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.

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

December 22, 2009

Top News of the Day

Human Rights Defenders
张博树被社科院“限期调离” (Constitutional Scholar Asked to Leave His Post at Chinese Academy of Social Sciences)
Radio Free Asia, December 21, 2009
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/boshu-12212009161209.html

On December 21, 2009, Zhang Boshu (张博树), political philosopher and constitutional scholar, was asked to leave his post at the Philosophy Institute of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS). Zhang had worked with CASS since 1991. The dismissal notice says Zhang now has three months to “transfer out” of CASS. The official reason for his expulsion is “his absence without leave” in 2009 but Zhang said that it must be related to his numerous articles advocating constitutional reform.


More information:
Vocal Government Critic Dismissed from China’s Top Think Tank
Human Rights in China, December 22, 2009
http://www.hrichina.org/public/contents/172628
News
Death Penalty
Britain to Press China on Looming Execution for Briton
Agence France-Presse, December 22, 2009
http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-world/britain-to-press-china-on-looming-execution-for-briton-20091222-lbdu.html

Human Rights Defenders - Ai Weiwei (艾未未), Feng Zhenghu (冯正虎)
艾未未发布新片《冯正虎回家》 (Ai Weiwei Releases New Film: "Feng Zhenghu Returns Home")
Radio Free Asia, December 21, 2009
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/ai-12212009105432.html

Internet Censorship
网站“移民”逃避监管 国家研究对策 (Authorities Study How to Regulate Chinese Websites that Host outside China)
Southern Metropolis Daily, December 22, 2009
http://epaper.nddaily.com/A/html/2009-12/22/content_973748.htm

China Taking Measures to Regulate Domain Name Registration
China CSR, December 21, 2009
http://www.chinacsr.com/en/2009/12/21/6818-china-taking-measures-to-regulate-domain-name-registration/

Labor
尘肺门工人多无合同 六学者上书人保部 (6 Scholars Call upon Labor Authorities to Protect the Right of Workers with COPD (Lung Disease) to A Written Contract)
Southern Metropolis Daily, December 22, 2009
http://epaper.nddaily.com/A/html/2009-12/22/content_973800.htm

Land Policy
唐福珍事件震动国务院 中央拟专设部门负责拆迁 (Central Government Plans to Set up A New Department Responsible for Demolition)
International Herald Leader, December 22, 2009
http://china.rednet.cn/c/2009/12/22/1876570_1.htm

Law
選舉法修正案草案擬增查處破壞選舉行為規定 (Draft of Electoral Act Enters into Second Reading; Several Features Added)
China News Service, December 22, 2009
http://news.sina.com.hk/cgi-bin/nw/show.cgi/9/1/1/1369267/1.html

Society
Social Unrest 'On the Rise' in China
British Broadcasting Corporation, December 21, 2009
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8425119.stm

Taiwan
Beijing Envoy Tells Taiwan of China's Wish to 'Move Down the Road of Peace'
Irish Times, December 22, 2009
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/world/2009/1222/1224261107538.html

XUAR
Urumqi Remains Divided by Fear and Mistrust
South China Morning Post, December 22, 2009
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62ecb329d3d7733492d9253a0a0a0/?vgnextoid=f5e58e93ee1b5210VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD