FM proposes ban on unkind press<\/p>\n
MALAYSIA: Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar called on Sunday for
\na ban on publications that belittle the country, as official
\nanger mounted over remarks about Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad
\nin the Economist.<\/p>\n
\"I think we have to take serious action,\" state-run news
\nagency Bernama quoted him as saying. \"Why should we encourage
\nthe sale of such magazines in our country?\"<\/p>\n
The minister did not see why offending publications should be
\nallowed to circulate locally, the agency reported.<\/p>\n
In its April 5 issue, the weekly praised Mahathir for creating
\na country better off than most of its Southeast Asian neighbors,
\nbut said the 77-year-old had \"dictatorial leanings\".<\/p>\n
Malaysia has shown its displeasure over unflattering press in
\nthe past by delaying distribution of magazines such as the Far
\nEastern Economic Review and Time. But it is generally more
\ntolerant of foreign media snubs than neighboring Singapore. --
\nReuters<\/p>\n
;AFP;KOD;
\nANPAu..r..
\nAglance-Laos-US-rights
\nLaos evicts three families for not renouncing Christianity: RFA
\nJP\/11\/ASEAN<\/p>\n
Laos evicts three Christian families<\/p>\n
HANOI: Authorities in southern Laos have evicted three Christian
\nfamilies from their homes for refusing to renounce their
\nreligious beliefs, according to Radio Free Asia (RFA), in a move
\ncondemned by the U.S. government.<\/p>\n
The families, from Muang Phine district in Savannakhet
\nprovince, are now in the care of a Christian church after being
\nforced out of their homes in late March, the U.S. government-
\nfunded network said in a report broadcast on Saturday.<\/p>\n
The U.S. State Department official also cited reports that
\nChristians in the northern city Luang Prabang and elsewhere were
\nfacing pressure from Lao authorities to renounce their faith or
\nface eviction or detention.<\/p>\n
Some people have been arrested \"just for speaking freely and
\nopenly about their faith and in other parts of the country, Lao
\nChristians have been ordered to close their churches and to stop
\ntheir worship practices,\" he said. --AFP<\/p>\n
;DPA;KOD;
\nANPAu..r..
\nAglance-Malaysia-SARS
\nMalaysia quarantines 280 at psychiatric hospital over SARS fears
\nJP\/11\/ASEAN<\/p>\n
KL quarantines 280 over SARS fears<\/p>\n
MALAYSIA: Health officials on Sunday ordered the quarantine of at
\nleast 280 workers and patients at a Malaysian psychiatric
\nhospital where three people have showed SARS symptoms.<\/p>\n
Health Ministry Deputy Director General Ismail Merican said
\nthree patients at the hospital in Kuching, the capital city of
\nMalaysia's Sarawak state on Borneo island, developed pneumonia-
\nlike symptoms earlier this month.<\/p>\n
It was too early to confirm whether the three patients had
\ncontracted severe acute respiratory syndrome or SARS, as
\nauthorities were still awaiting conclusive medical results,
\nIsmail told a news conference.<\/p>\n
Ismail said officials at the hospital noted that one of their
\npatients was recently visited by family members from Hong Kong
\nshortly before the other three patients fell ill. But the
\nrelatives have informed Malaysian officials that they had not
\nbeen sick, Ismail said. --DPA<\/p>",
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