Here are the stories not reported by the mainstream press in America about Asia.
Monday October 8
Japan, Korea
Suicide issue heats up in Okinawa
THE ASAHI SHIMBUNIncensed by the government’s decision to expunge descriptions in school textbooks of the army’s involvement in wartime mass civilian suicides in Okinawa, survivors are coming forward with tales of Japanese soldiers encouraging islanders to take their lives.
In the meantime, the Okinawa prefectural assembly plans to compile an updated version of the prefecture’s history comprising witnesses’ accounts that local governments have gathered in recent years.
Supporters Foil Raid on UNDP Frontrunner’s Office
Police attempted a raid on the campaign office of United New Democratic Party presidential contender Chung Dong-young on Sunday, part of their investigation of whether a district councilor loyal to Chung hired college students to register electoral college members for the party primary stealing identities including that of President Roh Moo-hyun. But violent resistance from 20 members of Chung’s camp, who denounced the raid as a politically motivated scheme by pro- Roh forces to “suffocate the presidential contender,” foiled the raid.
Tuesday October,9
China,Taiwan
Overseas media get closer view
By Wu Jiao (China Daily)
Overseas media will enjoy greater access to cover the upcoming 17th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) as well as more convenient media services.New services include more group interviews for overseas reporters apart from the three open press conferences during the session.
Overseas media can apply through the official website www.cpcnews.cn for interview requests, said Cong Wu, an official with the media center, which officially opened on Monday morning in the Media Center Hotel in central Beijing.
More delegations will also throw their door open this year for media coverage, said Zhu Shoucheng, deputy director of the center.
Hsiung Feng won’t be displayed: MND
NO SHOW: The minister of national defense said the missile is still in the development stage and that US pressure against showcasing it had nothing to do with the decision
By Jimmy Chuang
STAFF REPORTER, WITH AGENCIES
Minister of National Defense Lee Tien-yu (???) yesterday admitted to the existence of the Hsiung Feng (“Brave Wind”) IIE missile, but said it would not be on display during the Double Ten National Day parade tomorrow.Fielding questions at the legislature’s National Defense Committee, Lee said the land-attack cruise missile would not be displayed as it was still in the development stage.
Wednesday October,10
Indonesia, Philippines
Bali bomb families bouncing back
Prodita Sabarini, The Jakarta Post, Denpasar
Ramadhan is a bittersweet time for Bali bombing widow Warti, 28. The most sacred month for Muslims reminds her of eating the predawn meal with her husband.
“When I have my predawn meal alone with my son without my late husband, I suddenly feel sad. Even though it has been five years, I still cry sometimes,” she said.
Impeachment endorser faces ethics probe
For endorsing an impeachment complaint against President Arroyo reportedly backed by the President’s own political party, Laguna 4th District Rep. Edgar San Luis is set to face an ethics investigation initiated by his own colleagues in the lower chamber.
Romblon Rep. Eleandro Madrona and Isabela 4tth district Rep. Giorgidi Aggabao, chairman and member of the House Ethics Committee respectively, said the panel will investigate San Luis for endorsing the complaint filed by lawyer Roberto Pulido.
Thursday October 11
India, Pakistan
Musharraf asks Benazir to delay return
ISLAMABAD, Oct 10: President Gen Pervez Musharraf advised People’s Party chief Benazir Bhutto on Wednesday to put off her return to Pakistan until after the Supreme Court’s ruling on his eligibility for the presidential election.“It is not a good time,” he said about the Oct 18 date set by Ms Bhutto for her return – a day after the Supreme Court is scheduled to resume hearing a raft of petitions challenging his candidature for the presidency.
President Musharraf made the suggestion during an interview broadcast by the ARY television network.
Farhatullah Babar, a spokesman for the PPP, said that he could only say Ms Bhutto would arrive in the country according to schedule. President Musharraf denied in the interview that the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) had been promulgated to please Ms Bhutto. “The NRO is a normal and ordinary ordinance aimed at ending confrontation and politics of vengeance.”
Despite differences with Left, Govt. will not fall: Pawar
Patna (PTI): Admitting that differences persisted between the UPA and its left allies on the Indo-US civil nuclear deal, Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar on Thursday said that the Manmohan Singh government would not fall.
“Problems do exist between the UPA and Marxists on some provisions of the nuclear deal. They (Left) have voiced some concerns, which we, as the ruling coalition, are obliged to address, but the government will not fall over the issue,” he told a press conference.
Friday October 12
Australia, New Zealand
Australia to lodge official complaint on Bali bomber party
October 12, 2007 – 10:14AM
Australia will formally complain to Indonesia after the archipelago nation’s counter-terrorism chief hosted a party attended by one of the Bali bombers.Indonesia’s anti-terror chief, Brigadier-General Surya Dharma, said the party was in line with a new “gentle” approach to fighting terrorism, which aims to build a web of paid informants and former militants to help persuade hard-liners to change sides and reject terrorism.
Qian Xun’s grandmother sends letter of thanks
The grandmother of Qian Xun Xue has sent an open letter to the public of New Zealand, thanking them and the Government authorities for their help.Xiaoping Liu travelled to New Zealand to take custody of her grand-daughter after her daughter, Anan Liu, was found dead in the boot of a car on September 19.
4 comments
Skip to comment form
Quite surprising the information was ever included in the textbooks; certainly wouldn’t be in the U.S. Example: until quite recently, no information in K through 12 textbooks about internment of Japanese Americans during World War II.
The New York Times covered the Okinawa story, Okinawans Protest Japan’s Plan to Revise Bitter Chapter of World War II, last Sunday. It was a well written piece.
Along with a survivor’s story, which was shocking and horrific, this stood out:
The Japanese were ‘stunned’ the Okinawans would be upset because the government was obscuring “the accepted historical fact that that Okinawans had been coerced into mass suicides by Imperial Army soldiers” a week before American troops landed in March 1945.
… had a few frames about Okinawan families committing mass suicide.
For those who don’t know “Barefoot Gen”, it is a milestone and classic in graphic-novel literature. Drawing directly on his own childhood experiences, Nakazawa tells the story of a little boy named Gen who survives the atomic bomb attack on Hiroshima.