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.

Monday, December 15, 2008

December 13-15, 2008

News

Corruption
Con Men Jailed over Million-yuan Fraud
South China Morning Post, December 15, 2008
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62ecb329d3d7733492d9253a0a0a0/?vgnextoid=18de95e6a663e110VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD

Environment
China Likely to Miss Energy Saving Goal for 2008: Report
Agence France-Presse (via YahooNews), December 13, 2008
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20081213/sc_afp/chinaenergyenvironment

Waste Water Flows into Yangtze Tributary after Chemicals Fire
China Daily, December 14, 2008
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2008-12/14/content_7302347.htm

Food Security
China Probing 27 Cases of Melamine-tainted Animal Feed: State Media
Agence France-Presse (via YahooNews), December 14, 2008
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20081215/wl_asia_afp/chinafoodsafety

Sacked Officials Get New Positions
South China Morning Post, December 13, 2008
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62ecb329d3d7733492d9253a0a0a0/?vgnextoid=fe1e5c0aa1c2e110VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD

Hong Kong
Petitioners Praise HK Police after Visit for Protest
South China Morning Post, December 13, 2008
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62ecb329d3d7733492d9253a0a0a0/?vgnextoid=eb9d5c0aa1c2e110VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD

Human Rights
《零八宪章》签名超过2500人刘晓波仍未获释 ('Charter 08' Signatories Exceed 2500, Liu Xiaobo Still Not Released)
Radio France Internationale, December 14, 2008
http://www.rfi.fr/actucn/articles/108/article_10993.asp


Related News:
Bao Tong: China Detentions 'Challenge Constitution'
Radio Free Asia, December 13, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/baotongcharter-12132008111723.html

六四学运领袖陶君签名支持<零八宪章>
(June 4th Student Leader Tao Jun Signs 'Charter 08')
Radio Free Asia, December 14, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/64-12142008171330.html

著名律师莫少平谈《零八宪章》
(Interview: Renowned Lawyer Mo Shaoping on the 'Charter 08')
Radio France Internationale, December 12, 2008
http://www.rfi.fr/actucn/articles/108/article_10961.asp
Human Rights Defenders
贵州人权人士获释 公安称党就是法律 (Guizhou Rights Activists Released; PSB Says the Party is Law)
Radio Free Asia, December 12, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/renquan-12122008094621.html

参与联署「零八宪章」的人士继续遭当局进一步打压 (Authorities Step up Pressure on 'Charter 08' Signatories)
Radio Free Asia, December 14, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/chan-12142008171843.html

Media
Chinese Reporter Chasing Corruption Claims Disappears
Reuters, December 15, 2008
http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSTRE4BE0R820081215?feedType=RSS&f
eedName=worldNews

海口网吧明年全部实行身份证"刷卡"上网 (Haikou to Implement Identity Swipe Cards for Internet Users)
EastDay.com, December 24, 2008
http://news.eastday.com/c/20081214/u1a4042966.html

南都《评论周刊》停刊 (Southern 'Weekly Review' Ceases Publication)
Radio Free Asia, December 14, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/nan-12142008164507.html

Police
平遥150人滋事与村委会换届选举无关 警方认定为涉黑 (Police Say Pingyao Trouble-makers Unrelated to Village Committee Elections)
Xinhuanet, December 15, 2008
http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2008-12/15/content_10504588.htm

Related News:
山西一村委会选举引发骚乱 (Village Committee Election Sparks Riots in Shanxi)
Radio Free Asia, December 12, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/xuanju-12122008163740.html

Politics
诺贝尔奖评委应邀访华遭无端质疑 被指存在腐败 (Questions Raised over China's Invitation to Nobel Committee)
EastDay.com, December 14, 2008
http://news.eastday.com/c/20081214/u1a4043022.html

Protests and Petitions
拆迁户妻子北京上访 丈夫在家被打断肋骨 (Husband's Ribs Broken in Beating While Wife Petitions in Beijing over House Demolition)
Radio Free Asia, December 14, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/cai-12142008170514.html

Religion
湖北华南基督教会多名教徒被警方抓捕 (Many Members of Huanan Christian Church Arrested in Hubei)
Radio Free Asia, December 13, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/xinwen-12132008152008.html

Rural Issues
Fruits of reform can be bitter in Chinese countryside
Reuters, December 12, 2008
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20081212/wl_asia_afp/chinarightshu

Society
细数三十年民族法制建设大发展 (30 Years of Progress in Legal system Governing Minorities)
EastDay.com, December 14, 2008
http://news.eastday.com/c/20081214/u1a4043731.html

Taiwan
Taiwan, China Launch Direct Shipping Links
Associated Press (via Google), December 15, 2008
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5g6DQLDMAmRA4uPnd5hsLH9dz
QecQD952RC2O5

Taiwan's former president is indicted
International Herald Tribune, December 12, 2008
http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/12/12/asia/13taiwan.php

Tibet
UN Chief Urges China to Continue Tibet Dialogue
Agence France-Presse (via YahooNews), December 12, 2008
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20081212/wl_asia_afp/chinatibetpoliticsunban

西藏林芝察隅县发生森林火灾仍在扑救 (Forest Fire Continues to burn in Tibet)
EastDay.com, December 14, 2008
http://news.eastday.com/c/20081214/u1a4044032.html

XUAR
Large Gas Reserve Found in Xinjiang
China Daily, December 15, 2008
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2008-12/15/content_7304102.htm