The HRIC Daily Brief is a daily selection of news stories and commentary related to human rights in China, drawn from Chinese- and English-language news and online media sources that we monitor daily. In addition to headlines and source links, HRIC also provides English translation of Chinese headlines.

Thursday, October 18, 2007

October 18, 2007

Top News of the Day
Human Rights Defender - Hua Huiqi (华惠棋)

Chinese Activist Beaten amid Crackdown
Associated Press (via YahooNews), October 17, 2007
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071017/ap_on_re_as/china
_activist_beaten_1;_ylt=AnU8DTY859Q4sRTvYhYTzHxPz
WQA
DTY859Q4sRTvYhYTzHxPzWQA
On October 17 housing activist and Protestant house church member Hua Huiqi (华惠棋) was beaten again by five or six plainclothes policemen while under house arrest after leaving the hospital. Hua's wife said the beating was due to the 17th Party Congress and Hua's refusal to provide a list of petitioners and Christians he knew. Hua's sister was also beaten. The Beijing Public Security Bureau has not responded to AP's inquiries concerning the beatings. Hua Huiqi has been arrested and beaten several times because of his petition against his house demolition in 2001and his religious activities. For background information, please refer to our DNB "Top News" on October 12 and 16.
Related News
华惠棋软禁中再遭殴打 外媒记者采访被拦 (Foreign Journalists Taken Away for Trying to Interview Hua Huiqi)
Radio Free Asia, October 17, 2007
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2007/10/
17/hua/

Human Rights Defender – Gao Zhisheng (高智晟)
十七大期间高智晟妻子和孩子再次陷入惊恐状态 (Gao Zhisheng's Wife and Children Frightened by Police During CPC Meeting)
Radio Free Asia, October 17, 2007
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2007/10/17/
Gao_zhisheng/

Hu Jia (胡佳) told RFA on October 17 that Gao Zhisheng’s (高智晟) wife Geng He (耿和) and their daughter were suffering from extreme fear after Gao was taken away again on September 22. Geng and her daughter were being followed by police when they went out. Geng was also threatened not to talk to anyone about her situation. She is currently suffering from economic hardship because Gao’s money is controlled by the police. Huang Yan (黄燕), who had been helping Gao’s family to communicate with the media and because of that was taken back to her Hubei hometown, is currently under house arrest and attempted suicide after being harassed and beaten by police. For more information, please refer to our DNB “Top News” on September 25.

News
Civil Society
胡锦涛承诺推动环保 福建环保组织却遭打压 (Fujian Environmental NGO Asked to Dissolve Despite Hu Jintao's Promise of Better Environmental Protection)
Radio Free Asia, October 17, 2007
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2007/10/17/Hu
_jia/


Corruption
More Than 9,300 Penalized for Violating Rules in Personnel Management
People's Daily, October 17, 2007
http://english.people.com.cn/90002/92169/92440/6285155.html

Government
Democracy Built on Murder and Graft
Agence France-Presse (via South China Morning Post), October 17, 2007
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62
ecb329d3d7733492d9253a0a0a0/?vgnextoid=1726c0fd54c
a5110VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD&ss=china&s=n
a0/?
vgnextoid=1726c0fd54ca5110VgnVCM100000360a0a0aR
CRD&ss=china&s=n


Human Rights Defenders
维权书籍作者遭遇骚扰 (Author of Rights Defence Book Harassed by Authorities and Thugs in Hubei)
Radio Free Asia, October 17, 2007
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2007/10/17/
weiquan/


Human Rights Defender - Hu Jia (胡佳)
维权人士胡佳致外交部新闻发言人刘建超公开信 (Hu Jia Invites Spokesman of Ministry of Foreign Affairs for Face-to-Face Dialogue on Rights Defenders' Treatment During CPC Meeting) Radio Free Asia, October 17, 2007
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2007/10/17/
Hujia-liujianchao/


Human Rights Defender – Zheng Enchong (郑恩宠)
当局禁止访民参加郑恩宠母亲的葬礼 (Shanghai Authorities Bar Petitioners from Funeral of Zheng Enchong's Mother)
Radio Free Asia, October 17, 2007
http://www.rfa.org/cantonese/xinwen/2007/10/17/china_
rights_lawyer/


Politics
中委名单发代表预选 (17th CPC National Congress Presidium Urges Delegates to Vote for Its Recommended Candidates)
Ming Pao, October 18, 2007
http://www.mingpaonews.com/20071018/caa1.htm

Election Procedures Set for CPC National Congress Personnel Reshuffle
People's Daily, October 17, 2007
http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90776/6285213.html

Poverty
Rural Areas Still Feeling Pinch from Poverty
South China Morning Post, October 18, 2007
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62e
cb329d3d7733492d9253a0a0a0/?vgnextoid=ad453dc62
5ea5110VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD&ss=China&s=Ne
ws
a0/?vgnextoid=ad453dc625ea5110VgnVCM100000360a
0a0aRCRD&ss=China&s=News


Protests and Petitions
2000右派联署吁政改 (2,000 "Rightists" Issue Open Letter Calling for Political Reforms)
Ming Pao, October 18, 2007
http://www.mingpaonews.com/20071018/cab1.htm

A Chinese Village Takes a Stand Against Graft
Christian Science Monitor, October 18, 2007
http://www.csmonitor.com/world/asiaPacific.html

万余访民联名信组织者声明:不是煽动颠覆 (Drafters of Open Letter on Maltreatment of Petitioners Say They Are Not Inciting Subversion)
Radio Free Asia, October 17, 2007
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2007/10/17/
fangmin2/


Public Health
日本人涉嫌买卖人体器官在华被捕 (Japanese Businessman Arrested for Allegations over Organ Trade)
Voice of America, October 17, 2007
http://www.voanews.com/chinese/w2007-10-17-voa46.cfm

Tibet
Tibet Leader Awarded Top US Medal
BBC, October 17, 2007
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7048284.stm