■ China
Beijing opposes report
Beijing has denounced a US State Department report criticizing its religious policies, saying it was not based on facts and interfered with the country's internal affairs. The annual US report on the state of religious freedom worldwide, released on Friday, said China's "respect for freedom of religion and freedom of conscience remained poor." China is "strongly dissatisfied and resolutely oppose[s]" the report, Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang (秦剛) said. The report said people who refuse to give up their beliefs can receive harsh punishment, including being sent to prison or being re-educated at labor camps. China was one of eight countries cited for particularly severe violations of religious freedom.
■ Malaysia
Hunting separatists
Authorities have intensified patrols along the country's border with southern Thailand to look for Muslim separatists who may try to sneak in following recent bomb attacks there, a news report said yesterday. Police said they were watching the border zone for Thai separatists suspected of being involved in bombings in the past month -- including blasts in the Thai tourist city of Hat Yai on Saturday -- although there was no intelligence showing they may enter Malaysia. State Police Chief Zulkifli Abdullah Zulkifli said the situation at the border remained calm despite last weekend's attacks.
■ Malaysia
Apology accepted, but ...
Pope Benedict XVI's expression of regret following his remarks on Islam and violence is acceptable, but the pontiff should avoid making future comments that could offend Muslims, Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said. "I think we can accept it and we hope there are no more statements that can anger the Muslims," he told Malaysian journalists late on Monday. Abdullah's comments came after he met with US President George W. Bush in New York City. Bush told his visitor that he believed that Benedict was sincere in apologizing following the angry response of Muslims to his speech.
■ India
Bad marriage decision
A man allegedly locked up by his family for 15 years for marrying against their wishes was freed by government officials in the eastern state of Orissa. Narottam Sethi was allegedly confined in a room at Koshala village after he married a tribal girl. Officials sent to Sethi's house reported that despite his long confinement, he appeared to be "normal." Sethi's family, however, said they had locked him up because of insanity. "Narottam was mentally disturbed and kept attacking villagers," a family member was quoted as saying. Sethi was taken to a hospital for medical attention as he was found to be suffering from dehydration and malnutrition.
■ Tonga
Thousands pay respects
His coffin carried aloft by 1,000 pallbearers dressed in grass mats, King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV was buried yesterday in a ceremony combining Christian hymn-singing and ancient Polynesian rituals. The streets of the capital Nuku'alofa were draped in the mourning colors of black and purple as thousands of tearful Tongans gathered to pay their respects to the man who had ruled them for 41 years. Mourners will later feast on pigs roasted in umu, or open pits, dug in the grounds of villages around the nation of 170 coral and volcanic islands before a month of mourning during which dancing and loud music will be banned.
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