RFA’s Mandarin service broke the news that Chinese authorities recently denied a Uyghur scholar the right to travel outside the country to attend conferences and give lectures. Ilham Tohti, an economist at Beijing's Central Nationalities University, said he had been refused permission on eight separate occasions since the riots in Urumqi last July. "Two people [from the state security police] informed me that in the future I wouldn't be able to travel overseas," Tohti said. "They gave no explanation whatsoever. This time I wanted to go to the Netherlands and Hungary on a trip that had to do with academic exchange." Tohti said before planning the trip, "I asked them if I would be banned from leaving the country forever. They just knew that I wouldn't be allowed to leave China this year."

More RFA Highlights:
Mandarin Service Highlights
Cantonese Service Highlights
Tibetan Service Highlights
Korean Service Highlights
Burmese Service Highlights
Cambodian Service Highlights
Lao Service Highlights
Vietnamese Service Highlights
Uyghur Service Highlights

Mandarin Service
In mid-May during the U.S.-China Human Rights Dialogue, RFA’s Mandarin service interviewed several human rights experts about the U.S. – China meeting in Washington on human rights. Sophie Richardson of Human Rights Watch cited China’s narrowing of civil society space and the harassment, detention, and disbarment of rights lawyers as issues of concern. RFA’s Hong Kong staff reported that hundreds of Chinese petitioners gathered outside the UN office in Beijing, calling for international attention to their grievances. RFA also reported that the Independent Chinese PEN Center, a group of writers, called on the Chinese government to release all prisoners of conscience, including 20 jailed writers and lawyers.

On May 21, His Holiness the Dalai Lama used Twitter to directly communicate with Chinese netizens for the first time. The unprecedented dialogue was mediated by U.S.-based Chinese writer Wang Lixiong in New York, where he was meeting the Dalai Lama. Wang said some 1,200 people submitted questions via Google's Moderator service; however, Chinese official censors blocked it from many users. The Dalai Lama tweeted, "Unfortunately, in past years, our relationship with the Chinese government has not achieved a substantial improvement. But I still feel quite confident of the Chinese people." RFA reported positive and negative reaction among netizens and international writers, including Tibetan writer Woeser.

The Mandarin service reported that Tibetans from Yarshul village in Gansu province protested heavy pollution caused by a Han Chinese-owned cement factory, resulting in a clash with police. A local teacher told RFA that between 200 and 300 Tibetan protesters briefly blocked the road “until … police fired a lot of tear-gas shots. Seven or eight villagers were wounded and several arrested.” The incident was confirmed by a local police officer and a factory employee. “The pollution is getting worse and worse … Even wheat in the field is covered with ash, looking grey rather than green,” one Tibetan villager said, adding that Tibetans have benefited very little from the factory. “The benefit has been shared only by cadres. We’ve received very little … Water in some villages has dried up. Villagers have petitioned for years to the county and other government offices, but without resolution. They either pressure or detain the petitioners and lock them up in unknown places.”

Peter Zhong reported that a land grab in Baihutou, a fishing village, resulted in a clash between villagers, hundreds of anti-riot police, security guards, and government officials. Authorities tried to detain the village head, Xukun, and while protecting him, many villagers were wounded in the confrontation, including Xukun’s mother and niece. Xukun sent messages to the city party secretary, warning him that he was determined not to be arrested. Subsequently, the police withdrew. Peter interviewed Xukun, two government officials, and several villagers and learned that the government forced villagers to move out even before firm plans were made for the property. The government proposed to compensate villagers 29,000 yuan per Mu, but the land is worth millions of yuan per Mu now. Senior officials received kickbacks, and developers profited, but the fishermen will lose their livelihood, because the location of the proposed new village is too far from the sea. Two days after RFA aired the story, Xukun was arrested, and this story was later picked up by and attracted the attention of international media and international human rights organizations, including Human Rights in China. (Return to Table of Contents)

Cantonese Service
RFA’s Cantonese service reported that Tibetan herders in Qinghai criticized a mining company after it excavated at two sacred mountains in the area. Before April’s 7.0 magnitude earthquake hit Yushu in of Qinghai, local villages had complained about the Qinghai Xinyu Mining Company to local officials and to the State Council. Dhonwang, a Tibetan resident in Gyegu township, told RFA, “The earthquake happened on the day after they opened the seam.” Another Tibetan resident said, “After the earthquake, many local people were threatening to kill the people who had taken part in digging the mine because they said they had now stirred up the sacred mountain and that had caused the earthquake.” Sichuan-based government seismologist Fan Xiao said, “Sometimes, very sudden effects, or man-made activity, can be linked to (earthquakes). But it’s not very easy to provide a scientific explanation for this.”

RFA Cantonese and Mandarin services reported on the latest attack on schools, as China’s central government ordered a nationwide security clampdown. On May 13, RFA learned that nine people, seven of them small children, were stabbed to death in a Shaanxi kindergarten, the fifth such attack in less than two months. Parents were not allowed to see their injured children within the first two days after the attack. A staffer in the intensive care unit of the Hangzhong Municipal 3201 Hospital said, “We do not allow any parents into the unit. No parents are allowed to stay inside. We are busy treating the children. We hope you will not bother us anymore.” Another hospital staffer told RFA, “There are still 11 children in the hospital with head injuries. Their condition is very serious.” A resident of Linchang village said, “A lot of police from the Public Security Bureau have come to the scene. After they sealed off the area, a lot of parents rushed to the scene. It was very chaotic.” Mental health experts inside China speculate that the recent spate of kindergarten attacks reflect deep-running problems in Chinese society where increasingly violence is used to exact revenge on society where accumulation of material wealth is coming at the expense of psychological health.

RFA also reported that another employee of Foxconn, a Taiwan-owned factory in Shenzhen that supplies Apple’s iPhone and iPad in Shenzhen, committed suicide, bringing the number this year to 13. The incidents sparked calls for an investigation into its working conditions. An employee identified as Xiao Chin, who works in the logistic department, blamed long hours, a rigid regime, and abusive disciplinary procedures for the suicides, saying he too had considered ending his own life. Lee Yuanfeng, a labor activist in Shenzhen said, “We received quite a few complaints by Foxconn workers, such as beatings or body searches done by security guards. Wages have been deducted unreasonably. For example, 10 hours of overtime became only 4 or 6 hours of overtime.” (Return to Table of Contents)

Tibetan Service
RFA’s Tibetan service reported in an exclusive story that thousands of villagers in Markham County in the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR), clashed with Chinese police during a protest against mining in a sacred mountain area. Sources told RFA that the mining company has strong government connections. Five locals were reportedly injured during the clash. About 12 people who were petitioning to the TAR and Sichuan provincial government were detained.

RFA reported that local Tibetan villagers and Chinese security forces clashed over a Chinese-owned cement factory in northwestern Gansu province. Villagers reported that the cement factory illegally occupied village properties and religious sites and created pollution. Fifteen villagers were injured when the police opened fire, and several were detained. RFA obtained photos of the incident and petition letters signed by the villagers, sent by a local citizen.

The Tibetan service covered the Dalai Lama’s visit to the United States from May 14 to 24. One China-based RFA Tibetan consultant organized a dialogue between the Dalai Lama and mainland Chinese through “Twitter.” Thousands of mainland Chinese watched the dialogue and submitted questions. RFA broadcast the Dalai Lama’s answers in Tibetan. (Return to Table of Contents)

Korean Service
RFA’s Korean service reported that a Swedish clothing company plans to introduce NoKo Jeans in South Korea this fall. NoKo Jeans are made in North Korea, but people are prohibited from wearing them there because they are considered symbols of capitalism. The jeans are available in Swedish department stores and on-line. A spokesperson from NoKo Jeans told RFA that the jeans are popular in Sweden, and they expect they will be popular in South Korea. The company has distributed television commercials for the jeans, and plans to open more stores in Sweden. As of now, there are no plans to sell the jeans in the United States.

The Korean service interviewed Dr. Guofan Shao of Purdue University about the deforestation of a U.N.-designated forest preserve in North Korea. According to his analysis of Google Earth pictures, Dr. Shao said that 75 percent of the 326,000-acre Mt. Paekdu Biosphere Reserve North Korea has been stripped bare over the last several decades. Given the significance of the forest in terms of biological conservation, he said that the international community should stop North Korea from further logging the precious forest.
RFA aired two reports about the South Korean warship sinking. On May 21, RFA interviewed a North Korean defector who transported torpedoes during his military service in North Korea. On May 25, RFA reported that North Korea recently deployed heavy weapons, such as trench mortars, near the North Korea-China border. North Korea’s tightening of border security went into effect after Kim Jong Un, the third son of Kim Jong Il, took over the State Security Department. (Return to Table of Contents)

Burmese Service
RFA’s Burmese service reported on events commemorating the second anniversary of the Nargis Cyclone that killed over 100,000 people. National League for Democracy Headquarters in Rangoon held a memorial service and a religious ceremony for Nargis victims. Similar ceremonies were held in Thailand and California, and Burmese activists in England began a campaign for the release of film artist and comedian Zargana, who is now serving a 59-year sentence for criticizing the military junta in its relief and rehabilitation work for Cyclone Nargis victims.

RFA reported that U.S. envoy Kurt Campbell met opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi at a government guest house. Mr. Campbell, who met separately with several junta ministers in Naypyidaw, and with NLD party Central Executive Committee leaders, said he is disappointed with the junta’s preparations for the elections.

The Burmese service reported that the European Union Parliament has passed a resolution to form an enquiry commission to investigate whether Burmese generals had committed “crimes against humanity.” A week later, six U.S. senators, including Mitch McConnell, Joe Lieberman, Dianne Feinstein, and John McCain, issued a joint statement marking the 20th anniversary of the NLD’s victory during the 1990 elections and condemned the Burmese junta's repression of its people. (Return to Table of Contents)

Cambodian Service
RFA’s Cambodian service reported that illegal logging continues throughout the province. A local human rights organization worker said the loggers hide wood from legal authorities and move the lumber at night. The worker told RFA that local authorities are ineffective, and that people are afraid to report the activity for fear of reprisal.

