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, January 29, 2009

January 24-29, 2009

News
Bilateral
Swiss Shield China's PM from Protests during Visit
Associated Press (via YahooNews), January 27, 2009
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090127/ap_on_bi_ge/eu_switzerland_china_visit

Corruption
Chongqing Official Gets 19-year Term for Corruption
Xinhua (via China Daily), January 29, 2009
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2009-01/29/content_7431086.htm

Environment
China Still Suffers Heavy Water and Soil Losses
Xinhua (via China Daily), January 25, 2009
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2009-01/25/content_7428593.htm

Human Rights
In China, a Grass-Roots Rebellion
Washington Post, January 29, 2009
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/28/AR2009012803886.html

Human Rights Defenders
杭州维权人士杨云彪获释出狱 (Hangzhou Activist Yang Yunbiao Released Early)
Radio Free Asia, January 28, 2009
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/yang_yunbiao-01282009085844.html

刘荻再度被北京公安监视居住 (Online Essayist Liu Di again Put under Home Surveillance by Beijing Police)
Radio Free Asia, January 28, 2009
http://www.rfa.org/cantonese/news/arrest-01282009122134.html

Internet Censorship
Crusade on Internet 'Vulgarity' not Aimed at Stifling Dissent, Says Beijing
South China Morning Post, January 24, 2009
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62ecb329d3d7733492d9253a0a0a0/?vgnextoid=4435af3dae30f110VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD

Labor
China Mining Toll 'below 100,000'
British Broadcasting Corporation, January 28, 2009
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7855330.stm

Migrant Workers
人保部组织实施2009年维护农民工权益行动计划 (Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security Organizes Implementation of the 2009 Action Plan to Safeguard the Rights and Interests of Migrant Workers)
Xinhuanet, January 29, 2009
http://news.xinhuanet.com/newscenter/2009-01/29/content_10732294.htm

Protests and Petitions
北京访民向领导人拜年被带走 (Beijing Petitioners Taken Away while Paying Visit to Officials during New Year)
Radio Free Asia, January 26, 2009
http://www.rfa.org/cantonese/news/china_petitioner-01262009093725.html

二百访民到温家宝住所拜年获亲切款待 (200+ Petitioners Visit Wen Jiabao's Home for New Year Visit, Received Cordially)
Radio Free Asia, January 27, 2009
http://www.rfa.org/cantonese/news/china_petitioner-01272009101309.html

Public Health
China Reports 5th Bird Flu Death This Year
Associated Press (via YahooNews), January 26, 2009
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090126/ap_on_re_as/as_china_bird_flu

Tibet
China Detains 81 People in Tibet Crackdown
Associated Press (via YahooNews), January 28, 2009
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090128/ap_on_re_as/as_china_tibet

Related news:
China Casts Late Tibetan Monk as Ally against Unrest
Reuters (via YahooNews), January 28, 2009
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20090128/wl_nm/us_china_tibet
一名藏民上周五被当局虐打至死 (Young Tibetan from Qamdo Beaten Severely by Authorities on Friday after Joining in Demonstrations)
Radio Free Asia, January 27, 2009
http://www.rfa.org/cantonese/news/china_tibet-01272009102246.html