By Juliana Chan
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

BEIJING, China – In an attempt to “purge the nation’s airwaves of social pollution,” China communist government has banned television and radio advertisements for push-up bras, figure-hugging underwear, and sex toys.

This comes days after banning “sexually provocative sounds” on television.

According to the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television (SARFT), among other targets are commercials featuring experts of famous people demonstrating the efficacy of medicines.

Further, this measure is just the latest in a slew of bans imposed by the government.  Other measures have included canceling reality shows featuring sex changes and plastic surgery, and banning advertisements for sexual aids that claim to boost performance in bed and talent contests during prime-time.

A SARFT notice explained that not only do these ads mislead consumers, harm people’s health, pollute the social environment, and corrupt social mores, it also affects the credibility of public broadcasting and the image of the Communist Party and the government.  Tian Jin, the deputy head of the regulator, said that advertisement management and television stations must reinforce their political consciousness and responsibility to society.

This comes weeks before the 17th Party Congress meeting where national leaders are appointed and policy is set for the next few years.

For more information, please see:

Yahoo! News (AP) – China bans bra, underwear, sex toy ads – 30 September 2007

Reuters – Bra ads banned ahead of political party meet – 28 September 2007

FOX News – China Bans TV, Radio Ads for Bras, Underwear – 30 September 2007

By Kristy Tridhavee
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

AMCHOK BORA, China – The Chinese government has detained seven Tibetan high school students on suspicion of writing pro-Tibetan independence slogans on the walls of the Amchok Bora village police station and other buildings. The slogans called for the return of the Dalai Lama and a free Tibet.

Relatives that had last seen one of the teenagers reported he was beaten and was bleeding. The teenagers were first held in a police station in Amchok Bora, and were allowed to see their families. However, since then, the students have been moved to the town of Xiahe (Labrang). Since the move, officials in Xiahe have refused to reveal the students’ location, requests from their families to visit, or even to confirm that they are in custody. The state-controlled news media have also been silent on the case.

The names of five of the teenagers are Lhamo Tseten, age 15; Chopa Kyab, age 14; Drolma Kyab, age 14; Tsekhu, age 14; and a second Lhamo Tseten, age 15. The identity of two teenagers is unknown. The identity of the beaten teenager is also unknown. The students attend school in Xiahe (Labrang) county, Gannan prefecture in Gansa province. The Gannan is one of China’s official “Tibetan autonomous” areas.

In 1950 China took control of the Himalayan region in China. In 1959 the Dalai Lama and thousands of his followers fled to India during a failed revolt against the Chinese government. Since then, China has refused to allow the Dalai Lama to return. He is revered as Tibetan Buddhism’s highest spiritual authority.

The arrest of the teenagers has sparked criticism by the New York group, Human Rights Watch. Brad Adam, Asia director of Human Rights Watch, said “Arresting teenagers for a political crime shows just how little has changed inTibet. Beating up a child for a political crime shows just how far hina has to go before it creates the ‘harmonious society’ China’s leaders talk so much about.”

Tension between Chinese officials and Tibet residents has grown more strained as the two parties continue to disagree over issues from cultural and religious policies, forced resettlement of Tibetan herders, environmental degradation, replacement of Tibetan cadres with ethnic Chinese ones, and increased migration of ethnic Chinese settlers to traditionally Tibetan regions.

China is a State Party to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. The UN of Convention on the Rights of the Child calls for children’s right to freedom of expression and demands that no child should be subjected to torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, or detained unlawfully or arbitrarily. If children are legally should be held as only a matter of last resort and for the shortest period of time. The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child also insists that while in detention, children should have the right to contact their families and have legal assistance.

For more information, please see:

BBS News – Teenage Students Held Incommunicado for Graffiti – 23 September 2007

The NY Times –Tibet: Teenagers Held for Pro-Independence Slogans – 26 September 2007

Taipei Times (AFP) – Seven High School Boys Detained for Pro-Tibet Slogans – 22 September 2007

United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights –  Convention on the Rights of the Child

Voice of America – Human Rights Watch Urges China to Release Tibetan Students – 20 September 2007

YANGON, Myanmar- Thousands of monks and protesters defied government directives today and continued protesting.  In response, Myanmar military forces fired warning shots in the air, beat the monks, dragged them into police trucks, and used tear gas on the crowd.

