Apple Apps Blocked In China

Apple appears to have blocked iPhone applications related to the Dalai Lama in its China App Store, according to news reports.

This would make Apple the latest U.S. technology company to censor its services in China.

It is  also another skirmish between Chinese officials desperate to keep control of information in the country and rapidly advancing technology, which is making that aim more and more difficult.

A report on the IT World website says apps, appearing in most countries’ versions of the App Store, do not currently appear in the Chinese version.

And it is not only information about the Dalai Lama that’s being cut off. Another app related to Rebiya Kadeer, who like the Dalai Lama is an exiled minority leader out of favor with the China’s authorities, is also unavailable in the China App Store.

IT World says the apparent censorship comes after carrier China Unicom launched iPhone sales two months ago, making regulatory approval of the phone’s contents in the country necessary for the first time.

“We continue to comply with local laws,” Apple spokeswoman Trudy Muller said in an e-mail when asked about the missing apps. “Not all apps are available in every country”

China To Restore Xinjiang Access

As Chinese Internet users are complaining about increased curbs, Chinese authorities announced they would be restoring online access and lift a ban on text messages and international calls in Xinjiang.

The move comes  months after deadly ethnic unrest prompted a communications shutdown.

AFP quoted the official Xinhua news agency, which cited the regional government saying it had restored access to part of the wire’s Web site as well as parts of the Web site of the state-run People’s Daily newspaper.

“And according to relevant circumstances, (the government) will gradually restore access to other Web sites and Internet services, and open up mobile text messages and international long-distance phone services,” the report said.

Hmong Forced Back To Laos

 

In the latest blow to refugee seekers in Asia thousands of Thai military with batons and riot shields today began forcibly repatriating some 4000 Hmong from a border camp in Thailand back to Laos.

Thailand chose to ignore protests from U.N. refugee officials, international rights groups, and the United States.

RFA quoted Col. Thana Charuvat, who is overseeing the deportation of the 4,371 Lao Hmong, that the initial busloads departed peacefully.

Neither journalists nor independent observers were permitted to witness the operation at Huay Nam Khao camp.

The Hmong are a lost people in communist Laos and Vietnam. There homes straddle the mountains in both countries. They allied with the US in the Vietnam war and since then have incurred the wrath of the both regimes.

The refugees fear persecution back in Laos.

The move comes barely weeks after Cambodia repatriated 20 ethnic Uyghur refugee seekers to China seemingly in contravention of international law.

Uyghurs’ Fate Slammed

The New York Times used its editorial pages today to lambaste Cambodia’s deportation of 20 Uyghurs as a breach of international law. China and Western nations also come in for well-deserved criticism.

But why does anyone expect either China or Cambodia to heed international protests and abandonment of international law in such cases? Both countries have learned they can behave with impunity even in a matter so tragic as refugees, including infants, facing nearly certain ill-treatment upon their repatriation.

Daily RFA News Summary December 10

This a summary of stories being carried on Radio Free Asia today December 10, 2009. 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.

If there are stories that you want to hear more about or you would like to see covered we would love to hear from you. If you have a story to tell we will listen.RFAs main page has contact details for all the language services.

RFA daily news summary Thurdays Nov 12

Radio Free Asia’s Daily Language Service News Summary

RFA EXCLUSSIVE:  TODAY AN INTERVIEW OF PRESIDENT OBAMA’S BROTHER BY THE CANTONESE SERVICE .

This a summary of stories being carried on Radio Free Asia today November 12, 2009. 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.

If there are stories that you want to hear more about or you would like to see covered we would love to hear from you. If you have a story to tell we will listen.RFAs main page has contact details for all the language services.

Lao:

1. Lao Ministry of Energy and Mining to inspect investors for those who get mining concessions but never start operations, hoping to sell to bigger players for profit.
2. UXO Lao severely short of funds and labor. The Government is under pressure to clear land for farmers but officials say they lack money and employees to keep up with demand.
3. AIDS center estimates 5000 HIV cases in Laos. Earlier the Government announced 3,900 HIV/AIDS cases, but has now increased the estimate.
4. Lao sports official says only 1000 tickets left for SEA Games’ opening and closing ceremonies.
5. Sky-rocketing prices in Vientiane generate more land-related conflicts.
6. According to health official, 1,500 people seek medical help every month for skin problems caused by fake cosmetics.
7. Vientiane lacks data about mining potential need to attract investors.
8. Lao university students concerned by the lack of education opportunities for underprivileged youth.

Tibetan:

1. Dalai Lama ends public teachings in Arunachal Pradesh by exhorting thousands of his followers to maintain Buddhist culture.
2. Chinese FM spokesman Qin Gang says President Barack Obama’s race and background should mean he is sympathetic to China’s opposition to the Dalai Lama and Tibetan independence.
3. China should abolish secretive “black jails” used to hold aggrieved citizens, Human Rights Watch says in new report launched ahead of President Obama’s visit.
4. President Obama leaves on his debut presidential tour of Asia seeking to revive America’s prestige as regional power. It is seen as a trip much heavier on symbolism than diplomatic substance.
5. U.S. Treasury Sec Timothy Geithner says a strong dollar is “very important” to the U.S. and praised China’s role in the global economic recovery.
6. The Dharamsala-based Active Non-violence Education Center calls for objective reporting by media to spread the message of peace according to Tibetan Administration-in-exile reports.

