TAIPEI: Taiwan’s defence minister has apologised for the death of a corporal from heatstroke as the island’s top government watchdog launches an investigation into bullying in the military, officials said yesterday. Hung, 24, was found by a post-mortem examination to have died of heatstroke, which his family believe was brought on by excessive exercise forced upon him as punishment for taking a smartphone onto the army base, local media reported. Yesterday an army colonel was detained on charges of abuse of power, while punitive measures were taken against 26 staff members.
Sein urged to free prisoners
YANGON: Activists yesterday urged Myanmar President Thein Sein to “turn his words into action” after the former general promised to free all political prisoners by the end of the year. “I guarantee to you that by the end of this year there will be no prisoners of conscience in Myanmar,” Thein Sein said on Monday during a visit to London. Pro-democracy campaigners have accused the former junta premier of using headline-grabbing amnesties to secure foreign aid and investment.
China to try graft activists
BEIJING: Three Chinese activists agitating for officials to disclose their assets will be put on trial, their lawyers said yesterday, in a coordinated crackdown that underscores the limits of an anti-corruption push by the new government. China has detained at least 15 activists in recent months who were involved in a campaign pushing for officials to publicly disclose their wealth in what rights groups describe as the first major crackdown by the new government on activists. The move to put the anti-corruption activists on trial has raised fears that an official campaign of reprisals has begun.
Australian held for abusing kids
CEBU: An Australian resident of Hong Kong has been arrested for sexually abusing children in the Philippines, police said yesterday. The man in his 40ss was detained on the central island of Cebu with five young boys, said Senior Inspector Sheryl Bautista. “We checked the mobile phone we seized. It turned out he had pictures and videos of the children,” he added. AGENCIES
