouTube and social networking sites Facebook and Twitter were also embraced by the Youth Games to more fully tap into youth culture.

China will host the next Youth Games in 2014. The IOC said China could learn from Singapore’s example that bigger is not always better.

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August 26 marked the one-hundredth anniversary of Mother Teresa’s birth. Hundreds attended a mass in Kolkata, India celebrating the selfless nun who dedicated her life to serving the sick and poor in India.

In a message read out at the Mass, Pope Benedict XIV described Mother Teresa as an ‘inestimable gift’ and said ‘this year will be for the church and the world an occasion of joyful gratitude to God.’

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