Burmese:

1. Japan most likely will resume Official Development assistance to Burma after the 2010 election according to the Japanese based NGO Burma Info.
2. India’s policy towards Burma one sided, says Human Rights Watch Asia director in press conf in India.
3. 88 student leader Ma Mee Mee transferred again from Insein to Kathar prison and Ko Thet Zaw from Moulmein to Insein.

Vietnamese:

1. Vietnam Parliament to supervise creation of schools and improvement in teaching standards.
2. Vietnam Parliament prepares the next week’s Q&A for Vietnam PM Nguyen Tan Dung.
3. Price of gold on Vietnamese market continues to soar.
4. OSC: French PM arrives in Vietnam for talks on economic ties.
5. UN Food and Agriculture Organization hails achievement of Vietnam in fighting hunger.

Mandarin:

1. RFA EXCLUSIVE – Family vows to resist forced demolition with blood in eastern China city of Linyi. PHOTO
2. Longtime Sichuan rights activist Liu Zhengyou arrested on charges of fraud.
3. Police round up petitioners in Beijing and Shanghai before arrival of President Obama.
4. Tiananmen mother Ding Zilin urges President Obama to rescue jailed dissident Liu Xiaobo.
5. Wife in letter calls on President Obama to help locate kidnapped rights lawyer Gao Zhisheng.
6. LA-based Chinese groups request President Obama push China on rights.
7. Human Rights Watch blasts China over “black jails” in which petitioners for justice and detained.
8. Panel: Obama’s China trip and US-China relations.
9. Shanghai petitioners express support for rights activist Feng Zhenghu, stuck in limbo at Tokyo airport as entry to Shanghai denied.
10. Canada-based Chinese activists mobilize to help Feng Zhenghu stuck in Tokyo airport.
11. Panel – New policy for addressing petitioners’ complaints: Central government officials will visit provinces, municipalities to meet local petitioners.
12. Reform of China’s education system.
13. Chongqing government promotes “Red-themed” stage plays.

Khmer:

1. Outsted Thai Prime Minister Thaksin speaks to 300 govt officials and business representatives at the Ministry of Finance in Phnom Penhy. He thanks Hun Sen for the opportunity. Later meets with Thai supporters in Siem Reap, visits Angkor Wat. No press interview.
2. Poipet security situation is normal but cross-border business is estimated down 60%. No Thais are allowed to cross the border to visit the Cambodian casinos.
3. National assembly set for Nov. 16 session on suspending Sam Rainsy’s immunity in order to investigate allegations he damaged state property by removing a Vietnam border marker.
4. A Chinese road construction company awarded U.S. $73M loan from China begins 50-km detour of Road 78 from Stung Treng to Ratanakiri to bypass hydroplant Sesan 2.

Cantonese:

1. RFA EXCLUSIVE: INTERVIEW with President Obama’s half brother who suggests his visit to China “has to respect the other side.” PHOTOS AND VIDEO
2. U.S. Embassy in Beijing, Guangzhou and Shanghai consulates invite local bloggers to one hour video meeting for background on Obama
3. visit. Bloggers speak on China’s Firewall.
4. Many organizations continue to urge Obama to speak on China’s human rights situation. HK group will demonstrate tomorrow. Dissidents in China under tight control.
5. Human Rights Watch report on “black jails.”

Korean:

1. Human Rights in Asia, a Japanese human rights group, stages campaign urging EC to press the Luxemburg Government to report transfers of Kim Jong Il’s allegedly illegally obtained funds from Switzerland.
2. Former State Dept senior economist William Newcomb recommends financial sanctions to counter North Korea’s illicit activities.
3. South Korea lambasts North Korea for what it calls its planned provocation in the West Sea.
4. FAO report on crop prospects in North Korea.
5. US envoy Stephane Bosworth to visit North Korea soon for direct talks.
6. News analysis – North Korea secret power succession.
7. News analysis – North Korea observatory: A song in praise of Kim Jung Un.

Uyghur:

1. East Turkistan Republic Day.
2. Conference on Uyghur region in Turkey’s Kocaoli city.
3. On the issue of illegal prisons in China.

 END

Uyghurs Can’t Phone Home

WASHINGTON—Six Uyghur ex-detainees from Guantanamo Bay and now living on a  remote Pacific island are upset they cannot phone their families in China.

In an interview with RFA the men said the Chinese Government has cut off most communication with their home in the northwestern Chinese region of Xinjiang. It has been the site of recent unrest.

“We haven’t been able to talk to our family members yet,” Anwar Hasan said in a telephone interview from the Pacific island nation of Palau, where he was transferred with five other Uyghur men after spending nearly eight years behind bars.

The men who were released form US custody without charge said they were fleeing religious persecution in China when they were mistaken for extremists and picked up in Afghanistan.

Guantanamo to Palau: Uyghurs New Home

Six Uyghur men held for seven years in U.S. military custody at Guantanamo Bay have been released to the tiny Pacific island of Palau which has promised to give them a temporary home for two years.

Radio Free Asia reports the men, were detained as terror suspects but claimed to be religious refugees who had fled persecution in neighboring China.

The case highlights the thorny problem of what to with detainees, some of whom have been held for as long as seven years yet are innocent.

There is concern if they were not radicals before they were detained it is possible harsh treatment and proximity to genuine zealots may have converted them.

Demolition Plan for Kashgar, on the silk road

Are demolition plans destined to improve safety or to eliminate a minority?

Should the Uyghur Guantanamo Detainees be allowed in the United States

A discussion on the New York Times.