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Asia Beat: Jul 02 08
Beijing, China
Thousands of rioters torched police and government office buildings in southwest China in unrest triggered by allegations of a cover-up over a girl’s death. About 10,000 people mobbed government offices in Weng’an county, Guizhou province, on the weekend demanding justice over the teenager’s death after her body was found in a local river. Authorities claim the girl committed suicide, but residents claim the girl had been raped and murdered by a relative of a senior government official.
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Malaysia’s de facto opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim took refuge at the Turkish embassy this week over concerns for his safety after being accused of sodomy, a claim he dismissed as being politically motivated. The allegations come at a time of heightened political tension in Malaysia after the government’s worst ever election result earlier this year has put pressure on Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to quit. Anwar, who was sacked as deputy premier in 1998, has seen a revival of his fortunes since the opposition alliance’s strong showing in the March election.
Kathmandu, Nepal
Saying that politics and religion do not mix, nine Hindu priests who were once employed in the royal palace of Nepal have urged the government to allow them to serve deposed king Gyanendra, who has gone into virtual exile on the outskirts of the capital. A hard-headed businessman before he ascended to the throne, Gyanendra, the last king of Nepal, was devoutly religious, offering daily worship before the family deities and visiting public temples regularly. Following a command by lawmakers to leave the palace, the king turned commoner and left Narayanhity June 11, leaving behind his crown, throne and sceptre.
Kathmandu, Nepal
A 13-year-old Nepali boy stepped up and saved a baby girl stuck in a ravine 24 metres deep. The rescue bid was broadcast live on TV after two-and-half-year-old Aradhana Pradhan fell into a narrow ravine in Pokhara city, about 200 kilometres northwest of Kathmandu. Police and the army rescue teams tried to pull the toddler out of the ravine, but were unable to reach her, as the crevice was too narrow. Kamal Nepali volunteered to be strapped into a harness, and pulled the toddler to safety.
Bangkok, Thailand
Colourful Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej has survived a no-confidence vote, mustering enough votes in parliament despite harsh criticism of his four months in power and public protests. The outspoken 73-year-old still faces a political battle, with his government under fire over everything from soaring food prices to perceived slights to Thailand’s revered king. Two hundred and eighty MPs voted in support of Samak with 162 voting against.
San Fernando, The Philippines
Philippine Coast Guard divers who were flown out from the site of the sunken Princess of the Stars ferry in Sibuyan, were subjected to medical examination in Manila after toxic materials were reported in the hull of the vessel sunk last month by Typhoon Frank. An expert salvage team has been dispatched to remove the toxic cargo so divers could recover hundreds of bodies trapped inside the hull. The plan is to bore a hole in the hull to remove containers containing 10 tonnes of endosulfan pesticide. Only 57 of the 850 people onboard survived.
Toyako, Japan
Japanese immigration authorities interrogated and detained eight foreign journalists and 10 others who planned to speak at symposiums related to the Group of Eight summit July 7-9 in Toyako, Japan, a citizen’s group said Monday. G8 Media Network has received calls from independent reporters and photographers who were detained for five to 14 hours on average at three major airports in Japan. Two activists from South Korea have been deported.
Nusa Dua, Indonesia
Millions of discarded computers and mobile phones are posing a "major challenge" to human health, the chief of the UN Environment Program said. Achim Steiner told a UN conference on waste management on the island of Bali that 20 million mobile phones were thrown away each year in China
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