Earlier today, the protesters had started a large march toward the city center and the famous Shwedagon Pagoda- this is where the confrontation started.  Other protester were greeted by warning shots at the Sule Pagoda.

According to hospital sources, one person was killed by the gunfire and five other injured.

The world community continues to react.  The United Kingdom’s Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, called for an immediate UN Security Council meeting, stating that there will be no impunity for human rights violators.

The Canadian Press – Buddhist monks, protesters defy Myanmar junta’s ban on assembly – 26 September 2007

Agenzia Giornalistica Italia – Myanmar (Burma): Tear Gas Used on Monks, Dozens Arrested – 26 September 2007

BBC News – Burmese riot police attack monks – 26 September 2007

Asia Times Online – Buddha vs the barrel of a gun – 26 September 2007

Impunity Watch – Myanmar: Curfew Imposed, Assembly Banned – 25 September 2007

One of twelve hostages released

Taliban militants released twelve more South Korean hostages Wednesday and the remaining seven hostages may also be released as early as the end of this week.  Among the 12 released were two men and ten women.

On Wednesday, the Taliban released 12 of 19 South Korean hostages as part of a deal with South Korea.  The Taliban originally demanded release of imprisoned insurgents in exchange for the South Korean hostages.  They later backed down on these demands.  Under the terms of this deal, South Korea reaffirmed a pledge it made before the hostage crisis began to withdraw its troops from Afghanistan by the end of this year.  Seoul also said it would prevent South Korean Christian missionaries from working in the Muslim country, something it had already promised to do.

The Taliban originally kidnapped 23 South Koreans and killed two male hostages in late July.  They also released two women in early August was a gesture of good will.

Both Seoul and the Taliban have said that no money was exchanged in this deal.  Furthermore, the Afghan government was not a party to the negotiations.  South Korea’s government was under intense domestic pressure to bring the hostages home safely.

As the hostage crisis comes to an end, the father of one of the two hostages killed in the crisis accused the church that sent the Christian volunteers of being reckless.  Critics also said the government would suffer diplomatic damages for negotiating directly with the extremists.

For more information, please see:

–http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2007-08-29-korea_N.htm

–http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/08/30/news/hostages.php

–http://www.forbes.com/afxnewslimited/feeds/afx/2007/08/30/afx4066960.html

–http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/asiapcf/08/30/taliban.hostages/

–http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aL5wx3d8ia1Q&refer=home

In an effort to curb pollution, China began drafting a new law that would save energy and reduce emissions.  Where most Chinese cities are often wrapped in a toxic gray shroud, the issue has become more urgent as China prepares to host the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.

The China Daily newspaper reports that the drafted amendment to China’s old water pollution law would remove a 1 million yuan ($132,000) cap on fines for water polluters and allow penalties of 20 to 30 percent of the direct economic losses caused by a spill or pollution.  The law also stipulates that governments at all levels should control energy use and emissions, strengthen management of resource-intensive companies and divert capital into environmentally-friendly industries.

The New York Times has examined the human toll, global impact and political challenge of China’s epic pollution crisis, naming it “Choking on Growth.”  China’s speedy rise as an economic power has given rise to its unparalleled pollution problem.  China’s success and growth derives from the expansion of heavy industry and urbanization that requires colossal inputs of energy, almost all from coal, the most readily available, and dirtiest, source.

The Ministry of Heath says pollution has made cancer China’s leading cause of death.  Nearly 500- million people lack access to safe drinking water.  Furthermore, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides spewed by China’s coal-fired power plants fall as acid rain on Seoul and Tokyo, and much of the particulate pollution over Los Angeles originates in China.

China’s leaders recognize that they must embrace a new model that allows for steady growth while protecting the environment.  As Wang Jinnan, one of China’s leading environmental researchers says: “It is a very awkward situation for the country because our greatest achievement is also our biggest burden.”

For more information, please see:

–http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2007/08/27/ap4055935.html

–http://in.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idINIndia-29160120070826

–http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2003851947_sundaysell26.html

–http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/26/world/asia/26china.html?_r=1&oref=slogin