11/20/2009CHINA – UNITED STATES Why did Barack Obama fail in China? by Wei Jingsheng Hope for some movement on human rights and the release of political prisoners fades. Broad issues like the yuan-dollar rate, Afghanistan, Iran are part of an impossible diplomacy. US big business and the Chinese Communist Party are the big winners. The “father of democracy” in China provides an analysis of the situation.
New York (AsiaNews) – What we all have been most interested this week is US President Obama's visit to China. That is because we all had great expectations of this US President's visit. Chinese...
11/20/2009NEPAL Buddhists and animal rights activists against Hindu sacrifice to Gadhimai by Kalpit Parajuli In Bara district, where the ‘living Buddha’ meditates, more than a million Hindus are preparing to sacrifice half a million animals during the festival of Gadhimai Mela. Actress Brigitte Bardot wants the inhumane practice stopped. More than 12,000 police agents are mobilised for the occasion.
11/20/2009ASIA Swine Flu: Schools closed in Sri Lanka, doubts about the real number of deaths in China Zhong Nanshan, director of the Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Diseases, says "the figures released by the Ministry of Health of China represent only a small fraction of the total number of infected by the virus." Growing number of cases in India, Afghanistan and Nepal. Stationary situation in Thailand. In Asia, deaths are recorded at 1172.
11/20/2009PHILIPPINES Filipino Catholics back new anti-child pornography law by Santosh Digal The bill was signed into law on the eve of the 20th anniversary of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. Under the new act, anyone who produces, distributes or publishes child pornography can be fined or sent to jail. Catholic movements are helping abandoned youth
11/20/2009IRAN-US Tehran delays on nuclear deal, Obama threatens new sanctions The Iranian foreign minister announces a counter-proposal to the draft presented by the IAEA. The U.S. announces the study of "a package of possible steps." The crux seems to be the attitude of China and Russia, strongly interested in economic projects in Iran.
11/20/2009INDIA Hindu nationalist BJP against equal rights for Christian and Muslim Dalits The Bharatiya Janata Party and a Hindu Dalit organisation announce a two-month long nation-wide mobilisation to defend the 1950 Constitution Order. The proposed action is in response to a sit-in sponsored two days ago by the Catholic Church of India for the repeal of the same Order because it discriminates Dalits based on religion. The BJP accuses the government of betraying the constitution and conspiring in favour of minorities.
11/20/2009INDONESIA Indonesian Ulema boycott the apocalyptic "2012": its blasphemous by Mathias Hariyadi Dispute sparked by the story the day of reckoning: a mosque is razed to the ground and salvation is possible only in a church. In various areas of the country fundamentalists prevent the screening of the film and raid internet-points. Islamic leader: it is Christian proselytizing. Moderate Muslim: it is just a movie.
11/20/2009CHINA – UNITED STATES US Congress threatens sanctions over China’s yuan After Obama’s requests and the silence of China’s leaders, there is no sign that war over the value of the yuan is over. For some economists, Beijing’s monetary policy is helping the US contain inflation whilst making it easier for the world to pull itself out of the current crisis. For others, it is destroying the manufacturing capacity of the rest of the world whilst enslaving much of China’s population.
11/20/2009INDIA - CHINA - TIBET Five years in prison for a Tibetan writer for denouncing environmental degradation by Nirmala Carvalho A Chinese court sentenced Kunga Tsayang for revealing state secrets. Fifteen years for Kunchok Tsephel, founder of a website dedicated to the literature of Tibet. The trial was held behind closed doors. TCHRD activists demand respect for human rights.
11/20/2009UNITED NATIONS - NORTH KOREA - UN condemns North Korea and Myanmar for human rights violations The resolution against Pyongyang adopted by 97 votes in favour, 19 against and 65 abstentions. The North Korean deputy ambassador to the UN speaks of attack of political enemies. The motion against the Burmese regime approved by 92 votes in favour, 26 against and 65 abstentions. UN renews call for release of Aung San Suu Kyi and political prisoners.
11/20/2009ISRAEL - PALESTINE World Council of Churches against the settlements in East Jerusalem The ecumenical organization, which brings together 349 Christian denominations, appeals for "Israeli government to revoke its decision and its settlements program." Secretary General of the Council says the expansion of settlements "could destroy any chance of peace."
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