The Cambodian service reported that six Krouch Chhmar district residents remained in custody for stealing about 70kg of rubber latex, despite pleas from the governor of the district who asked the owner of the rubber plantation to forgive them because they are poor and the amount of the latex is not significant. (Return to Table of Contents)

Lao Service
RFA’s Lao service reported that the sex trade is expanding quickly in Laos’ major cities, in tandem with economic development and tourism. More and more poor girls from mountainous remote areas are lured into the trade, according to an NGO official dealing with the fight against human trafficking in Laos. NGOs report that they have limited freedom in doing their jobs, as they have to submit time-consuming written requests for approval from government agencies before embarking on any endeavor. If approval is not granted, the project is rejected.

Laos denies rumors that That Luang Marsh, which surrounds a sacred monument, will be developed exclusively by China in exchange for economic assistance. According to the official who spoke to RFA, it is actually a joint project with a capital investment of U.S. $1,140 billion. Laos is currently considering how much to contribute.

The Lao service reported that people who lose their land to development projects still face compensation issues. One such development project is the Theun-Hinboun dam expansion. The company is unable to provide land to affected villagers, as described in the project paper, because the research is not based on fact and was completed without consulting the villagers, who are unhappy with the new location. (Return to Table of Contents)

Vietnamese Service
RFA’s Vietnamese service reported that the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico in April has adversely affected the lives of thousands of Vietnamese fishermen in Louisiana. RFA interviewed shrimp fishermen who said that the months between April and November is when they make their money. One fisherman told RFA that he cannot pay his bills and will lose his boat. Representatives from EPA, the Coast Guard, BP, and congressmen held a meeting in New Orleans to address concerns of Vietnamese fisherman, many of whom don’t speak much English and have trouble accessing information and completing paperwork. BP has offered to pay fisherman to help with the clean-up, but not everyone is eligible, due to boat size and safety issues. At the meeting, BP also said they will compensate fishermen and businesses affected by the oil spill. The maximum is $5,000 a month, based on last year’s income tax statements, but most of the fishermen think this amount will not cover their expenses.

RFA’s Vietnamese service reported that dozens of Vietnamese Catholics were injured and dozens more detained as they tried to bury the remains of an elderly woman at a cemetery near the city of Danang. In mid-April, authorities had posted a sign barring burials at the cemetery, because the land was to be transferred to make way for an eco-tourism project. The authorities they told the family of Ho Nhu, who died May 1, not to bury her there. Witnesses told RFA that 62 people were beaten by local police and what appeared to be hired thugs, and that police had confiscated the coffin containing the woman’s remains. (Return to Table of Contents)

Uyghur Service
RFA’s Uyghur service reported new details about the detention of Uyghurs in Xinjiang, where authorities have kept Uyghurs in custody without access to family and often without indicating when they might be tried or freed. Several members of three Uyghur families have been held in Gulhja on charges of separatism and religious extremism. The family’s patriarch, Turghan Polat, said his adult children have been imprisoned since July 2009. “The authorities arrested my daughter because they claimed she taught religious classes to other women in my neighborhood. My other kids were arrested because they were reading some kind of [religious] books. I don’t know any other reasons. They have been in jail for almost 10 months,” he said.

The Uyghur service reported that a new directive about the use of religious texts and curricula, drawn up by officials in Shayar County, in Xinjiang’s central-western Aksu prefecture and originally posted online April 20, is the first of its kind to be published openly in the region. The directive requires that religious groups submit materials for examination before they may be used in worship or in school settings. The directive contains 10 measures that aim to “strengthen village management of grassroots religious organizations.” The regulations also prohibit any officials or members of the Communist Party from taking part in religious services.

RFA reported that in April, acting on pressure from Beijing, authorities closed down the Omer Uyghur Language School, a Uyghur language school in northern Pakistan. Chinese Embassy officials accused school officials of maintaining ties with an organization that it says promotes Uyghur independence from China. The school had also faced competition from an institute established by the Chinese Embassy called the Big Montessori School, which opened on April 7, 2010.

A knowledgeable source in Kashgar, who asked not to be identified, told RFA’s Uyghur service that a Uyghur photographer, detained shortly after publishing an anti-Chinese article online, has gone missing and is believed to be under arrest. Memet Turghun Abdulla, who worked in a photo shop in Kashgar, was detained by State Security officials from Yengisar County in August 2009, but was later released and placed under house arrest, according to a Public Security official who asked not to be named. He was detained after publishing “Everyone Needs Equality,” an online article in Uyghur and Chinese in which he blamed Han Chinese factory workers for deadly attacks on Uyghurs in late June 2009. (Return to Table of Contents)