This a summary of stories carried on Radio Free Asia today April 15, 2010. Please use the links to go directly to the relevant RFA language website to listen to the stories or read original language transcripts. Some items are translated into English and are available on RFA’s English language page.
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- Lao fishermen on the Mekong are feeling the brunt of the river drought.
- Local villagers concerned that Se Katame dam project in Champassak province will drain river from the Nam Noi which they rely on for food and irrigation.
- Vientiane municipality limits celebrants to 100 thousand cubic meters of water for throwing at each other during the traditional Pimay (New Year) festivities.
- Youth drug addiction in Laos is mostly attributed to problems within the family.
- Political situation in Bangkok calm as Red Shirts regroup for next move against government.
- Land usage is being violated by turning agricultural land into development areas and causing a decrease in arable land.
- Eight Lao migrant workers arrested in Thai Ubon while returning home for New Year.
- Vientiane residents enjoy celebrating New Year, despite strict regulations.
- Dalai Lama offers condolences for the victims of the earthquake in Tibetan areas of China. Tibetan communities pray for the dead and the wounded.
- Kyigudo earthquake death toll rises to 617, according to Xinhua.
- Quake rattles Toronto Tibetan community with Canadian PM Stephen Harper extending Canada’s condolences for the loss of life.
- UN University, a UN think-tank based in Hamilton, Ontario publishes report on how to improve sanitation levels globally, in which it says far more people in India have access to a mobile phone than to a toilet.
- Indian aid workers battle blocked roads and downed power lines as they rush aid to victims of giant tornado that ravaged hundreds of thousands of homes, killing 129 people in the West Bengal, Bihar and Meghalaya states.
- Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou says Taiwan could sign historic trade deal with China as early as June and that it would bring major benefits to the whole Asian region.
1. Vietnam to use Japanese bullet train technology.
2. Appeals court for dissident writer Tran Khai Thanh Thuy and her husband to be held April 16. INTERVIEW with Do Ba Tan.
3. Multi-party Thailand chaos justifies Vietnam’s single party system? INTERVIEW with Dr. Nguyen Thanh Giang.
4. Original Vietnamese successful in Thailand.
5. Mekong River may become exhausted if China continues to operate hydro dams, share water with the Duong Tu River. INTERVIEW with Nguyen Ngoc Tran, chairman of Climate Change Research Program.
6. Vietnam responses to climate change effects.
7. Old book exchange campaign raises basic questions on communism.
1. Chinese premier Wen arrives in quake zone while death toll continues to rise.
2. Taiwan to aid quake relief effort in China. VIDEO
3. Qinghai quake fans tremor fear in LA.
4. Bloggers blame Chinese govt for Qinghai quake. PHOTOS AND VIDEO
5. Thousands of peasants protest sale of land by local officials in suburban Shanghai.
6. Laid-off workers rally to demand housing in Suizhou, Hubei.
7. Premier Wen’s article on late party chief Hu Yaobang prompts call to rehab chief Zhao Ziyang.
8. U.S. Christian group issues award to Chinese dissident Fan Yafeng in absentia.
9. Jailed activist Yuan Xianchen’s health deteriorates as he awaits appeals trial.
10. Twitter wants to be tool to thwart censorship.
11. China raises minimum down payment for second homes.
12. Former president of Beijing University: China has no world-class universities.
13. Literary Salon: Book review—Premier Wen Jiabao’s “Faith & Hope, Pt II.”
1. Phnom Penh remains quiet as of yesterday. Most people are out in the countryside, flocking to pagodas and resort areas across the country.
2. In the past five days, villagers of Voeunsay and O’ Chum districts in Ratanakiri experience serious vomiting, diarrhea. Six die and 48 hospitalized. No result yet from specimens, but authorities concerned it may be cholera.
3. Hundreds of Naga World workers plan major strike to force the casino to honor decision by arbitrary council recommending the company take back workers it dismissed.
4. Three thousand young people participate in popular arts performance in Thpong district, Kg Speu province. Organizers aim to restore traditional arts rituals, promote moral ethics, such as being considerate, respectful, and polite.
1. SK human rights organization sends 100 thousand leaflets to NK on Kim Il Sung’s birthday, Aptil 15.
2. Rebuking interpretations of change in U.S. position on the causes of the sinking of SK naval ship, U.S. has maintained a consistent “wait-and-see” approach.
3. Commemorative events are held nationwide in honor of 60th anniversary of Korean War.
4. State Dept updates on NK, including U.S. citizen Gomes’ status in NK.
5. Senate Armed Services Committee nomination hearing on commander of U.S. Cyber Command.
6. WHO project for NK health.
7. News analysis – Q&A: Problems regarding additional opening of Rajin Port.
- Washington, Russia will help new Kyrgyz government.
- Earthquake in Tibet and China’s strategy in the region.
- Xinjiang newspaper’s article on ethnic unity and July 5 incident. Reactions from Uyghur experts.
- Uyghur schools and earthquake in the Uyghur region.
- Beijing-based Ai Zhishing foundation releases report on Uyghur immigrants in Beijing.
1. Explosions rock Burma’s Rangoon, nine die. Explosions rock Burma water festival, 30 hurt: witnesses. State radio says eight, including three women, were killed.
2. U.S. warns junta it can review dialogue. Assistant Secretary of State Kurt Campbell said that the U.S. is disappointed with the junta’s refusal to make democratic changes, despite U.S. engagement efforts.
3. Timber smuggling from Kachin State to China doubles in a month. Hundreds of Chinese trucks were seen carrying logs through the border post.
- Qinghai official says death toll is 617, 9000+ injured, 300 missing. Monk at Jiegu monastery says 680 dead. More than 100 monks at another monastery buried alive. Witnesses tell of search, overnight in zero degree weather. PHOTOS
- Witnesses, residents, volunteers say serious shortage of relief, medication. Rescue work is very slow. Many rescue workers have acute altitude sickness. Press from other provinces barred from Yushu.
- More than 1000 farmers protest in Shanghai during the past two days against land grab by govt.
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